Free review of your CV (by a professional aka me)

Pablo

Hi,

(hopefully this is okay to put here, if not mods please remove)

Anyway,
If anyone wants me to review and give feedback on their CV, feel free to email it to me at boards.cv@eirjobs.com (word attachments or pdf's are okay too up to 800kb) and I will take a look at it and provide some feedback on it if you want. You can remove any personal information in it, before you send it to me, if you so wish. I won't pass your CV on to any third party organisation.

I've worked in the recruitment area for the past 4 years and I've seen my fair share of bad CV's, so hopefully you won't make the same mistake as some people.

In the past I've seen people put in :

* marital status
* numbers and ages of children
* details of their primary schools
* jobs that you did more than 10-15 years ago
* lower level qualifications, eg Junior Certificate results or Leaving Certificate results especially if you have a degree or a lot of years in employment
* failed exams
* reasons for leaving previous jobs

Gone West

sorry to be curt, but why?

Pablo

hi curt .. basically I was offering to give people feedback on their CV and to tell them how they could do it better, like

• lay it out better
• change wording of certain parts
• format pages differently
• fill in missing pieces
• etc

And it might help them get that all important position.

jhegarty

don't support you are doing a cv trawl ?

Gone West

heh Pablo
I asked why are you doing this?
Not how.

Out of the goodness in your heart or is there another motive or profit behind it?
I only ask this because of your website/e-business that appears to make money from a similar venture. I'm just wondering what your angle is.

BossArky

Pablo, are you from Dodge Central?

TempestSabre

He's building up CV templates. The trade must likely be, you give him your samples, and he gives you free advice. I can't see it being a big money spinner myself, but Spectre it ain't.

Pablo

So much for giving something back to here, I've been joined for 5 years so I am not really a fly by night.

FuzzyLogic : Yes I was doing it out of the goodness of my heart. My site doesn't accept CV's , it used to do in a former life, but not any more. If through this process you hear about me, then that's fine, but I don't mind helping people in my down time here in work.

TempestSabre : I don't have templates on my site either.

BossArky : nope, from cork.

Anyway, to the two people who sent me CV's ... I'll have them looked at by tomorrow.

TempestSabre

I don't see any great harm, in it, people have offered to look at CV's before. Some people just want to give others a hand and share their experiences. I think a good CV makes a big difference in your chances of getting you an interview.

Pablo - that "CV template" link is a bit missleading so

BossArky

Pablo, some constructive critism. I had a look at your site. Either you are a non native English speaker or you made a lot of simple mistakes. Get someone to take a look at that if you want the site to be taken seriously.

Pablo

Thanks for the feedback BossArky & TempestSabre, the site is work in progress, but your feedback is welcomed. I do need to work on the level of English !

CV's returned to those who sent them.

jaggeh

am i wrong in seeing 4 different google ad slots and very little original content on your page?

Pablo

hi jaggeh : there are 3 google ad slots, and I am working hard to get content, maybe check back in a few weeks.

one more CV returned, I hope it helps !

Ogie16

I had my Cv checked and was delighted with the changes recommended. It reads much better now and the layout is very good. Thanks Pablo

afatbollix

have to agree with Ogie16.. thanks man.. you deffo helped teh look of my cv... now off to town to hand them out to would recomemed to all if your looking for a job

Pablo

Cheers lads for your kind words, I'm glad I could have helped.

ivorystraws

I have had my CV checked also. Not many changes to be made but I guess the advised changes made logical sense i.e. like detailing my work experience before my education, word it in the 3rd person and shorten the CV overall (which I agree with).

So thanks for the CV review Pablo, much appreciated.

emul

I've also had my CV reviewed and returned within 24 hours. Good suggestions made which I will incorporate.

Thanks to Pablo

Eoin

Saint_Mel

Sent in CV this morning ... had it back by lunchtime with
advice on reformatting sections and additions/deletions.

Much appreciated,

Cheers.

Pablo

Glad I could help.

Sorry to say that I'm not accepting any more CVs for the while (as I'm quite busy at the moment). I've gotten a massive response to this post, more than I actually ever expected. This week I've replied to over 25 people about their CVs, and the work load is just getting too much.

I will post here again when I will be able to help more people out, but for the time being please don't send me any more CVs.

brenda2

Thanks a million for your advise. Really appreciate it.

neacy69

thanks Pablo

great service and very useful advice!!!!

karangka

Thanks for the advice Pablo!

Pablo

Glad to help guys.

I have some time free this week while travelling, so I am able to take a look at some CVs again. I will post here when I have reached the quota !

Again email them as a word or pdf attachement to boards.cv@eirjobs.com.

daveg

Email sent Pablo. Thanks in advance.

mathie

A legendary service!
Very informative.
Thanks for the tips!

daveg

Thanks a million for the help and tips.

kluivert

I have sent you an email hopefully if you have time you could take a look at my CV please.

Would very much oblige and appreciate andy advise that you may consider neccessary in order to bring my CV to up date.

WhiteWashMan

maybe you can help me with mine

Pablo

wow. such a response. I've eleven in the queue and it will be at least Monday before I get to them, and probably Wednesday by the time I clear the back log.

So please be patient.

I've also added a fee paying service to my website, in case anyone wants an expedited response.

kluivert

I was wondering if you had a chance to trawl through the CV's yet

EKRIUQ

Pablo, I think its time you started charging

Stan06

Guys, probably it's time for you to try reading couple of books on writing a standard CV and stop getting overexcited when someone else did your homework for you?
To make a CV is very simple task, there are tonns of examples/templates in the internet... and any local library will provide you with a tens of perfect manuals of all types...
I'm trying to say, if you are not able to create a decent CV by yourself... and if you are not ready to spend several evenings reading books and making 5-10 drafts of CV...probably you are not ready to look for a serious job?

kluivert

Just been lazy

Also provides Pablo with Templates of our CV's

Pablo

Hi everyone. I'm afraid I can't keep up with the demand so I am going to have to withdraw my offer once again.

I got 6 CVs alone yesterday.

As I mentioned in post #30 I do have a fee paying service, if anyone wants to check that out.

Some things I have noticed from the 50 or so CV's I've seen from people here:

• Remember to use Arial font, nothing fancy, Comic Sans MS just doesn't cut it !
• Title your CV with your name in a big enough font, centred and write Curriculum Vitae on it too, near your name. So people know what they are getting.
• Put your contact details next. Address : Phone : Email etc.
• Next comes your Work Experience. Try to have 4 or 5 short bullet points on each job you've worked, including your job title
• Aim to only include relevant work experience
• Next is your educational details, put in your degrees if you have them and when you got them. If it's been more than 3 years since you did the leaving you probably don't have to put in your grades.
• No need to mention your Junior Cert.
• Include a little about your Skills & Hobbies, you want them to think you are human.
• Put References Available on Request last
• There's no need to sign your CV

I hope that helps a little.

Stan06

kluivert wrote:

Just been lazy

Also provides Pablo with Templates of our CV's

Yeah, sure. But who needs lazy employees? Give me a wink, I'll submit my CV at once!!

Stan06

Pablo wrote:

Hi everyone. I'm afraid I can't keep up with the demand so I am going to have to withdraw my offer once again.
Some things I have noticed from the 50 or so CV's I've seen from people here:

• Remember to use Arial font, nothing fancy, Comic Sans MS just doesn't cut it !
• Title your CV with your name in a big enough font, centred and write Curriculum Vitae on it too, near your name. So people know what they are getting.
• Put your contact details next. Address : Phone : Email etc.
• Next comes your Work Experience. Try to have 4 or 5 short bullet points on each job you've worked, including your job title
• Aim to only include relevant work experience
• Next is your educational details, put in your degrees if you have them and when you got them. If it's been more than 3 years since you did the leaving you probably don't have to put in your grades.
• No need to mention your Junior Cert.
• Include a little about your Skills & Hobbies, you want them to think you are human.
• Put References Available on Request last
• There's no need to sign your CV

I hope that helps a little.

Pablo, hope you won't mind a few comments:
(well except that Irish recruiters are something _very_ special...)
the main idea of a good CV - the more benefitial the feature is - put it closer to the beginning. So:
1) Educational details - put them in only a) if they are outstanding. Like, you've graduated from Cambridge... or West-Point Otherwise - put them at the very end, next to the "Refereces: available", and only give enough to prove you comply with minimal requirements
b) when you are fresh graduates and has nothing else to brag about.
2)Skills and hobbies... are you kidding? First of all, "skills", as I, being a foreigner (sic!) understand, is something that defines you as a professional...Well, let's attribute it to the typo... Hobbies...probably it's like a test - if you put in your hobbies - your CV goes to trash immediately. Guys, you are supposed to be hired because employer expects you help him to increase revenues... who the hell cares if you do a step-dance or what not in your free time? It's a personal details, and, say, if you got denied with a job because of your "wrong hobby" you may easily sue the employer and get a pretty penny. CV must not contain a single character that doesn't attribute to your benefit. Personal details are irrelevant and in most civilized countries are strictly forbidden for interview questions. Like, if your interviewer ask you 'how old are you" - he is totally nuts, don't mess with him any longer.
And just a common advice: any recruiter will have 10 secs to read through you resume. In 10 seconds he will read first 10-15 lines. You must "hook" him up with the very first lines of your personal ad (that is, your CV). And. Do your homework!
PS. Pablo, please correct me if I'm wrong regarding personal details. I'm basing my judgements on American experience... I'm not good with local specifics and will be gratefull for corrections.

Pablo

hi Stan,
It's hard for me to define a general CV for someone who is 16 and applying to work in Mc Donalds and for someone who is 30 and has 7 years experience, in 2 jobs, a degree and wants a management level position. But your points are valid. I meant it more in the terms if you don't have any skills, you are probably not old enough to have some other skills, so put something in to make you sound a little bit interesting.

Stan06 wrote:

Pablo, hope you won't mind a few comments:
(well except that Irish recruiters are something _very_ special...)
the main idea of a good CV - the more beneficial the feature is - put it closer to the beginning. So:
1) Educational details - put them in only a) if they are outstanding. Like, you've graduated from Cambridge... or West-Point Otherwise - put them at the very end, next to the "Refereces: available", and only give enough to prove you comply with minimal requirements
b) when you are fresh graduates and has nothing else to brag about.
2)Skills and hobbies... are you kidding? First of all, "skills", as I, being a foreigner (sic!) understand, is something that defines you as a professional...Well, let's attribute it to the typo... Hobbies...probably it's like a test - if you put in your hobbies - your CV goes to trash immediately. Guys, you are supposed to be hired because employer expects you help him to increase revenues... who the hell cares if you do a step-dance or what not in your free time? It's a personal details, and, say, if you got denied with a job because of your "wrong hobby" you may easily sue the employer and get a pretty penny. CV must not contain a single character that doesn't attribute to your benefit. Personal details are irrelevant and in most civilized countries are strictly forbidden for interview questions. Like, if your interviewer ask you 'how old are you" - he is totally nuts, don't mess with him any longer.
And just a common advice: any recruiter will have 10 secs to read through you resume. In 10 seconds he will read first 10-15 lines. You must "hook" him up with the very first lines of your personal ad (that is, your CV). And. Do your homework!
PS. Pablo, please correct me if I'm wrong regarding personal details. I'm basing my judgements on American experience... I'm not good with local specifics and will be gratefull for corrections.

Personal details like Name & Address are normally helpful if you ever want to hear back. As for Age/Sex/Marital Status or the fact of being disabled are not required, and no employers has the right to ask these types of questions. As it could be seen as discrimination . You are right that staff will only really scan CVs. And most of the time, they are looking to pick out the advertised job requirements from somewhere in your CV. If you can provide this, you will get the interview. A second interview is somewhat different

Pablo

I'm back again. If anyone wants a hand with their CV this week I can do about 5 of them.

Chardee MacDennis

hey pablo, can i send you on one?

Pablo

send it along. So far I've gotten three, and Call_me_al will make it four (sig updated). I spot left !

Timmy_d

Hi pablo just wondering if u received my cv by email?