business owners: a Q about how and who you hire.

something_totally_different · 3 Oct 2009 at 03:15

Im just after some feedback really as I`m now one of the great unwashed and need to find a new job... cheers Gordon.

so I am looking for tips on C.V.s i.e. what you do and don't like/look for on a CV,

also I want you to be totally honest about this next bit, and its not about racism, i understand its business and preference... but if you had two identical C.V.s one with John smith, the other from reberto piero corenilli. would a name put you off giving an interview if you only had a few spaces?

that's not my name but it is a name from the same region of Italy as mine. I have applied for so many jobs and gotten minimal response that I am wondering if I should Anglicize my name and use my mothers maiden name. which would be Luke O`leary.

gotta get working again, im bored stiff, sleeping stupid hours and getting more depressed by the minute. one minute your a manager of a design firm for three years, the next, poof, your on the dole.

Rroff · 3 Oct 2009 at 04:17

Its not quite so pertinent to the CV as to the interview but one of the major factors we would be considering is how well the person would "fit in"...

Make sure you have any important info, name, relevant qualifications/experience, etc. plain and easy to read in the top half of the (first) page. If you have a name like "reberto piero corenilli" I'd look at shortening it as much as possible i.e. reb/rob corenilli but anglicizing it probably won't make much odds.

EDIT: Oh and I dunno what part of the country your in but there seems to be a ton of middle/project management jobs in the 25-35K range atm in the North Somerset/Wiltshire areas - prolly firms hoovering up the talent cheap while they can.

something_totally_different · 3 Oct 2009 at 04:50

Thanks Rroff, good idea on the name front.

sadly im in the Midlands *sigh* i have no hope. lol.

something_totally_different · 3 Oct 2009 at 16:45

*bump* ??? lol.

ash_scotland88 · 3 Oct 2009 at 17:27

If you were a manager of a design firm try and make you're CV unique and "designer"
Is there something quirky that you could do to it, if it's a digital media/websites anychance of producing something flash. In other words don't make it look like it's produced on a 1940's typerwriter (like how my mum thinks it should be)

Btw, i'm and don't own my own company but one day would like my own design firm so would appreciate stuff like the above.

something_totally_different · 3 Oct 2009 at 17:53

ash_scotland88 said:
If you were a manager of a design firm try and make you're CV unique and "designer"
Is there something quirky that you could do to it, if it's a digital media/websites anychance of producing something flash. In other words don't make it look like it's produced on a 1940's typerwriter (like how my mum thinks it should be)

Btw, i'm and don't own my own company but one day would like my own design firm so would appreciate stuff like the above.

I managed the admin, finance, paperwork, taxes, vat, ect, I have no design experience myself

Rroff · 3 Oct 2009 at 18:08

I wouldn't go for anything too flash with the CV... if you were a designer thats what your portfolio is for.

Make sure the CV is very readable, stylish but plain... research the company your applying at and see if they have a mission statement or "about us" or similiar blurb that can give you pointers as to what kinda company they are, how you approach the company and the format of your CV/covering letter.

A good idea from my experience is to make sure your name, telephone and email details are in a decent readable sized type face at the top center of the CV with your full address in a smaller but still easy to read font size. Then below that a brief personal statement or profile about yourself and a list of key skills. Then follow this up with the employment, qualifications/education, etc. details and so on.

Moving on a bit but one area that trips a lot of people up... make sure you have a couple of questions prepared for the interview

that show your experience within the role i.e. do you use such and such a system when processing x? but don't go over the top either - I made the mistake of showing up the IT Manager at one interview heh.