Orchid XP v8 wrote:
> scott wrote:
> 
>> You're either applying for the wrong jobs or doing something wrong 
>> with your CV or covering letter then.  I think I mentioned in another 
>> thread, take your GCSE results off your CV for starters.
> 
> I just checked my CV. Apparently I've already removed the GCSE results. 
> (I think the consultant I saw in London suggested that one.)
> 
>> Why don't you post your CV and covering letter here and I'm sure a few 
>> people will volunteer some helpful feedback.  After that you can take 
>> into account whatever advice you choose to and work with that.  I 
>> understand if you don't want to though, I wouldn't want to :-)
> 
> I've attached my CV. Please don't laugh. :-P
> 
> I don't *have* a covering letter. If I find a company interesting enough 
> for me to contact them directly, I write something from scratch. 
> (Depending on how I heard of them, what line of work they're in, how 
> closely my skills match what they seem to be looking for, etc.)
> 

Please accept this as honest and well intentioned advice and feedback. 
I'll be direct because you have asked for help.

Your actual work history over 6 years amounts to 5 bullet points and 
less than half a page !

Come on.  This is the important bit.  Without waffling or including 
every time you turned on your PC you need to add more substance here.

You undercut points by saying how small and trivial they are - 'number 
of small scripts', 'a small client survey'.  Why not say how much time 
or money they saved ?

Don't just say what you did but link it to the value.  What would have 
happened if you did not do certain tasks, come up with and implement 
those ideas for improvements, have such great skills etc?

If you write policies and procedures that have to be reviewed by 
external parties then don't phrase it as if they had to be passed by 
some other agency and just squeaked through.  What you did was 
'Developed written policies on X, Y, Z that were implemented department 
wide and endorsed by the the relevant government agency and external 
auditors.  This achieved compliance with legislative requirements 
resulting in new contracts to the value of ...'.

Above all, remember that even the best CV may not get you to an 
interview.  Recruiters are (often) clueless, cruel and stupid.  A lot of 
this is arbitrary and random.

You certainly need to improve your chances at step 1 with a better CV. 
You also may need to submit it to more potential opportunities.  It is 
somewhat of a numbers game.  And that means that failure to strike any 
one mark isn't a personal failing or put down.

What if you applied for that job in far away London and actually got to 
the interview stage?  You get experience and who knows it just might be 
such a good company or more money than you expected that makes it 
attractive.  Wouldn't be unknown for them to offer a different role than 
the advertised one if you are a decent candidate.

So what if you have to travel a bit to get there?  Read on the train. 
Catch the eye of the cutey sitting opposite.  Become a cycling nut.

Sure you don't want to waste your life in travel but sometimes you have 
to trade a bit of pain for other substantial gains.  Later on you move 
closer or find another job nearer but as good or better.  It is easier 
to get into another higher paid job once you are already in a tier. 
Particularly if you demonstrate some achievement and advancement.

If you discount 95% of chances without applying then you've really 
limited the probability of success.  Who knows - it might be that your 
superficial evaluation is wrong.  Gee - that sounds like dating advice.

Finally, if your current situation is so bad then change it and soon. 
If the sparse job history is right then you don't have the opportunity 
to achieve much in your current job.  Plugging away for another couple 
of years may not be adding anything and in fact it will soon be a 
negative to have stayed so long in an obviously dead end job and 
company.  Not to mention the obvious negative motivation and morale. 
Meanwhile time and opportunities are sliding away.

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