Paying for a CV to be Written for You?

Thargor

I got this email down below from Irishjobs this morning and am seriously considering it just to have a CV that I know is decent and isn't out there costing me offers, my contract is up soon and I'm dreading looking for a new job judging by the quick searches I've done on Monster and a few others, looks like there's nothing out there for me atm, I'm in the Biotech field with very little experience.

Just wondering if anyones ever used the service and was happy with the result or if anyone can recommend a good CV writing service. To be honest up to now Ive gotten into places through friends and acquaintances and luck and I've never really had to put a CV to the test especially in a climate like the current one. My CV is okay I suppose, I used template 1 on this page:

http://lifescience.ie/life-sciences-cv-download.cfm

Is that layout what Irish employers look for do you think or am I doing it all wrong? This is why Im thinking €55 is good for peace of mind but I wonder is there a better CV writer out there somewhere?

-the email wot he received from that company offering the service-

Eoin

I think it could be a very good idea. I've seen some absolutely horrendous CV's recently - one was 11 pages. It probably just depends on what that service in particular is like - who are their "experts"; what background do they have etc.

CorkFenian

If it was very good with other templates alongside it could be worth it.Especially for people like me who have 10 years experience or more...Having met a lot of recruitment people in my time..(some good, majority terrible). I'd question if they could do it...

phaxx

Nonsense, waste of money. You learn little from having somebody else do it for you. Write your own CV and have some competent friends proofread it. If you do this with some friends, you'll all quickly become good at writing and critiquing this sort of document.

Part of me wonders if having somebody else write a CV for you is almost lying on a job application - the document should be representative of your attitude and attention to detail, not that of somebody else.

Eoin

phaxx wrote: »

Nonsense, waste of money. You learn little from having somebody else do it for you. Write your own CV and have some competent friends proofread it. If you do this with some friends, you'll all quickly become good at writing and critiquing this sort of document.

I don't agree at all - some people, although excellent at their jobs, can't write a CV. Who's to say their friends will be much better if they've never been on the other side of the application process?

phaxx wrote: »

Part of me wonders if having somebody else write a CV for you is almost lying on a job application - the document should be representative of your attitude and attention to detail, not that of somebody else.

No difference to any company using an advertising or copy writing service IMO. Ability to write a CV is a specialised ability, and may be quite irrelevant to the job in question. Attention to detail can lead to monstrous CV's.

phaxx

eoin wrote: »

I don't agree at all - some people, although excellent at their jobs, can't write a CV. Who's to say their friends will be much better if they've never been on the other side of the application process?

Hmm, perhaps. I don't have a good understanding of the OP's field, but from a poke around lifescience.ie it looks like all those sectors would be the type to require excellent communication skills and attention to detail, the kinds of skills a CV demonstrates.

eoin wrote: »

No difference to any company using an advertising or copy writing service IMO. Ability to write a CV is a specialised ability, and may be quite irrelevant to the job in question. Attention to detail can lead to monstrous CV's.

The ability to accurately describe oneself in a 1/2 page document should not be a specialised ability, (but this is a whole other debate ) and certainly shouldn't be beyond anybody trying to get a job in a high-tech industry like the OP seems to be in.

Monstrous CVs indeed, some detail-oriented techies can produce the worst CVs.

In an effort to stay on topic, I don't believe this sort of service is worthwhile, and I think the OP would be doing themselves out of a good opportunity to improve a skill.

The Career Doc

Hi guys, a friend of mine saw this forum and told me to get on it. My name is Eoghan McDermott and I prepare people for interviews, presentations and help them with their CV's.

With the CV's there are a couple of mistakes that people make.

1- It's too long. Solution- Try and keep it to about 2 pages.
2- It's not tailored for the job. Solution- You should look at what the company are looking for and get your CV to mirror their needs.
3- It's assertion based. For example I'm a great team leader. Solution- Give pieces of evidence (key achievements) that proves that you have the skill.

Be sure to have the important information near the top. If a company receive 200 CVs, someone is going to have to read them.

A CV is important but the covering letter is critical. It shouldn't have a sniff of a "one-size fits all" to it. A cover letter should complement, not duplicate your CV. Its purpose is to interpret the data-oriented, factual resume and add a personal touch.
This is your chance to differentiate yourself from the pack, so start with that thought. Ask yourself, ‘what will the average person who applies for this job write?’ The likelihood is that average applicant will provide a bucket of generic guff about ‘being a good teamworker’ and ‘seeking challenges’ and ‘being self-motivated.’ Your task is to figure out how to write something above average. That means you first prove you understand how the company you’re writing to views themselves and reflect it back to them in your application. If they think they’re the best at serving customers, write about your desire to be part of that customer service. If they believe they machine the best woodruff keys in the world, write about your commitment to tight engineering tolerances. Basically, show that you see them as unique and special, just like they do.
Then pick one, or at most, two characteristics you have that will fit with what they need. No bull, no buzzwords, just clear specifics supported with evidence. In other words, “when I machine a woodruff key I check it nine times with digital callipers so that it’s perfect. In my last job I had the highest percentage of perfect parts among my colleagues.”
Make sure everything from spellings to the name of the recipient are accurate, handwrite the address on the envelope (they’re more likely to be opened as they appear more personal and less corporate) and if you don’t understand any aspect of the job description, get it clear before you write to them (in other words Google “woodruff key”).
Oh, and try and keep it to a page. Don’t make the reader’s life hard.
If you want to fire a question to me, please don't hesitate. I'm at [email]<snip>[/email]

---

<snip>

cronos

The Career Doc wrote: »

3- It's assertion based. For example I'm a great team leader. Solution- Give pieces of evidence (key achievements) that proves that you have the skill.

QUOTE]

Hey Career Doc,

What qualifies as an achievment lets say in the area of software development or software testing?

Do you include your achievements and the skills required to get the achievment? Or just the achievments on their own?

Thanks,
Cronos

patftrears

Hiring in the next 2 weeks looking a cv now to call for interviews.

Personally I always print off CVs, so keeping it short is vital, over 2 pages is pushing it, maybe 3 if the role is complicated and the cv is easy to read.

make sure cv is clear, space is important, formatted and text at least 10.

I have attached a 1 page cv that I think is great, never got a one page CV, so it will stand out straight from the start.
This is for a person with experience, I'll do up a graduate one if anyone would like one.

Thargor

Thanks Patfrears and everyone else, I dont really have a lot of expeience is the problem, this is my first real job. I think Im just going to chance handing over the money and hope for the best, Irishjobs have been around long enough to not be a scam I think, unless the current climate is driving them into a corner, Ill let people here know how it turns out.

leeroybrown

I'd never pay someone to write/review my own CV but it seems to be something that a lot of people are quite poor at. Quite a few of the CVs I review are unnecessarily long, poorly laid out and difficult to read. Perhaps some of these people would benefit from having their CV professionally reviewed but I think that in many cases having a competent friend proof-read them prior to sending them out would help a lot.

Catmologen

patftrears wrote: »

Hiring in the next 2 weeks looking a cv now to call for interviews.

Personally I always print off CVs, so keeping it short is vital, over 2 pages is pushing it, maybe 3 if the role is complicated and the cv is easy to read.

make sure cv is clear, space is important, formatted and text at least 10.

I have attached a 1 page cv that I think is great, never got a one page CV, so it will stand out straight from the start.
This is for a person with experience, I'll do up a graduate one if anyone would like one.

I like that, straight and to the point, no waffle.

Firetrap

I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing if you have trouble writing up your CV. I got a friend of mine who works in that field to give me a hand with mine and it was interesting to see how different (and better) it was. It can be very hard to write down what you've done in your career and make it sound good. It all depends who you go to of course.

leeroybrown

patftrears wrote: »

I have attached a 1 page cv that I think is great, never got a one page CV, so it will stand out straight from the start.

Personally, I wouldn't advise someone with any reasonable experience to submit a single page CV. I'd expect that for every interviewer who thought it was great, there'd be at least one who thought it was either overly short or lazy. I always think that a clean well laid out two page CV is the ideal for most applicants/positions.

I quickly reviewed at my own CV there and if I shortened it to less than one and a half pages I'd be underselling myself.

CorkFenian

Any examples of best 2 page cv template to use??? Broad Q I know..But I think I sell myself short on my cv..

Eoin

I've been using the contemporary resume template that comes with MS Word for about 10 years now. It needs a little tweaking, but I've received good feedback over the years.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

I will give you advice for 25 quid...

Anybody spending money on getting their CV tweeked needs to get their finger out.

I had mine looked at by lots of professionals, not scumbag scammers like jobs.ie.

There is a niche in the market now, where 400 thousand plus people are desperate for a job, what these scumbags are offering are false promises. The chances of you getting a job after spending that 55 euro are probably not any differant than if you got your CV done for free. I had my CV looked at by a career guidance councilor at college, then the jobs club and then the fas office, along with some recruitment agencies. It was all for free. After the jobs club everyone else had very little to add or change.

Don't be so lazy, do some research, there are lots of options out there for you. I suggest your local jobs club. Do not give your money to these bastards preying on the vulnerable.

KarlDrake

Kaitlyn Hallowed Acid wrote: »

I will give you advice for 25 quid...

Anybody spending money on getting their CV tweeked needs to get their finger out.

I had mine looked at by lots of professionals, not scumbag scammers like jobs.ie.

There is a niche in the market now, where 400 thousand plus people are desperate for a job, what these scumbags are offering are false promises. The chances of you getting a job after spending that 55 euro are probably not any differant than if you got your CV done for free. I had my CV looked at by a career guidance councilor at college, then the jobs club and then the fas office, along with some recruitment agencies. It was all for free. After the jobs club everyone else had very little to add or change.

Don't be so lazy, do some research, there are lots of options out there for you. I suggest your local jobs club. Do not give your money to these bastards preying on the vulnerable.

Xavier, I'm sure there are cowboys out there like in any industry, however, perhaps it'd be good to hear from someone who's gotten some benefit from a professional CV writer?
I know there are many people who outsource this specialism, I also know that there are a lot of companies out there that reformat and spellcheck CVs for the aforementioned €55. That's an utter waste of money agreed.
But if you're in IT, or a scientist, or whatever, who's unused to writing sales documents, chances are the CV may look good, but just be a list of worked here from x to y, pressing these buttons.
Features, no benefits.
So, as you say, there are over 400k people looking for work, is it not the smart move to get an edge?

thebiglad

I used the Irishjobs CV Service and found it useful - raised some valid points which I have addressed in my amended CV, a good exercise and well worth the cost.
1st post and no I do not work for Irish jobs - although I am open to any suitable offers as been looking for work for 4 months now:P

Really you need a good base CV so that it can be reviewed, analysed and advise given, they do not really write the CV for you.

To be honest without understanding exactly what you do etc that would not be possible - only way would be face to face meeting a few hours of interviewing - not gonna get that for €55!

As regards CV length, mine is 3 pages and could not be shorter, I have 20 years experience in 5 roles and my last role was a senior management position in a highly specialised company.

1 piece of advise would be to look up the book - 'Where's my Oasis' by Rowan Manahan (a cv advise book written recently and not in an american way for a change) - found it invaluable.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

CV Service wrote: »

I am the project manager on the <modsnip>

A few questions for you.

Who are these "experts" that you have hired? Are they qualified with recruiting people first hand, or shortlisting them for a third party?

Have you any solid proof that the feedback you have received is good?

Considering the fact that most job seekers will be on social welfare, which stands at 204 euro per week, do you think that 55 euro is a bit much for a "service" which you can get elsewhere for free?

I don't believe anybody should have to pay for this service.

I am sure your next move would be to claim you are the best in the business... I can assure you, you are not.

Again, I suggest going to any job club who would be more than happy to sit with you for a few hours, talk about your CV and the best thing is, it's free

Alternatively, you could go to your old school/college and ask the guidance councilor for advice and help on your CV.

Money isn't floating around like it used to be...

Eoin

Agreed. I know a lot of very competent people in IT but for some reason their CV doesn't do them much justice. I don't think it's lack of effort, it's just that it's a skill that doesn't really get honed in your day to day duties. It's often a very different document and style of presentation to what a lot of people would normally produce.

I've also seen some horrible CVs (one was 12 pages) sent in through recruitment agencies which wouldn't inspire me much to trust their judgement and/or willingness to give advice.

Kaitlyn Hallowed Acid wrote:

Who are these "experts" that you have hired? Are they qualified with recruiting people first hand, or shortlisting them for a third party?
......
Alternatively, you could go to your old school/college and ask the guidance councilor for advice and help on your CV.

I doubt a guidance councillor would have much of that experience.

Kaitlyn Hallowed Acid wrote:

Considering the fact that most job seekers will be on social welfare, which stands at 204 euro per week, do you think that 55 euro is a bit much for a "service" which you can get elsewhere for free?

Maybe it is a lot of money for someone on the dole, but not everyone looking for a job is on the dole either.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

KarlDrake wrote: »

Xavier, I'm sure there are cowboys out there like in any industry, however, perhaps it'd be good to hear from someone who's gotten some benefit from a professional CV writer?
I know there are many people who outsource this specialism, I also know that there are a lot of companies out there that reformat and spellcheck CVs for the aforementioned €55. That's an utter waste of money agreed.
But if you're in IT, or a scientist, or whatever, who's unused to writing sales documents, chances are the CV may look good, but just be a list of worked here from x to y, pressing these buttons.
Features, no benefits.
So, as you say, there are over 400k people looking for work, is it not the smart move to get an edge?

Oh it is definately benificial to have that edge, but why pay for it? In my opinion, it is exploiting the weak and vulnerable. I can see lots of desperate people using this service thinking that they will get a job out of it, which they wont. There are plenty of free alternatives, which people should use first before they go wasting their money. The people in the jobs club are professionals also, so are the careers guidance people, along with others.

thebiglad wrote: »

I used the Irishjobs CV Service and found it useful - raised some valid points which I have addressed in my amended CV, a good exercise and well worth the cost.
1st post and no I do not work for Irish jobs - although I am open to any suitable offers as been looking for work for 4 months now:P

Really you need a good base CV so that it can be reviewed, analysed and advise given, they do not really write the CV for you.

To be honest without understanding exactly what you do etc that would not be possible - only way would be face to face meeting a few hours of interviewing - not gonna get that for €55!

As regards CV length, mine is 3 pages and could not be shorter, I have 20 years experience in 5 roles and my last role was a senior management position in a highly specialised company.

1 piece of advise would be to look up the book - 'Where's my Oasis' by Rowan Manahan (a cv advise book written recently and not in an american way for a change) - found it invaluable.

I am always wary of those people with one post, backing up another in a thread, especially when the one being backed up is a company

Cheap way of advertising...

thebiglad

Yes and my reference to the book means I have a commission with Amazon too!!

I said CV service was useful not essential and brilliant - hardly employee type comments...

Why are 1st time posters always questioned, everyone started somewhere, just trying to help.

Good luck with the job search whichever route you follow...:)

kippy

I've had this conversation with people before.
Some people are great at writing CV's, others are REALLY REALLY bad.
I'm generally a pretty good CV writer, keeping it below two pages, tailoring it for a specific job, relevant information only, a basic black and white format, easy to read with double line spacing, well put together. I've gotten numerous interviews over the years, which leads me to believe my CV's cant be that bad. I've also got numerous jobs out of those interviews which also leads me to believe my interview skills must be pretty good also.

That said, it too me a fair bit of research on the web, looking at a few peoples CV's and spending a lot of time messing with my own (early on in my career) to get good at it.

If you are a very poor CV writer then spending the money to work with someone to help you (they wont do it for you, to let them do that without input from you is foolish) may be a good idea. Not everyone is well versed and can put together a good one.
If you spent 4 years working your ass of in college, spending all that money etc, what point is there saving circa 100 euro to write your own CV which wont get you near an interview?
Tis okay if your good at it but if not.........

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

eoin wrote: »

I doubt a guidance councillor would have much of that experience.

Apart from doubts, any other reason why you wouldn't use this free option? My Career guidance councillor was brilliant... she advertised "CV writing, cover letters, interviews" Oh she is very very qualified in what she does. There is no doubt about it.

Maybe it is a lot of money for someone on the dole, but not everyone looking for a job is on the dole either.

Over 400 thousand people on social welfare, it is hard to believe that there are more people working, actively looking for new jobs at the moment.

thebiglad wrote: »

Yes and my reference to the book means I have a commission with Amazon too!!

I said CV service was useful not essential and brilliant - hardly employee type comments...

Why are 1st time posters always questioned, everyone started somewhere, just trying to help.

Good luck with the job search whichever route you follow...:)

I said I was wary, as it was not long after mr jobs.ie posted. It seems a little suspicious is all

Alun

eoin wrote: »

Agreed. I know a lot of very competent people in IT but for some reason their CV doesn't do them much justice. I don't think it's lack of effort, it's just that it's a skill that doesn't really get honed in your day to day duties. It's often a very different document and style of presentation to what a lot of people would normally produce.

Especially considering the current trend to 'blow your own trumpet' in CV's is something a lot of people, not limited to IT, just don't feel comfortable with. Maybe if you're in sales, advertising or marketing that kind of thing comes naturally to you, but for most people, especially those with a technical, scientific bent it doesn't. I had my CV professionally 'done' a good few years back, and it still makes me cringe when I read it.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

kippy wrote: »

I've had this conversation with people before.
Some people are great at writing CV's, others are REALLY REALLY bad.
I'm generally a pretty good CV writer, keeping it below two pages, tailoring it for a specific job, relevant information only, a basic black and white format, easy to read with double line spacing, well put together. I've gotten numerous interviews over the years, which leads me to believe my CV's cant be that bad. I've also got numerous jobs out of those interviews which also leads me to believe my interview skills must be pretty good also.

That said, it too me a fair bit of research on the web, looking at a few peoples CV's and spending a lot of time messing with my own (early on in my career) to get good at it.

If you are a very poor CV writer then spending the money to work with someone to help you (they wont do it for you, to let them do that without input from you is foolish) may be a good idea. Not everyone is well versed and can put together a good one.
If you spent 4 years working your ass of in college, spending all that money etc, what point is there saving circa 100 euro to write your own CV which wont get you near an interview?
Tis okay if your good at it but if not.........

Again, why pay for it? If you are in college, there are people in college that can do that for you, professionals. There is fas and there is the local jobs club. All free... and they are only the ones I know of. Why pay anyone? The question is not about if you are good at it or not, I wasn't brilliant at it so I sought help, but why should I pay for it?

kippy

Kaitlyn Hallowed Acid wrote: »

Again, why pay for it? If you are in college, there are people in college that can do that for you, professionals. There is fas and there is the local jobs club. All free... and they are only the ones I know of. Why pay anyone? The question is not about if you are good at it or not, I wasn't brilliant at it so I sought help, but why should I pay for it?

Fair enough, there are lots of "free" resources out there to help you (Thats how I did it).

BUT

There are LOTS and LOTS of free things in general (software to name but one) which do the same things as paid for options. Why do people pay for anything when there are free options available?

That said Kaitlyn Hallowed Acid, I agree with you, if you have the time and patience (which you should have as this is important) there are plenty of FREE options out there to help you.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Don't get me wrong, if there is a company doing this kind of business for years, fair enough. I have a problem with people taking advantage of the vulnerable.

You cannot compare this to software... A lot of things that you get for free is crap, but these free services are subsidised or funded from somewhere, be it the county council, your college fees or fundraising. The people in these jobs are getting paid to do something specific. It is not just an opinion, it's what they do for a living. Get me?

artful_codger

Mairead1975 wrote: »

I do this for a living so I could go on for days!

i bet you could, you waffler.