Author Topic: CV authoring.  (Read 2150 times)

Offline Skidder.

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CV authoring.
« on: January 11, 2018, 09:18:22 pm »
So, little bit of a rant here guys and well... bugger me fucking sideways.

I used to work in recruitment and have long specialised in CVs - literally, every one of my friends asks me to help me with their CV and one of Liverpool's major educational establishments still use my CV as guidelines for their students. I have worked for quite a few companies in my time and have a good degree of experience in this field - in my time, I have proofed, edited and created more CVs than I can count.

A friend of mine recently got in touch to ask me to help with his CV; I gladly obliged and began to use my go-to template that I have been using personally for over five years.

Wanting to adopt the correct syntax and wordology, I looked up on Google for some buzz-words and terms within his field. First hit, first fucking hit, a company (who I won't name), had my CV design on their site; charging £5 for the template.

It is so blatantly ripped off that they have even shifted the context cells to make it look slightly different.

The sentence structure, dialogue and even font, font colour and cell colour are exactly the same. They even have a sub-section where they even give 'tips' on how to write a one-page CV, which basically extracts the 'formula' of how my CV was crafted.

There are those amongst us who will, of course, see this as a 'he said, she said' type of scenario and (rightfully) state that if something is public, it is fair game. Some may even wonder if I had been 'inspired' by their layout and crafted my CV to suit.

But, think of the internet and think of the auld arses that fester on it who take the required shortcuts to make a quick buck and then try to think of a time when something that you yourself have created had been used for profit without your knowledge.

Not going to put mine or the companies CV on here, but it is just (A) quite savvy of them and (B) quite daft of me to expect anything other than having to 'get over it'.

Just really needed to vent that - I'm sorry, but the internet never fails to amaze me! My fucking lowly CV being sold for £5 to people who may not even be able to afford it. Honestly? I'd have gladly fucking gave my templates away to anyone who asked. Job seeking is one of the most stressful endeavours that people can partake in and I've a mind to ask my friend to 'ethically test their defences' and fucking take all of their CV's, create a wordpress site, ripping off their site, and publically making their templates free for all to use.

I know this kind of shit goes on the world over and there is very little we can do - but without sounding like a bitter fool - this is not the first time that I have experienced blatant ripping off of work.

Anyhow - to qualify the starting of this thread (and not putting it in the Jobseekers thread, which is a totally different kettle of fish), what are people's thoughts on CV authoring? (In general) I, at least hope that some good will come out of this and if any of my fellow Rawkites use any of the tips in this thread, rather than pay these vipers who obviously scour the tinterweb for CVs; then I will be a happy man.
« Last Edit: January 11, 2018, 09:22:23 pm by Kidder. »
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Offline SP

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Re: CV authoring.
« Reply #1 on: January 11, 2018, 09:42:52 pm »
http://www.forensicswiki.org/wiki/Document_Metadata_Extraction

If you can get your hands on one, look at the metadata, and document history. You could get lucky. If “their” template has traces of you remaining, you have solid grounds to sue.

Offline Skidder.

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Re: CV authoring.
« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2018, 03:10:52 am »
My friend is going to 'purchase' one.

But I've looked through their catalogue and I saw one or two that are free on other sites (that they're charging for) - goes a way to show their business model.

c*nts, utter shower of c*nts mate. Furious.

Anyhow, as I say - would be interested to hear others' general thoughts on CV authoring and creation.
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Offline Graeme

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Re: CV authoring.
« Reply #3 on: January 12, 2018, 11:24:25 am »
The entire recruitment industry is full of parasites and c*nts. I will never apply for a job not advertised by directly by the employer. Far too many agencies are just CV harvesting shitbags.

Offline Skidder.

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Re: CV authoring.
« Reply #4 on: January 12, 2018, 05:41:09 pm »
After a bit of sniffing about, it looks like they are indeed linked to a recruitment agency.

Still haven't gotten back to me. Wouldn't be surprised if it was run by a couple of candidates resourcers - a sham of a company.

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Offline Jake

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Re: CV authoring.
« Reply #5 on: January 12, 2018, 05:47:32 pm »
People pay for CV templates?! I wonder how bad my CV that I made for myself.

You should send a cease and desist, and if that doesn't work just make a website and give your CV away, drive those bastards out of business.
I'm not vaccinated against covid and ... I don't wear masks.

Offline Skidder.

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Re: CV authoring.
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2018, 11:31:20 am »
c*nts mate - c*nts.

And yes, people really do...
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Offline Jake

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Re: CV authoring.
« Reply #7 on: January 30, 2018, 05:48:29 pm »
So what happened?
I'm not vaccinated against covid and ... I don't wear masks.

Offline Graeme

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Re: CV authoring.
« Reply #8 on: January 31, 2018, 07:32:38 am »
Any chance of a copy of your template Kidder? I’ve never had mine looked at by anyone and I know it needs work. Wouldn’t mind seeing how an established template compares.

Offline owens_2k

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Re: CV authoring.
« Reply #9 on: January 31, 2018, 10:18:54 am »
Any chance of a copy of your template Kidder? I’ve never had mine looked at by anyone and I know it needs work. Wouldn’t mind seeing how an established template compares.
Second this. I like to think my content is ok but maybe the way its displayed isnt. Then again I know nothing about CV's so my content could be crap too haha.

Offline Skidder.

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Re: CV authoring.
« Reply #10 on: February 1, 2018, 01:20:27 am »
So what happened?

Never heard back from them, mailed them three times to ask if they could I.D the author.

Few people have messaged me asking for the template - if anyone gets any use out of it, I'll be happy.

Feel free to PM me your email fellas. Will link you up.
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Offline stevensr123

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Re: CV authoring.
« Reply #11 on: February 2, 2018, 01:22:03 am »
The entire recruitment industry is full of parasites and c*nts. I will never apply for a job not advertised by directly by the employer. Far too many agencies are just CV harvesting shitbags.
I have been back in the UK the lat 4/5 months an they are so unprofessional over here.

I applied for a joke on seek, then got in contact with an agent and he gave my CV to the same company I applied for, anyway he pretty much said I can't tell you about the company etc

I got the job, quit after 3 days (long story but don't actually need to work at the mo) and contacted the agent again, he hasnt responded to 7+ emails and messages.

its happened 3 or 4 times with different agents. as soon as it looks like I have a joke with someone else, they fuck me off and don't even respond.
PUSSY cat, PUSSY cat, I love you,  yes I do.......

Offline Skidder.

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Re: CV authoring.
« Reply #12 on: February 3, 2018, 06:28:01 am »
Thanks for the interest in the template - I hope people get use out of it; it isn't the best, by far, but if there is one thing that I have seen in my experience is that, we aren't our best critics or appraisers.

As I have said, anyone needing it - just pop a reply in there with your e-mail; that way, if I am not online, people who already have it, can send it to you.

I created a new CV the other day for a friend - he is in tech and needed a high-concept CV; it looks brilliant. As I say, I created this for a friend and he got the job; taking me out for a meal in the week. I don't think the CV had much to do with it, but after proofing and editing his current CV - it does surprise me how bad we are at editing ourselves.

If I could offer three tips:

Keep It Simple Stupid - dependant on sector, of course, general CVs should be direct, not too wordy, and allow the recruiter to make an informed decision on your candidacy. I use the analogy of a salesperson in a shop - if they go for the hard-sell, the customer will, more often than not, feel stifled and pressured.

Less is more - recruiters receive a large amount of CVs for positions - if you aren't first, you might as well be last. With each CV that the recruiter reads, your chances of success diminish by the minute. They are humans just like you and me, and will cut corners. Unless the position is specialist - they will look to eliminate any CV for the littlest thing. Get the information in there that they need and get rid of any information that is there as a 'brag'.

Thirdly, always get a second opinion on your CV - always.

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Offline Graeme

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Re: CV authoring.
« Reply #13 on: February 3, 2018, 09:02:39 am »
Did you send it to me? I popped my E-mail in a PM a few days back.

Offline Skidder.

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Re: CV authoring.
« Reply #14 on: February 5, 2018, 11:40:08 pm »
Been up the wall with work fellas - have mailed everyone who has mailed me.

I have mailed everyone who has messaged.

 
Don't forget - always save your CV as a PDF before you send or employers can track your changes..

If you get the job, I expect a pint.  ;D
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Offline blert596

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Re: CV authoring.
« Reply #15 on: February 6, 2018, 10:35:50 pm »
I really need to sort mine out. I've been using the same layout for about 15 years and just adding more positions and reducing some shit in the older ones.

All the badge kissing in the world don't make up for the fact that they are, frankly, not Liverpool Football Club. It's not their fault. Its just how it is.

Offline Skidder.

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Re: CV authoring.
« Reply #16 on: February 10, 2018, 06:58:55 am »
I really need to sort mine out. I've been using the same layout for about 15 years and just adding more positions and reducing some shit in the older ones.

Nowt wrong with that - but people with a long employment history always feel the need to chart their whole history. This fine and all, but really only necessary in certain sectors and industries (I believe).

It is always important to be ruthless against yourself and ask if your experience is really relevant to the position in question - which is the whole point; companies like to feel courted.
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