Reply to: Contractor CV

[northernladuk]

I'll give a webinar a go. My success when I get in front of a client is very high (honestly can't recall the last gig I didn't get) however I probably only get to sit in front of maybe 5% of those I apply for.

I thought that might be the case.

Also, unless something fortuitous happens, I don't apply for more than maybe two per day. I've worked hard for my time off and don't want to spend all day pressing refresh on job boards.

So a good opportunity to re-think your approach so you are sitting down in front of a much higher percentage of applications and get back the time you are wasting applying to so many. Quality over quantity?

I dunno what area you work in which might make a big difference of course.

[HugeWhale]

I'll give a webinar a go. My success when I get in front of a client is very high (honestly can't recall the last gig I didn't get) however I probably only get to sit in front of maybe 5% of those I apply for.

Also, unless something fortuitous happens, I don't apply for more than maybe two per day. I've worked hard for my time off and don't want to spend all day pressing refresh on job boards.

[thisisit]

I have a table on the front page of my CV with a list of key skills, both technical and business and the number of years' experience.

This seems to go down well in interviews and as someone who has reviewed my fair share of CVs it acts as a quick way to ascertain whether a candidate has the relevant experience.

[northernladuk]

I've tried lots of formats over the years. Right now it's seven pages, however page 1 solely contains:

Name, mobile, email
Bullet points of key skills
Bullet points of recent assignments with dates e.g. Project Manager, HBOS, Jan 2015 - May 2016
Nothing else.

From page 2 I break down the assignments and mention key successes etc but page 1 is really concise.

The only changes I usually make are to tailor the key skills on page 1 and shuffle the order.
Is this best? Don't know. However it seems to strike the right balance between a fully tailored CV (which can take several hours) and the need to get as many applications in as possible.

Depends if it works for you and you are getting end to end gigs that you want to do.

But.. I'm not keen on that approach. You are making the agent work. He has to look through page 1 and then flick to 2 to get the detail. He's looking to match his role up against your CV with as little work as possible. With no detail on page 1 he's having to go to page 2.. or more to see if your activities match his role profile to a tee. Any work beyond scanning the first page is putting you down the pecking order IMO. If you've not got him ready to sign you up by the end of the first page you're pretty much done and I can't see how list of role titles gives them that.

I don't think a fully tailored CV should take a few hours. It should just be a matter of re-doing a couple of bullet points in the last 3 roles to emphasise the skills the gig you are going for wants. If you matched perfectly with little effort I don't think you need to be applying as much as possible. If you target and nail a few you don't need the scatter gun approach.

I'd question whether you really are an absolute match for masses of gigs so how many of them are you wasting your time applying for anyway. Even if it does take an hour or two to nail one isn't that worth the potential of a couple of 100k of income?

I'm strongly of the opinion the 7 pager is hurting you as well. Every time a CV of 5 or more pages comes in it generates more mirth than serious consideration in my experience. Who has time to read 7 pages of CV when the 2-3 pager in front has nailed the requirements....

It's quite a different approach to what I've seen I'd suggest try going to one of the webinars that CUK holds from time to time and get another opinion. There has been quite a bit of positive feedback from them from what I can see.

But as I say, if it works then stick to it.

[HugeWhale]

I've tried lots of formats over the years. Right now it's seven pages, however page 1 solely contains:

Name, mobile, email
Bullet points of key skills
Bullet points of recent assignments with dates e.g. Project Manager, HBOS, Jan 2015 - May 2016
Nothing else.

From page 2 I break down the assignments and mention key successes etc but page 1 is really concise.

The only changes I usually make are to tailor the key skills on page 1 and shuffle the order.
Is this best? Don't know. However it seems to strike the right balance between a fully tailored CV (which can take several hours) and the need to get as many applications in as possible.

[rogerthedodger]

I think the first page has to sell you on its own. A lot of recruiters will only spend about 15 seconds on a first reading of a CV and only read the first page. If the CV fails the first page 15 second test, it won't go any further.

I've been an independent for 25 years and over 70 clients but my CV is normally only 2 pages excluding an appendix (mentioned below), basically a 'cut the crap' approach:

Name (with 'letters of qualifications') plus mobile, email and LI URL but not geographical address.

Opening professional summary with key highlights i.e. what I do and 'generic achievements', industry sectors etc.

Career section:
I make it clear that my job is running my own business with about 5 or 6 recent, relevant projects with achievements.
Refer to an appendix with all projects listed as one-liners.
Previous perm positions presented as one-liners. 25+ years ago so who cares?

Training: A list of one liners.

Qualificatons: A list of one liners.

- and that's it. Seems to work swimmingly on the whole.

I don't bother stating hobbies etc, it's a B2B relationship so not relevant.

I think the CV and Interview Advisers method has some merit but personally I think the STAR approach is too much detail. I prefer one or two lines about the company then bulleted responsibilities and achievements only i.e. only the 'R' but without the 'S', 'T' and 'A'.

I don't put full dates on projects and perm jobs. I was taught to state years only but not months. I guess it's a judgement call but I tend to think that including months makes it look a bit messy.

That's my experience but each to his own I guess.

[Old Greg]

Definition of "Job" from Google Dictionary:

job1
dʒɒb/Submit
noun
1.
a paid position of regular employment.
"the scheme could create 200 jobs"
synonyms: position of employment, position, post, situation, place, appointment, posting, placement, day job; More
2.
a task or piece of work, especially one that is paid.
"she wants to be left alone to get on with the job"
synonyms: task, piece of work, assignment, project; More
verb
1.
do casual or occasional work.
"a jobbing builder"
2.
buy and sell (stocks) as a broker-dealer, especially on a small scale.
"his game plan is to buy in then job the shares on at a profit"

Don't shoot the messenger.

[whirlpool]

Billy doesn't do 'jobs'.

Definition of "Job" from Google Dictionary:

job1
dʒɒb/Submit
noun
1.
a paid position of regular employment.
"the scheme could create 200 jobs"
synonyms: position of employment, position, post, situation, place, appointment, posting, placement, day job; More
2.
a task or piece of work, especially one that is paid.
"she wants to be left alone to get on with the job"
synonyms: task, piece of work, assignment, project; More
verb
1.
do casual or occasional work.
"a jobbing builder"
2.
buy and sell (stocks) as a broker-dealer, especially on a small scale.
"his game plan is to buy in then job the shares on at a profit"

[Old Greg]

I would think that it would be nearly impossible to get a job without a CV. I have never tried it and wouldn't know where to start if i did.

Billy doesn't do 'jobs'.

[whirlpool]

Shouldn't you just point potential clients to your corporate website or other marketing materials? Or do you prefer to just jump when a potential client demands a CV?

I would think that it would be nearly impossible to get a job without a CV. I have never tried it and wouldn't know where to start if i did.

[Old Greg]

Yes, very amusing Greg.

I know what you're trying to say with your smart alec remark, but my CV contains very little in the way of personal information other than my name, email address and contact telephone number (and both email and phone are business, not personal, ones). It certainly doesn't contain the kind of information that my passport or bank statements contain. So, yes, whilst there's no legal obligation to provide one, I also don't mind providing one since the level of detailed, personal information I'm expected to share on my CV is very limited.

Happy now?

Shouldn't you just point potential clients to your corporate website or other marketing materials? Or do you prefer to just jump when a potential client demands a CV?

[billybiro]

Why do you have a CV? You have no legal obligation whatsoever to provide one to a potential client in a B2B relationship.

Yes, very amusing Greg.

I know what you're trying to say with your smart alec remark, but my CV contains very little in the way of personal information other than my name, email address and contact telephone number (and both email and phone are business, not personal, ones). It certainly doesn't contain the kind of information that my passport or bank statements contain. So, yes, whilst there's no legal obligation to provide one, I also don't mind providing one since the level of detailed, personal information I'm expected to share on my CV is very limited.

Happy now?

[whirlpool]

Surely you answered your own question there.

With contracts all you have to do is prove you are the best person for that particular gig. That means fitting the criteria exactly. They don't look for good all round people. They want a body to do that piece of work. Best way to prove that is a custom CV that shows the agent you are the one.

Funny that as i still get interviews by waiting for agents to call based on them searching for me/my skills on job boards from a Generic CV. My Generic CV is also picked up by agents from adverts that i applied for. I have tried the tailoring approach before and its very likely that i will try it again if it improves the hit rate. BTW I had a call today from an agent offering a C++ Programming job - I am a tester.

[Old Greg]

I use a format very similar to that espoused by the CV & Interview advisors who have given free webinars via CUK in the past. Basically, for every role/contract you've had, keep two sets of notes, one a brief executive summary and the other slightly longer and more detailed.

Then, for each contract you apply for, create a custom CV just for that contract by taking the 3 most relevant of your past contracts (irrespective of age/date) and put these with the detailed summaries on the first page under a heading of "Career Highlights". Add all of your other past contracts, in chronological order, on the 2nd/3rd etc page with only the title and the brief summary for each under a heading of "Career Chronology". Complete the other sections of your CV as you'd see fit.

For the descriptions for each contract, as others have said, focus on delivery. You can use the STAR technique to format your prose.

Why do you have a CV? You have no legal obligation whatsoever to provide one to a potential client in a B2B relationship.

[NCOTBAC]

Is this wise, considering that agents are getting 300+ CV's for roles advertised?

Surely you answered your own question there.

With contracts all you have to do is prove you are the best person for that particular gig. That means fitting the criteria exactly. They don't look for good all round people. They want a body to do that piece of work. Best way to prove that is a custom CV that shows the agent you are the one.