Job candidates warned to keep their CV realistic

In a recruitment marketplace where the employer is king, job seekers are being warned they are losing touch with reality as they bid to stand out from the crowd.

This is according to IT recruitment specialists Sanderson Recruitment who maintain many candidates are trying too hard with their CV’s, especially those new to the job market.

In a statement aimed at potential employees, Mike Beesley, Chairman, Sanderson Recruitment, said a CV or resume should be an easy to read and understand document, one that tells a story about the candidate and helps set the agenda for an interview.

He added: “We are starting to see a lot of over-elaborate CV’s, with fussy designs and strange attempts to be different. A few people have gone so far as to set out their CVs like PowerPoint presentations, which make them very difficult to read.

“People are also starting to include photographs. Unless you are particularly beautiful, or the job is in TV or film, it is usually quite unnecessary to include a picture.

Mr Beesley also advised job-hunters to adopt some basic principles when putting together their CV’s and applications. He concluded: “They should remember that faced with a pile of applications and CV’s, a recruitment person is first looking to get rid of as many unsuitable candidates as possible, as quickly as possible.

“They are looking for reasons to say no and if you draw attention to yourself with a naff, novelty CV it gives them a very good rationale to file it in the rubbish bin.

“Remember, the CV is to get an interview, not a job. If you look at it that way and try to make sure it reflects who you are and your skills and successes, you stand a much better chance in the job market.” (MB)