Reply to: CV's and company name changes

[NickFitz]

I want the best gal for the role.

or guy

No sexism please

[Fred Bloggs]

I have worked for mega corp that has demerged businesses and I have worked for smaller businesses that have been taken over by mega corp.

I judge each one to see which I think is the best name to use on my CV at the time. Not strictly correct, I know, but nobody has ever said anything to me about it. I'd expect a really clued up client to already know that "ABC ltd" was taken over by "XYZ plc" etc... anyway.

[Sysman]

I have written a few letters as Company Secretary saying I am an employee of my company or stating my income. Letting agents in particular. Nobody has ever objected; I think they just need to see 'something' to cover their backsides.

But you are talking about "admin stuff". I was talking about references for gigs.

[NotAllThere]

Interesting. So what do you think a contractor is then - and if you want an employee, why not get one?

Because I want a contractor.

I want the best gal for the role. I couldn't care less whether they think they're the next Bill Gates, or think they're going to be employed by me - or they think I'll be their sugar daddy . On that basis I'd be rejecting all newbie contractors.

Conversely, if I was recruiting for a permie role, I wouldn't bin any CVs just because they're contractors running for cover.

Anyway - I arbitarily bin the unlucky ones.

[PM-Junkie]

95% of getting a role is getting it past an arsehole agent that still struggles with saving a word document and thinks hair gel is 'mega cool'.

Now with that I definitely do agree!

....I am in the fortunate position that I don't have to use agents though

[minestrone]

No big deal, but just so long as people here don't think that everyone will bin their CV if it is laid out in terms of their business.

95% of getting a role is getting it past an arsehole agent that still struggles with saving a word document and thinks hair gel is 'mega cool'.

[PM-Junkie]

I prefer to see:

2001-2008 Acme Ltd, Director
...brief description of services offered. Then a list of clients, courses etc:

• jan 2001 - dec 2003; bigbank ltd, trainee bottle opener
• jan 2004 - dec 2004; bigsoftcomp, lead banana picker

etc etc

No big deal, but just so long as people here don't think that everyone will bin their CV if it is laid out in terms of their business.

[RichardCranium]

The only snag there was a client asking for references from my own Ltd Co... I was honest about it and got the gig.

I have written a few letters as Company Secretary saying I am an employee of my company or stating my income. Letting agents in particular. Nobody has ever objected; I think they just need to see 'something' to cover their backsides.

[Not So Wise]

Interesting. So what do you think a contractor is then - and if you want an employee, why not get one?

You are looking at a CV, not a business brochure.

When I see a CV I want the relevant info to jump out of the page in a logical order so in first scan key points will jump out and tell me if it is worth a second pass

2003 - 2005 Big Bank 1 (Janitor)
Bla bla in charge of bla bla responsible for bla bla saved company bla bla
2001 - 2003 Big Bank 2 (Tea Boy)
Bla bla bla no one went thirsty bla bla got put in charge of bla bla

vs

2003 - 2005 Acme Ltd (Director)
Did a 2 year contract as Janitor at Big Bank 1 doing bla bla bla in charge of bla bla responiseble for bla bla saved company bla bla
2001 - 2003 Acme Ltd (Director)
Did a 2 year contract for Big Bank 2 as the secretarial tea boy doing Bla bla bla no one went thirsty bla bla got put in charge of bla bla

First one gave me an idea on first scan if person is even in right ball park by giving their previous roles and type of clients they have worked for, second one gave me nothing except useless info (and in some ways misrepresented them), so binned them

[minestrone]

If roles are listed as clients of their business, it highlights if they have been retained, and it lets me see what they have done to refine or extend their skills base. Can't see what your problem is.

I don't have a problem with anything, I just stated to the OP that anyone who puts extended "director of my co" on their CV would get the bin. Just offering my advice to the OP.

[PM-Junkie]

I have worked for some top tier places, IBs, retail banking, major automotive. I want to let a prosective client know that, I want them to know that I have got extensions in top places and to simply gloss over that with "director of my own co" is a sign that you have not done that.

I see my CV as a sign that I have had some "by royal appointment" type roles.

If roles are listed as clients of their business, it highlights if they have been retained, and it lets me see what they have done to refine or extend their skills base. Can't see what your problem is.

[minestrone]

Interesting. So what do you think a contractor is then - and if you want an employee, why not get one?

I have worked for some top tier places, IBs, retail banking, major automotive. I want to let a prosective client know that, I want them to know that I have got extensions in top places and to simply gloss over that with "director of my own co" is a sign that you have not done that.

I see my CV as a sign that I have had some "by royal appointment" type roles.

[Sysman]

I do the exact opposite, since I expect a contractor to see me as a customer and if they list their customers as employers I steer clear of them.

Um, look at any consultancy web site and you'll probably see a list of customers.

[Sysman]

Almost everywhere has worked has gone. I wonder why? Anyway, my CV says:

ABC Computer Services (now part of Megacorp Industries)

BT Naff Network Suction (now ConnectYouUpia)

Plimpton Town Council (now Inventedshire County Council)

but it looks crap.

Every company I worked for as a permie has been taken over or simply disappeared. I'll explain who they became at an interview rather than putting it on the CV.

Bench time (of which there was too much in the early 1990s) I covered with my Ltd Co. The only snag there was a client asking for references from my own Ltd Co... I was honest about it and got the gig.

[chef]

You're both deranged. While I insist on knowing who the clients were (though not for most recent), I couldn't care less so long as there's enough info that I can decide if the guy is worth talking to.

or gal

we'll have no sexist rearks on here