The next article in our series in helping Professional Contractors is all about the CV. (Read our other article here).
Many of our clients who are professional contractors talk to us about all aspects of their business. One gap that we noticed is that many are unsure of what to do once their CV is completed. Some have been in contracts for a long period of time and notice there is a change in how to approach new contracting roles.
With the “perfect” CV at hand, you can sell your capabilities and achievements and begin to seek new opportunities in the jobs market. The application process is becoming increasingly competitive and simply sending in your CV, and sitting back, waiting for magic to happen, is not good enough.
We have come up with three tips that can make the difference in landing you the perfect role.
1. Review your CV
It is important to remember that you are competing against other contractors who have a better skill set or extensive experience but that can sometimes be irrelevant. In this case, it is the best presented CV that the recruiter will follow up on.
Professional CV writers, have the skills and experience to know what recruiters are looking for and can use their expertise to review your CV against essential criteria and provide constructive feedback on areas that need improving. They are trained to spot the common mistakes that recruiters pick up on that you may not and will therefore recommend the best way to present your CV for a particular job or company.
To maximise your chance of success, get your CV reviewed by a member of our Noone Casey team to ensure you will stand out from the competition and make sure you are securing the best contracts for you.
2. Build a LinkedIn Profile That Will Get You Noticed
It is of the utmost importance that your LinkedIn profile is complete and up-to-date, because many recruiters will formulate a decision based on your profile before even reading your CV.
Our top LinkedIn tips here at iFinance would be:
- Use Keywords in your headline and profile that are relevant to your work
- Emphasise results and achievements
- Get recommendations from previous clients and peers
- Use LinkedIn to expand your network of contacts
- Join relevant groups to participate in discuss and showcase your skills and knowledge.
3. Always Follow up
It is suggested that every application should followed up within 1 week to 10 days, if you have not had a response. Therefore, once you begin to send out CV’s keep a list of jobs you have applied for and set up a tracking record. If you wish to follow up before then you can send them a short email note asking if they have received your CV, if they require further information or if they have any questions, that you would be happy to answer them.
Here are three examples of times you should follow up on your CV:
- After you have sent a CV and cover letter to a prospective employer, regardless of the job spec
- After you have sent your CV to a contact, asking for their support in your job search
- After you have had a networking meeting with someone.
If you have any questions about your CV or your seeking advice please visit www.noonecasey.ie/ifinance
*Think you’ve mastered the basics of a CV? If not we suggest visiting https://www.crunch.co.uk/knowledge/marketing/ultimate-contractor-cv-template-example/ to ensure you are selling the best you and landing the best jobs.*