Whilst sifting through my inbox this morning, i discovered an email from my boss containing a great blog post by Craig Fisher on CV formatting, which I have to share with you.

The blog hit on many issues surrounding CV formatting, and while I nodded along thinking, "exactly! too right!" I realised that my ability to agree and relate was probably to do with sitting on the other side of the fence. I assistjobseekers, but i'm not one. I know that fancy formatting, image rich files, PDFs etc. are not ideal for sending your CV to a recruiter, but this is because I know which files FreeMyCV.com does and doesn't accept- and why. You guys on the other hand, probably don't...

The main points from Craig's blog which you need to know are as follows:

"when you forward your resume to a recruiter, they often have to copy and paste it into a new format that follows their protocol before they forward it on to the hiring manager"
With FreeMyCV.com- We only let you upload your CV in .rtf or .doc/.docx- This is because the recruiters we work with only accept these file formats. They have particular protocols for viewing CV's and these formats are best. Other recruiters may take your CV in a different format, like a PDF, but that doesn't mean it will stay like that. If a recruiter needs to strip your CV out of its file format, they will, and probably won't ever tell you it happened.

"Resumes that are heavily formatted with tables and graphics don't translate very well when they are pasted into a new document. Your best bet is to use the 97-2003 version MS Word (not my favorite either), minimizing tables and graphics."
Craig is totally right here. The older version of Microsoft Word, is the best format for me to see your CV in, and a lot of recruiters will agree. Sending your CV in a new version of Word might be incompatible with some recruiters' old Office packages- so either a .doc or a rich text format will enable absolute maximum exposure of your CV to the majority of recruiters.

"The information in the resume is far more important than a flashy style."
Although your CV might look visually impressive- nice fonts, well presented tables, image rich with jpegs of previous projects (if you are in a visual field, you may desperately want to show off your handywork) but looks aren't everything!! And in fact, just like your mother would tell you that personality is more important than looks- the same is true in recruitment; content is king, and a well written CV with important information regarding your skills and achievements, is 100 times more useful to a recruiter than knowing you can pick a lovely border. If you do have design work to show off, then let the recruiter know that these are available on request within your CV.

"Many resume writing services encourage fancy formatting to 'set you apart'"
CV writing services often produce your CV in a PDF, and will have put a lot of thought into how your CV looks visually. There's nothing wrong with this, and it's great to have your CV looking its best- for individual companies or for taking with you to interviews, this is great. But for CV databases and recruitment agencies- the plainer the better. So ask your CV writer to produce you a version of your CV in html or a rich text version as well, to keep everyone happy!

"Many systems still don't translate .PDF resumes well or at all"
People send me PDFs over email all the time, and while some recruiters do accept them, a LOT don't. And we don't. If someone sends a PDF, I have to tell these users that if they cannot save it in an alternative format, I will have to transfer it to a Word document- and while I might make amendments so that your CVdoesn 't look terrible when it's transferred from doc to doc- some recruiters won't take the same care and attention- and if it is in a format they cannot even open- they might not even have the time to come back to you and let you know. Awful I know, but it might just be true.

"Some candidates will complain that they don't want their resume altered in any way. All I can say to that is that these candidates also don't want a job very badly."
A bold statement by Craig here- but I have to agree with the sentiment. For all those candidates that don't want to compromise the look and feel of their CV format, there are a lot of candidates that will- and they will be the ones getting hired.

Another point worth mentioning is file size- clogging up a recruiters email client while they are trying to download your 1000 KB message is really frustrating- so check your file size. If it is huge, zip the file, and keep the recruiter on your side!

Happy Job Hunting

Image: Gregory Szarkiewicz / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

So now we have officially entered the tweenies, teenies, tennies? err, we'll keep thinking about that one... But anyway, Happy 2010 everyone, but just in case you're feeling slightly nostalgic about the decade gone by, lets take a moment to reflect on thenoughties . Do you know just how far the recruitment industry has come in the last ten years? Have you utilised all of the tech of the modern age, and has it truly helped you in your job search?

There have been many advancements in job seeking over the decade- but how many of them have you used, liked and now can't live without?

Mobile Job Seeking

For those of you who lucked out this Christmas and managed to escape the usual present barrage of dodgy socks and knitwear, you might have unwrapped a shiny new iPhone. And as Apple cleverly keep reminding us that 'there is an app for pretty much everything' you may not be surprised to hear that there are plenty of fine job seeking apps for the iPhone out there.

Jobs websites like AllTheTopBananas.com, TotalJobs.com, Nurses.co.uk, and TipTopJobs.com all have their own mobile job seeking apps, created to assist with job seeking on the move. These apps allow you to search all of the job vacancies on the web with your iPhone, shortlist them, email them, or even apply directly online; wherever you are, job seeking just got a whole lot more convenient.

So what's next?

You can expect a lot more from mobile technology throughout the coming decade, as our need for info on the go will spark ongoing development in this area. With Google today unveiling its 'iPhone killer' the Nexus One, we can expect convenient job seeking technology dev to extend into other leading operating systems like Android, Blackberry OS, Symbian and Windows Mobile... So watch this space, the rise of the smart phone will inevitably keep on rising, but will Apple keep its crown?
 
Twitter

If you're still wondering what Twitter is, and if hashtags and @replies mean nothing to you, where have you been this last decade?! Twitter has taken the media by storm and where celebrities flock, mere mortals were soon to follow, quite literally, creating the biggest online collection of Tweeps, all with 140 characters worth of knowledge or nonsense to impart.

So what's next?

The recruitment industry will be delving into the future of the job board and sizing up the likes of Twitter and other social networks to see whether they measure up as worthy contenders to the traditional jobs website. So can a microblogging social network truly take on the heavyweights like Monster and Reed? Try AllTheTopBananas' Twitter job searching and see what you think...

Jobs Websites

The advent of job boards and jobs websites began in the mid 90s with 1995 seeing Jobsite emerge from the virtual womb and into our lives. The turn of the last decade saw the emergence of a whole host of new contenders, with Monster roaring onto our computer screens in 1999. Now, 10 years on, and they've been joined by a whole host of new competitors from niche sites to jobs search engines, all vying to suit your job seeking needs.

So what's next?

Avid online jobseekers should expect bigger and better things from jobs websites in the coming year. That means more finely tuned job seeking solutions to match your needs. There is a realised importance on ensuring thatjobseekers are exposed to the right jobs, that match your skills, and this will involve making sure that jobs websites can achieve accuratejobseeker profiling, to supply each individual with the exact jobs they want and are qualified to apply for.

Jobs By Email

So what's next?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Jobs websites are always striving to make job seeking easier, and keeping in touch with jobseekers is the best way to help. Job sites will continue to improve their jobs by email services to ensure you get the right jobs for your needs, and for the tech savvy of the bunch, there's always jobs via Twitter direct message, a service offered currently byAllTheTopBananas.com.

CV Distribution

Websites like, oh, I don't know, FreeMyCV.com, are a fantastic way of getting yourself exposed to recruiters. We will register you with jobs websites and send your CV to them, so that recruiters have instant access to your CV, after filling in just one form. The added bonus of using a CV distribution site like ours is that it saves you time. Instead of sitting for hours, registering with every job site under the sun, we'll do it all for you, so you can spend your job seeking time more efficiently.

So what's next?

We have been collecting all of your thoughts and opinions about FreeMyCV in order to make a whole heap of changes to make your lives easier. We will be tweaking, improving and perfecting our service as much as we can to give you the best chance of getting your perfect job. So don't forget to come and visit!

Advice Blogging

Forget buying a whole stack of books about CV advice and interview tactics; all the information is at your fingertips, on the World Wide Web. In the last ten years we have begun to turn our backs on traditional print; people are demanding their knowledge faster, and there are plenty of us who'd like to oblige that need. Online news and blogs provide you with an immense amount of information to help you in your job hunt, so now there's no reason you can't brush up on your skills without turning a single page.

So what's next?

We'll do our very best to bring you as much information as we can muster to help you in your job hunt. Like jobs by email, the possibilities of providing you with this information direct to your inbox could very well be the next step, so that you have access to all of the information you want, whether you are on your phone, laptop, computer, or anywhere. And you never know, I might start projecting my blog off the side of a few buildings, just so you can't escape!

So there you have it. There's my two cents on the years ahead. But what about you... what would you like us to do to make your job hunt easier? What do you like/dislike about jobs websites? Comment away, and your wish may be our command...

 

 

Image: Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

People say money can't buy you love, but it can buy you a house, a car, friends, and now... a job?!!!

Have you ever absent minded-ly flicked through the music channels and seen the MTV programme 'My Super Sweet Sixteen?' If you haven't, wow you're lucky. It documents a bunch of insolent teens as they prepare for the pinnacle of their social calender- their 16th birthday. Cue arguments about what stupidly expensive cake to have, dress to buy, how many other spoiled teenagers need to attend etc.

It's all very agonising and painful, and I think it's OK to hate these children. Because let's face it, they are American teenagers shouting at daddy for buying them the wrong kind of Mercedes. However nonsensical it seems, this kind of behaviour of the uber-rich to have whatever they so desire if they wave some cash around, is apparently now transcending the boundaries of televisual torture. It's no longer just the kind of 'reality' that only exists on your TV set- now it seems that the scary Americanised world of spend enough and you shall be rewarded, may be infiltrating the British jobs market.

A BBC News article yesterday highlighted that there is an increasing number of companies trying to profit from job hunting graduates. New graduates are being warned by University careersadvisors to steer clear of websites and companies offering valuable connections and 'ways in' to internships in competitive industries, in exchange for a hefty fee.

There are websites that will charge hundreds of pounds in exchange for an introduction letter to secure an internship. This practice means that internships, which predominantly go unpaid in competitive industries, will effectively go to the highest bidder.

There is a worry that with the emergence of these sites within the UK, the jobs market could begin to mirror the US, where your level of success in business is determined by the amount of money you already have. Those with wealthy parents will be able to secure the top positions by buying their way into such industries, so scrap hard work, effort, and passion- it seems all you need is a MasterCard.

There is also a disturbing rise in high profile internships being sold in charity auctions. Currently on CharityFolks.com you can spend 2 weeks as an intern at Rolling Stone Magazine; for the bargain price of over $1500. In January, The Times reported that in 2008, a week’s unpaid work at ITV Productions fetched a mind-boggling £1,260.

My advice on this issue?

It's competitive and tough in the jobs market- but don't ever feel like you need to pay for an internship to get ahead. It might take time, it might take a hundred letters, emails, CVs, but your determination and hard work will be rewarded. Approach companies directly, inquire, find out whether they take on interns, use internship search sites, etc but don't part with money in exchange for an internship- because no job is worth paying for.

-For more information on all things intern-related; including whether all interns should be paid a minimum wage, take a look at the Interns Anonymous blog.
-To read about the US craze of paid-for work experience, check out this article.

A survey conducted by HireScores.com of 1,277 people currently in employment has revealed that a whopping 69% of them had lied at some stage of the recruitment process, in either their current or a previous job role.

The high number of people that admitted lying, were then asked to explain what they had lied about, with the top 2 offenders being:

-36% admitted to lying about their referee, many using a friend or family member as their fake reference.
-Nearly 1 in 3 lied about their reasons for leaving last employment- because they had not left work on good terms.

The sample were then asked whether they had been inclined to 'bend the truth' on their CVs also, to which 9 out of 10 people admitted that something on their CV was embellished or simply untrue.

The top 2 things to lie about on your CV were:

-Hobbies and Achievements: 50% had lied about hobbies and achievements, including ability to play instruments, extent of language skills, and embellished gym or sporting activity.
-Educational Qualifications: 25% of people had amended their qualifications to higher grades than they had actually achieved.

Why lie, and is it worth it?

Of the reasons given in the survey, many believed that the white lie was so minor that it was unlikely to be checked- such as altering a qualification here and there.

But what happens if they do check??

There are three scenarios here:

1) They don't check, it doesn't mean much, it never becomes an issue.

2) They do check, they think it is a BIG issue, you end up in disciplinary or worse, fired for your misleading information.

3) They don't check, but assign you tasks that you must attempt with a lot more difficulty than if you had never said you could do them. Talking to a french customer, being invited to play tennis at the weekend, asking to solve a maths equation etc...

Whether you embellish something minor, or go all out on a compulsive lying spree- is it really necessary in the first place; regardless of the repercussions?

My advice is to just be honest. Yes it is the standard, party, goody-two-shoes answer, but it is also logical, sensible and risk-free. Most people lie about something minor, which begs the question, why lie at all? If its something so pointless, leave it off- or ask yourself why you can't/don't do the thing you want to say you can. Maybe it's a hobby you could take up, a vocation you could learn? If it is a qualification you feel let down by, you could always take a course. Or, just don't worry- if you can tick every other box, then you may just succeed on your own merit, without the guilt factor involved in your little lie- which invariably leads to a complicated web of the darned things.

Yes, the job market is competitive- but this is even more reason not to ruin your chances, by getting into trouble over something you needn't have done in the first place.

Happy Job Hunting.

 
Reports from AllTheTopBananas.com have revealed that things might be looking up for jobseekers. After analysing job vacancy data on the site over the last two years, AllTheTopBananas.com have been able to measure the impact of the recession on the amount of available jobs. Their findings have proven to be extremely positive for the coming months as October heralded the second largest number of jobs on the site since January 2009.

Of the data collected, the job count has increased considerably since July 2009, increasing by 41%, which is significantly more than in the same period last year. The job count has also increased by 25% from September to October, which suggests that we may at last be witnessing an upturn in the number of jobs becoming available- great news as the Christmas period rolls in.

According to the site, the rise in the number of vacancies can be seen throughout many industries including IT, Catering, Sales and Retail. This is great news for retail, as the credit crunch has proved a difficult time for those in the industry. Retail giant John Lewis has also been reporting positive signs for retail, as they reported a fifth weekly sales increase for the end of October. But with VAT set to rise again in January, will this put a spanner in the works of recovery efforts?

Whilst we are not officially out of recession, many signs in the economy are pointing positively in that direction. The US reported that the period from July- September 2009 was the first period in over a year that the country had experienced economic growth, which is good news for recovery. Here in the UK, The Halifax reported a 1.2% rise in house prices in October, their fourth monthly increase, and even success stories in retail are beginning to infiltrate the news of late.

It may still be a little early to get out the party poppers and streamers, as AllTheTopBananas reported that the overall job count has fallen by a whopping 48% since 2008, but we're all hoping that this is the beginning of the end for the horrible R word.

So what do you think:

Will the VAT increase put people off the high street?

Are you seeing signs of the recession easing?

Feel free to leave your comments below.