Can't get a bloody job!

**timorang** · 23rd May 2007, 17:02

Hi Beyond, for my sins I have ended up working in senior corporate HR positions, including my current role. Previous postings have provided you with some very good and honest advice regarding the style in which you write and how this projects to the reader of your CV. A couple of points:

Firstly as stated by others you need to sharpen your CV - it is a real turn off wading thru the BS to get to the stuff that will determine whether you get to the next stage (an interview). In fact you may be written off before they get to the good bits. I recommend you redo your CV and focus solely on your KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and EXPERIENCE (KSE's). You should taylor it to honestly match those attributes being sought.

Secondly you should have a cover letter accompany your CV. This definately needs to be written specifically for the job you are applying for. Again - NO BS. Read their ad carefully and understand their requirements. Write the letter that reflects back to them this understanding and briefly state your relevant KSE's. If you can demonstrate that you have researched their company. If you are applying for a job that may appear to be a step down or sideways from what you have done, show some humility, let them know that this is a change you welcome and are ready for and that they will not be dissappointed.

If you do 1 and 2 above I am confident your interview hit rate will increase, particularly for those jobs that you are highly relevant for.

Thirdly, if you are getting in the door and having interviews but not landing anything then you may have to face the fact that your face to face interview style is failing you. They have already shown interest in your KSE's so it is a 'cultural fit' or personality style that you are projecting that is stopping you from proceeding (you can trash all the nice reasons they provide for not being offered the job - it will be crap). There will be something that they saw that put them off. Nervousness can be excused - perhaps you had not researched their job or business, perhaps you were too cocky or non specific in your examples or when talking about your experience. Maybe you did not explain well why you left your last employment and why you want this job....

Also are your referees being contacted? If not then you have failed at the interview. If they are then they are not supporting you and you may need to review who you provide.

It is a process and you need to have each step working properly.

Anyway feel free to PM me if you would like me to review your CV or to discuss or prepare for an interview.

**Oakie** · 23rd May 2007, 20:24

Originally Posted by beyond

This any better:
Objective

As the Employer, you will no doubt want to hire a suitable candidate who will fit in with your Company’s work ethic and be able to get along with your current staff.
Just as important is the fact that you will want somebody who will at least help to maintain but preferably improve your current annual profit levels.

I want to make sure that you achieve these aims. With twenty eight years of experience in the same company, covering just about every role and pushing far beyond my own comfort levels to gain an overview of how all processes fit together, I sincerely believe that my appointment will benefit you greatly.

First let me say it's good to be able to be honest with a guy who obviously takes constructive advice well. It also makes it easier to be brutally honest in the hope that you won't be offended. Here goes:

As a recruiter I don't like to be told what I want which you did twice in the first paragraph (as I highlighted).
'28 years experience' could be taken as indicating someone without the drive to move on to new pastures. Use it as a 'loyalty' thing.
To say you believe your employment will benefit me greatly could be taken as an implied criticism of our existing set up or might indicate someone who thinks the sun shines out of their own bum.

My version would read:
"I am a hard-working and amiable person and I'm sure this will allow me to fit in with your Company’s work ethic and be able to get along with your current staff.

I am a loyal employee as my 28 years with my previous employer will demonstrate. I covered just about every role and made sure I understood how all the processes fitted together with the over-riding goal of doing my bit to improve our current annual profit levels. I would bring this same work style to your company if successful with my application."

Just keep working at it Beyond and good things will happen. Feel free to PM me if you want. My sincere good luck with it all.

**Biff** · 23rd May 2007, 20:32

Originally Posted by timorang

Hi Beyond, for my sins I have ended up working in senior corporate HR positions, including my current role. Previous postings have provided you with some very good and honest advice regarding the style in which you write and how this projects to the reader of your CV. A couple of points.......

Now here's a man that knows about what he speaketh. And he's a senior one .

**timorang** · 23rd May 2007, 21:57

Originally Posted by Biff

Now here's a man that knows about what he speaketh. And he's a senior one .

Cheeky bugger...

**Conquiztador** · 23rd May 2007, 23:31

I employ staff all the time so I hope I can be of some help:

There is heaps of good advice in this thread and some pro's have offered you their support.

Your CV serves only one purpose: To get the interview, after that you are on your own.

You need to have a one page intro letter that is specific for the position you are applying for. Read the job description and in your intro letter you should answer the main requirements. Don't worry if you repeat your self in the CV.

In the CV you need to list your achievements in your jobs. Be specific. Numbers are best. Don't do the "I increased productivity". Do the: "As a direct result of ..... I managed to increase the productivityby 47%" Also stuff like "By implementing ....... I was able to produce cost savings of 23% totalling $30,000 per annum" Make sure you are able to discuss this and perhaps produce proof at the interview.

To the interview take things you have produced at the job. Reports, newsletters, brochures, articles.

Take notes at the interview. It impresses. Always ask questions. Intelligent ones about the company. Do not ask questions they have problems answering!!

And lastly, stroke their egos, company ego AND personal ego's.

Make sure you have provided a minimum of 3 references from resent jobs. And contact them before the interview so they know what to say!!!

Then after the interview send them a letter thanking them for the opportunity.

Remember: You are a salesman selling your self.

Good Luck.

**beyond** · 24th May 2007, 22:13

Thanks again people.
Lots of good pointers and yes I am aware of many of them. I am having no problems in the interviews and have been short listed down to two on several occassions. A few weeks ago one company was tossing up between myself and one other on a fairly high level job. This went on for two and half weeks.
They had more interviews, rung my old job twice and talked for ages, profiled me then had the profiler ring me again and spend half an hour on the phone with me, then had so much trouble deciding between us they tossed a coin!

Murphy must have been sitting on my shoulder that day as I was sure I had that in the bag.

I agree on my rewrite intro and actually changed it soon after posting it up here

**kinger** · 30th May 2007, 10:39

Firstly mate, congratulations on the job.
Secondly, do you mind if I slightly hijack your thread and pick a few brains?

No, okay. I'm an unlicensed aircraft maintenance engineer, of twenty plus years, and have just arrived in Taupo.
My cv is completely aircraft biased, and I've got absolutely no idea on a typical NZ cv layout.
I've been subcontracting myself through my own limited company for the last ten years or so, so my current one is four pages long, with a brief description of my duties, aircraft type, and location.
There's no work for me at the airport just now, and I can't afford the expense of pushing for my NZCAA ticket, so am currently door knocking for anything I think I can do. Unfortunately, like most Euro sheeties, we don't weld, so most engineering firms are a straight away "thanks, but no."
Could someone send me a recommended format of a typical cv layout for a hands on mechanic so I can at least get the chance of a face to face.
Thanks chaps,
Steve.

**beyond** · 30th May 2007, 11:28

Hiya Steve,

She's pretty tough out there alright but if you stay positive and proactive you will pull through. Some days you get abit down, try not to. It's way easier to say than do.

Oh, you can hijack my thread but you will get a whole lot more responses if you start your own new thread asmany people will consider this one now closed.

Head it up with: Help needed with my CV or something similar.
People on here are great and very willing to help where needed.

Cheers
Paul

**timorang** · 30th May 2007, 22:59

Originally Posted by kinger

Firstly mate, congratulations on the job.
Secondly, do you mind if I slightly hijack your thread and pick a few brains?

No, okay. I'm an unlicensed aircraft maintenance engineer, of twenty plus years, and have just arrived in Taupo.
My cv is completely aircraft biased, and I've got absolutely no idea on a typical NZ cv layout.
I've been subcontracting myself through my own limited company for the last ten years or so, so my current one is four pages long, with a brief description of my duties, aircraft type, and location.
There's no work for me at the airport just now, and I can't afford the expense of pushing for my NZCAA ticket, so am currently door knocking for anything I think I can do. Unfortunately, like most Euro sheeties, we don't weld, so most engineering firms are a straight away "thanks, but no."
Could someone send me a recommended format of a typical cv layout for a hands on mechanic so I can at least get the chance of a face to face.
Thanks chaps,
Steve.

Are you set on Taupo, or are other locations up for consideration?

**kinger** · 31st May 2007, 15:46

We're set on Taupo, for a variey of reasons, some of which don't make sense to anyone but us it seems.
Have now gained purposeful employment, so thanks guys.
It's not gonna make us rich, but I'm 40, now got a house with no mortgage, the wife can now work if she chooses to.
I'm not really that bothered wether I work on planes, it just seems a shame to not be using twentyodd years of highly regarded permanent employment history (never been out of work), but hey-ho, there's a lot less pressure in my day job now, no-one's gonna die if I get it wrong.
My new employer did tell me that maybe I was an arse for not mentioning I'd been running my own company as Ltd Co contractor for the last ten years, but stuff it, he seems a cool and genuine man, I wouldn't mess him about now, there's more to life than money, eh?