We'll keep your cv on file.......

Arcee

If there's anyone here who works in HR, can you confirm if companies actually do this? When you decide to hire for a new position do you really look back through all the cv's you have already received to see if anyone suitable has already applied?

I guess I'm wondering if I see new positions (that I believe I'm suitable for) being advertised every few months with the same company, am I wasting my time applying for each one? Will the company have already looked at my cv which they have "kept on file"?

Jimdagym

I'd imagine not. I have never heard of anyone getting called out of the blue by a company that they have previously applied too. I'd say keep sending the CV's in untill they get the police involved:pac:.

Best of luck.

DonkeyStyle \o/

I think "on file" is a euphemism for "in the bin".

pcardin

DonkeyStyle \o/ wrote: »

I think "on file" is a euphemism for "in the bin".

Yes, they go straight into Recycle Bin. Just keep sending till they will notice you.

aoibhebree

They definitely wouldn't look through old applications, particularly given the current climate - it's not like they'll have any shortage of new applicants!

Arcee

Thought as much I just feel like a bit of a stalker sending them a cv every time a suitable job appears but don't want to miss the boat on a job either. Jimdagym - I'll take your advice and keep at it until they set the cops on me!!:D:D:D:D

connundrum

TBH, at the moment we have approx 400 cv's on file since the beginning of the year.

If a position does come up I'll probably trawl through the existing ones to pick out 10 or so good ones for interview.

Last year we advertised every position as we'd only about 20 cv's on file.

I wouldn't put much faith in the whole 'we'll put your cv on file' system though.

Gran Hermano

I know plenty of companies who keep an electronic database on file of CVs and applications they have recieved. New applicants are checked
against the existing database (and any differences on CV versions, etc are noted).


No harm in re-emailing a CV in a second time but keep in mind they can
compare it to previous applications.

doledude86

I got this reply this morning which I thought was a nice touch and brutally honest...
Thank you for your CV. I do appreciate you sending it to us, unfortunately I will have to use that old saying “ we will keep it on file and we will bear you in mind if a suitable position becomes vacant”. Even more unfortunately but to be completely honest - there is almost no hope of that, for the obvious economic reasons.

Wishing you the best of luck,
[Now isnt that better then lieing....

hobochris

doledude86 wrote: »

I got this reply this morning which I thought was a nice touch and brutally honest...
Thank you for your CV. I do appreciate you sending it to us, unfortunately I will have to use that old saying “ we will keep it on file and we will bear you in mind if a suitable position becomes vacant”. Even more unfortunately but to be completely honest - there is almost no hope of that, for the obvious economic reasons.

Wishing you the best of luck,
[Now isnt that better then lieing....

Fair play to them... honesty is refreshing..

doledude86

I thought the same myself.. All companies should respond in a more honest manner... I think jobs are a myth made up by people that have them...;)

AARRRGH

Unless your application really stood out, I think it is safest to assume they won't ever look at your CV again.

Brown.Eyed.Girl

Your CV was most likely deleted/put in the shredder, 5 second after they sent you that email. An office manager I had once, asked me to send out an email like that to everyone who applied for the job and then she handed me a huge pile of CVs to shred.

doledude86

I found it funny anyway.. Sure ill just harrassing companies everywhere this degree will get me somewhere eventually...

Buffman

doledude86 wrote: »

Even more unfortunately but to be completely honest - there is almost no hope of that, for the obvious economic reasons.

Wishing you the best of luck,

Fair paly to them, at least you got a definite answer.

leitrim lad

strait to the bin normally, the amount of applications lately in unreal

banshee_bones

Have to say that honesty actually is refreshing! Im keeping a record in a folder in my inbox of all the jobs i have applied for and any sorry (all) rejection letters i get. So at least when we come out the other end of this i will have something to show for my efforts during this spell of unemployment.

doledude86

yeah I'm with on that one...I do be like a mindless Zombie Sending out CV's, think I have 7 different CV versions tailored to all the positions I have or want to apply for... I have a few with my degree off it..a few with it on...Toned down work experience things like that.. Still no positive replies..but we'll keep thrawling through... It'll make me appreciate earning far more when I do eventually get a job

jimmyneo1

A company did get back to me once with a job offer after they found my CV in their files, although that was during the good times.....

maxy jazz

what about a**hole agents who keep advertising the same job...never call back and if they do the position has been filled or put on hold. wow how I detest agents. :pac:

leitrim lad

in good times i used to give everyone an interview ,which normally contained either a test drive on a digger or dumptruck, or laying pipes, but back then there were fewer applicaints and if you were able to do the job you got it, now you would need to employ 5 full tome people to deal just with new applicaints, and thats just not feesable, but good tradesmen are easier comeby now also and they are alot cheaper than they used to be in some cases 50% cheaper

maxy jazz

looking for any digger drivers 'Leitrim Lad'?!!

Maglight

Depends on the company. If it's a large company and they are using applicant tracking software then they will most likely save all applications in a talent pool and check it when future vacancies arise. If you send in multiple applications they will be saved as duplicates.

If it's a smaller company, with no ATS, you CV probably goes in the bin.

If you apply for a job through a recruitment website you can tell if a company uses an ATS because the destination URL will change when you click on the apply button. Common ATS used in Ireland are taleo, igrasp, candidate manager, SAP etc.

Arcee

Maglight wrote: »

Depends on the company. If it's a large company and they are using applicant tracking software then they will most likely save all applications in a talent pool and check it when future vacancies arise. If you send in multiple applications they will be saved as duplicates.

If it's a smaller company, with no ATS, you CV probably goes in the bin.

If you apply for a job through a recruitment website you can tell if a company uses an ATS because the destination URL will change when you click on the apply button. Common ATS used in Ireland are taleo, igrasp, candidate manager, SAP etc.

Thanks Maglight, this is what I was really wondering about - if you fill in an application form online or submit your cv to a huge company I assumed they must surely keep a database of candidate information. So you reckon these companies actually do run a check through past cv's for new positions they are advertising? Again, I feel like a bit of a tool re-submitting an application but some companies are advertising new vacancies every few weeks.

Wishbone Ash

Arcee wrote: »

Thanks Maglight, this is what I was really wondering about - if you fill in an application form online or submit your cv to a huge company I assumed they must surely keep a database of candidate information. So you reckon these companies actually do run a check through past cv's for new positions they are advertising? Again, I feel like a bit of a tool re-submitting an application but some companies are advertising new vacancies every few weeks.

We recieve many CVs for one particular grade and place them in a folder. Many are delivered in person and we usually explain that , if vacancies occur, they must be advertised. It is therefore a bit pointless sending them in when there is no campaign but, should positions be advertised, I usually go through the applications and call the person and let them know that I have included them.

On many occasions, I've been tempted to just use the applications on file rather that go through the whole advertising malarky, (especially if the person has worked here before or has a relative here) but it would be way too risky.

Many of those who send in their CVs don't do themselves any favours. I recieved CVs without any envelope or shoehorned into a tiny envelope. I often wonder if these people realise what it looks like after going through the postal system, folded 5 or 6 times into a 3x4 in envelope. Worse again are those who arrive, dirty, smelly, drunk etc. to hand deliver it. I've never shredded a CV/application (as I don't have the balls to) but one of my colleagues does it all the time within seconds of receiving it.

(I don't think we've ever received one by email (as we don't advertise online). It would probably go missing or be accidently deleted!!)

Good luck with the job hunting Arcee

leitrim lad

to maxy jazz , not looken at the min but keep in touch im ment to have 2 contracts starting mid -end of may, if your serious i could give you a trail run if it goes ahead.
or email laheencivil@hotmail.com

Firetrap

Generally they go in the bin. I worked in one place where they did keep them on file when the person who had been offered the job didn't accept the offer. Problem was that by this time, a lot of the people who'd been looking for the job weren't interested anything or had found other jobs.

Brimmy

I remember at an old job I had for a telecommunications company one of the guys I started my job with was called by the HR company asking if he wanted to come in for an interview as they found his cv on file. Problem was he was already on the floor right beside their office at the time and had been there for about ten months :pac:

Emerald Lass

OF COURSE they file it - right there under 'b'................for bin! lol

Even if they have your CV on file, rather than just hope they are checking old files, I would call them and ask to speak to the agent dealing with that position. On the phone be as bright and impressive as possible - then you will be memorable if you make a good impression. Outline your CV to them quickly, and then ask for their direct email to send on your CV. Mention that your CV is already with them, but that it has been updated since your last application, so would they please give their email for you to send on the updated one. Make sure you rehash your Cv each time to stand out (i.e look at the skill set they want in the job, and try to reflect this in your CV).

you might still not be suitable, but at least you are making some effort to be memorable to them. And if you are suitable at least you will not be overlooked in a pile of forgotton Cv's.

All the interviews i got in recent months were done this way - and even if a company has my CV I still contact them directly. I quickly learned this after getting an 'on file' email even when my CV outlined my last job, which was almost word for word what the job description was!