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Lying on a CV? The importance of honesty on a CV
Why is it important to tell the truth on your CV?In order to protect themselves, employers are now a lot more savvy and are adopting more stringent pre-screening procedures, this includes verifying the information that you provide on your CV.The CV that you submit is the employer's first impression of you and so it needs to sell you, but it is important that it is truthful. When it comes to people lying on their CV, those who do lie – or embellish the truth – are very likely to be found out through the pre-screening process. Lying on your CV is now seen as part of the wider crime of application fraud, for which there can be serious consequences.In July 2014, The Telegraph reported on the growing number of prosecutions and jail sentences given to those caught lying on their CV. The maximum sentence for this crime is 10 years imprisonment.While some of these cases are extreme, if you are found to be lying by a potential employer, your application will be immediately withdrawn, and you could be reported to bodies such as CIFAS, a comprehensive store of data relating to fraud. Depending on the sector you are applying to work in, this could be more serious.If you are successful in getting a job based on lies and misinformation but are found out later on – you could be dismissed and may find it difficult to get a reference from that point forward, which could make obtaining a future role even harder.What do people lie about on their CVs?The most common lies we see include the amount of time someone says they were in a particular job, 20% of candidates lie about the dates that they were employed by an employer whilst others give themselves exaggerated job titles, duties which look more favourable, or different reasons for leaving the job. These things are quite easy to spot, for example, by checking social media sites.At Reed and many other established recruiters, completing a full reference check is standard practice. As well as asking referees to confirm the candidate's job title and dates of employment in order to verify what has been declared, they are also checking the candidate's duties and reasons for leaving to ensure there is no discrepancy. Potential employees believe that by inflating their grades for their qualifications will make them more attractive to an employer, however, it is quite easy to check through the pre-screening process.Reed Screening checks over 90,000 CVs per year and has identified that one in four (24%) CVs have information that is not backed up or confirmed by the pre-screening process, meaning we are often unable to progress their application – don't let that be you!Grey areas and white liesPeople may think that changing one or two of your exam grades is a small white lie – it isn't, it's fraud and brings your entire application into disrepute. But while you may want to cover up gaps in unemployment by casually extending your working dates on previous jobs, you would be much better off being honest and positively showing your activities during this time – list any courses or learning you may have been doing, volunteering, or self-employment you have undertaken. Even non-work periods can impress potential employers, for instance, traveling to broaden horizons or raising a family and how that developed and enhanced your skills.Invest time and go through your CV, making sure you list all your duties in your previous role, and give specific examples where you can – don't sell yourself short from duties that you have completed. Be honest and write positively about yourself using the true facts. It probably sounds more impressive than you realise.
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Education or experience: what do employers value most?
The ‘education vs experience’ debate has been a hot topic of conversation within recruitment for years. While there is no definitive answer to which is more appropriate or sought after, when looking to bolster your CV, you want to make sure you highlight your relevant education and experiences.As apprenticeships, internships and work placements continue to grow and become more accessible and available, you may be wondering if being qualified at degree level is really that important. That said, you want to prove to potential employers that you are the top candidate for their role, so it's useful to learn what employers most care about in jobseekers.So, is work experience becoming the desired preference for employers, or do qualifications still highlight the best candidate?Education or experience: is there a right answer?Choosing either to concentrate on your education or gain relevant experience early on has its advantages and disadvantages.For many years, education has been touted as the main steppingstone that leads to a successful career. But this really depends on where you are in your chosen career, the industry that you are in and the requirements of your profession.When considering your next career move, it’s important to do some initial research into both avenues and determine the qualities that employers are looking for in your chosen profession. Every employer is different, so it can actually be down to the preferences of the person hiring you.In some cases, you’ll be able to land a role without meeting all of the requirements in the job description if you have something else of value to offer, such as transferable skills, real-life experiences or a passion and desire to succeed.The necessity of educationMore often than not, a lot can be revealed about a person through their qualifications. Furthering your education to a high level can help illustrate your ability to learn at depth and speed, making you desirable to employers.According to the Annual Population Survey, people who have no qualifications have an employment rate of 47%. This jumps to 72% for people with qualifications at Level 2; 83% at Level 3; and 87% at Level 4 and above.Many high-level roles and certain industries require a strong educational background to qualify for the job. In sectors such as accounting, education, engineering and law, being educated to degree level is highly beneficial and can often be a requirement outlined in the person specification.In the current jobs market, educated graduates are in high demand and it looks set to remain that way for the foreseeable future. Many employers will look at an applicant’s education and see a person who has the ability to learn complex subject matters and, where degrees are concerned, have the staying power to study for a lengthy period of time.If you’re looking to enter a sector where a high education is desirable, outline the options available that will help you appeal to employers – including degrees, apprenticeships and further education courses.The value of experienceProven experience goes a long way to showcasing your ability for a role. If you have worked in an industry before, this previous experience may signify to an employer that you can do the job required.Having relevant experience also helps individuals to develop new perspectives and learn vocational skills that are fully transferable within the workplace. Having workplace experience can also develop desirable skills such as problem solving, communication, and people management – demonstrating to employers that you can work effectively and efficiently within a team.Experience is highly valued since it indicates that you are familiar with the latest workplace trends, technologies, and practices in your relevant industry. As much as hard skills are essential, certain soft skills relevant to all industries are needed for entry-level jobs. Having a previous role can help enhance your interpersonal, communication and adaptability skills that employers often look for in potential employees.A healthy blend of the twoUnfortunately, attaining your dream job is not quite as straightforward as education or experience. A survey by Universum found that 58% of leading employers value work experience among graduates more than grades or the name of their university.If you’re worrying about which career path to start out on – university or job – you can gain both skill sets whichever you choose. It’s important to remember that you can always go back to university or retrain in a different profession later in life.If you’re already in the workplace, many employers will give you time to study for industry qualifications as part of a continued professional development (CPD) plan. This has become even easier recently thanks to advances in remote learning technology post-pandemic.Most employers want to see and hear of theoretical and practical skills from candidates during job interviews, but you can gain both from education and experience. A healthy blend of education and experience will set you in good stead when it comes to changing, adapting, or starting a new career.Looking to take the next step in your career? Send us your CV and find out how we can help you secure your next role.
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8 ways to get a job with no experience
You need experience to get a job, but you need a job to get experience... How do you get your foot on the ladder? Whether you're fresh out of education or looking to follow a new career path, feeling like you don't have the experience to land that first job can be frustrating. So, here are some of the ways you can achieve the (seemingly) impossible and get a job with no experience.Address the issueIf you lack experience, don't try to brush over the fact. A cover letter is the perfect place to address any gaps in your CV, so use the opportunity to address any concerns the employer might have. Then...Focus on what you DO haveExperience is important, but so is your attitude to work, your personality, your understanding of the company and its activity, motivation, resilience, ideas for the future - the list is endless, so don't get too hung up on any one thing.Find experience you didn't know you hadBefore you decide you don't have the experience, make absolutely sure this is true. Think back over your past jobs and try to draw links between the experience you need and the experience you have. Remember: it needn't be exactly the same; the key word to keep in mind is relevant. If you've organised a meeting or answered the phones, that's admin experience. If you've set up a Facebook page or created a flier, that's marketing. Think outside the box!Create some experienceDo some voluntary work, work experience, or an internship.“ Don't be afraid to start from scratch. Getting your foot in the door is crucial, and you never know what might come next. ”But (as above) make sure the experience you're getting is relevant. If you're still taking your first steps, don't waste time with unrelated work, especially if it's unpaid!Demonstrate your intentIf you really want to get into a particular industry, make sure that people know about it. Get involved in relevant industry discussions on LinkedIn, join relevant groups, attend networking and careers events, and make sure you make your enthusiasm public.Apply speculativelyIf you only apply for advertised jobs, you're going to be assessed against set criteria. Apply speculatively to companies that interest you, demonstrate you've done your research, and ask if there's any opportunities for you as you're looking to break into the industry. If the answer is no, ask if you can apply again in 6 months, and find out what you can do in the meantime to improve your chances.NetworkIf you don't have the desired level of experience, you need to be trustworthy. Network, and get your contacts to recommend you. Employers are more likely to overlook the gap in your experience if you come with a recommendation from someone they can trust. Find out more about effectiveness networking.
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How to write a cover letter
How to write a covering letter. The bane of many people’s lives. But it really doesn’t need to be. Follow our simple tips and yours will stand out from the crowd.Let’s start with the basics: what is a cover letter?A cover letter accompanies a CV (and/or completed application form). It can also be the email you send to a prospective employer with your CV attached – the lines are now starting to blur. It's an opportunity to highlight what makes you particularly suited for the job, but most importantly, should highlight your passions and motivations for the job and company in question.Why you need oneRecruiters get inundated with CVs from hundreds of people who apply for their vacancies, so the cover letter helps make you stand out. Send a good one, and they’ll probably spend more time on your CV.How to start and end a cover letterResearch the job you’re applying for and find out who the hiring manager will be and address it to them – brownie points for this straight away. This may involve a call to the recruitment team covering the role or you may prefer to do a bit of searching on LinkedIn. Once you have a name you should address the letter to that person and begin the letter, for example, "Dear Ms Jones," and end with "Yours sincerely,
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Ask James Reed: how to write a stand-out CV
It takes just seven seconds for an employer to save or reject a job applicant’s CV. This seven-second rule inspired James Reed’s book on how to optimise your CV to land an interview.This webinar was the first instalment of a two-part series, in which James shares insight from his 25 years in recruitment, and two of his books:The 7 Second CV: How to Land the InterviewWhy You? 101 Interview Questions You’ll Never Fear AgainJames presented his ideas and advice on creating a CV to impress. This was followed by a 30-minute Q&A session in which the audience put their CV questions to the expert himself and got his invaluable advice first hand.Speaker profileJames Reed, CEO and Chairman, ReedJames Reed has worked in recruitment and careers for more than 25 years. Reed receives forty million job applications a year and has delivered over one hundred programmes to help more than 200,000 people who had been long-term unemployed back into work.The Reed Group currently employs more than 3,800 people across the globe helping to improve lives through work. James Reed was voted Top CEO by employee-ratings platform Glassdoor in both 2018 and 2019, and Reed won a coveted Best Places to Work Award from the same company in 2019 and 2020. This means it is the top-ranked recruiter on the list of all organisations voted as excellent workplaces by employees on Glassdoor.