Professionally written CVs?

[NotSoSure]

What’s the consensus on these?

My wife was speaking to a recruitment consultant today who offered to do one for £150 + VAT.

She’s been looking unsuccessfully for a couple of weeks now and whilst her CV looks OK it might be a little generic.

So, professionally done CVs, a waste of money or the key to employment?

Thanks.

[mically]

These topics tend to be like marmite.

You're either in agreement with them, or you're not.
Personally, I'm not.

I tend to ask for feedback on my CV, and have only taken a couple of minor criticisms - but; constructive criticisms nevertheless.

It may be worth spending an hour or so on google, obtain some guidance and examples.
Mine is a mongrel, so to speak. Stolen ideas from others I have seen.

Other members' opinions will differ however.

[spikeyhead]

Mine was done professionally a few years ago, along with some excellent interview coaching.

Probably about ten hours of work from someone that was charging Barrister type rates. This was paid as part of a redundancy so I didn't get to see the bill.

It's rare for me not to get an interview if I apply for a job and it's rare that I don't get offered the role after the interview.

I don't believe that the average 150 pound service is any better than you'd get asking for some CV help on here.

[Jackleman]

I few years ago I paid that sort of money for my CV to be re-written professionally after having spent 7 years of running my own business, my CV prior to the re-write was not getting me any interviews. After the re-write I got offered the job for the first application I made and invited back to a second interview with the other company I had applied to.

I have been off work since last year and have only been applying for jobs that I want to really do, I would say I have had about an 80% success rate in gaining an interview.

I made sure that the person writing the CV did not over use wky management language that would be more suitable for David Brent, but concentrated on my strengths and achievements as well as really laying the CV out well and I think it is a good CV.

£150 may sound like a lot of money but if it ups your chance of getting a foot in the door I found it to be worth it.

[Original Poster]

I would be happy to take a look over it and offer constructive criticism FOC. I own an agency.

PM me if you want to take up the offer

[Mojooo]

I paid about £40 a few years ago for someone to look over my CV

They provided me with some hints and tips and the layout style they used was better than naything I could think of

That said the content was largely the same and its debatable whether it made a difference.

It might be worth considering for your wife if she has had a long career and needs to be precise about what she had done in her career so far.

[300bhp/ton]

NotSoSure said:

What’s the consensus on these?

My wife was speaking to a recruitment consultant today who offered to do one for £150 + VAT.

She’s been looking unsuccessfully for a couple of weeks now and whilst her CV looks OK it might be a little generic.

So, professionally done CVs, a waste of money or the key to employment?

Thanks.

I've done CV's up for people in the past. I only charge £50 all in as a rule.

But one key aspect is the persons who's CV it is, MUST provide input. There is no point in getting someone else to write it if:

a) you don't know what it actually says
b) you don't understand what it says
c) is wrong and makes stuff up


It's a joint effort. What I do is I've designed the CV layout and base content. I also do the work in putting the info into the CV and I ask questions. The person who's CV it is, needs to provide the answers and most of the content - in their own words were possible too.

[NotSoSure]

Thanks for the input.

She’s been in the same job for a while and hasn't needed a CV, hence what she’s come up with is a little generic and staid. It may need the touch of someone who knows what their doing.

Original Poster said:

I would be happy to take a look over it and offer constructive criticism FOC. I own an agency.

PM me if you want to take up the offer

Thanks, email sent.