Anyone ever used any of these online C.V agencys, and were you pleased with the service?

I have been given a great format for a C.V that I want to use but the design and format [pdf] is beyond my capabilities.

Any help/advice appreciated.

First stop is your local job centre they can send you to a CV person and this costs you nothing. I went to one on friday she went over my CV and took a few bits out changed order was quite useful, as it's always hard to judge your own work. Layout should always be simple, I set ine out in in design but it should be perfectly doable in MS word

One of these might work

Now this a CV!

Ooo thats pretty, Micheal Anderson clearly has too much time on his hands!

Nimrod – i'm actually writing a new cv now, and am some what lacking in design inspiration, care to share your format?

Michael Anderson's CV would go straight into the bin.

http://www.cvtips.com

Loads more websites out there, most of the online job seeker ones have a similar section. I used one of the "Dummies Guide to…" (can't remember the exact title) when I was made redundant and had to re-write my CV, that book was very helpful. My aunt (who works in HR) was very helpful as well.

Michael Anderson's CV would go straight into the bin.

+1.

Michael Anderson's CV would go straight into the bin.

I dunno – his CV is a great example of the kind of work you would hire him for… It would catch my eye at least.

Although it makes him look like a smug ****. So actually, aye, bin it.

You were right!

smug ****
whatever the job, that's the first test. FAIL.

Michael Anderson's CV would go straight into the bin.

Not when you consider his profession.

EDIT: It shows lateral thinking and an ability to communicate information in different ways to what is normally expected. It arrests the reader's attention and makes them read it. I have seen a great many unusual CVs written/created in the creative industry.

Fair point. Hadn't spotted that he was hoping to be the next MD of 'Smug **** Inc'

Edit: 'It arrests the reader's attention and makes them read it'?
It arrests the reader's attention, certainly. Some might read it, others might think 'what a cockweasel'.

Why is he a smug ****? Nothing in that CV suggests he is smug. It just shows an ability to communicate information clearly and concisely – it appears to be entirely factual and simple facts based on his experience.

Infographics rule.

we're looking at the same thing here, yes?
It shows an ability to overcomplicate something, and bullshit rather a lot.

And if I got that CV and another written in the traditional format containing the identical information, it would be him that would attract my attention more.

The fact that he's put his "coffee intake" and "sense of humour output" in one of the graphs leads me to concur with AndyP re the smug **** conclusion.

how would you convey entirely spurious "relative energy expenditure over time" 'data' in a conventional CV?

and bullshit rather a lot.

We clearly are not looking at the same thing then. I see no bullshit (unless you don't believe, for example, that he can use WordPress, InDesign and Photoshop).

EDIT: I agree the coffee/humor bit is a bit pointless and points deducted for them.

We clearly are not looking at the same thing then.
ah…right. Sorry – I was looking at the image in wozza's post.

He's a designer, specifically he designs the type of thing he's used in his CV. It is like a CV-portfolio hybrid.

Out of interest AndyP – what line of work are you in?

CaptJon – succinctly put.

Recruitment

Tails – Job centre, ohhh theyr'e scary with loads of jobless hanging around.
Mattk – Give me your e-mail and I will post over.
And who is Michael Anderson and why has he hijacked this thread 😕

AndyP – Member
Recruitment

I would, like you, bin it if it was a CV for someone trying to get into a recruitment post.

But I wouldn't if I worked in recruitment and I was looking to place him in a creative post specialising in infographics…

Now I could well be talking rubbish, but my OH employs designers/design agencies, and I'm pretty sure she'd expect the CV and a portfolio of work to be two separate things.

In any case, in the event that a CV's gone though an agency there's a good chance they'll have rewritten/messed with the thing – at minimum they'll have taken out the contact details.

The general form for CVs has changed a little over the years, but well-formatted, readable and concise are still relevant.

sorry, I was being facetious. I'm not in recruitment 😉

I was looking to place him in a creative post specialising in infographics…
I'd still ditch it. Even ignoring the coffee/sense of humour thing (why oh why?), it's still bollocks. It basically just shows they can use a piece of software. I'd rather they said 'proficient in Microsoft bullshit chart generator 3.4'.

and as above – creative post: CV and separate portfolio. Examples of stuff he'd knocked up for work.

And who is Michael Anderson and why has he hijacked this thread

Sorry fella, just thought it was a good CV was all.

It basically just shows they can use a piece of software

I disagree there – it shows an understanding of data and communication of it. The important thing is to remember that he has a particular speciality in a niche market.

The general form for CVs has changed a little over the years, but well-formatted, readable and concise are still relevant.

I agree 100% which is why I'm with AndyP in slagging off that infographic thing. I know that in certain creative/artistic jobs that kind of thing might be a bit more relevant but even then (IMHO) it's still way overdone.

Maybe it's cos I used to work in science, CV's there are simple and to the point – contact details, education, relevant work experience, publications, other interests/hobbies. The end. Two pages max.

I'd disagree entirely. He shows no understanding of data whatsoever. He's created some charts combining some real data with some entirely fictional data. (I AM in the 'spot the ficional data' line of work however 😉 )

CV's there are simple and to the point – contact details, education, relevant work experience, publications, other interests/hobbies. The end. Two pages max.

Indeed. And note well how crazy-legs fails to include 'personal statement' or other such crap in there. Save the space on the CV for more important stuff. When you turn up to interview the interviewers will be able to judge you better by the size of your tie knot.

Of course we are all entitled to our own opinions and your view is every bit as pertinent as mine. But as I work in the creative industry, I can honestly say that it captured my attention and imagination. I would certainly be of the opinion (on first impression) that this person could add value to my business by being able to see a problem and answer it with a creative solution.

wozza.
no problem fella.

Fair enough. But I'd want proof that their creative solution could actually answer the problem…;)

But I'd want proof that their creative solution could actually answer the problem

That would come up at interview – at least that CV (for me) gets the interview in the first place (which is exactly what a CV is designed to do, so perhaps he HAS answered the problem)…

you're obviously a very kind man 😉

Now then Mr Anderson. Can you explain why your re-vamp of the London Tube map a) features no station names and b) looks a bit like the Flying Spaghetti Monster?

well, I could explain it, but I'd prefer to illustrate my answer like so:

Congratulations Anderson. You've got the job. would you like to sleep with my wife?

😉

To get back on topic, a good covering letter is just as important than the CV.

a good covering letter

Darling fascist bully-boy…