Totally Unemployable
- Thread starter stuff_it
- Start date
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
It's not just about changing it though, it's about focussing it and ensuring its targeted. It's not just about putting stuff in, it's about taking stuff out.
Maybe you've done that already. You'll still need to do again at regular intervals.
Are you getting shortlisted?
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
...and about having a range of CVs tailored to different roles. Again you may already do this, but it took me a long time to come to terms with this one.
stuff_it
Too skool for cool
I have that.
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
Cool.
I don't know your industries but do you have an idea which are more and which are less competitive?
Do you know what sort of "profile" employers have in their heads for their ideal candidate? Is there something about you (and your profile) that jars with this? I know that for some roles I apply for I don't fit the profile. So that no matter how good my CV is I'm doomed when I walk into the interview and open my mouth it's game over already. That happens. Can it be planned for and mitigated? I dunno.
stuff_it
Too skool for cool
I don't fit any employers assumptions or images of potential employees so regardless of how I spin it I'm not getting owt.
Eh? I'm not a bloke but I drive for a living.
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
I do know that when I was really struggling to get back to work, applying for roles "below" my experience/qualifications was spectacularly unsuccessful. Only got one, solitary, interview out of a tonne of applications. Nowhere near getting even that one job.
What I had to do was what I suggested above. I thought my CV was fine. It wasn't. I spent all day, every day for about a week reading all the CV books in the library and writing it word by word from scratch and writing 2 or 3 different ones for different roles/employers.
I stripped out all the superfluous stuff that is kept in thing it was "interesting" or added to my experience or filled in gaps or whatever.
I got rid of everything older than 10 years (apart from major qualifications). And kept stuff older than 5 years to a bare minimum.
I got rid of everything that want going help me meet the specific spec for the specific role. Redacted both my qualifications and work history (no lying, just omitting) so that only directly relevant stuff remained.
I wrote it to the STAR formula. Quantified it. Focussed on how I'd benefit the employer. Not on how good I was.
It was hard work and took days of solid writing and editing and was eventually unrecognisable from my previous "fine" CV.
I started getting interviews. For very competitive jobs. Some of the best jobs in my sector. (Though still nothing from the jobs "lower down", not a peep,)
But I was still getting nowhere.
Partly through my own interview performance (which I've still to properly sort out).
Partly because I want matching the profile in the employers head.
...and partly because it's fucking hard out there.
Eventually I got something.
I've already had to go through the whole re-writing process again as my role has changed, my experience has changed, the next jobs I'll apply for have changed.
...and I'm very experienced and very well qualified for my industry. Yet, it still a soul destroying and seemingly impossible task to get s sniff of a job.
What I had to do was what I suggested above. I thought my CV was fine. It wasn't. I spent all day, every day for about a week reading all the CV books in the library and writing it word by word from scratch and writing 2 or 3 different ones for different roles/employers.
I stripped out all the superfluous stuff that is kept in thing it was "interesting" or added to my experience or filled in gaps or whatever.
I got rid of everything older than 10 years (apart from major qualifications). And kept stuff older than 5 years to a bare minimum.
I got rid of everything that want going help me meet the specific spec for the specific role. Redacted both my qualifications and work history (no lying, just omitting) so that only directly relevant stuff remained.
I wrote it to the STAR formula. Quantified it. Focussed on how I'd benefit the employer. Not on how good I was.
It was hard work and took days of solid writing and editing and was eventually unrecognisable from my previous "fine" CV.
I started getting interviews. For very competitive jobs. Some of the best jobs in my sector. (Though still nothing from the jobs "lower down", not a peep,)
But I was still getting nowhere.
Partly through my own interview performance (which I've still to properly sort out).
Partly because I want matching the profile in the employers head.
...and partly because it's fucking hard out there.
Eventually I got something.
I've already had to go through the whole re-writing process again as my role has changed, my experience has changed, the next jobs I'll apply for have changed.
...and I'm very experienced and very well qualified for my industry. Yet, it still a soul destroying and seemingly impossible task to get s sniff of a job.
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
What do you think they are? Can you change to fit them? Do you want to change to fit them? Is it just not possible (age, gender, class etc.).
Is this showing through via your CV?
stuff_it
Too skool for cool
Most of the stuff I'm good at is largely considered 'men's work'. I'm also female and still at an age where I might run off and have sprogs at the drop of a hat (or so employers think - I really don't want kids and have a coil).
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
Oh and fwiw stuff_it I'm not trying to say "do this and you'll get a job".
Definitely not.
I was just saying that IME it's helpful to be properly analytical. Eliminate as many possible reasons for not getting a job as you can. Anything that's within your power to change, change and then see what's left.
I've got graphs going back years breaking down my applications by sector, by role etc. I've noted when I've re-written CVs etc. so I can spot patterns etc.
Ok, I've probably gone a bit overboard. But when I was sending off dozens, no hundreds, of applications and getting nowhere I got pretty desperate.
Definitely not.
I was just saying that IME it's helpful to be properly analytical. Eliminate as many possible reasons for not getting a job as you can. Anything that's within your power to change, change and then see what's left.
I've got graphs going back years breaking down my applications by sector, by role etc. I've noted when I've re-written CVs etc. so I can spot patterns etc.
Ok, I've probably gone a bit overboard. But when I was sending off dozens, no hundreds, of applications and getting nowhere I got pretty desperate.
stuff_it
Too skool for cool
Lol - I hope you have A/B testing on your CV.
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
Yeah
Perhaps a focus should be on finding slightly more "progressively minded" employers in the industry? and going for those jobs full on rather than with employers you know in advance are going to prejudiced?
Not easy, I'm sure.
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
Lol - I hope you have A/B testing on your CV.
A/B testing?
stuff_it
Too skool for cool
Basically when you try two versions of something (e.g. a marketing email, user interface, new type of wash powder) and then statistically compare the results of each option and produce a report on it.
stuff_it
Too skool for cool
Not permo move but I'd be more than happy to work away for weeks at a time on a permanent basis for the job you sent. Currently my flat in the East Midlands is empty and paid for by tax credits (having had to move away due to a violent partner), and I'm not in a position where I would need to pay rent where I'm staying in Brum unless I could afford to. I'll have to give up the flat soon anyway, but like I said the rent is covered at the moment and my earnings so low that even starting a job it would be a non-issue for several months.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
So? Employers cannot ask questions relating to having children at interview.
Do you have your age or date of birth on your cv? If so, take it off. No assumptions can be made if your age isn't apparent.
I think you're making a lot of assumptions about employers, to be honest. Have you tried contacting these companies to find out any feedback on your applications ?
Also, I know you said you've been skipdiving but are there any foodbanks nearby which could help you out for a bit?
stuff_it
Too skool for cool
Nearly all crappy jobs ask your DOB, and it can always be deduced from things like GCSE dates. Looks like I may have a new job anyway thanks to the Urban massive, and of course StoneRoad .
Food banks suck for sulphite allergies. So much of it is tinned or otherwise processed.
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
Gender and age are near impossible to hide in a job application, if an employee were to be wary of hiring females of a certain age (and I've met some who'll admit it off the record) they can easily sift them out in the pre-interview skim.
...which if age/gender/class whatever is suspected as having as negative impact upon your job hunting (as I've suspected in my own case in the past) it's well worth trying to reduce and isolate all other potential negatives.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
Depends. Yes, it can be deduced by looking at exam stuff etc but not everyone has a predictable or linear career history so it is a guess. And if a reasonably large number of applications are received there may not be the time to do an age estimate on every one. Not to mention the ageism aspect is now illegal.
Does it still happen? I suspect it does, however I don't think it's that prevalent else very few women would ever get or change jobs, especially anybody below the age of (say) 50.
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
yeah. It's only one example though of a negative mental profile that an employer may have. I know of others. Handed a pile of CVs to cull these things can come into play, consciously or not.
stuff_it
Too skool for cool
None yet as not yet applied for any. I'm hoping to change that in the next couple of months, as I've thouroughly read the instructions.
Cloo
Banana for scale
I signed up to one when I was made redundant and never heard shit, so it's no reflection on you. I imagine there are a core of people with certain skills in demand, and no one is interested in the rest. Sorry you're feeling so low.
stuff_it
Too skool for cool
Many thanks for your sympathies. Please read the ret of the thread which is trying it's best to have a happy ending.
My only really super-saleable agency skills were being able to spell in Latin, audio type, and (thanks to my mum's abysmal handwriting) untangle written notes from doctors. Once I had a caution on my CRB my use as a medical secretary was pretty much over permo since it's an enhanced check. TBH it was all over once I moved to Wales for three years, since I would have needed to be equally adept in both English and Welsh.
DrRingDing
'anti-human wanker'
I change my CV for every job I apply for. You're meant to. Blag em. They're trying to rip you off, play the game and get what you can.
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