Stop & think before you send your application!!

This is just a very brief blog post as I am up to my neck in CVs today! Over the last 3 days I have seen some sloppy approaches to applying for jobs and simply wanted to share a few of the errors with you;

- Sending a covering letter for a role that has not been changed since your previous application, therefore displaying a completely different job title & in some cases the company, to which you are applying. This is not acceptable and would usually, unless you truly tick all the boxes, would be immediately rejected.

- I have seen a number of CVs this week that are in excess of 5 pages, this is complete madness – you are not writing an autobiography – it’s an overview of your career, keep it short & relevant (2 pages are ideal).

- When a job advert asks for 2 years minimum experience, for eg, in a certain sector, don’t apply for the role with NO experience!! If you have a very valid reason which you believe makes you suitable, without meeting their specification, then at the very least explain that in a covering letter/email.

That’s it for now but if you need help with writing your CV and/or Covering Letter then please get in touch with e-cv-buddy J

Bespoke CV Writing Service, tailored to suit your Sector

Your Curriculum Vitae is a crucial selling/marketing tool when applying for jobs and in today's employer-driven recruitment market it is vital that you take time to prepare it … you do not get a 2nd bite of the cherry. Often with 100's of CVs to ‘plough' through, initially an employer will not spend much more than 30-60 seconds looking at each. Clients can literally ‘cherry pick’ the best candidates against their criteria and if your best points are hidden, or even worse not on your CV (!) then you will be rejected.

Our expertise within the Recruitment industry demonstrates an up-to-date knowledge of what employers look for in a CV, how to create an impact and make it easy to read – it should be professional, pertinent and punchy. If you work in any of the following sectors and would like to re-vamp your current CV or have one written from scratch, please contact us on 01985 219590 to discuss your requirements .

For details on the sectors we cover and a list of charges, please visit e-cv buddy

Are you inundated with jobseekers?

It was reported in the February 2010 edition of the Recruitment Consultant magazine that “businesses have seen a 130% increase in applications in the past two years” and on average they receive ”c120 CVs for each newly created advertised vacancy according to a survey of 872 businesses”.

It is true that most vacancies are attracting far greater numbers of candidates, a natural process in such times of high unemployment. I am currently running an advert for an Administrator and in 8 days have received 150 applications! It takes lots of time to view each application and make a judgement as to whether they are suitable for the role/client. It is difficult as probably at least 50% of those applicants could do the job, but we have to be harsh and cut it to a min of 10% to take it to the telephone interview stage. The benefit to clients of course is they can literally cherry pick the best applicants for their role.

The Recruitment Consultant also reported “Shortlists have also doubled and candidates face a one-in-ten chance of passing the interview process”.

If you are a business looking for help to relieve the burden of the extra administration now involved in the recruitment process, then we at e-recruitment buddy would be delighted to hear from you. Our Vacancy Management service could be ideal for you.

As a candidate if you want your CV to stand out from the crowd to stand a chance of being shortlisted, then take advantage of our CV Writing Service.

Top Tips for Unemployed Jobseekers

Looking for a job can be a daunting task and even more so when you feel under pressure as you are not currently working or earning money. It can feel like a bomb slowly ticking away and if it explodes it will take with it all your hard-earned gains.

Being unemployed can be one of most ego-smashing things a person could ever experience. It can be seen as ‘rejection’ and people can end up in a very unhappy place. We at e-recruitment buddy don’t want that to happen to any jobseeker so we decided to bring together some of our top tips to help you through this stage of your career. Prior to actually applying for jobs there are several processes to go through.

ONE: Read this highly practical 4-point-plan. You need space to think, take the time to review your career and start planning! Let the fact that you’ve been made redundant be an ‘opportunity’ rather than the worst thing that can happen. Step back – take stock – don’t fall into a period of ‘desperation’, it wont help your cause.

TWO: The last stage of Janet Davies’ above plan includes having a good quality CV ready for approaching potential employers. Your Curriculum Vitae is a crucial selling/marketing tool when applying for jobs and in today's employer-driven recruitment market it is vital that you take time to prepare it. Clients can literally ‘cherry pick’ the best candidates against their criteria and if your best points are hidden, or even worse not on your CV (!) then you will be rejected. If you need any assistance with this, then our sister company http://www.e-cv-buddy.co.uk/.

THREE: Don’t do it ALONE. Pool upon your family, partner, friends, ex-work colleagues and neighbours!! Talk to them about how you are feeling, get their input on how they see you and discuss your thoughts of what route you want to take your career. Perhaps even get yourself a job-search ‘buddy’ (I would probably choose my hubby), that you speak with at least once a week about what jobs you’ve applied for, what you’ve done in your job search activities and any interviews you have lined up. Your job-search buddy can give you a sense of purpose and achievement.

FOUR: Clean up your online profile before you start applying for jobs. Have you ever googled an employer before an interview? Yes of course - the issue now is that companies are researching potential candidates to gain information about them prior to short-listing for an interview. This can be advantageous but often not – it’s well known & documented that social networking sites, blogs & forums are easily searchable and may throw up something that strikes you off the short-list. Be wary of what you and your friends post online – ‘un-tag’ yourself from any photo’s you think may jeopardise your career!! We know that employers need to use this information with care to avoid any hint of discrimination in their decision-making, but in many cases it wont stop them. Also – get yourself a dedicated job-searching email address - you need to give a professional impression from first contact. An email received from lazybones@hotmail may not be the best approach!

FIVE: Time to start applying for Jobs – before you start … don’t apply for jobs that you don’t actually want or that you don’t have the skills to do. I know that may sound daft but many people believe that catapulting their CV into cyber-space will somehow land on the desk of their next employer – it won’t! Be completely focussed in your job-search; target employers that you want to work for, register with agencies that actually have jobs on their books that match what you are looking for and register with job-boards specific to your industry & skill-set. Always follow-up on applications.

SIX: For more in-depth tips covering everything from LinkedIn to Twitter to aid in your job search, we at e-recruitment buddy recommend that you download a free copy of Andy Headworth’s ‘50 Top Tips for Job Seekers Guide’

Don’t let your job-search be chaotic, stressful, depressing or negative in any way – give it some structure, plan exactly what you are looking for and go for it via every route available to you. Be positive and when you secure a job give yourself a huge pat on the back!!

Social Media and Job Hunting

Starting A Job Search: How To Use Social Media To Get A Job

This is a natty little video from Video Jug explaining how to go about using social media when you are job hunting. It explains the process of exploiting social networking/media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to find jobs. The tips are all good ones, cleaning up your profile or at least locking them down. No drunken photos of that Stag Do in Prague. Also add some keywords into your profile, job titles, interests and even clients you have worked with. Treat it like an interactive CV. They mention linkedin as well and its importance in building professional networks.

They also talk about using Twitter to look for jobs and build relationships. The core of the issue is building a strong personal online brand. To do this takes some time, effort and creativity on your part but it is worth pursuing. This is a neat article about it here – building your brand online. Get started on building your brand today. You never know if your dream job is just waiting for you!