Cyprus-Forum.com

[Sega]

I noticed that when going to job interviews the interviewer would not even bother to read my CV and if he/she did they would skim through it forgetting almost everything they read and then having to re-ask you everything stated in the CV.

Anyway I was previously taught when creating CV's to put everything onto a single page of A4 paper. However I have been recently given job advice to use the Europass CV. This CV is different, it is very factual and after completing the CV you will notice that your CV will probably be over 6 pages long.

I am quite puzzled now, which do employers in Cyprus want to see, the Europass CV or a traditional CV? Would employers not get bored of reading a booklet? Can they be bothered to read this booklet? Is the Europass CV successful? Does anybody have any positive experiences with it?

[devil]

Don't you kid yourself. When they skim through, they absorb the salient points and then ask you questions on them to make sure you tell the same story. Any unexplained contradictions and you're out.

[Sega]

Really? So basically the assumed I lied? The original question stands, if anybody knows I would be most grateful.

[devil]

No one assumes a CV is a pack of lies (although they sometimes are) but they do tend to exaggerate the positive and diminish the negative. As I said, if anyone is caught out in a downright lie, then they will not be employed. The aim of the prospective employer is to determine the truth about the candidate and subtle interpretation of the wordsmithing in CVs, certificates and references is the norm. Just one example, as an illustration of one phrase in a CV:

Reason for leaving: to better my career

means: I was refused a pay rise or promotion. This is something that an interviewer would be likely to latch onto.

[Sega]

Reason for leaving: to better my career

Is that a lie? In a way it's true. His/her career must not be going well if he/she is not getting the promotion. And if you get the promotion you can better promote your career.

[Get Real!]

I noticed that when going to job interviews the interviewer would not even bother to read my CV and if he/she did they would skim through it forgetting almost everything they read and then having to re-ask you everything stated in the CV.

Anyway I was previously taught when creating CV's to put everything onto a single page of A4 paper. However I have been recently given job advice to use the Europass CV. This CV is different, it is very factual and after completing the CV you will notice that your CV will probably be over 6 pages long.

I am quite puzzled now, which do employers in Cyprus want to see, the Europass CV or a traditional CV? Would employers not get bored of reading a booklet? Can they be bothered to read this booklet? Is the Europass CV successful? Does anybody have any positive experiences with it?

Who can possibly read through and comprehend a 4-6 page CV during an interview? The idea is that the interviewer already read through your CV which is what prompted them to arrange the interview to meet you in person.

I’ve never heard of a “Europass CV” before… and I doubt the average Cypriot employer has!

Btw, the single page CV is called a "Resume" spelt in French

[Sega]

Btw, the single page CV is called a "Resume" spelt in French

So whats the difference between a CV and a Resume? I thought they were the same thing (CV for English and Resume for United States & Canada). Wikipedia seems to think they are the same as well.

[orokliniservices]

they are the same.. in canada we call it a resume.. over in europe you guys like to call it a CV.. I prefer Resume.. CV just sounds like some horrible disease you can pick up on a night out on the pull!! LOL LOL

[devil]

You seem to have a black and white attitude. It's not a lie, but it doesn't tell the truth, either. It is trying to show something positive out of a negative situation and a skilled interviewer will worry the real facts out of you, putting you into an inferior position. It may be a better policy to say:
"Reason for leaving: pay rise refused because conjuncture of company was poor"
or "promotion given to another, better qualified, candidate"
or somesuch, because it gives a feeling of transparency. Never forget that if an interviewer is not satisfied with your explanation, he will phone your previous employer to find out the truth (assuming you have a chance). He may even phone the previous employer before the interview to find out your weaknesses. For this reason, never hide the truth if you are sacked in a CV. If you were caught with your hand in the till, say so, because the interviewer will find out, anyway. If you are laid off for economic reasons, be doubly honest, because the chances are he will know the employer has redundancies.

The references from previous employers are a minefield of interpretations. For example, "gets on well with his colleagues" means that you spend too much time chatting with them round the water cooler, rather than getting on with your work. Most positive statements in a reference can be thus interpreted negatively. Believe it or not, one candidate I interviewed presented a reference which stated "performed his work to his own satisfaction". I phoned the author of this doubtful reference to make sure that it was worded as intended and found he had been sacked because he never saw a project through to completion! Needless to say, I did not retain his services.