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How big is your CV ??

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    #31
    Originally posted by northernladuk View Post
    As I expected the focus is all on you. No thought about the audience of your CV. Usual thing when people have long CVs.
    Eh? And what about the client/company actually paying the money to employ? The focus of everyone should be to ensure the client gets the best candidate they can. CV, size, is a small part of that IMO? As I said, the reader can skim. Better to have the information available than not there at all? Don't have to read every single word. We're all capable of skimming over and picking up on text that interests us
    Short CV's can be a waste of time too. Get them in for interview and turn out crap, don't have the right experience of sum technical skills? That wastes a lot more time.
    Definitely not all about me. I expect people to have the same focus as me though, to get the right candidate for the client based on the overall picture.
    Think there's too much BS around CV length personally .
    Last edited by SuperZ; 26 August 2017, 19:15.

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      #32
      Originally posted by SuperZ View Post
      Eh? And what about the client/company actually paying the money to employ? The focus of everyone should be to ensure the client gets the best candidate they can. CV, size, is a small part of that IMO? As I said, the reader can skim. Better to have the information available than not there at all?
      Short CV's can be a waste of time too. Get them in for interview and turn out crap, don't have the right experience of sum technical skills? That wastes a lot more time.
      Definitely not all about me. I expect people to have the same focus as me though, to get the right candidate for the client based on the overall picture.
      And that's my point. It's unlikely they do. Lets look at it using pro's and con's.

      9 page vs well written 3-5 pager for a contractor

      Pros
      None. The first three pages will give them all they need to know if you've done it properly.

      Cons
      Reader may have a low opinion of long CV's
      Reader may just not bother reading it and skip you. He might be an idiot but he's the one with a gig you want.
      You are delivering a document that fulfills a requirement to the reader that has accepted guidelines. You aren't adhering to those guidelines. What will you deliver when he wants something on the job?
      Pages 4 onwards deliver nothing as they will not get read and become a blocker not a positive.
      It makes you different for the wrong reasons. Everyone remembers some ridiculous CV that came in and has a good laugh about it.

      You will get gigs based on your experience in the last few years. If you aren't right for the gig by then a raft of extra pages isn't going to help. If it's borderline between two of you an unconventional CV is more likely put you second than first. I can't believe for one minute all the extra guff is helping you at all.

      If it works for you and you are getting gigs then good on you but don't kid yourself it's because you have a 9 page CV.

      If a company you are thinking about using turned up gave you a sales document introducing themselves that is 10-20 pages long what would you do with it?

      Why not go along to one of the CV webinars that are advertised on here regularly. Just make sure you go in with an open mind to take the advice given even if it's not what you want to hear. There just happens to be one on the 18th of Sept
      http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...ml#post2455750
      Last edited by northernladuk; 26 August 2017, 19:28.
      'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

      Comment


        #33
        Originally posted by northernladuk View Post
        And that's my point. It's unlikely they do. Lets look at it using pro's and con's.

        9 page vs well written 3-5 pager for a contractor

        Pros
        None. The first three pages will give them all they need to know if you've done it properly.

        Cons
        Reader may have a low opinion of long CV's
        Reader may just not bother reading it and skip you. He might be an idiot but he's the one with a gig you want.
        You are delivering a document that fulfills a requirement to the reader that has accepted guidelines. You aren't adhering to those guidelines. What will you deliver when he wants something on the job?
        Pages 4 onwards deliver nothing as they will not get read and become a blocker not a positive.
        It makes you different for the wrong reasons. Everyone remembers some ridiculous CV that came in and has a good laugh about it.

        You will get gigs based on your experience in the last few years. If you aren't right for the gig by then a raft of extra pages isn't going to help. If it's borderline between two of you an unconventional CV is more likely put you second than first. I can't believe for one minute all the extra guff is helping you at all.

        If it works for you and you are getting gigs then good on you but don't kid yourself it's because you have a 9 page CV.

        If a company you are thinking about using turned up gave you a sales document introducing themselves that is 10-20 pages long what would you do with it?

        Why not go along to one of the CV webinars that are advertised on here regularly. Just make sure you go in with an open mind to take the advice given even if it's not what you want to hear. There just happens to be one on the 18th of Sept
        http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...ml#post2455750
        At no point have I said or given the impression I've got gigs because of my nine pager? All I've said is that it's worked for me. I've got the gigs I've wanted, end of story. There might be hidden pro's, ie, the type of people that reject it on length maybe wouldn't hire me anyway, or I may not like the, who knows?
        I do think people are overly concerned with the CV length. Sure, it's a part of us and our "sales pitch". Bigger concern should be how people come across as individuals at the interview and in the job. Unfortunately people cannot control who they are and often fail for that single reason.

        I've done the webinar BTW. Yes, all interesting stuff, gave me thoughts on my CV, can see the pro's and con's but I'm too busy working in contracts to overhaul it .

        Personally, I'd read the 10 to 20 page document from a company. You see, we're all different, including those responsible for hiring and recruiters. I'd read it because it would be part of the decision making process. I may skip sections that don't interest me, but I'd defiinatley not bin the document because it's long - maybe they are the best company to deal with? .

        BTW, my CV was once much much longer too. Just kept adding to it, kept sending it out meaning to update it but then landed a contract.
        I've not even said a 3-5 page CV is bad either, I'm actually in agreement. I've just said was has worked for me and answered the question how long my CV is. I've not suggested people write long CV's either
        Last edited by SuperZ; 26 August 2017, 19:46.

        Comment


          #34
          Originally posted by SuperZ View Post
          At no point have I said or given the impression I've got gigs because of my nine pager? All I've said is that it's worked for me.
          I'd put money on it a 4 pager would have been no different.

          There might be pro's, ie, the type of people that reject it on length maybe wouldn't hire me anyway, or I may not like the, who knows?
          I doubt that.

          I do think people are overly concerned with the CV length. Sure, it's a part of us and our "sales pitch". Bigger concern should be how people come across as individuals at the interview and in the job. Unfortunately people cannot control who they are and often fail for that single reason.
          They are so why not play on that rather than make yourself different?
          I've done the webinar BTW. Yes, all interesting stuff, gave me thoughts on my CV, can see the pro's and con's but I'm too busy working in contracts to overhaul it .
          Thought that would be the case and makes the point in post 18. Not the last bit.

          I've got the gigs I've wanted, end of story.
          I guess that is the bottom line so no point continuing.
          'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

          Comment


            #35
            Originally posted by northernladuk View Post
            Possibly but if he's got a pile of CV's all in the same format that he sees day in day out and then one comes in that is clearly lacking in long term experience that has much more information about a short period he's not going to spend the time wondering why and digging in to it.

            If that's all the OP has then that's what he's got to do but if you can't fill 2 pages with a couple of years solid experience he's up against it to show he's a highly experienced specialist that can compete with the other guys in the pile with those years in.
            You are making assumptions based on your own specialism and experience.
            "You’re just a bad memory who doesn’t know when to go away" JR

            Comment


              #36
              22 years 3 pages

              I only have since 2008 on it and refer people to linkedin if they want to know what work I did when I left school

              When I next refresh it might only go back to 2010

              Comment


                #37
                Originally posted by ladymuck View Post
                22 years 3 pages

                I only have since 2008 on it and refer people to linkedin if they want to know what work I did when I left school

                When I next refresh it might only go back to 2010
                22 years? It's not supposed to start at birth you know
                'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

                Comment


                  #38
                  Originally posted by northernladuk View Post
                  22 years? It's not supposed to start at birth you know
                  Creep
                  "You’re just a bad memory who doesn’t know when to go away" JR

                  Comment


                    #39
                    I know OP doesn't listen to any of the advice I post in his threads. But seriously man, I would give up on contracting and try to find a nice permie role somewhere. It's the best thing for you.

                    Comment


                      #40
                      Originally posted by l35kee View Post
                      I know OP doesn't listen to any of the advice I post in his threads. But seriously man, I would give up on contracting and try to find a nice permie role somewhere. It's the best thing for you.
                      FTFY. You're not alone.
                      …Maybe we ain’t that young anymore

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