Don't underestimate the power of a great cv

[BriD]

I felt I needed to share what we have learnt in the realm of job hunting almost 2 months into our life in Oz.

My husband spent a lot of time Australianising his cv....looked at examples etc. For the first 6 weeks he sent out soooo many cv's...each with a customised cover letter. He only had 1 interview from all of that.

THEN, we decided to invest in a professional cv writer (we chose Resume Solutions www.resume-solutions.com.au the consultant who did it for hubby is Roland Coombes). It was a large outlay... $360.00. Yes! A lot!! Specially when you don't have any aussie dollars coming in and the rands flowing out so quickly. But we decided to try it out. For an additional cost we also got them to update my hubby's Linked In profile and do a cover letter that is easily customisable. So that all 3 matched each other. All the same information, just worded better and put together more professionally!

Well...since it was completed and hubby started using the updated one to send out...he was called for Telephonic interviews several times last week which culminated in actual interviews this week, on Monday, Wednesday and there is another one tomorrow. Then next week Monday he has 2 interviews...all of them different companies. So yes...we still in the interview process...and await to hear if he will progress on to the next stage of interviews or be offered the job etc....but it is clear the new cv has given him an edge. It had made his cv pop out from the masses and is starting to get calls and the opportunity to then talk to a person.

Another thing, Recruitment agents really follow their clients requirements to a tee...so if you miss out on a couple of them they probably won't forward your cv on for that position. If you go direct to the company, even if you don't have all the requirements, it is at their discretion if they feel your experience outweighs your lack of knowledge in that particular field. My example being...my hubby's experience is in PVC coating fabrics, he wants to move into food manufacturing. Going direct to those employers gives them more of a chance to decide if they want to take a chance on you, going through the agent you probably won't get that chance. So if when you are on SEEK, you can see the name of the company that is wanting to hire...go and check out their website first and see if the job is advertised there too...if so, rather apply direct to the company than through an agency.

Also, we have found...yes Australian experience means a lot here...but your South African experience is not worth nothing. My hubby is finding that he is being commended for his impressive experience. They are looking at it and taking note of it. So don't underplay it because you think it won't be important. Make sure you sell yourself properly in your cv...it is your first point of contact with employers...make it count.

Edited to add: Don't underestimate Linked In, my hubby has noticed increased activity from people looking at his profile and has identified a lot of them as companies he sent his cv to.

So we are feeling encouraged by the increased activity on interviews etc...hopefully he will land a job soon

Hope this helps some of you out there

Hugs to all in the same boat

Edited March 27, 2014 by BriD

[Tazzn]

Thanks Bri

Definitely been thinking about doing this when we get closer to D day and looks like it's definitely worth the money spent.

Crossing all fingers and toesa nd holding thumbs that one these interviews turns into a great job offer

[BriD]

Thanks Bri

Definitely been thinking about doing this when we get closer to D day and looks like it's definitely worth the money spent.

Crossing all fingers and toesa nd holding thumbs that one these interviews turns into a great job offer

Thank you so much. Good luck to you guys for your journey ahead!

[Bams]

Hi BriD

Thank you for sharing this post. Holding thumbs that hubby lands that job soon...

Would you mind sharing the details of the company you used for the professional CV? I have also been thinking of this for my hubby's cv and it was only the cost that is keeping us back from doing it, BUT after reading your post I honestly think this needs second though and looking into.

Have a blessed day.

[jerrychen]

Good with the job hunting, btw, what is your hubby's degree and background?

[BriD]

Hubby is an Industrial Engineer with manufacturing and production experience.

Bams, I will get those details and forward them to you

[DXB2OZ]

BriD, can you send me those details too please. Think it is a fabulous idea to combine CV, Linkdin and cover letter - in my husband's field it isn't unusual for someone to simply send a link to their Linkdin, instead of a CV. Thank you so much for sharing.

[BriD]

Hi BriD

Thank you for sharing this post. Holding thumbs that hubby lands that job soon...

Would you mind sharing the details of the company you used for the professional CV? I have also been thinking of this for my hubby's cv and it was only the cost that is keeping us back from doing it, BUT after reading your post I honestly think this needs second though and looking into.

Have a blessed day.

It was Resume Solutions. www.resume-solutions.com.au, the consultant was Roland Coombes. I just added into the original post now due to popular demand lol

BriD, can you send me those details too please. Think it is a fabulous idea to combine CV, Linkdin and cover letter - in my husband's field it isn't unusual for someone to simply send a link to their Linkdin, instead of a CV. Thank you so much for sharing.

It was Resume Solutions. www.resume-solutions.com.au, the consultant was Roland Coombes. I just added into the original post now due to popular demand lol

Yes...it is quite amazing with Linked In...it is becoming a powerful tool!

[Nev]

Yep, my job and 457 via was sorted from south Africa as a result of Linked in, really valuable

[Batsie]

Hi BriD. Thanks for sharing such valuable experiences. All the best for hubby.

[Stuart]

I also highly recommend www.cvsmarts.com.au

Excellent service and prices represent great value for money. Also good to know that your CV and details are not outsourced and done in house.

[McCabes]

Yay Bri! Hope the offers start coming through now too.

My friend in Melbourne's hubby got an offer from Amazon via LinkedIn - so definitely don't underestimate it!

[HarryVR]

Sounds like something is about to pop!! Good luck!!

[Toitjie]

hi Bri

I was also referred to the company you guys used. I got a quote from his some time ago but never acted on it. I think now is the time. I really got some hope after reading how well your hubby is doing now after Roland did his magic

[ottg]

Very informative lessons learned, thank you for sharing!

Also the website given has an article 'THE RESUME TEST - HOW WILL YOUR RESUME SHAPE UP DURING 2014?' Great read.

Lastly I had a looked at HB's Linkedin profile - excellent...many take-aways from there too :-)

My experience is also that Industrial Engineering is not a well known engineering discipline in Australia. Recently I mentioned to someone who experiences supply-chain efficiency challenges across a very large multi-facet complex international industry to get an Industrial Eng across the problem - its their cut of tea :-)

Good luck!

[Batsie]

I engaged http://www.resume-solutions.com.au/ to give my resume a professional make-over and Roland Coombes did a great professional job clearly bringing out all my competences. Value for money.

[moerbei]

BriD can you maybe give us an update on your husband's journey? Has he been able to land a job or even more interviews?

Would be great to know.

I also appointed Roland about two weeks ago and will be receiving my CV in this week. Excited to see what it looks like.

[BriD]

There is no doubt that the cv has helped hubby with getting to the interview stage. Since we had his cv redone, he has been for 9 interviews...all for different companies. And he has been commended on his very professional cv.

The only curveball is the lack of Australian experience. He has been in the final 2 of several of those jobs and lost out based on the aussie experience issue. I think now it is a case of keeping at it...we know his cv gets him noticed and eventually we will find the company that will look past that lack of aus experience and give him a fair go. So we are continuing to work hard at applying for jobs, networking and approaching companies directly.

[moerbei]

Awesome...I'm so glad I caught this post of yours. I think that having the right and proper CV for the Australian market is going to give me the additional confidence and edge in applying for jobs. I've been here in Sydney for just over a week now and have held back in applying for jobs until I receive the re-worked CV from Roland.

It is a bit stressful not applying but I'm researching jobs in the meanwhile.

I'm also with recruiters who are now anxiously waiting for the re-worked CV too.

Best of luck. Just trust that your husband will get the perfect job. All things work out the way they should in the end.

[Mikej]

It's true a cv makes a big difference.

We have been advertising for a position and there were too many applicants to interview them all.

Obviously the better cvs got the interview.

Some cvs were awful and one did not even have contact details.

[DXB2OZ]

Mikej, would you mind going into a bit more detail about what things that put you off on some of the cvs? I think knowing what not to do would be extremely helpful.

[Mikej]

Hello DXB2OZ

I only advertise for a position once or twice a year so am not an expert.

As an employer I always try build up an image of the person from their CV so the more information there is the better and the best CVs get interviewed.

It is difficult to get an idea of the type of person you are dealing with when there is for example no DOB.

When a cv states the year the individual completed school it does not actually say they completed year 12 it just says they finished school. It is important to me that they have done year 12 but I don't have the time to call each applicant to clear up the smaller issues so I think it is important to include every last detail.

Include all your contact details including a physical address, I had a great cv from someone who turned out to be in the UAE and wanted a sponsor but I did not know this because they did not have an address on the cv. As a result I am now a bit suspicious of cvs without addresses

If you do not offer a reference from your last place of employment then give a reason, perhaps you are still employed there and don't want your employer to know you are looking around or maybe you left on bad terms but I was always a bit suspicious when there was no reference for the most recent job.

Include as many referees and references as possible a cv with one or two references seems a bit sad.

Include copies of certificates and degrees and be specific about the qualifications. In one interview for a receptionist a candidate had listed a receptionist course on her cv and at the interview it came out that the course was a four hour thing one afternoon at her old workplace.

List your marital status and hobbies and interests these things make you more human to the interviewer.

As I said I am no expert and these are just my own opinions as an employer.

Good luck

[chzaau]

Mikej, I'm concerned by your response because it can lead to discrimination against the applicant. Some of the information you have suggested people put in their resume can lead to discrimination or be attributed to it's use for that purpose.

What is unlawful workplace discrimination?

Unlawful workplace discrimination occurs when an employer takes adverse action against a person who is an employee or prospective employee because of the following attributes of the person:

• race
• colour
• sex
• sexual preference
• age
• physical or mental disability
• marital status
• family or carer’s responsibilities
• pregnancy
• religion
• political opinion
• national extraction or social origin.

Where an investigation finds that the employer has (or had) discriminatory practices that are linked to adverse actions for employees or prospective employees, the Fair Work Ombudsman may take enforcement action.

http://www.fairwork.gov.au/Resources/fact-sheets/workplace-rights/Pages/unlawful-workplace-discrimination-fact-sheet

Why would you want to open yourself up to that ?

[Mikej]

chzaau

You will need to be specific where exactly am I discriminating?

[SurferMan]

marital status etc