Reply to: Anyone used a CV writing service

[BrowneIssue]

Wife's friend is working in a University with MBA students.

The university pays a professional CV service to write CVs for them before they leave.

My wife is a self-employed proof-reader. She has the job of correcting them.

A nice little earner for a few weeks each summer BUT it gets right on my tits listening to her going on and on about how bad these CVs are.

[andyc2000]

I did use a CV writing service and found it fairly useful - albeit far too expensive for what you get. The CV I ended up with wasn't much different from my original layout and the content didn't really change much, just the way I had worded things - I guess my CV was pretty good to start with? Then a few months later I sent this new CV to another CV company for review who told me it wasn't very good and needed more impact, which was what the first company said.

I suspect the CV writing tips on this site will give you all you need.

[Grinder]

Thank you to zarf for a well argued answer - I'm actually considering the service again (although I have to consider you might be a CV writer incognito ).

I'm going to run with my own re-written CV for a week or 2 at least - I had replies from 4 agencies yesterday which is certainly on the up - could be a coincidence.

Max I understand the economy is not good, but there are jobs out there - I've seen jobs that are definitely aligned to my skills & experience - the right CV would at least bring a phone call.

I have worked both as perm and contract - I know the advantages of each (and the disadvantages) but as I have a family depending on me for housing & food (not to mention ballet & karate lessons), when an agent phones me with a perm job that pays the same as some of the contracts I am applying for I agree for my CV to be submitted. The interview experience alone would be worth it.

The most inspirational thing you said, Max, is not to worry about it. What I am new to, is having a gap between contracts and I should try to treat it as a bit of a holiday & enjoy it!

[max]

The reason I think its my CV is because I've applied for jobs for which I know I'm a perfect match and I don't even get a call from the agency. When I follow up by phone I can win them around and in a handful of cases my CV has gone forward to the client - mostly perm jobs.

How did it go to clients for perm jobs?

Something is wrong. Your CV should not be sent to clients for permi roles if you are looking for contract work.

Are you a contractor or a permi?

My friends & colleagues who have taken the time to read the CV say its an excellent CV, but recruiters who just skim it (I presume) don't see that great content - otherwise I would be sitting pretty right now.

How? I'm starting to think you are deluded. It's nice that your friends and colleagues say it's nice, but please consider the state of the economy. It's not good.

I've taken the advice here and in the other threads - today I am re-organising my CV, cutting down further and removing the multitude of bullets which describe the tasks I have been responsible for. In their place, I will put details of where I have distinguished myself. People know what a PM does (risks & issues, weekly status reports, planning & replanning, etc.); I am missing examples like how I put failing projects back on track by establishing a new way forward.

My advice: bad stuff is going on. your CV is probably fine so quit worrying about it, the economy is not. It's a numbers game here on in. Bombard Jobserve, and keep your skills up to date. This will end ...some time. Don't know how, don't know when.

But the delusion must end. As the pres says...get up off the ground, dust yourself off, and get on with it.

[max]

Hi all, new here as a long time permie, now going interim/contract as perm roles seem to be taking a long time to mature...

Mature? Mature...is a word that I'm surprised wasn't deleted by the swear word detector on this site. Probably didn't delete, as it's never seen it used before.

Did you mean Manure perhaps? "as perm roles seem to be taking a long time and smell like manure"

Yes, that's better

[max]

My background is as am IT Director, latterly a VP, and I wanted my CV to cut through the fog, so to speak.

What's an IT Director then?

And you're a VP when you sleep? Vice Principle? Vital Piston?

If you want to cut through the fog(so to speak, not to boil the ocean, or disincentivise, in this space, and do a 360 degree, by the close of play, even if you don't have enough bandwidth, you might need to take 30k foot view etc etc bla bla), I suggest you get someone(anyone) else to write your CV!

If there's one thing that doesn't work in the contractor world is jargon, management-speak like that.

[SueEllen]

• Reworked CV entirely today
• Key points only, no conjunctions
• Distinct sections; no waffle
• Emphasised achievements
• Removed home address for security reasons "available on request"

Its been 2 hours now on Jobserve & Monster, plus I applied for a few selected opps... no calls yet - maybe tomorrow

Normally takes half a day to a day for agencies to upload them.

[zarf]

Hi all, new here as a long time permie, now going interim/contract as perm roles seem to be taking a long time to mature...

I spent £400 on a CV. My background is as am IT Director, latterly a VP, and I wanted my CV to cut through the fog, so to speak. For these so-called senior roles agents used to get 30 applicants, now it's 300+

The guy I used spent ages on the phone with me, went through numerous drafts, did me a version for contract roles and one for perm roles, will update 4 times in a year to account for contracts done and also did me a professional cover letter.

The difference is simply astounding. I have had numerous calls from agents finding my CV on Monster, cwjobs and so on, and have been shortlisted a number of times in the last 6 weeks. Where my friends have had maybe 2 interviews in 2 months, I had 3 face-to-face ones last week, and a couple of phone interviews. I have another face-to-face tomorrow.

The company I used didn't just "drop my details into a template". In fact I've been so impressed I shall use them for some interview training.

Worth every penny and I don't regret it a bit.

Ian

[cojak]

• Reworked CV entirely today
• Key points only, no conjunctions
• Distinct sections; no waffle
• Emphasised achievements
• Removed home address for security reasons "available on request"

Its been 2 hours now on Jobserve & Monster, plus I applied for a few selected opps... no calls yet - maybe tomorrow

Good man!

[dave20]

Just use an MS Word Template.

They look decent as long as your putting good information down.

If that still fails, make some stuff up

[Fred Bloggs]

Good luck then!

[Grinder]

• Reworked CV entirely today
• Key points only, no conjunctions
• Distinct sections; no waffle
• Emphasised achievements
• Removed home address for security reasons "available on request"

Its been 2 hours now on Jobserve & Monster, plus I applied for a few selected opps... no calls yet - maybe tomorrow

[BlasterBates]

The important thing is a summary at the top of your profile (CV's are for sissies). That basically describes what you are, and key highlights about your qualifications, knowledge and experience. This would be tailored to the job.

Then a your project history, with most recent projects described first and in more detail, with one line descriptions for old or irrelevant projects.

Then on page three (your profile shouldn't be longer than three pages) you should list the bullets of specific programming languages, products with which you have experienceand educational qualifications etc.

[poser]

i prefer antidisestablishmentarianism

[Rookie]

I used a CV wruiting service, cost me about £200. in summary it was a fancy layout and big words. not an entire waste of money, but they guy wrote what he thought was relevant not what i wanted to convey.

So that's where I've been going wrong....Now, how the **** can I shoehorn Chlorofluorocarbonation into my CV?