CV

How important is it to use ‘I’ not ‘we’ on a CV?

October 22nd, 2010

Question: Everything I read about CVs says it’s important to say ‘I’ and not ‘we’, but I was only part of a team that achieved what we did. If I say ‘I’ all the way through, I won’t be being honest. How do I deal with this?

Should I include the number of people I manage on my CV?

October 19th, 2010

Question: I’ve been advised that I should include the number of people I managed in each job on my CV. This has varied wildly from job to job. Should I include this information, or leave it out?

That ‘tell me about yourself’ question

March 15th, 2010

Blog posting: One of the questions that unsettles interview candidates most is ‘Tell me about yourself’. I have no idea why this makes people so uncomfortable: the way I look at it, this is an absolute gift of a question.

Pick up your cards on the way out…

February 13th, 2010

When you leave a job, don’t forget to collect your cards. No, not those cards, I mean your now-redundant business cards.

Should my employment history be on the front page of my CV?

February 2nd, 2010

Question: My recruitment consultant says the only thing employers are interested in is my work experience, and this should always be on the front page of my CV (resume). Is he right?

My benefit has run out and the Job Centre want me to be a cleaner!

January 17th, 2010

Question:I was an £80k a year professional, made redundant last summer. I’ve just had my six-month interview with the Job Centre and been told my jobseekers allowance (JSA) benefit is being ceased. That means no money unless I qualify for means-tested benefits. They also said I now have to apply for any job – I can no longer only apply only for managerial jobs. They have sent me for an interview as a cleaner. Can they do this?

Covering letters – are they redundant?

January 13th, 2010

A number of respected career coaches are adamant that cover letters are not necessary in the modern recruitment world. Notably, career coach Phil Rosenberg, President of US-based consultancy ReCareered, carried out extensive research with hiring managers and directors, almost all of whom say they don’t read – and often don’t receive – cover letters. So, are they a good or a bad idea?

Help! My skills are getting rusty!

November 30th, 2009

Question: I am a seven-year software development engineer and I’ve been out of work for a few weeks now. I love my work, and I have always been able to talk about it confidently, and develop on the hoof. A recruiter called me this morning to talk about an opportunity – luckily not a job that really suited – but I found myself tongue-tied because I couldn’t remember some of the most basic vocabulary from my industry. What’s happening?! Am I losing it?! And what can I do to stop it getting any worse?

How can I get constructive feedback from interviewers?

November 26th, 2009

Question: I’ve been for several interviews but I haven’t been successful yet. I always ask for feedback, but most interviewers either never respond or give feedback that’s very vague and not much use. How can I get really useful, constructive feedback?

How do I overcome ‘no experience, no job’?

November 19th, 2009

Question: I can’t get interviews (and if I get the interview then I don’t get the job) because I don’t have any experience. How can I break this cycle and show what I am capable of?

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