The Work Thread

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jiggles
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PostRe: The Work Thread
by jiggles » Fri May 05, 2017 12:25 am

So, I'm writing my CV for the first time since before I graduated and I'm not sure how to word the summary without sounding full of myself or cheesy.

Here's my first pass (in image format because I don't want it being indexed by google)
Image


Is this good? I have literally no idea.

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Green Gecko
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PostRe: The Work Thread
by Green Gecko » Fri May 05, 2017 3:06 pm

I'd say don't be afraid of highlighting a positive personality trait as often that's a reason to get hired. You don't want to appear dull or overly serious.

Mine is similar and I've not had any evidence to suggest it looks pompous or ego inflating or whatever.

I use the phrases "self-starter" to say I am motivated (personality), "enthusiast" instead of simply "expert" to say I am a technical evangelist who is passionate, and I also say I am sociable, because it's true, I am likeable compared to many people I have worked with who are very closed off or even rude, and I easily make friends with colleagues.
I say "willing to take on and offer constructive criticism" because I believe in humility and self improvement equally. Also "analytical" and "serious-minded" (stolen from previous references) say I am studious and can work hard when needed, thinking things through.

All in a lot less words. I've had some advice to the effect my CV is really good from recruiters, my struggle is with interviews and competing with others. And that stuff is right a the top. On more than a few occasions it would seem that and just barely scraping the often ridiculous experience requirements has got me somewhere in the process including getting the role because often hiring a good person / personality fit is a better long term proposition than hiring someone with loads of skills but there's no evidence they're a good colleague. Which is really important if you're starting in a new role, the HR/recruiter wants to know you are more likely to mesh in and stay and not have to spend a lot of time and money finding it it turns out someone is an arsehole or has no work ethic for some reason (eg they don't enjoy working with people).

I honestly don't think it's really about keywords anymore. Do that stuff on your job / LinkedIn profiles and leave it off the CV.

1. Sell yourself
2. Quantify your achievements in:
3. 2 or 3 relevant experience with examples of utility, how you did the job well or got results
4. Highest academic qualification

Maybe hobbies depending on the role but that could be obvious in the skillset, maybe mention a complimentary creative or adventurous side to the career like travelling, photography, blogging, games design or something that isn't the same time/place/genre as sitting in front of desk/computer doing the same things. You must enjoy something. People that are 100% work focused are miserable to work with.

"It should be common sense to just accept the message Nintendo are sending out through their actions."
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Oblomov Boblomov
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PostRe: The Work Thread
by Oblomov Boblomov » Fri May 05, 2017 8:42 pm

I like the summary. Clear and to the point. To be honest, in my experience (I've done a lot of recruitment) the personal statement is only noticed for negative indicators.

I've strawberry floated up and now I'll be worrying about it all weekend :fp:.

I've been shortlisted for this job I went for earlier this week and in my excitement I booked my interview at the same time I'm supposed to be halfway to Mexico :cry: :x :fp:.

What an idiot. I've emailed to request an alternative date but there weren't many options and I expect they will be snapped up by the other candidates over the weekend. Even if I get another time/date booked in I've already made a bad mistake. If I were on the recruitment team I'd probably recommend cancelling my interview.

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Green Gecko
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PostRe: The Work Thread
by Green Gecko » Fri May 05, 2017 8:45 pm

I think it also depends who you're applying to. Recruiters tend to gauge your personality by phoning you and unwittingly interviewing you, whereas HR officers have to sift through thousands of identikit CVs they don't give a crap about.

Also CVs often mean nothing now because of burgeoning application systems. Sometimes you can tag them on the end to show you are actually able to create a professional, well structured document. Tip: many people can't.

I think they can matter more when they're downloaded to form a shortlist by recruiters and passed onto the end employer to "OK" you as presented and query your CV eg once I was asked if I was more interested in web development or web design.

"It should be common sense to just accept the message Nintendo are sending out through their actions."
_________________________________________

❤ btw GRcade costs money and depends on donations - please support one of the UK's oldest video gaming forums → HOW TO DONATE
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Hexx
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PostRe: The Work Thread
by Hexx » Mon May 08, 2017 11:36 am

Just texted my boss that we might have a ni**er problem.

Why doesn't it auto correct to bigger :(

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Qikz
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PostRe: The Work Thread
by Qikz » Mon May 08, 2017 2:46 pm

Hexx wrote:Just texted my boss that we might have a ni**er problem.

Why doesn't it auto correct to bigger :(


oh no

Doesn't autocorrect go based on your previous typing?

The Watching Artist wrote:I feel so inept next to Qikz...
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Bunni
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PostRe: The Work Thread
by Bunni » Mon May 08, 2017 5:18 pm

I've sent off at least 30 jobs applications in the last month and I've only heard from one. Interviewed for the post but found out the hours are awful so I'll not be taking it if they offer. Why does nobody want me? I've got pure skills and gooseberry fool. They've not even had the chance to dislike my personality yet.

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Green Gecko
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PostRe: The Work Thread
by Green Gecko » Mon May 08, 2017 6:17 pm

Have you tried speculative applications? I got an interview that way, even if they weren't really sure exactly what I could do for them, I still met with an assistant director.

"It should be common sense to just accept the message Nintendo are sending out through their actions."
_________________________________________

❤ btw GRcade costs money and depends on donations - please support one of the UK's oldest video gaming forums → HOW TO DONATE
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Victor Mildew
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PostRe: The Work Thread
by Victor Mildew » Mon May 08, 2017 7:39 pm

Yep, try speculative enquiries and lots of them. And i mean LOADS of them. Make an email template and just go though a list of email addressses and send them out. I got my current job through sending out one to a place that wasn't advertising.

New job seems to be going well, feels really strange being somewhere else but it's a nice change. gooseberry fool being out of the video game industry though, but at least I had nearly 4 years in it so I got to do it at some point in my life, which is more than a lot of other people would get.

Hexx wrote:Ad7 is older and balder than I thought.
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Rocsteady
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PostRe: The Work Thread
by Rocsteady » Mon May 08, 2017 7:53 pm

Bunni wrote:I've sent off at least 30 jobs applications in the last month and I've only heard from one. Interviewed for the post but found out the hours are awful so I'll not be taking it if they offer. Why does nobody want me? I've got pure skills and gooseberry fool. They've not even had the chance to dislike my personality yet.

I'm still in the same position, think I must be easily 60+ down and only had two interviews.

Didn't get the first which I was surprised about as they were both sound lasses around my age interviewing me but apparently there was someone with more experience than me. Second I had today, better get offered it because it's way below my experience level and has shite pay to match. Sounds interesting though and only temp which means I can still flee the UK again if I get bored.

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Victor Mildew
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PostRe: The Work Thread
by Victor Mildew » Mon May 08, 2017 8:41 pm

I applied for over 90 :dread:

Had one proper interview and one phone interview out of it.

Hexx wrote:Ad7 is older and balder than I thought.
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Oblomov Boblomov
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PostRe: The Work Thread
by Oblomov Boblomov » Mon May 08, 2017 10:11 pm

Thankfully managed to get another interview slot and it's absolutely ideal. First thing in the morning next Thursday.

Time to start preparing my presentation :datass:.

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Kezzer
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PostRe: The Work Thread
by Kezzer » Tue May 09, 2017 10:03 am

A project that was closed off late last year as completed, has returned with over 100 opportunities that were missed the first time round by the project team!! :lol:

At this rate I will be in a job for life!!!

:lol:

Last edited by Kezzer on Tue May 09, 2017 8:17 pm, edited 2 times in total.
This post is exempt from the No Context Thread.

Tomous wrote:Tell him to take his fake reality out of your virtual reality and strawberry float off


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Bunni
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PostRe: The Work Thread
by Bunni » Tue May 09, 2017 6:50 pm

Managed to score with a couple of agencies. Got a Skype interview for one in London, their pay is ridiculous and I've got family to crash with so it'll be worth popping home for a weekend every now and then. Also a local one which means I can cover shifts at enhanced rates rather than my normal overtime rate of zero. I know a few folk that have found full time work from agencies when they do regular shifts. Still nothing back on full time posts though.

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Green Gecko
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PostRe: The Work Thread
by Green Gecko » Tue May 09, 2017 9:04 pm

It does generate leads from the same agency. Hopefully they work on finder's fee basis rather than % of your pay, try to figure that out if you can and go with the former.

Otherwise you may as well pay someone to find a job for you! And seriously you can do that if you really want to. Just approach a recruiter on LinkedIn, and they'll often get paid when you're hired.

Getting some nice comments from my customers, it's grand someone can say they like my artwork etc. and get excited about a small commission, it really encourages me on. In normal work, nobody gives a strawberry float. My customers actually say things like, "I'm so glad I found him!" etc. I'm special. :wub:

"It should be common sense to just accept the message Nintendo are sending out through their actions."
_________________________________________

❤ btw GRcade costs money and depends on donations - please support one of the UK's oldest video gaming forums → HOW TO DONATE
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Bunni
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PostRe: The Work Thread
by Bunni » Fri May 12, 2017 9:58 am

Blagged another 2 interviews for full time posts which is great. About to head into one for an agency now. Only, it's being held in a bar at a premier inn in town. And the guys late.

Think I'll maybe no take this one. He'll be lucky if I choose to go ahead with people having their strawberry floating breakfast in earshot.

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Bunni
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PostRe: The Work Thread
by Bunni » Fri May 12, 2017 10:30 am

Still no sign and no contact. But I've had a chance to review the pay scales and starting rate is double what I'm on at the moment. Guess I'll hang fire.

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Rocsteady
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PostRe: The Work Thread
by Rocsteady » Fri May 12, 2017 5:08 pm

Had an interview for a job in London today, while on a bus on a Croatian island. Do not think it went well.

Been offered a job in Stirling which is nice. Think I'll take it for a while at least and see what I make of it.

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Bunni
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PostRe: The Work Thread
by Bunni » Fri May 12, 2017 5:19 pm

Turns out the guy doing my interview got hit by a car on the way over. :/

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That's not a growth
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PostRe: The Work Thread
by That's not a growth » Fri May 12, 2017 5:59 pm

Sounds like they have an opening in a position that pays more than what you were going for, you should ask them about it. Shows initiative.


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