Happy New Year! I think we're all over it now and we have hit the ground running. Most people took advantage of the days that the holiday fell over and had a full two week break. I certainly didn't do anything work related but as usual in January, I came back to a very full inbox with lots of new CVs - new year, new career and all that. Which is great! If you go back over my blogs for the last, um, 10 years (one a month, religiously), you'll find various pieces of advice on putting CVs together, what's acceptable, what's not and an often humorous review of what others might have considered to be worthy of inclusion on their CV.
Last week, there was a piece in the Metro Newspaper - 'Selfies and lies...how CV howlers can cost you a job'. Copyright rules prevent me from just directly lifting the article but I found myself just nodding at everything that was cited. In summary:
Fact 1: Bosses take just 34 seconds looking at your CV to decide if you are fit for the job.
Last week, there was a piece in the Metro Newspaper - 'Selfies and lies...how CV howlers can cost you a job'. Copyright rules prevent me from just directly lifting the article but I found myself just nodding at everything that was cited. In summary:
Fact 1: Bosses take just 34 seconds looking at your CV to decide if you are fit for the job.
Probably true. They'll scan through it. CVs need to be succinct, to the point and immediately 'tick the boxes' for the boss. Review your CV relative to each role that you are going for. Tailor it if necessary. Highlight the specific skills that make you 'right' for this particular role. If you're going through a recruiter, ask their advice for any amends and ensure that they are going to 'pitch' you the right way.
Fact 2: That 34 seconds is reduced if the CV includes a selfie.
Definitely true. Don't. Preferably no photos.
Fact 3: Keep the CV to 2 A4 pages. No rambling.
Generally true. The best CVs are 2 sides of A4. I don't think it's career suicide to go over but extensive CVs are mostly just too wordy and include the fact that you did grade 2 piano when you were 10. You need to be able to edit and to show employers what your real skills are.
Fact 4: Over 1000 recruiters found that employees get the name of the company they are applying to wrong.
Frequently true. This is a direct result of online applications. The speed at which people are applying for jobs is much quicker than in the old days where you had to print a CV, type a specific covering letter and then post it! Copy and Paste is a devil... The worst offender is the 'Dear.....'. within a cover letter. I see Dear Recruiter, Dear Hiring Manager, Dear John. All my roles are clearly advertised saying please apply to Fiona Christian so it's not tricky to get right. I'll still check a CV but there are plenty of HR Managers for whom that would be game over in their selection procedure.
Fact 5: Telling porkies is the biggest CV crime. A third of recruiters say that a lie scuppers your chances of getting the job.
True - ish. I think that elaboration and exaggeration of facts is more common than outright lying. From the very simple fudging of an age, a degree classification (lots of 2:2s magically become 2:1s) through to dates of employment. Whoever said honesty is the best policy was right. Stick to the facts.
Fact 6: Cliches and inexplicable gaps in career history will land your CV in the bin.
True - ish. Depends who is reading the CV. I'm quite intolerant of cliches but realistically I can't bin the CVs as I'd have to bin 98% of them. Nearly every CV begins with a bit of blah. Try to make your personal profile a decent one and actually non cliche driven. Gaps in your CV will not land it in the bin, however, inexplicable ones will be asked about. A one line explanation should suffice.
Fact 7: Spelling & Punctuation errors are a major faux pas.
True. Check, check and check again.
Fact 8: Inappropriate stuff. Email addresses, social media handles, hobbies. If you want the job, keep them clean.
True. I once had 'hotsexyrabbit:xxxxx.co.uk as a candidate email address. Seriously. If you are going to link your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds to the CV then be prepared for potential employers to look at them. If they're not 'on brand' and include anything inflammatory, less than professional, you're going to be judged. And if you're judged negatively, you're not going to get the job. I've written before about 'hobbies' on CVs. Keep it to one line, we don't need to know your cat's name. Dry humour is fine in context but I've seen some howlers.
The recruiter who commissioned the research for this article was Adecco Retail which is essentially a high street recruiter but the facts stay true whatever role you are applying for. The CV is your door opener and you need to make sure that it really sells you to an employer. Get the basics right - typos will often kill a CV's chances of an interview because an employer will assume poor attention to detail and an acceptance of low standards in your life. Avoid this with spellchecker!
The final advice given in the article is to make sure you have your contact details on the CV. Seems obvious! As a recruiter I always remove personal details but they do need to be there in the first instance. Nothing here is going to astound or astonish you but even the most senior candidates cock up their CVs. Treat it with the respect it deserves!