Mass sending of CV

pben

Hi, I am looking to get into back into the Security work as there's no other work these days,
I emailed my CV to 27 companys yesterday and have not received 1 reply !!

I'm thinking the spam fillter got them ?

pben

Packieenright

No i'd say they got your email alright. Otherwise twould have bounced back at you. Did you write a cover letter? Even if you did it's no surprise that no one replies, that's what i'm getting everyday looking for jobs. You're very lucky if they even have the decency to reply to you. Emails are easily deleted, so i've started posting in printed off CV's and cover letters into them too.

ANyway no matter how highly qualified you are there's no work to be had. Unless you have some 'pull' - that speaks louder than any qualification or experience. Those lucky enough to have a job don't realise it, and the rest of us are just called bums. I'm considering getting off the sinking ship.

pben

pben wrote: »

I'm thinking the spam fillter got them ?

Im thinking the jobs market sucks

sorry but this is the norm for job seekers these days, just keep at it dont give up, consider calling in person or phoning.

pben

Sure I done a nice cover letter, it's only one day so will give a week and update

leggo

I'm one of the few lucky one's who managed to land a FT job (in security, actually) recently.

The best advice I can give is to not beat yourself up. As other posters are saying, what you're going through is par for the course and what I went through for 18 months. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, even if everything seems to be coming crashing down. Just find a way to make life work in the short-term and keep plugging away. Also make sure you're keeping yourself occupied somehow (going to the gym, going on regular walks etc) and not sitting by the PC and phone waiting for replies that aren't coming.

I say this not to be condascending, by the way, but in the hope that you can benefit from mistakes that I made myself!

What I did was get into a routine of sending 5 applications per day. That way, I could rest assured that I was doing SOMETHING on a daily basis to dig myself out of the mess. Sending 27 applications at once puts a lot of pressure on you, because you've put SO much work in in one day that it all seems useless and it would very easy to lose motivation.

I presume you have a licence...that's a qualification...and (though this mightn't be politically correct) if you're Irish and have access to your own transport it gets your foot in the door a LOT faster in security.

Eventually, something came up. So it CAN be done. I'm living proof. You just need to keep hunting and not lose heart.

Quick question: you didn't send a bulk email (so the employers could see all of the other places you applied to), did you? If so, that might be your problem. All of the good you've done in your cover letter convincing them that THIS is the company you want to work for is undone by the fact that they see you saying the same thing to 26 other people.

pben

Leggo,

No just sent 1 mail per company only took about 40 mins in all, copy & paste
never done a mail shot like that before I'm just testing the market
I worked in the bussiness for 8 yrs back in the 1990's

epgc3fyqirnbsx

I sent out 121 CV's a few weeks back. Spent a week and a half of my dole on a printer, ink, paper and stamps.
I was expecting to hear little back but have received about 35 PFO's and one interview.
I was very happy with this because speaking to others who were applying to the same industry, often they heard nothing back. What was more suprising was what I heard back in the letters, that my CV was so strong.
I had thought it pretty weak as it was lacking direct experience. And even the person who is interviewing me is doing so completely on the strenght of my CV.
The only reason why I can say this is so is the fact that I spent two days writing it, no lies but every single word is precisely chosen as is the format. Really really sold myself without any bs talk. And I used a generic cover letter with paragraphs and details that can be altered to make it fit.

It took me an entire week and a bit of cash to do all this, but in these times, if you get an interview, and a few promises to pass it on to others who they know to be interested, it is very worth the effort.

we'llallhavetea_old

Taliyah Old Uvula wrote: »

I sent out 121 CV's a few weeks back. Spent a week and a half of my dole on a printer, ink, paper and stamps.
I was expecting to hear little back but have received about 35 PFO's and one interview.

dude, you could have went to the post office and got them printed :eek:

or the library!

leggo

pben wrote: »

Leggo,

No just sent 1 mail per company only took about 40 mins in all, copy & paste
never done a mail shot like that before I'm just testing the market
I worked in the bussiness for 8 yrs back in the 1990's

Nice man. So I'm taking it you don't have a licence now? If not, and you can afford even E80 for the static one (though the full one obviously gives you more options), get it.

No company will take you on if they have to foot the bill. They would have when they first came in...but by now the PSA has moved onto 2nd issuing of licences and everyone who was working beforehand (a considerable amount are currently unemployed, mind) has a licence by now.

If you hunt around, you could probably get a course booked and done with within a week. Give another week for the letter establishing that your licence is pending to arrive. Make sure you make it clear that you're licenced to work and have 8 years experience in both cover note and CV and you'll open doors a LOT quicker.

pben

leggo wrote: »

Nice man. So I'm taking it you don't have a licence now? If not, and you can afford even E80 for the static one (though the full one obviously gives you more options), get it.

No company will take you on if they have to foot the bill. They would have when they first came in...but by now the PSA has moved onto 2nd issuing of licences and everyone who was working beforehand (a considerable amount are currently unemployed, mind) has a licence by now.

If you hunt around, you could probably get a course booked and done with within a week. Give another week for the letter establishing that your licence is pending to arrive. Make sure you make it clear that you're licenced to work and have 8 years experience in both cover note and CV and you'll open doors a LOT quicker.

Have done a Level 4 course and licence applied for, but back in the day security jobs were 10 a penny they could n't get the staff !

leggo

Great man. You have the licence application letter then yeah? (There's an official name for it, slips my mind now)

Just make sure you plaster the fact that you're licenced all over the cover letter and CV and keep hunting dude.

pben

27 CV's sent on monday still not 1 reply

Shelflife

As an employer if i advertise a job i reply to all applicants, if i havent advertised and get CVs mailed or dropped in i dont reply, simply dont have time to do it.

LimeFruitGum

Shelflife wrote: »

As an employer if i advertise a job i reply to all applicants, if i havent advertised and get CVs mailed or dropped in i dont reply, simply dont have time to do it.

It takes time to go through CVs, compare them against the advertised specs and other candidates. That's before you even narrow it down to the interview shortlist. And there is usually more than one person involved in the recruiting process in the target company, so that just adds to the wait.

Tbh, I normally delete CVs that were clearly mass-mailed, or where the candidate just fired it off on spec, without bothering to tailor it for the specific vacancy. If they can't be arsed to make a proper application...? Having said that, maybe the companies have just found a candidate they preferred or a final decision hasn't been made yet. It could take a few weeks and unless there's a super-urgent need to fill the job immediately, companies might take their time over it.