Posts Tagged ‘CV’

Popular opinion has long been that there’s a love-hate relationship between contractors and agencies, which probably varies with need. However, new research from online recruitment marketplace TalentPuzzle suggests that agencies aren’t that popular with employers either.

There is an acceptance that agencies have a useful role to play, especially since they help to fill specialist positions and often provide better candidates than would otherwise be obtained. However, there is obvious frustration that the briefing of agencies on requirements often appears to serve no useful purpose. Despite outlining what is needed, CVs are often submitted from unsuitable candidates and the capabilities of applicants are frequently overstated. Agencies that pester for feedback on candidates and CVs are also a source of annoyance.

Unsurprisingly, the fees charged by agencies are a considerable bone of contention. Not only are they thought to be excessive in many cases but there is a strong feeling that rates need to be more consistent across the different agencies. The situation isn’t helped by a perceived lack of transparency, which can leave employers with the feeling that they are paying more than they need to do for a particular candidate.

By working more closely with employers and being more open about their rates and methods, agencies can provide a service that is not only better but, more importantly, is seen to be better. An improved service at a price that is accepted as fair will lead to a better working relationship and more business in the long term.

With employment conditions remaining challenging, you need to make the most of every opportunity to ensure you have the best chance of getting that next contract. If your CV gets picked off the pile, that means making a good impression at the interview, whether it’s face-to-face or over the phone.

Having a good interview is to some degree down to the preparation you do before it. Find out as much as you can about the company and the post for which you’re being interviewed. Your agency should be able to provide much of this and there’s always the company website to get some background. The more you know about the company, its activities and aims, and the role you’ll be expected to undertake, the better prepared you’ll be.

Learning about the company and the job will allow you to plan what you might want to say. Those of you who have done a few interviews will be aware of the general style of questions that are likely to be asked. They want to know how you’ve operated previously, how you react to certain situations, your strengths and weaknesses. Often, they’re as interested in how you answer a question as the answer itself.

You can anticipate some of the questions and be prepared with some reasonable answers. In particular, have information about projects you’ve worked on that are relevant to the post for which you’re being interviewed — your role in the project, what it achieved, decisions you made and work you undertook that contributed to its success.

Turn up for the interview on time and don’t forget that first impressions count. If you’re not sure how to dress, the safest option is probably to over-dress rather than go the other way. The best way to act, if possible, is just to relax and be yourself. Trying to be someone you’re not is likely to come over as false and not go down well at all. Be confident without appearing cocky, talkative without being a motor mouth, keen but not actually begging for the job and friendly without coming over as the life and soul of the party.

Just act natural and give the information the interviewer wants. They’re first and foremost looking for someone who can do the job, which is where your preparation and project information comes in. They’ll also be after someone who is adaptable, can be relied on to do what they’re asked and will fit in with the rest of the team. It will also help if your rate meets the budget and you’re available when needed. However, if you tick all the other boxes, they might make a few allowances.

The more natural conversation you can have, the better the interview is likely to go. If you come over as a friendly person who knows what they’re talking about, have the experience they want and show interest in the company and the job, you’re a long way there. Do ask questions and, at the end of the interview, try to establish the situation and what happens next.

If you’ve been sent by an agency, the courteous thing to do is to let them know how the interview went. It’s also not a bad idea to send a thank you letter to the company. Even if you don’t get the job, it will leave you in a better position for the next one that’s on offer.

Having the right contacts can keep the job offers flowing while being organised will ensure you’re properly prepared. So get in touch with UKContracting.net to make sure you’ve got the right set-up for ongoing business.

A good CV has always been part of a contractor’s armoury. In the current economic situation, with more people chasing fewer jobs, it’s even more vital that your CV makes you stand out from the crowd.

The aim of a good CV is not to win you a contract, it’s merely intended to get you an interview. After that, it’s up to you to do the rest. You need to be aware that agencies and employers receive a huge number of CVs, particularly now, and so may not have time to read every word of each one. Consequently, you need to provide them with a document that is nicely presented, clearly laid out and properly structured, with information given in a logical sequence. Avoid gimmicks but do use bullet points and numbered lists so information stands out. Above all else, keep it short — two pages maximum — since employers may lose interest if they don’t find what they need quickly.

There are no real hard and fast rules about how a CV should be laid out. However, it’s best to start with personal details that include your name, age, contact details and work speciality. Set out your career history, including both contracting and permanent employment. Cover the most recent contracts first, describing the project and your role. The most recent projects are obviously the most topical so provide less detail for the rest and a summary only for those that are over five years ago.

List your skills, training undertaken and certifications gained. Education only needs to cover what’s relevant and recent. References are useful but not essential since a potential employer will ask for these later. Hobbies and interests should only be included if they are relevant, such as if fluent in foreign languages or extensively travelled.

Where possible, customise your CV to match the requirements of a particular job. And before you send it, make sure you spell check it, proof read it and correct all errors. A document that’s littered with spelling mistakes, grammatical errors and ‘texting language’ is unlikely to impress a prospective employer.

Lastly, don’t lie or make exaggerated claims because being found out may rule you out of several likely contracts. Surveys have shown that contractors are increasingly providing false information, leading to employers undertaking more extensive checks before hiring anyone. The chances of being found out are therefore higher than previously.