Career Confident Ltd

Holiday slow down, or is that a fallacy? #jobseeking

This profile on Upwork is claiming to work at Career Confident, they're also using suspiciously similar content in all their descriptions. Be wary out there... there are seemingly plenty of writers posing as qualified writers or working for companies fraudulently. Thanks to JAY JONES for identifying this, and all the other good work making the internet a safer space! I am reporting things, but unsure on how effective that will be. If "Hirra" has written a resume for you and you want it done properly by someone who actually works for Career Confident, please get in touch. If "Hirra" has written you a resume and it is great, make sure you leave Career Confident a review (only kidding) P.S Career Confident has 1 writer, and 1 writer only...

Job Seeking, The Stats 📊 Navigating the job market can be daunting, but understanding the statistics behind the job-seeking process can give you a competitive edge. Here are some eye-opening numbers: 📈 Resume Screening: 75% of resumes are rejected before they reach a hiring manager. On average, recruiters spend 6-7 seconds scanning a resume. 🖥️ Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS): Over 90% of large companies use ATS to screen candidates. 75% of resumes are never seen by human eyes due to ATS filters. 📅 Job Applications: An average job posting receives 250 applications. Only 2% of applicants get called for an interview. 👥 Networking: 85% of jobs are filled through networking. Employee referrals account for 40% of all hires. ⏳ Job Search Duration: The average job search takes about 5-6 months. Job seekers spend an average of 11 hours a week looking for work. 🎓 Education and Employment: 35% of job openings require at least a bachelor's degree. 50% of recent graduates are employed in jobs that don't require a degree. 🔧 Skill Gaps: 58% of employers say there’s a significant gap between skills candidates have and the skills needed for the job. Continuous learning and upskilling are crucial to stay competitive. These statistics highlight the importance of a well-crafted resume, the power of networking, and the necessity of standing out in a crowded job market. At Career Confident, we're dedicated to helping job seekers navigate these challenges with expert CV writing services and career advice. Ready to improve your job search strategy? Connect with us today and let’s get started on your journey to success!

CV Tip of the week! We see so much conflicting advice on length of CVs. Typically I hear one of 2 things; "2 pages, no matter what" or, "1 page for a graduate, 2 for a professional, 3 pages for senior leadership". Neither of these are good advice. The truth, as it so often is, is a little more nuanced. My mantra is that everything on the CV should be adding value. You should aim to be succinct at all times, but not at the cost of quality. If that needs 3, 4 or 5 pages so be it. Over the last 6 years I have created CVs for clients that are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and even 6 pages long. Your career, experience and objectives should determine the length, not some arbitrary "rule". If you are struggling with the length of yours, an outside evaluation is often valuable - it is much easier to critically analyse someone else's career rather than your own.

Understanding ATS Software We get more questions about ATS software than anything else; hopefully this will dispel some common misconceptions. Here is what the ATS does look for; 1) Keywords and Phrases 2) Job Titles and Work Experience 3) Education, Training and Certifications 4) Skills (both hard and soft skills) 5) Formatting and Structure 6) Consistency: The ATS checks for consistency across your resume and other application materials. 7) Some ATS can track your interaction with the job application process, including how many times you’ve applied etc. What it can't "see" and what to avoid; 1) Complex Formatting 2) Unconventional File Types 3) Non-Standard Section Headings 4) Headers and Footers 5) Uncommon Fonts and Styles 6) Abbreviations Without Explanation 7) Overly General or Vague Language 8) Long Paragraphs 9) Including irrelevant personal details 10) Typos and grammatical mistakes. If you have any specific questions about ATS software, or resumes in general, please don't hesitate to get in touch @ hello@careerconfidentuk.com

Navigating today's job market can feel like a daunting task. With increasing competition and rapidly changing industry demands, standing out is more challenging than ever. This is where the power of a well-crafted CV comes into play. Your CV isn't just a document—it's your first impression, your story, and your chance to showcase why you're the best fit for the role. It should be more than a list of jobs and skills; it should reflect your achievements, your growth, and your unique value proposition. In a market where opportunities are abundant but competition is fierce, investing time in creating a quality CV can make all the difference. Tailoring your CV to highlight relevant experiences and achievements not only helps you get noticed but also sets the tone for a successful interview process. Remember, your CV is often the first step towards your next big opportunity. Make it count. #CareerGrowth #CVTips #JobSearch #ResumeWriting

CV Tip of the week If you are deeper into your career, let's say more than 15 years of professional experience, it is critical to be succinct and selective. This isn't an autobiographical document, or a lengthy list of everything you've ever done. It is hard to be self-critical and remove things that you are proud of, but have no bearing on this next position. What it needs to be is a document that clearly highlights all the experience and capability you have acquired that is aligned with the job you are applying to. I always use a sporting analogy here. Now that Gary Neville is working in the media, if he was using a CV to apply to a new role as a pundit, the experience section would mention "Player | Manchester United", but it wouldn't list the millions of achievements he had in that time. That is not because those aren't impressive, it is not because they are too historic to matter; it is because of their relevance to the job he is seeking. The same applies for you, particularly if you have changed industry or moved from a hands-on/technical role into leadership. Ask yourself, is every single element of this CV showcasing something that matters to the job I am applying to. If the answer is no, then cut it out. Doing this effectively is the key to creating a targeted, succinct, CV.

CV Proofreading Tip Always leave the computer once you have finished writing things, do something else and then return to proofread. Don't proofread and send immediately after writing it. The amount of times something appears perfect, then with "fresh eyes" you see all the errors is incredible. Our brains are weird entities.

CV Tip of the Week Separate your achievements from your responsibilities in the professional experience section. Firstly, it makes things easier for the reader (always a good thing to aspire to). Secondly, it allows you to clearly see the balance between responsibilities and achievements; you want a good portion of the page spent highlighting your successes (quantifiably ideally). Lastly, you can analyse the responsibilities to make sure it is necessary / valuable to include it, or if there's a way to highlight that responsibility in a way that showcases and achievement too! #cvtips #cvwriting

What is the difference between a CV and a resume? In practice, absolutely nothing. They are interchangeable terms, so interchangeable that I often call the same document both names in the same sentence. There are differences, all of them quite boring and technicalities - probably not post worthy. Exceptions are; Medicine, Law, Engineering and other professions that require hundreds of niche ongoing professional development courses, you want 2 versions (a CV and a resume - one a truncated version of the other), but on-the-whole don't stress whether you call it a CV or a resume. Also, don't get me started on pronouncing resume (the whole world) vs. re-shoe-may (Australia)...say it properly. PS spelling it résumé seems unnecessary too...