Monthly Archives: January 2013

A bit of fun, CV Tips, Job Applications, Observations

Amusing grammatical errors found in CVs

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Over the years of working in recruitment I have seen all manner of CVs from students to Directors – one common mistake made on CVs is an inability to proof read the CV before making applications for jobs. Now it is hilariously funny seeing some of the mistakes but is catastrophic for the applicant as you are clearly demonstrating your lack of attention to detail, good writing skills and sometimes it just looks like you don’t care.

I didn't did I?

Here are some examples of where spellchecker is not your friend as it won’t pick up the wrong use of language:

  • Dealing with customer queries and multi-tasting

Uh oh, you may enjoy tasting from the biscuit tin but that is not addressing the task in hand!

  • Ruining corporate level strategy meetings

Ha ha well there may have been times where the meetings didn’t go to plan but running away from this gaff will leave you out in the cold with recruiters.

  • Accruing anal reports for senior management

We’ve all had to work on very detailed reports however year end reporting is not to be picked at.

  • Managing work odours

There may be a few nasty niffs in the office, I find that buying a plug-in air freshener usually puts things back in order 😉

  • Career break – maturity leave

After writing this article I feel some maturity leave may well be in order – it has certainly given me some belly laughs.

  • Responsible for coping, editing and print

A good coping mechanism can be to copy others maybe?

  • Demonstrable track record of poof-reading

This one just needs to disappear in a poof and some serious proof reading is required.

  • Pubic relations officer

Not to be made public I fear.

The lesson to be learned from this story is not to solely rely on spell/grammar checker when writing your CV. It is easy to make a mistake when you are trying to get down all your information and not re-reading the document several times before sending it out to employers and recruiters will be your biggest mistake of all.

guest blogger, Hiring Manager, Interviews

Interview Tips for the Employer

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Being on the employer side of business instead of the one searching for a job can make it seem as though you’ve got all the advantages.

However, finding the right employee for your organisation is a tricky proposition. Not only will you have to carefully read between the lines of your prospect’s CV, you’ll have to determine if he or she is a correct fit for your organization.

What’s more, each applicant will have to be evaluated as to their potential longevity with the company. The last thing you want to do is spend a large amount of time screening a pool of applicants, painstakingly select the perfect one, train them for months, and then have them leave you within a short period of time.

Once you’ve determined the unique needs and requirements of the position and your strategy for selecting the ideal candidate, it’s time to focus on the interview process. While there are many interview guides for job candidates, employers as well can suffer from lack of knowledge regarding interview techniques and etiquette. Many executives actually become quite nervous at the idea of meeting and greeting a candidate.

Assuming you’ve screened candidates properly, and are awaiting a meeting with an excellent prospect, there are several tips to follow for a great interview.

Make a Good First Impression

Remember that the candidate is also screening your company for an appropriate fit. Be sure to have a tidy, clean space for receiving your candidate. Organise any loose papers neatly in lever arch files to eliminate clutter, and offer water or coffee. Dress in professional clothing (appropriate to your industry) and introduce yourself in a friendly manner, stating your full name and title. You may chat a bit about the weather or other neutral subjects but try to keep small talk to a minimum.

Prepare in Advance

A good candidate will arrive well-prepared for the interview and you should do the same. Take the time to become acquainted with his or her CV and make notes to yourself about which points you’d like to learn more about. Being prepared with a lever arch file of carefully listed questions will help reduce any anxiety you may have about the meeting as well.

Interviews

Ask Smart Questions

Your questions should help you relate your candidate’s knowledge, skills and abilities to the requirements of the position. Asking open-ended questions will allow him or her to expand upon certain subjects. It is fine to ask about past failures and how they were handled, or ask about why he or she is seeking a new job, but don’t try to trap them or test them under pressure. Record answers carefully and file them (along with your candidate’s CV) in a lever arch file for quick reference.

End on a Positive Note

Each and every candidate should be treated kindly and respectfully even if you know from the beginning you won’t be offering them the job. Thank him or her for their time, and advise them as to where you are in the hiring process so they’ll know when to expect a response from you. Once you’ve selected a candidate for a job offer, be sure to contact each person you interviewed to let them know that the position has been filled. You may also provide feedback, upon request, to those not selected.

 

Business Networking, Business Services, LinkedIn, News

Is your LinkedIn profile good enough for business?

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I have been using LinkedIn for a number of years now, at first it was often used as business contact facility but over the years it has transformed to a recruitment tool for agencies and employers and very much the B2B networking and marketing tool.

As such I have been quite intrigued by some profiles as I skip through the site from time to time to see what people are up to and read through suggested links etc. intrigued and disappointed. If I have been talking with one of my contacts and asked if they could suggest someone who could do XYZ they are always very good at passing on their experiences and more importantly their contacts. At the end of the day word of mouth really is a key driver certainly for small businesses but also with the larger names. But if you are like me, when it is suggested you use a particular business or contact then you research them first. I always check out what people are saying about them but also look them up on LinkedIn and I find it so disappointing when the profile is limited, often just stating the dates and company name and maybe a job title. There is no real meat for the viewer; in fact there is little point to there actually having a profile. I like to see recommendations from clients’, peers, line managers etc. I also like to see what it is you do in your role and if you are a small business director – what is it your business does? What projects have you worked on? Who are your clients’?

As part of an expansion to our services at The CV Righter – we are now undertaking business services such as writing content for LinkedIn profiles, and we feel that you cannot afford not to address such an important part of creating the right image for your business.

Do not delay – drop us a line to find out just how competitive our rates are for a LinkedIn profile makeover.

Careers Advice, Friday Snippet, Planning, Recruitment, The CV Righter

If I had a crystal ball – looking forward to your next career move

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Ever wondered what it would be like to be able to look into a crystal ball and see where you will be in 5 or 10 years time? I remember when I was at Uni fresh faced to the world and its offerings, worried about whether I was making the right moves with job applications and cautious about opportunities that seemed too good to be true. The truth is that we have an idea in our minds where we want to be in the future but do we really put together a plan of action.

I have spoken with a great deal of project professionals at varying levels of seniority and all said the same thing – you may have a plan but it is often the case that you deviate due to life or economical changes. However with a strong plan and determination you can succeed in your chosen path with a little effort. The issue tends to lay by those not being clear in articulating what it is they want and not knowing where to go to actually get it.

We offer a service which not only assists you in clearly defining your skill-set to employers, we also advise how and where to go to once you have a strong application. For those out there who really research and put the work in, they are yielding great results and the jobs you could only hope for as you continue using tried and tested (but bulging) resources.

Take time out to let someone who knows the industry well and has a great deal of experience in indentifying opportunities coupled with a wealth of experience in turning CVs into something which works. Having worked with HR staff and senior management in all industries from financial services, IT, engineering to healthcare and digital media to name a few we understand what it is that grabs the attention of employers for the right reason and we also understand how these roles come about so we can advise a backdoor approach which gets you ahead of the competition.

Drop us a line today with your CV and we’ll talk through how we can best help you and we will give you a free CV review to help you understand how your CV is coming across to others.