C.V. Review Services

affricates

Can anyone recommend a good C.V. review service? I am a speech therapist and finding it hard to get passed the application stage for jobs!

I don't know, but I don't think this is something worth paying for. How long is it currently? If it's longer than 2 pages it's too long imo.

Zascar

It's definitely worth paying for. Some CV's are awful. Mate of mine was trying to go from car sales to tech, tried for months no itnerviews. Used a service like this and got several interviews and a job.

Zascar

Zascar wrote: »

It's definitely worth paying for. Some CV's are awful. Mate of mine was trying to go from car sales to tech, tried for months no itnerviews. Used a service like this and got several interviews and a job.

Fair enough, do you know what the service was then for the OP?

affricates

Zascar wrote: »

It's definitely worth paying for. Some CV's are awful. Mate of mine was trying to go from car sales to tech, tried for months no itnerviews. Used a service like this and got several interviews and a job.

Yeah, I am not doing well in securing interviews. I work in healthcare so find it so hard to know how it should look! If you had the name of that service I'd really appreciate it

FreshCoffee

I don't know any CV review services but IMHO the cover letter is all-important and can be the difference in getting an interview or not when a lot of applications are being screened.

Keep the cover letter to one page and the CV to two pages. If you do use a review service make sure you have a sample cover letter to review. I say 'sample' because your cover letter will usually need to be a little different for each prospective employer.

affricates

FreshCoffee wrote: »

I don't know any CV review services but IMHO the cover letter is all-important and can be the difference in getting an interview or not when a lot of applications are being screened.

Keep the cover letter to one page and the CV to two pages. If you do use a review service make sure you have a sample cover letter to review. I say 'sample' because your cover letter will usually need to be a little different for each prospective employer.

What things do you recommend including in the cover letter?

Jim2007

Isaiah Rancid Upholstery wrote: »

I don't know, but I don't think this is something worth paying for. How long is it currently? If it's longer than 2 pages it's too long imo.

The first filter you have to get passed is the agency/HR person etc... at there it can help as they can ensure you mention all the things the box tickers are checking for.

FreshCoffee

affricates wrote: »

What things do you recommend including in the cover letter?

There are many great examples of cover letters on the internet. I even found some samples for a speech therapist on a quich search.
In general it needs to create interest & get you to the interview where you then need to be prepared to sell yourself. Don't re-write your CV in the cover letter. Your CV is there for backup.

Make sure your cover letter shows your enthusiasm. Every sentence should be positive. For example if you have a passion for your work, then say so! I always think it should show synergy with a 30 second elevator pitch you might make if you happened to meet the same employer.

You might talk about:
Introduce yourself,who you are & your enthusiasm/passion for your area of work
your enthusiasm for the advertised job and the company/organisation
show why you are the ideal candidate, how well your experience meets the job requirements (focus on results if possible). Show why you stand out over others. (Don't talk about what the job can do for you but rather what you can do for the employer).

Always finish by saying you are looking forward to the interview. EG I look forward to the opportunity to meet with you to discuss my application at an interview and attach my CV for your consideration.

Whatever you do, get someone to proofread it for typos and grammar.

garbeth

Affricates. Just sent you a PM with details of a cv service I’ve used before.

Zascar

My best advise is focus less on cover letters and more on finding someone in that company who can refer you. Add some people on linkedin and chat to them - ask for help and a referral etc - often they get a bonus if they refer someone in - people always prefer personal referrals to the unknown. Depends in the sector obviously this works well in tech - but not always in other industries.

GalwayGrrrrrl

Zascar wrote: »

My best advise is focus less on cover letters and more on finding someone in that company who can refer you. Add some people on linkedin and chat to them - ask for help and a referral etc - often they get a bonus if they refer someone in - people always prefer personal referrals to the unknown. Depends in the sector obviously this works well in tech - but not always in other industries.

This. Even in public service jobs it is easier to get a job via contacts and recommendations. For example I got my first hse job covering the maternity leave of a contact and this lead to a permanent job. Could you do some work experience in your desired places of work, get to know the staff there.

Zascar

Zascar wrote: »

My best advise is focus less on cover letters and more on finding someone in that company who can refer you. Add some people on linkedin and chat to them - ask for help and a referral etc - often they get a bonus if they refer someone in - people always prefer personal referrals to the unknown. Depends in the sector obviously this works well in tech - but not always in other industries.

You’d need some brass neck to do that, I know I couldn’t do it anyway.
Even if you had one that hard, I’d be making sure it’s allowed by linkedins T&C’s too.

kathleen37

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

You’d need some brass neck to do that, I know I couldn’t do it anyway.
Even if you had one that hard, I’d be making sure it’s allowed by linkedins T&C’s too.

This is pretty standard in the tech industry.

Zascar

People reach out to me all the time looking for jobs because I'm active on LinkedIn - nothing strange at all. I'm always happy to help them - and if they are any good I'll refer them and can earn 2-4k if they get a job. I've got 5 people jobs in my company in the last 10 years, 2 of which I never knew before they messaged me.

Jim2007

garbeth wrote: »

Affricates. Just sent you a PM with details of a cv service I’ve used before.

It would be useful if you simple shared it on the thread for everyone who might need it.

garbeth

Didn’t think I could as that would be advertising. If a mod agrees that it’s ok I’ll post the details. Otherwise pm me nd I’ll give the details

dmm82

garbeth wrote: »

Didn’t think I could as that would be advertising. If a mod agrees that it’s ok I’ll post the details. Otherwise pm me nd I’ll give the details

Hi could you pm me too thanks