It wasn't until I was browsing through Ciao, that I realised sites like this existed.
HOW IT WORKS & GETTING AROUND
The site is easily navigable, although there are indications to certain areas, and I found myself going around in circles a little. The company claims that all CV's are written ... Read review
Advantages: Some useful tips Disadvantages: Expensive
It wasn't until I was browsing through Ciao, that I realised sites like this existed.
HOW IT WORKS & GETTING AROUND
The site is easily navigable, although there are indications to certain areas, and I found myself going around in circles a little. The company claims that all CV's are written by professionals with lots of experience in writing 'interview winning CV's. The site is signed up to the Which? Web Trader Scheme which ... ...if something goes wrong. It also makes reference to the 'Chartered Institute of Personnel Development' (CIPD), which I initially interpreted as a recommendation, but it appears the site just offers information on what this institution is.
GETTING FREE TIPS
You can enter your personal details including e-mail, to be sent tips on 'Is your CV letting you down/ How to dramatically improve your CV'. Submitting these details will ... more
It wasn't until I was browsing through Ciao, that I realised sites like this existed.
HOW IT WORKS & GETTING AROUND The site is easily navigable, although there are indications to certain areas, and I found myself going around in circles a little. The company claims that all CV's are written by professionals with lots of experience in writing 'interview winning CV's. The site is signed up to the Which? Web Trader Scheme which apparently ensures that the rights of the buyer are protected if something goes wrong. It also makes reference to the 'Chartered Institute of Personnel Development' (CIPD), which I initially interpreted as a recommendation, but it appears the site just offers information on what this institution is.
GETTING FREE TIPS You can enter your personal details including e-mail, to be sent tips on 'Is your CV letting you down/ How to dramatically improve your CV'. Submitting these details will generate an automated e-mail containing 10 useful tips on developing a CV, together with the contact details of the company. In fairness, some of the data was quite useful, and would be of some interest to someone just starting out in the job market.
SAMPLE CV There is a sample CV on the site, which clearly shows how a professional CV should be laid out, and again can be quite helpful, particularly to someone just starting out.WHATS THE CATCH? Surprisingly enough - it costs! What do you get for your money?
Starter CV - A two page CV for the school leaver - £80
High profile CV for those who have been working for around a year or so and apply for junion. non-technical positions - £110
Executive CV's - Designed for those applying for technical/management positions - £140 They also offer a face-to-face/e-mail or telephone consultation which they feel all new customers should have as it will help them to develop a better CV for you - price £40
* In addition to the other offers, they provide a Premier CV service, £250 for two pages and £350 for three pages and apparently you get an in-depth consultation with them for this price.All their charges include a proof copy of the CV, together with 12 laser copies plus a copy on floppy disc.
Apparently for a small sum! (£40) they can write covering letters.
SUMMARY A little over ambitious and very expensive, could be very useful if you are at Executive Director/Senior Manager level or are already in employment and applying for that all important next job which will push your career well up to the next step of the ladder.
In my experience, if looking for your first position after school/university, you will find yourself applying for lots of positions, all requiring you to portray your CV in a slightly different manner, each necessitating a diverse range of covering letters, thus all the service will actually do for you is develop a good starting base.
CV's should not be too long, or prospective employers will not read them, also it is just as possible to oversell yourself as to undersell, this was something I quickly realised when I became a manager and started recruiting.
I had always built my CV up to quite a high standard, and I found myself thinking when I read applications - nah!, surely thay can't have possibly done all this in their short lives, if I am thinking this, it goes to show what others are possibly thinking about my 'masterpiece'.
Make your CV relevant to the position you are applying for, make sure it is well laid out, and make sure there are no typographical errors, give the prospective employer enough information to 'wet' their appetite, thus making them eager to find out more about you.
Visit these sites by all means,and look at some of the very useful tips on offer. I personally would think twice about handing over my hard earned cash on such a service.
If you are inexperienced, talk to your careers guidance offer at School/Uni - at Uni speak to the business/HRM lecturers - speak to the personnel department at college, ask them what they look out for, check out your local library for hints and tips, use the financial papers such as the Times which sometimes write articles about functions such as job applications.
Check out the site and draw your own conclusions, certainly use the hints and tips, but think twice about parting with your money, if you really want such a service, try local companies first such as typing, repographics bureaus and employment agencies first, they might be cheaper.
If you are preparing a CV, there is on tip I totally agree with, use good quality plain white/off white paper (100gm) and print in black ink (colour does not photocopy well). If you seriously job-hunting, check out www.jobsite.co.uk and www.reed.co.uk to name a few, they offer an excellent selection of jobs nationwide, and yes, they are free. You can also upload your CV on to their site so that it can be browsed by selected employers and employment agencies. Good luck
