How would you rather receive CV's?

[Ike]

If you are receiving a CV by email how do you prefer to receive it? As a PDF so you get decent looking formatting, as plain text so its easier of as HTML?

[sonic]

I wonder what the carbon footprint would be for HDD storage for a few kilobytes of CV, stored for several years, backed up to tape or whatever, etc etc, compared to producing two sheets of paper and shoving them in a filing cabinet?

 

 

Seriously, if the issue is maximising your chances of getting employment, what can be seen from this thread is that different companies have different preferences and policies. If you're replying to an ad, follow the instructions there. If you're sending your CV speculatively, all you can do is guess!

 

However, I suspect one clue would be whether or not the company in question publicises email addresses for the appropriate manager or personnel department. If they do, chances are email is good. If you're stuck with a general email, or an address you had to snag unofficially from somewhere, then perhaps paper is your best bet rather than an unsolicited email that could be treated as spam.

 

Bob

I see your point about what the employer asks... but if faced with 2 options (email or snail mail) I'd still choose email. But you kinda inadvertantly made my point... the employer puts them in a filing cabinet - to be found in 3 months when the vacancy's been filled!

 

I guess it comes down to the employers discretion - and I guess most employers don't really care as long as what's written on the CV is what they want, it isn't longer than 2 pages - and there are no spelling mistakes!!!

[Bobbsy]

Well, I can only speak for the company I worked for (just to be clear, I've now taken early retirement) but:

 

This poll is about applications for freelance work, so there never were "vacancies" per se. We used freelancers pretty much daily but had a list of people we used regularly and only brought in new people when (due to freelancers moving, taking staff jobs or whatever) our list became a bit short.

 

When we received unsolicited freelance applications we had a stock letter we'd send out saying we had no requirements at the moment but that we'd keep the CV on file...and we meant it. When we did need more freelance, we'd go to the file and invite anybody promising in for a chat. Those that survived the chat would be offered one or two training days, obviously not to learn the basic job but rather to learn their way around our facility and procedures. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, this was TV, not theatre, so local knowledge was a bit more important.

 

Anyway, what I'm getting to is that "filing" wasn't a euphemism for being forgotten. We really did use "paper" CVs from the file. On the other hand, we rarely, if ever, bothered printing out applications that arrived by email and had no facility to store and recall applications that arrived this way. Frankly, since by definition these applications arrived unsolicited, they'd often be treated as spam. As I pointed out earlier, I got several hundred emails every day so unsolicited stuff wouldn't have much chance.

 

Where we were talking about applications for actual jobs, the advert would specify exactly how to apply (which was in writing only) and give reference numbers etc.

 

Every company is different of course.

 

As for Ike's query (which I missed until now) I'd never put a CV in the body of an email. I'd put that as an attachment with the email itself acting like a cover letter. Content would be more important than formatting, so I'd suggest Rich Text. However, others are less anti-pdf than I am!

 

Bob

[iamchristuffin]

I'm writing a few Work Experience letters for the summer holidays, and I'm not sure how to send it. I know a lot of people like the fact that the sender has taken the time and effort to walk to the postbox, but others find having to open lots of letters annoying, and prefer to do it with a click.

 

I was just wondering if there was a general consensus on this?

 

Thanks,

 

Chris

[Pete McCrea]

Phone to check whether it's worth the effort, and get the right person to send it too. Check the spelling of their name. Then send as advised by the person. There may also be specific details that mean you tailor the CV to the company.

 

Give them a week to receive it, then call and check they got it.

[Guest lightnix]

Maybe it's an age thing, but I prefer to receive a letter, as I feel it "says" so much more about the person sending it than an e-mail; especially about how they present themselves.

 

Has it been formatted correctly i.e. as a business letter? Have they used decent quality stationery? Are the address label and stamp stuck on straight? Yes? Good! ;) No? Oops! :)

 

Also, a letter takes just that little bit more time and effort to prepare and send than an e-mail, implying a stronger desire to get the job. Letters offer a more personalised form of communication IMO, e-mails all look the same after a while; but there's something unique, individual and... well... just plain real about a letter.

[paulears]

I've kind of changed - my attitude was always like 'nix's - but I now get so many unwanted CVs that if they're emailed, they get a nice "sorry, can't help", but if the letter doesn't have an sae, and most don't then I'm sad to say I bin them. The odd one or two stand out, and if they've given the email address, they at least get an aknowledgement - but some are so off the mark as to be bin fodder. Why would I want a person skilled in environmental waste management, or c++ programmer (whatever that is?). A tiny bit of research would have saved them the cost of a stamp!

[iamchristuffin]

Check the spelling of their name. Then send as advised by the person. There may also be specific details that mean you tailor the CV to the company.

 

I did ring, but got an answering machine twice. And I know it may sound silly, but I really dislike leaving unprepared phone messages for them. So, I'm writing a letter instead! And yes, their name is spelt correctly, and I've worked for a different part of the company before, so am using past experiences.

 

 

Maybe it's an age thing, but I prefer to receive a letter, as I feel it "says" so much more about the person sending it than an e-mail; especially about how they present themselves.

 

Has it been formatted correctly i.e. as a business letter? Have they used decent quality stationery? Are the address label and stamp stuck on straight? Yes? Good! ;) No? Oops! :)

 

Also, a letter takes just that little bit more time and effort to prepare and send than an e-mail, implying a stronger desire to get the job. Letters offer a more personalised form of communication IMO, e-mails all look the same after a while; but there's something unique, individual and... well... just plain real about a letter.

 

That's exactly what I thought. All your questions have a yes attached, but I'm using a windowed envelope, so no label!

 

 

I've kind of changed - my attitude was always like 'nix's - but I now get so many unwanted CVs that if they're emailed, they get a nice "sorry, can't help", but if the letter doesn't have an sae, and most don't then I'm sad to say I bin them. The odd one or two stand out, and if they've given the email address, they at least get an aknowledgement - but some are so off the mark as to be bin fodder. Why would I want a person skilled in environmental waste management, or c++ programmer (whatever that is?). A tiny bit of research would have saved them the cost of a stamp!

 

Would you say it's a good idea to include an SAE then Paul? I've never though of that! (And C++ is a compooter programming language/software)

 

PS. I know I've spelt a word wrong - it's to fox Google!

[frazer]

This exact same question was asked in this post just over a year ago.

 

Frazer

 

Moderation: Now merged. Oooh...recursive....

[tokm]

Letters are great and all, but often emails the only way to send your CV.

 

I guess in some instance's it might look good if you took the time to find a companies address if they didn't put it in the Ad (in the stage.. for instance..).

 

But past experience has been that they only put an email address for a reason. Just saves on looking a another bit of paperwork & is infinitely quicker, as I'm sure everyone will agree.

 

Now, I suppose that last lot only covers replying to Ad's, but when I was stating off in the industry and looking to get my name around the various production companies, I went about 'cold' contacting by doing as Little DJ suggested and ringing the company up, speaking to the right person and asking if it'd be alright to email my CV. So basically the same as above, but only with a slight addition.

 

I think email due to the speed of it all is the thing people want these days...

 

Just my 2p's worth.

[Bobbsy]

Well, I stayed mainly out of this up to now because I've expressed my views in a couple of other topics on the same thing. However' tokm's post has moved me to reply.

 

First off, as one who, before my retirement, received 20-30 CVs per week, let me state that my personal preference was to receive them by post. I always found email best for short, immediate correspondence with paper best for things I might want to file and deal with at leisure. I didn't deliberately ignore CVs that came in electronically...but all to often they'd be lost in the shuffle unless I went to the trouble of printing them out.

 

As for email being the only way of contacting a company, I don't believe that for a second. Yes, some web sites only publish email addresses--but web sites are generally designed to sell a company's services, not to be the only reference. It always worries me when people assume the internet is the only way to find things out. Phone books and Yellow Pages still exist, as do various industry guides. If you really care, you can pretty easily get a mailing address for any theatre or production company you want, even if it takes ringing the receptionist to confirm the details.

 

Just to expand this, the "internet for everything" pet peeve also applies to students trying to research essays and papers. All to often people limit themselves to somewhat dubious information on the web, ignoring libraries full of authoritative reference books. Buzz! Wrong!

 

Bob the old git.

[Jram]

Here's a timely question with regards my own CV - should I list my past employment chronologically as is, or should I split it into two separate sections (theatre and film), so that at a glance it can be easily discerned what work I have done in each field?

 

If you look at a site like IMDB, for example, it doesn't just list all a person's credits chronologically, but breaks it down and puts all the acting credits together, directing credits together etc.

[Bobbsy]

There's no right or wrong to that, but my personal view is that it's probably more useful to the recipient if you categorise your work experience into the two sections (theatre and film) as you suggest.

 

Indeed, in this day and age of easy word processing, I might even consider doing separate versions of your CV, one emphasising your theatre work and one your film credits and submit them as appropriate.

 

Bob

[Jram]

Thanks for the input. I will almost certainly end up doing two versions of my CV in time, but presently don't have sufficient experience to merit it.

[Jram]

I just found this article on the importance of cover letters (below) by chance and thought it might be of interest.

 

Q. You are getting ready to apply for a job electronically, and your résumé is ready to go. Do you need to prepare a cover letter? Are they necessary in this day and age?

A. Cover letters are still necessary, and in a competitive market they can give you a serious edge if they are written and presented effectively.

 

Cover letters are a graceful way to introduce yourself, to convey your personality and to impress a hiring manager with your experience and your writing skills, said Katy Piotrowski, an author of career books and a career counselor based in Fort Collins, Colo. You can also tailor them to a specific company in ways that you cannot with a résumé.

 

Ms. Piotrowski recently had a job opening at her small company, Career Solutions Group, and she was dismayed when about a quarter of the 200 applicants did not send cover letters. Most were within five years of graduating from college, she said, reflecting a more informal mind-set among younger people.

 

Q. How should your cover letter be organized, how long should it be, and what should it say?

 

A. First, do your best to find the decision maker’s name, and use it in the salutation. If you are applying to a blind ad, say “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To the Hiring Manager.” Ms. Piotrowski said she received cover letters that had no salutation at all or began with “Hey there” — not a strong start. If you want to be on the safe side, use a colon after the salutation, although some people now feel it is permissible to use a comma in an e-mail message.

 

Your cover letter should be short — generally no longer than three or four paragraphs, said Debra Wheatman, a career expert at Vault, a jobs Web site.

 

In your first paragraph, explain why you are writing — it may be that you are answering an ad, that you were referred to the company through networking, or that you learned that the company is expanding, said Wendy S. Enelow, author of “Cover Letter Magic” and a professional résumé writer in Virginia.

 

In the middle paragraphs, explain why you are a good candidate, and show that you are knowledgeable about the company. Then convey a clear story about your career, and highlight specific past achievements. This can either be done as a narrative or in bullet points, Ms. Enelow said.

 

You can also highlight qualities you possess that may not fit the confines of a résumé, Ms. Wheatman said.

 

She once worked in human resources at Martha Stewart Living, and recalls reviewing applications for a chef in a test kitchen. One woman had a career in manufacturing, but her cover letter described how she had grown up in a family that was passionate about cooking and where she had frequently made meals from scratch. The woman got the job despite her peripheral work experience.

 

Finish your letter by indicating that you will follow up in the near future (and make good on that promise). Sign off with a “Sincerely,” “Cordially,” “Thank you for your consideration” or similar closer, followed by your name and, if you like, your e-mail address.

 

Q. Where should your cover letter appear, in an e-mail or in an attachment?

 

A. You can include your letter in the actual text of your e-mail message or place it above your résumé in an attachment. If you put it in a separate attachment from your résumé, you run the risk that a harried hiring manager will not click on it at all. If you place it in the text of your e-mail message, it should generally be shorter than if you use an attachment, Ms. Enelow said.

 

Then, if you really want to make an impression, make a hard copy of your cover letter and résumé and send it to the hiring manager by regular mail. Attach a handwritten note that says, “Second submission; I’m very interested,” Ms. Piotrowski said. “I’ve had clients double their rate of interviews simply from doing that,” she said.

 

Ms. Enelow calls this “double-hitting,” and says she has seen it work remarkably well. She said a senior-level client of hers got an interview and was hired because the hard copy of his cover letter and résumé reached the company president, whereas his electronic application was rejected by someone in human resources because it did not meet certain rigid criteria.

 

Q. What are some common mistakes in cover letters?

 

A. A cover letter with typos, misspellings and poor sentence structure may take you out of the running for a job. If you cannot afford to pay someone to review your cover letter and résumé, enlist a friend or a family member with good language skills to do it instead.

 

Another misguided thing people do is to make the cover letter all about them: “I did this, I’m looking for, I want to ... I, I, I.” Structure your letter so that it stresses the company and what you can do to help it reach its goals, Ms. Piotrowski and others said.

 

Another danger is including too much information — for example, very specific salary or geographic requirements, Ms. Enelow said. It is also unwise to point out that you do not meet all the criteria in the job description, she said. You can deal with that later, if you get an interview.

 

Hiring managers are looking for ways to exclude you as they narrow down their applications, she said. Do not give them that ammunition.

 

Original source - New York Times article.