CML1410 Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Hi All, Been on this site now for a couple of months and have heard lots of negative stories about Poms applying for hundreds of jobs and getting no interviews. I work in HR and know it is all about the cv -- does anyone have a good template for a cv or some guidance on how to set out a stunning Aussie cv???? I know a lot of it is about making sure your cv meets specific criteria. I have the experience and am willing to be very flexible / take lower jobs to work just want to make sure I do everything to get that first crucial job if Im lucky enough to get my visa approved!! Thanks for any feedback. PS I have seen the post by freckleface under jobs and careers. Carmel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebokke Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Hi Carmel, I too would be interested in this, although I'm not in Oz yet I will be soon and have not had much success with my job applications. A good proven aussie CV would be a huge help. Cheers Hi All, Been on this site now for a couple of months and have heard lots of negative stories about Poms applying for hundreds of jobs and getting no interviews. I work in HR and know it is all about the cv -- does anyone have a good template for a cv or some guidance on how to set out a stunning Aussie cv???? I know a lot of it is about making sure your cv meets specific criteria. I have the experience and am willing to be very flexible / take lower jobs to work just want to make sure I do everything to get that first crucial job if Im lucky enough to get my visa approved!! Thanks for any feedback. PS I have seen the post by freckleface under jobs and careers. Carmel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 I have never bought into this Australian style CV thing, a good CV is a good CV. Mine is virtually identical, the only difference being that I mention my visa status on the Australian one. I also think sometimes people are too quick to undersell themselves, by offering to come in at a lower grade etc., stand tall and don't apologise for yourself (general you that is not you OP). To post above, the reason you have not had much success yet is more likely to do with you not being in australia than because of your CV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauradarlin Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 I have never bought into this Australian style CV thing, a good CV is a good CV. Mine is virtually identical, the only difference being that I mention my visa status on the Australian one. I also think sometimes people are too quick to undersell themselves, by offering to come in at a lower grade etc., stand tall and don't apologise for yourself (general you that is not you OP). To post above, the reason you have not had much success yet is more likely to do with you not being in australia than because of your CV. Some very good points here, I'm a careers advisor specialising in working with the longterm unemployed and would definitely agree that the main points for a successful CV are not underselling yourself and making sure the content is easy on the eye. A few things to consider: - Try to stick to a maximum of 2 pages - Don't use fancy fonts or colour - you never know how it will come out if printed with a dodgy printer or copied - Recruiters usually just scan over a CV - keep the important things on the first page - A key skills section can be very useful to highlight your best attributes - Don't use abbreviations - even if they're common in your UK specialism they might not be in Australia Definitely always adapt your CV for every application to ensure it matches what the employer is looking for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kezzles Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Some very good points here, I'm a careers advisor specialising in working with the longterm unemployed and would definitely agree that the main points for a successful CV are not underselling yourself and making sure the content is easy on the eye. A few things to consider: - Try to stick to a maximum of 2 pages - Don't use fancy fonts or colour - you never know how it will come out if printed with a dodgy printer or copied - Recruiters usually just scan over a CV - keep the important things on the first page - A key skills section can be very useful to highlight your best attributes - Don't use abbreviations - even if they're common in your UK specialism they might not be in Australia Definitely always adapt your CV for every application to ensure it matches what the employer is looking for hey Laura ive heard cvs should be 4-5 pages in Australia? I've always stuck to 2 should I be aiming for that? thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 hey Lauraive heard cvs should be 4-5 pages in Australia? I've always stuck to 2 should I be aiming for that? thanks! Mine is 3. Was 3 in UK and is 3 in Australia. I think 2 pages is fine for someone with only a few years in the workforce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CollegeGirl Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 In the US, I have a favorite blog I frequent written by a hiring manager who knows everything there is to know about American job searching/resumes/hiring, etc. I'd love to find something similar for Australia if anyone has suggestions... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kezzles Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Mine is 3. Was 3 in UK and is 3 in Australia. I think 2 pages is fine for someone with only a few years in the workforce. 2 is too short to demonstrate my KSE, my vetassess one was 4 pages but I reckon I could make it more succinct! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimoneAL Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Hello, I was advised in UK and elsewhere to stick to a 2 pager CV (3 pages with projects, publications etc), unless otherwise requested by recruiter/employer. Typically the exception is an online form. Main reasons are: - easy and quick to scan through - when screening, recruiters will not spend more than 30 sec on it as an average - there other means to provide additional specific info, without a xl cv Would in be the same in OZ? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauradarlin Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 I'd be wary with more than 2. You can always add appendices if necessary to document projects in more detail but as SimoneAl says, recruiters won't spend more than a couple of minutes scanning over it anyway so much more is a waste. I'd be inclined to use bullet point format to get basic detail set out in a stand alone 2 page document then detail things in more depth in appendices - this way the info is there if an employer wants more but won't miss out on vital info if they just scan the CV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newjez Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 The clue is in the 100's of job applications. It takes a couple of days to do a job application, even up to a week. Obviously this will depend on whether you are looking at contract rather than permanent. Contract is all about meeting the requirements of the spec. Permanent is finding a bond with the company. The first thing you should ask yourself is who is this company, and why do I want to work for them? The answer better be more than 'they are offering a job'. The company will reverse this question, and it will be the most important thing for them. The CV is by the by. Most Aussie jobs I have applied for have application criteria that you must meet. This is the tricky bit. It's all about applying your past experience to the new role. This should take several days. It is this which will grant you an interview. You may go through this exercise and finish by deciding not to apply, as the role is simply not for you. Or maybe the company is not for you. Applying for job is a game. Always ask for feedback, as it is a learning experience. Never apply for more jobs than you can handle. Cherry pick. It is better to do one or two good applications rather than ten bad ones. Be positive. Treat applying for a job with the same professionalism that you will exhibit in the job, and you are onto a winner. Always ask yourself - would I employ me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessica Berry Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 The content is very important and depending on what job you are applying for, you need to understand what the recruiter is looking for. I worked with someone recently and I spotted a job I knew they would stand a good chance of getting but they needed to understand how to approach it. So I advised them what to TAKE OUT of their resume to get their foot in the door in and their first job in Australia. They trusted my judgement and got the job. The same thing can work in reverse and I have worked with someone else and I was advising them what TO PUT IN, because through chatting with them they had experience in a specialised area that they had not mentioned in their resume and as a result they got an interview. I used to run resume workshops in Adelaide for Aussie students. I had one student who was the best in my class (I was also a trainer and assessor) and used to produce excellent work. When I looked at her resume, to be honest it was rubbish yet I knew that if an employer met with her they would snap her up straight away. I said to her "this resume does not tell me how great you are" and she was completely open to my advice. Sure enough the first job she applied for she got an interview and then got the job. You have to sell yourself and stand out from the crowd. Recruiters are getting bored of looking at 400 resumes. I think one of the hardest things I come across is people don't understand what jobs they will have a chance with and what jobs they are completely unsuitable for. People can be very thick skinned in terms of not understanding why they wouldn't even get an interview for a job, but that can also be not understanding how the local job market works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryDXB Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Anyone have an Aussie style cv template that is proven to get job!! A CV doesn't get you the job - all it does it get you through to the next round in the selection process, often an interview, either by phone or in person. Try to imagine yourself in the place of the person reviewing a pile of CVs and remember that he (or she) is looking for someone for a specific role with a specific skill set: if your recent career history has nothing to do with the advertised job, then your CV is likely heading for File 13. I've been involved in recruiting engineers and I can tell you that reviewing CVs is pretty unexciting: if there are many (say 100s) of applicants, then the 1st cut is often done by HR, and the final decision makers only look at about 20 that meet the requirements of the specified job. I would guess that the on the 1st cut, most CVs only get looked at for 10 seconds at the very most - that's how it long it takes to figure out whether the CV goes into the bin, or onto the pile for further review. Those selected for further review will be scrutinised for much longer but, if you can't catch the eye of the reviewer in just 2 pages, then adding another 3 pages isn't going to improve things, as they just won't get read. That 50m swimming badge that you got 10 years ago is totally irrelevant - briefly mentioning that you helped out in the community (scouts, youth club leader) is always worthwhile. Showing that you have worthwhile experience of the job being advertised is vital. My tips - make sure your CV is succinct - keep it to a maximum of 2 pages and make sure that your details are relevant to the job you are applying for. Page 1: Personal details (and contact info) and title and summary of duties/responsibilities of most recent job. Page 2: Other jobs starting with the 2nd most recent and going back in time. Tailor your CV to meet the job description, but keep it brief - if person reviewing the CVs wants to know more, then they will contact you. Unless the job specification asks for overseas applicants then, not being in Oz is a big disadavantage - why should a company choose to employ you over someone who is already in the country? Similarly if you are just sending out speculative CVs in the hope of a getting an unadvertised job - it does take time to sit down a pen a reply and not everyone has that time - you might be lucky, but don't be too despondent if you don't even get an acknowledgment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CML1410 Posted August 1, 2013 Author Share Posted August 1, 2013 I have never bought into this Australian style CV thing, a good CV is a good CV. Mine is virtually identical, the only difference being that I mention my visa status on the Australian one. I also think sometimes people are too quick to undersell themselves, by offering to come in at a lower grade etc., stand tall and don't apologise for yourself (general you that is not you OP). To post above, the reason you have not had much success yet is more likely to do with you not being in australia than because of your CV. Thanks Rupert -- it is very encouraging to hear someone on here tell you not to undersell yourself!! I have strong experience and have always seemed to be very lucky at work (fingers crossed) so hopefully with a strong cv I will get that first interview and can then sell myself!! Best wishes CML Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CML1410 Posted August 1, 2013 Author Share Posted August 1, 2013 Some very good points here, I'm a careers advisor specialising in working with the longterm unemployed and would definitely agree that the main points for a successful CV are not underselling yourself and making sure the content is easy on the eye. A few things to consider: - Try to stick to a maximum of 2 pages - Don't use fancy fonts or colour - you never know how it will come out if printed with a dodgy printer or copied - Recruiters usually just scan over a CV - keep the important things on the first page - A key skills section can be very useful to highlight your best attributes - Don't use abbreviations - even if they're common in your UK specialism they might not be in Australia Definitely always adapt your CV for every application to ensure it matches what the employer is looking for Thanks Lauradarlin great advice -- sounds like my current cv is half way there! Do you have a template you use or the headings that you would use to set it out?? Best wishes Cml Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CML1410 Posted August 1, 2013 Author Share Posted August 1, 2013 I'd be wary with more than 2. You can always add appendices if necessary to document projects in more detail but as SimoneAl says, recruiters won't spend more than a couple of minutes scanning over it anyway so much more is a waste. I'd be inclined to use bullet point format to get basic detail set out in a stand alone 2 page document then detail things in more depth in appendices - this way the info is there if an employer wants more but won't miss out on vital info if they just scan the CV Sounds like good advice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CML1410 Posted August 1, 2013 Author Share Posted August 1, 2013 The clue is in the 100's of job applications. It takes a couple of days to do a job application, even up to a week. Obviously this will depend on whether you are looking at contract rather than permanent. Contract is all about meeting the requirements of the spec. Permanent is finding a bond with the company. The first thing you should ask yourself is who is this company, and why do I want to work for them? The answer better be more than 'they are offering a job'. The company will reverse this question, and it will be the most important thing for them. The CV is by the by. Most Aussie jobs I have applied for have application criteria that you must meet. This is the tricky bit. It's all about applying your past experience to the new role. This should take several days. It is this which will grant you an interview. You may go through this exercise and finish by deciding not to apply, as the role is simply not for you. Or maybe the company is not for you. Applying for job is a game. Always ask for feedback, as it is a learning experience. Never apply for more jobs than you can handle. Cherry pick. It is better to do one or two good applications rather than ten bad ones. Be positive. Treat applying for a job with the same professionalism that you will exhibit in the job, and you are onto a winner. Always ask yourself - would I employ me? Thanks newjez this is how I have always approached any job I have gone for - I have never been one to send off tons fo cv's but have always targeted my cv to the role -- so maybe there is hope for me out there in Oz and it won't all be doom and gloom when we get there!! I do have a lot to offer and I would hire me so I will take confidence from that going forward -- thanks :biggrin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CML1410 Posted August 1, 2013 Author Share Posted August 1, 2013 Anyone have an Aussie style cv template that is proven to get job!! A CV doesn't get you the job - all it does it get you through to the next round in the selection process, often an interview, either by phone or in person. Try to imagine yourself in the place of the person reviewing a pile of CVs and remember that he (or she) is looking for someone for a specific role with a specific skill set: if your recent career history has nothing to do with the advertised job, then your CV is likely heading for File 13. I've been involved in recruiting engineers and I can tell you that reviewing CVs is pretty unexciting: if there are many (say 100s) of applicants, then the 1st cut is often done by HR, and the final decision makers only look at about 20 that meet the requirements of the specified job. I would guess that the on the 1st cut, most CVs only get looked at for 10 seconds at the very most - that's how it long it takes to figure out whether the CV goes into the bin, or onto the pile for further review. Those selected for further review will be scrutinised for much longer but, if you can't catch the eye of the reviewer in just 2 pages, then adding another 3 pages isn't going to improve things, as they just won't get read. That 50m swimming badge that you got 10 years ago is totally irrelevant - briefly mentioning that you helped out in the community (scouts, youth club leader) is always worthwhile. Showing that you have worthwhile experience of the job being advertised is vital. My tips - make sure your CV is succinct - keep it to a maximum of 2 pages and make sure that your details are relevant to the job you are applying for. Page 1: Personal details (and contact info) and title and summary of duties/responsibilities of most recent job. Page 2: Other jobs starting with the 2nd most recent and going back in time. Tailor your CV to meet the job description, but keep it brief - if person reviewing the CVs wants to know more, then they will contact you. Unless the job specification asks for overseas applicants then, not being in Oz is a big disadavantage - why should a company choose to employ you over someone who is already in the country? Similarly if you are just sending out speculative CVs in the hope of a getting an unadvertised job - it does take time to sit down a pen a reply and not everyone has that time - you might be lucky, but don't be too despondent if you don't even get an acknowledgment. Thanks TerryDXB I have spent years recruiting people and recruited 150 employees under time pressures for a new project that was starting up previously!! AS an HR shortlister I always had a pile of yes, no and question marks and the yes would always get interview and I wuld go to the maybes if I didn't have enough yes. Coming on here I heard a lot about Aussie style cv's and was wondering what exactly that was !!?? ......... I am grateful for the reassurance your post has given me ie that everything I think and know about recruiting is correct and a cv is a cv at the end of the day whether in UK or Oz. I clearly need to re-write my cv as with 20 years experiecne in HR and 5 jobs under my belt it is 4 pages and by the sounds of things that is too long. My experience is v strng in HR and I have done every kind of work you can think of from the filing to hiring television presenters, to firing senior execs to taking over companies. Clearly I just need to re-write my cv so that it is concise and highlights my key experience over the 20 years and hopefully that should be a good start for my job search in Oz! Thanks again Cml Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebokke Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 There are some really valuable comments on this post thanks for the useful insight to those that are working in Oz. My CV is 3 pages as that is what I've read is the Aussie style norm (3-4 pages) but it sounds like I should try and reduce it to two and make it very succinct which I'm sure will help when there are typically 100 applicants for the jobs I'm applying for. Thanks all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammy1 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Hi All, Been on this site now for a couple of months and have heard lots of negative stories about Poms applying for hundreds of jobs and getting no interviews. I work in HR and know it is all about the cv -- does anyone have a good template for a cv or some guidance on how to set out a stunning Aussie cv???? I know a lot of it is about making sure your cv meets specific criteria. I have the experience and am willing to be very flexible / take lower jobs to work just want to make sure I do everything to get that first crucial job if Im lucky enough to get my visa approved!! Thanks for any feedback. PS I have seen the post by freckleface under jobs and careers. Carmel Resume's need to be tailored to the job sought. I work in the education field and as such, my resume is very much about my academic achievements and my teaching record. My resume (4 pages, plus an extra 5 pages of selection criteria) would look very different to someone else's who does not work in my field. Have a look online and you will find a multitude of different cv/resume types that fit various careers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CML1410 Posted August 1, 2013 Author Share Posted August 1, 2013 Resume's need to be tailored to the job sought. I work in the education field and as such, my resume is very much about my academic achievements and my teaching record. My resume (4 pages, plus an extra 5 pages of selection criteria) would look very different to someone else's who does not work in my field. Have a look online and you will find a multitude of different cv/resume types that fit various careers. Thanks Sammy1 :biggrin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamffc Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 With the help of a few recruitment consultants I adapted mine, they said to include a 'responsibilities' and 'achievements' section for each job. I guarantee my former line managers would have regarded this as arrogant and not invited the candidate in but over here the emphasis is really about selling yourself and you can't over do this. The only downside is that is wont create jobs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CML1410 Posted August 1, 2013 Author Share Posted August 1, 2013 With the help of a few recruitment consultants I adapted mine, they said to include a 'responsibilities' and 'achievements' section for each job. I guarantee my former line managers would have regarded this as arrogant and not invited the candidate in but over here the emphasis is really about selling yourself and you can't over do this. The only downside is that is wont create jobs! Thanks Graham I wouldn't have thought to do responsibilities and achievements for each job!! Looks like I have homework to do now on my cv!! :biggrin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauradarlin Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 Really nice to see so many encouraging and helpful posts on this thread. I've just had a year off to travel and I'm itching to get back now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levi Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Bump on this. Any more tips, comments? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.