CVs in word format, smaller than 1mb (Warning:rant)

wildswan

<rant>
Was just registering on another jobs site there and got to the CV upload bit.
It has to be <1MB and in MS word format.

I don't have MS word! Any chance of an open source friendly option? It IS 2011. I also want my CV to appear as designed.

I have some pictures on my CV which are very necessary. (Kind of a portfolio)

Why the hell do they bother with this crap of making people send only 1 format?Surely they have acrobat installed?

It's not like everyone's gonna attach 10MB CVs, but it can matter for a very few people. Who needs a job site when it restricts your ability to even present yourself properly?

Aggggghhhh:mad:

</rant>

greendom

It would obviously lose something in presentation, but couldn't you provide links to the pictures?

wildswan

Well it's not the same really.

Doesn't solve the main problem tho! Surely locking candidates into MS word is wrong? No way I'm buying another MS product!

wolf moon

wildswan wrote: »

I don't have MS word! Any chance of an open source friendly option?

What's wrong with Libre Office (formerly Open Office)?? You can save documents in Word's *.doc format...

http://www.libreoffice.org/download

wildswan

Hi wolf, I use openoffice. The problem is, you never really know if the document will look ok when someone opens it in word.

I always use pdf for that reason. I mean it's a format designed for purpose, portable documents.

Anyway I'll just use the other jobsites/agencies.

I just think it's unprofessional and well, a bit crap, to just ask for word format.

It's not 1995 :pac:

wolf moon

wildswan wrote: »

Hi wolf, I use openoffice. The problem is, you never really know if the document will look ok when someone opens it in word.

I always use pdf for that reason. I mean it's a format designed for purpose, portable documents.

Anyway I'll just use the other jobsites/agencies.

I just think it's unprofessional and well, a bit crap, to just ask for word format.

It's not 1995 :pac:

I know what you mean, I drop some CV's around from time to time myself and 99% they want is Word format. However I cannot agree with you regarding compatibility matter, as Excel files MAY cause some minor issues I have never ever came across a single issue with *.doc files created in Open/Libre Office, nor I have heard of any issues my mates were having. And as a Linux user it's all I have, so use it quite often...

Good luck!

Eoin

PDFs can be very annoying - I'd avoid it at all possible.

Also, if your CV layout can vary that much between different applications, then maybe it's an idea to consider if it's overly complex or fussy.

wildswan

wolf moon wrote: »

I know what you mean, I drop some CV's around from time to time myself and 99% they want is Word format. However I cannot agree with you regarding compatibility matter, as Excel files MAY cause some minor issues I have never ever came across a single issue with *.doc files created in Open/Libre Office, nor I have heard of any issues my mates were having. And as a Linux user it's all I have, so use it quite often...

Good luck!

That's good to hear! Actually I had problems with Openoffice Impress and opening MS word documents in Openoffice. Not the other way round, good to hear it works. I like to use linux quite a bit!


Eoin what exactly is annoying about pdf files?

I did warn this was a rant

Eoin

It's annoying for a lot of people because the odds are that the PDF viewer installed is going to be the incredibly bloaty Adobe Acrobat that can't edit PDFs.

HR people have to remove contact details from a CV before it's sent on to whoever is reviewing the CV, to make sure communication is done through the correct channels.

I've been vetting a lot of CVs recently, and although it might horrify people - I like to make notes / underline sections etc. I don't like printing it out just to have to do that.

Before you say that they don't have the right to change it as it's your design and so on - you're applying to them, along with God knows how many other people. Don't annoy the people who filter CVs.

wildswan

Eoin wrote: »

It's annoying for a lot of people because the odds are that the PDF viewer installed is going to be the incredibly bloaty Adobe Acrobat that can't edit PDFs.

HR people have to remove contact details from a CV before it's sent on to whoever is reviewing the CV, to make sure communication is done through the correct channels.

I've been vetting a lot of CVs recently, and although it might horrify people - I like to make notes / underline sections etc. I don't like printing it out just to have to do that.

Before you say that they don't have the right to change it as it's your design and so on - you're applying to them, along with God knows how many other people. Don't annoy the people who filter CVs.

Ahh that makes sense! I didn't realise the CVs were edited to keep the contact details secret. Still it would be good if .odf format was always accepted, for linux users.

You live, you learn

Eoin

Yep - agencies in particular will edit a CV as they don't want to miss out on the commission in case the company goes behind their back directly to the candidate.

I'd say the vast majority of companies use MS Word. It might not be to your liking, but you have to cater for the masses and swallow your pride on this one.
.odf doesn't need to be supported, as linux users can save a document in doc format - the trick is making sure the formatting is nice and standard.

I'd say the exception to all this is if you're in some sort of graphic / creative design role where your CV might be a bit more of a portfolio than just a summary document, if you know what I mean.

wildswan

Eoin wrote: »

Yep - agencies in particular will edit a CV as they don't want to miss out on the commission in case the company goes behind their back directly to the candidate.

I'd say the vast majority of companies use MS Word. It might not be to your liking, but you have to cater for the masses and swallow your pride on this one.
.odf doesn't need to be supported, as linux users can save a document in doc format - the trick is making sure the formatting is nice and standard.

I'd say the exception to all this is if you're in some sort of graphic / creative design role where your CV might be a bit more of a portfolio than just a summary document, if you know what I mean.

What does pride have to do with it?

I'm an electronic engineer, but I do need images included. What exactly is nice and standard? I have images and descriptions on my CV without which I wouldn't even submit the CV.

The main issue I have is that jobs and employees are far more important than some of the application processes allow.

I'm not ranting out of bitterness - it's just that all of the offers I've got have been through more open means. (LinkedIn and Email)

Seems to me that limiting people's CVs effectively removes any candidate that isn't completely standard...

PS any good company should be able to afford an editor for acrobat documents.

Mrs OBumble

wildswan wrote: »

PS any good company should be able to afford an editor for acrobat documents.

But they may not want to allow their HR department to use it!

I'm with Eoin: nice simple standard formats keep the most people happy. I've sent CVs to companies that couldn't read PDFs.

Also, automated CV scanners, as used by most recruiters, cannot read pictures. "A picture tells a 000 words" ain't quite true for them. If you really must include pictures of bridges / components / devices / whatever that you have engineered .. load the pictures somewhere and put their URL in. And make sure that you have good key words in the filename. (Urgh .. SEO advice for job-searching!!!)

wildswan

JustMary wrote: »

But they may not want to allow their HR department to use it!

I'm with Eoin: nice simple standard formats keep the most people happy. I've sent CVs to companies that couldn't read PDFs.

Also, automated CV scanners, as used by most recruiters, cannot read pictures. "A picture tells a 000 words" ain't quite true for them. If you really must include pictures of bridges / components / devices / whatever that you have engineered .. load the pictures somewhere and put their URL in. And make sure that you have good key words in the filename. (Urgh .. SEO advice for job-searching!!!)

Yeah I guess it's a case of just being a poor fit for recruitment companies!

Ah well

Mr. Loverman

Out of curiosity, why does an electrical engineer need images in his CV?

wildswan

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

Out of curiosity, why does an electrical engineer need images in his CV?

Hi,
I have a number of fairly involved prototypes that I put together from scratch, including all of the hardware, pcbs and programming etc. Raises a few eyebrows, but generally they love it in the interviews!

Oddball I know

sdanseo

www.openoffice.org

Different to libre office, which I've not used. OO is the original so to speak.

Jimoslimos

Eoin wrote: »

It's annoying for a lot of people because the odds are that the PDF viewer installed is going to be the incredibly bloaty Adobe Acrobat that can't edit PDFs.

TBH I'd prefer if my CV was non-editable. Less risk of accidental insertions/omissions and confusion further down the line. The only person who should be allowed and able to edit my personal data is me

wildswan

sdeire wrote: »

www.openoffice.org

Different to libre office, which I've not used. OO is the original so to speak.

I already use openoffice. Just typed up an 80pg report with it in august.

Eoin

Jimoslimos wrote: »

TBH I'd prefer if my CV was non-editable. Less risk of accidental insertions/omissions and confusion further down the line. The only person who should be allowed and able to edit my personal data is me

That's totally understandable. But if you apply to an agency, you have to accept that they will may want to remove your contact details so they can arrange the communications. I applied for a job years ago and the agency forgot to do this and sure enough the company contacted me directly, trying to cut out the 15% commission the agency would have taken.

At the end of the day, you are applying to them, with potentially a lot of other applicants. The interview is where you can shine, so give yourself every opportunity to get there by annoying (even slightly) the people who do the shortlists.

superstoner90

i need help writing up a cv
what format does it go
or if you had any online templates that could help

THANKS

Eoin

Check out the links in this thread - lots of tips there. Some of the resume templates that come with MS Word are quite good. I've been using one of them for years now.

superstoner90

Eoin wrote: »

Check out the links in this thread - lots of tips there. Some of the resume templates that come with MS Word are quite good. I've been using one of them for years now.

THANKS Eoin