CV writing services – are they worth it?

If you are looking for a brand new job, you want to give yourself the best possible chance of securing that interview. That means that you need to come across well on paper. When we apply for jobs, we usually fill in an application and attach our CV. The curriculum vitae (CV) is a brief summary of your career, education and qualifications. It needs to stand out from the pile of other CVs landing on the employer’s desk or arriving in their inbox. When you consider that the average time spent looking at a CV is between five and seven seconds you need to capture attention and create a good impression quickly. Not everyone has the same skills and whilst you might have a list as long as your arm of qualifications, you simply might not be that good at putting together your CV. This is where professional CV writing services can come into play. What exactly are they, how much can you expect to pay and how can they help you?

Get A Free CV Review

It’s always worth getting someone else to look over the CV you have put together yourself. This could be a colleague from work or maybe an old boss you are still in contact with. However, looking at your CV isn’t going to be their number one task to do today. So being able to turn to a platform that puts you first is important.
Some of the well-known job sites have a function you can utilise for this. Whilst the main idea seems to be to give you some pointers and then up-sell you a service, it’s worth looking at. Try CV-Library and Resume Reworded. There is another site called Top CV that we will talk about shortly. Did you know that 93% of all hiring managers use CV scanning software called applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter candidates from the application pool? Making sure you stand out as an ideal candidate is essential.

Top CV Review

Top CV is one of the most respected CV writing services out there. Firstly, they offer a free, confidential review from a CV expert. After that, there are different packages available to suit different budgets and requirements. These range from £99 to £219 and can be paid outright or spread over three months. Packages include a professional written CV which is formatted for success including all-important keywords. A cover letter can also be added, along with a 60-day interview guarantee. This guarantee means if you don’t receive double the number of job interviews within 60 days of receiving your CV, the company will write it again, free of charge. The platform has some big partnerships with a number of the leading job websites.

Purple CV Review

The team over at Purple CV also offer professional CV writing services. With a 4.8 out of 5 star rating on Trust Pilot, they seem to be a good option. Tailored CVs are available from as little at £45 and you can receive a years worth of revisions with 24/7 access to your writer. The company will show your skills, experience and achievements in the best possible way and won’t stop until you’re 100% content with the work. They also have packages available that cover CV, cover letter and LinkedIn profile, so every aspect is taken care of.

Common CV Mistakes

There are a number of mistakes that often find their way onto CVs. Hiring CV writing services should eliminate any chance of these appearing however it is worth knowing anyone.
Bad seplnig spelling is one of the main ones. If it looks like you can’t even be bothered to proofread and spell-check your CV, what are you going to be like in this role? Poor formatting also comes under the same sort of area. If it is difficult to read, you will lose the attention of the hiring manager.
Never exaggerate the truth. If you have ever seen the interview episode from any season of The Apprentice, you will know why. If you say you have done something you haven’t or have skills that you actually don’t, it will come back to bite you. It might get you the interview, but you will probably end up leaving the office feeling slightly stupid.
Some people go for cliches in their personal profile, which might sound great in your head but it comes across as you being unoriginal and lacking creativity. You’d be surprised at the number of people who put down the incorrect contact details too! You could be perfect, however, if they can’t get in touch, they’ll hire someone else. Don’t make your CV too long either. You’re giving the reader a snippet of who you are and what you are all about. Not writing the next Lord Of The Rings trilogy.
These mistakes are best avoided at all costs. If you are sending out lots of CVs and not hearing anything back, it’s time to give your CV a much-needed re-vamp.

Cover Letter Top Tips

Some CV writing services can help take care of what you need for your cover letter. However, it is well worth knowing some top tips about what to include and how to set your letter out.
Five paragraphs should get you through.
1: your opening
2: explain why you are suitable for the job
3: inform the reader what you can bring to the company
4: reiterate and give examples
5: close your letter and sign off
Some people overlook the cover letter. They think they are outdated and unnecessary. Don’t be one of them! The company ResumeLab surveyed 200 people in the recruiting sector. The results show that the cover letter still has power. 83% of respondents said that cover letters were important in the hiring process, keeping some applicants in the running if they might have otherwise been ruled out of contention. A cover letter details your motivation and desire in a way that your qualifications on a CV cannot. It can help you get an interview and furthermore, get you that dream job!

Are You On LinkedIn?

LinkedIn was mentioned earlier in the article and if you are not on that platform, it can certainly help with your job seeking. You can utilise the massive job board and search for new roles in your local area and by sector. You can fill in your profile, adding experience and qualifications before connecting, networking and interacting with others.
Many companies actively search for potential employees on the platform and it will help your name appear on Google if you are searched for there too. You can also do a little digging yourself – into the company and employer you might be working for. Get a feel for it and see if you can find out any information you can discuss in your interview.
Some people set up LinkedIn accounts many moons ago but have left it neglected. If you are actively looking for a new role, it’s time to get your profile up to date. If you are struggling, there are LinkedIn profile writing services that can help.

CV Conclusion

Giving yourself the best possible chances at securing an interview and stepping into that new job is important. Investing in CV writing services can set you aside from the rest. Showing just why you are the perfect candidate and deserving of that role. So many people spend their years in jobs that they hate. Step out, stand out and be one of those dreamers who live the dream!

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