CPG & Associates’ Post

“Brett, should I put references right on my resume or in another doc?” This is a question I often field from candidates. My answer: Don’t worry about including references when you apply for a role. In fact, don’t even bother to write the phrase “References available upon request” on your CV. Prospective employers are not going to call your references until after they’ve interviewed you, at which point, they’ll ask you for them. Listing references in advance is a waste of space, and it’s also old fashioned. Hiring managers assume you’ll give them names and contact info when they’re ready. That said, definitely have your references ready to share. That means having a list of good references (at least three) and giving them the heads up that they may receive a call. Typically, hiring managers want a name, company, title, phone number and email address. Having this information organized and handy will help you respond quickly when they ask. Working with a CPG & Associates recruiter, we make sure your references are not bothered until you are further along in the process and a offer is imminent.

Positive assumptions don’t exist! It’s simple - if you are being asked the same questions at interview about your career, then the information sought should be in your resume. Experience questions often reflect the information that the interviewer expects to see in your resume. I’d prefer to not have to ask how many people were in the team that you led. Detail how many people and what they did on your resume - could be one person or 50. The more specific detail the better - I want quantitative information especially when I advertise, and the ad describes you will lead a team of X or need a specific software package for a three-month contract. State that you have used that software clearly on your resume or cover letter. Sure, you could learn that skill, but my client may need someone to be effective immediately in a contract. Don’t assume everyone knows your internal acronyms or what your company does or how big they are. Give us a line or two so we don’t make assumptions. ‘XYZ Company are a privately owned importer of digital door closures that are sold via distributors to major retailers. XYZ employ 100 staff and a turnover around $10m’. Human nature, especially in recruitment, is that we don’t make positive assumptions! Whilst recruiters are always smiling and lovely warm people that always look for positives, when you have 150 applicants or a long search list, sometimes we need to find reasons to say no to candidates. Your lack of information may lead to being rejected unnecessarily which will be a loss to everyone. We can’t call every candidate to seek answers. Interviews will become more about you and targeted to the opportunity if the interviewer spends less time asking questions they should already know. #noblepeople #recruitment

My position is senior, but I’m being offered a reasonably low package. Said one of my prospective clients on a call last week. Even after having 15 years of experience, he wasn’t getting any offers with a good package. After understanding the case, we at Ace Resumes figured:- - It wasn’t the profile or candidature. - Nor it was about the Interview But, the resume. The candidate was underselling himself in the resume. These days we see cookie-cutter templates for resumes everywhere, or DIY software that place your information based on some fixed templates. But have you ever wondered, is your position, experience, and personality same as the XYZ person that the software is showing? Long before you would be introduced to the recruiter, your resume meets them. When you prepare for a job interview, you go well groomed. Then why shouldn’t your resume be well-groomed? Thinking of getting your resume audited or giving it an expert makeover? Send us a DM and we’ll help you get equipped with one asap.

‘I spoke with 15 recruiters yesterday, surely one of them will come back with a job' WRONG ❌ If you are using a recruiter to help you find work it is vital that you ensure you know exactly where your CV is going. I speak with candidates almost daily who have spoken with a recruiter and they have no idea where their CV has been sent, resulting in your details entering a database and being sent to every man and his dog! This automatically sets off the wrong impression to the client who might have received your CV from numerous sources and potentially see it as a red flag, ruining your chances with that company. So before you issue your CV make sure you get a full list of companies they wish to represent you to and then you know exactly where you stand. Take control of your job search and remember that quantity isn't always quality, the above could be done by just a single recruiter who knows the market well, is active within both client & candidate networks and understands your needs.

The Power of Sharing Your CV and Conversation- Let's talk about this BECAUSE: Throughout my recruitment experience when encountering with candidates, I've noticed a recurring trend – the fixation on job descriptions!!! I’ve often been puzzled by the reluctance of some amazing candidates to share their CVs and engage in a conversation when being approached about a particular role, especially when they haven't seen a Job Description  🤔 Sharing your CV should be the priority, not JDs. Why? Because CVs provide a comprehensive view of your qualifications, helping recruiters assess if you're a good fit for the role. JDs can be quite generic, often missing the intricate details that make a role, business, and team unique. By reaching out to a recruiter and engaging in that initial conversation, you gain access to insights that JDs simply can't provide. Recruiters can paint a vivid picture of the role's day-to-day responsibilities, the company culture, the team dynamics, and even the personality of the person you'll be reporting to. These are vital aspects of your decision-making process that are not included in JDs. BTW- Its not a rant: Its advice, I promise 😀

It's tough market out there at the moment, having virtual discussions trying to win candidates over following being burnt by a cowboy recruiter previously 🤠 Or managing hiring managers expectations and trying to warn them that good people will not hang around for 2 weeks whilst you are considering options.. 👻 But for people struggling to get their foot through the door, those finding it difficult to get feedback from recruiters/managers here's some tips and steps that can be taken to get you seen: ✔ I love reading about measurable achievements, quantifiable results. For example, "successfully exceed my target by 190%" "generated cost savings of £200,000 in Q1". ✔ Avoid the scatter gun approach and take time to understand the roles/companies you are applying for and tailor your CV to them, look for key words in job adverts and highlight where you have transferable skills or had the same responsibility previously. ✔ I get LinkedIn is like Facebook for some recruiters, pls don't shout at me. But take time to keep your profile up to date as 9/10 hiring managers and recruiters will be stalking you, add a photo strut your stuff! ✔ I'm split on cover letters, but most of the time we tend to skim over these, as a recruiter I am inclined to go straight to employment history as that's where the juicy stuff is. ✔ Follow up on those applications you've made, if a candidate gives me a call after submitting their application I think its a massive green flag. For me it shows a sense of urgency and commitment, setting a president of how you want your job search to look like. The market is very much candidate led at the moment, but don't get complacent with your applications and the way you are branding yourself. Any other thoughts on this please comments below, I'd love to discuss! #recruitment #applications #cvwriting #cvtips

As a recruiter, I see LOTS of CVs each day 😅. Many of them are missing key points or structured poorly. Here's a few tips to help you structure your CV and grab the attention of a recruiter or hiring manager!✍ 1. 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 🔢 Profile, Experience, Education, Achievements. These heading will give the hiring manager all the info they need to make an informed decision based on your CV. No pictures or fancy designs. 2. 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 📖 When going through lots of CVs, recruiters and hiring managers don't read through your whole CV a lot of the time unless you've caught their interest early. Using bold headings, bullet points and outlining each element in a clear manner will make your CV a lot easier to get the relevant info from. 3. 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 🎉 Clarifying what you have achieved previously gives an employer an idea of what you can achieve going forward. If you've exceeded a goal, completed a project successfully, gone above and beyond etc. make sure to mention it and give details. 4. 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 🔎 Don't list references - always use 'References available on request'. Don't list every single thing you do day-to-day in every role. Include the main points of each role or degree etc. List things in chronological order starting with most recent. Hopefully these points will help your CV stand out and make sure you secure some more interviews in your job hunt! If you feel like there's any points I may have missed, please comment and help each other out! Best of luck! #cvtips #recruitement #jobs

🚀 Want to know why recruiters breeze through your resume in less than 7 seconds? 🤔 Here's the inside scoop: they're on a mission to find the perfect match quickly among lots of qualified candidates! However, there are ways to make those seconds count. Here are 3 tips to catch their eye: 1️⃣ Tailor Your Resume: Customize your resume to match the job description. Highlight relevant skills and experiences that align with the role you're applying for. This shows recruiters you're serious about the position. 2️⃣ Clear Formatting: Keep your resume clean and easy to read. Use bullet points, headings, and bold text to emphasize key points. A clutter-free layout makes it easier for recruiters to spot important details at a glance. 3️⃣ Quantify Achievements: Numbers speak volumes! Wherever possible, quantify your achievements with specific metrics. Whether it's sales figures, project outcomes, or cost savings, concrete numbers grab attention and demonstrate your impact. Remember, your resume is your ticket to the interview stage. Make those seconds count by presenting yourself in the best light possible! 💼 ✨ #ResumeTips #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #TheJobHelpers #ChuiTheCareerCoach

If you’re sending job applications online and getting rejected, you’re likely doing it wrong. Here’s the one thing you can do to instantly reduce the rate of rejections by 20-30% 👉👉👉 Speak with the recruiter. Most candidates who are rejected at the screening stages have no idea what went wrong. Was it my profile, my CV, or perhaps my cover letter? Is hiring frozen? Was I too late? You can eliminate most of these reasons by aligning beforehand with HR. 1️⃣ Contact the recruiter from your target office and ask for a 10-minute call.  2️⃣ Present your profile.  3️⃣ Ask for their advice on WHEN you should apply and for what ROLE.  4️⃣ Let them walk you through the recruitment process. At this point, they’ll tell you if they stopped actively interviewing or accepting applications, if your profile is not suitable, or if hiring is frozen and you should apply instead in 6 months. You’ll build a relationship and have clarity over what you can expect. That already puts you within the top quartile of applicants. A 10-minute conversation saves you weeks of disappointment. Have you tried it? #consulting #interviewprep #mckinsey 👍 Follow me Cristian Leata for more.  ♻️ Reshare this to be the first to inform your network.

I reviewed 17 resumes this week I had the same ALL CAPS feedback for each and every one: QUANTIFY QUANTIFY QUANTIFY And just so we're clear exactly what that means USE NUMBERS Repeat after me: "I will use data to quantify my accomplishments on my resume" This is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING If you want your resume to stand out Ok, now that's out of the way Let's dig into WHY you need to use DATA in your resume If you want to land an interview 1️⃣ It makes your resume EASILY SCANNABLE Recruiters read thousands of resumes If nothing jumps out at them within the first few seconds They're swiping left on your application 2️⃣ It gives CONTEXT Statements without context are vague Who would you pick, the person who says they "Increased sales" Or the person who "Increased sales by 30% in Q2" 3️⃣ It shows you're RESULTS ORIENTED Hiring managers hire talent that will drive results The best way to demonstrate you contribute to the bottom line Is to show your actual results and your track record of performance If you aren't quantifying your accomplishments on your resume Your changes of landing an interview are extremely low So use this tip to put your bet foot forward Want me to review your resume FOR FREE? ♻️ Share this post 👇 Comment below with what kind of role(s) you’re looking for 📩 DM me your resume ---------------------------------- 💃💸 Subscribe to the Ladies Get Paid newsletter for more job search tips 🔔 Follow me Ashley Louise 🔄 Share this post to help the job seekers in your network #careers #resume #jobsearchstrategies #jobinterview #jobhunt #jobsearch