Dear Recruiter,
I am writing to you today to apply for the role you advertised on the job site I spend most of my waking day glued to.
Every day I ‘favourite’ the jobs that interest me most, adapt my CV to vague descriptions and try to come up with intriguing cover letters to make myself sound impressive.
In doing this, I have become very familiar with the art of applying for jobs, so now I’m tired and, I don’t mind admitting, a little bit bored of writing applications.
I don’t have a job at the moment, I lost it unexpectedly, but I do spend many hours working hard at trying to find one.
I wake at the same time as when I had to commute to the office, I get myself some breakfast and ready the laptop for a day of selling the best of myself when, frankly, I feel the worst of myself.
And do you know what the hardest thing about all this is?
That despite the fact I’ve put my heart and soul into these applications, it’s very rare I ever hear back from the person I sent them to.
It’s soul destroying and quite unhelpful to spend so much time hoping you have got the information just right, to then receive no response from the vast majority of recruiters.
I estimate around one in five take the time to reply to my emails or pick up the phone.
Does my CV really look that terrible?
Have I not explained well enough that I’m fully qualified for the role?
Did the HR assistant accidently drop the print out she had of my message?
Or worse, did you look at my education and think ‘she’s too qualified for this role’?
Because, while I really appreciate the compliment, please don’t presume to make that decision for me. I’m applying for this job because I want it.
I hope the CV below is of interest to you.
But if it isn’t, please, please, could you take five minutes to drop me a line and let me know where I went wrong?
I know you will be looking through a lot of letters today, but I really would value your feedback.
I’d like to thank you in advance for taking the time to read this, I hope you find the honesty a refreshing change.
AMY DOWNES
CURRICULUM VITAE
A lovely little flat,
In the town of Pudsey,
Just a short train ride from Leeds
And a five minute drive from two major motorways.
Please note:
This choice of location was not a happy accident,
I made the decision to live here to make working anywhere in Yorkshire easy.
Key Skills:
Communication skills:
Easy to pass over, but you’d be foolish to think I’m being purposefully vague.
These words describe the greatest of my talents:
From writing for a magazine, to connecting on social media.
From delivering presentations to doing a piece to camera for a Vlog.
These are my favourite things to do and I’m good at them too.
Project management:
A skill I worked hard to earn in my last job.
I ran several activities concurrently, whether it was my job to or not.
Recently updated during my role as a stay-at-home Mum:
Now able to multi-task urgent requests while balancing a baby on my hip.
Building relationships:
An important skill, yet so many get it wrong.
I’m proud of this, because it’s the one others will tell you they like best about me.
Being good in a team means my hard work is taken for granted by some, but I don’t let that affect how I work with others.
Employment history:
Charity campaigns. Lots of hard work, very little recognition. Found opportunities to use aforementioned key skills by working late and going to meetings others didn’t want to.
Legal admin. Busy and under pressure. Mind numbing repetitive tasks that had to be done right as others were reliant on me. A good stepping stone to the charity role.
Restaurant supervisor. A step away from my career to support a family business. Right decision at the time, completely wrong one with hindsight. Swore never to wait another table again.
Promoting recycling. Literally spent every day looking through rubbish bins explaining to people what they could recycle. Won’t provide details of the things that I saw, it may put you off your next meal.
Freelance journalist in my home town, my best job so far. Included press conferences at my favourite football team. Heartbroken when recession caused major reduction in freelance shifts.
Hobbies and interests:
I love the weekends.
They mean my partner is home and can share the childcare, they mean having wine without feeling guilty and, once a month, they mean abandoning everyday life to spend an afternoon shouting at eleven men supposedly trying to win for my team.
I have a six month old son who I completely adore and our new little family is my life now.
In fact… they’re the reason I’m applying for this job.
They’re the reason you can be sure I’ll work my arse off for you and be a success.
References available on request:
I’m tempted to set up a hashtag on Twitter and let my followers tell you all you need to know about me.
But I promise to use more traditional contacts if that is preferred.
In fact, that might be safer.
Do you ever wish you could just write a really honest CV? Click the share button below and let me know what you would say in yours – don’t forget to tag me @MumFullofDreams
If you enjoyed this post, I’d love you to join me on the rest of my journey to find work. Click the follow button to be the first to hear my next step!
Love this, and I honestly think parts of this in an actual CV would make a pleasant change to some employers and may well bag you that interview 😉
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Is it the bit about wine??! I’m really glad you enjoyed it Lianne.
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It is so so fustrating when employers dont bother to reply to an application, drives me mad!! best of luck with the job search lovely xxx #TwinklyTuesday
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I have been daydreaming recently about designing a system for job applications that makes it easier, and non-optional, for recruiters to respond to applicants. They must have a reason for saying no, why not let us know!? Thank you for your comment x
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Loving the references from Twitter, so true! I’m never disclosing my blog to any potential employers 😉
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Actually, I once used quotes from my Twitter followers in a presentation about corporate social responsibility. It earned me a promotion so it can’t have been that bad an idea! Thanks for popping by Erica x
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I love this! I really, really hope you get a break and find something soon that will be really good, which will make you almost glad that no one got back to you because what you’ve ended up with is so damn good! Good luck. #TuesdayTreasures
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I love the sound of this Hannah. I’d love for you to join me on the rest of my journey, you can follow me on here or on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!
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I hope you find something soon. I lost a job once, one that I’d worked at for two years on a temporary basis and when they made it permanent they chose someone else and let me go..I was devastated. It took a little while but the next job I had was the best job ever, I loved it so much. I’d have never had that job if the previous one hadn’t dumped me so rudely. Keep trying and I’m sure something will come up. Sadly I won’t be working again because of my sudden disabilities but I’d love a job I could do at home. x #TuesdayTreasures
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Hi Raisie, I’m sorry to hear what has happened to you, but you give me hope for the future! Don’t forget to click follow to hear more about my journey back to work. I hope I have as much luck as you x
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I love this, honesty is always the way forward, any employer would be lucky to have you working for them!!
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That’s very kind of you Mandy, you’re making me blush!
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When I was in a position of employer I would definitely have employed you if I had received this! Unfortunately I too am looking for a job right now and have spend most of the day checking my emails every 5 seconds waiting for a response from a company I was really hoping I would hear from! Why don’t people have the decency to let people at least know either way?! Good luck with your job search…I would send this to a few companies and see if it makes a difference!
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Aw thanks Nicola, that’s ever so kind! Glad you feel the same about people not responding, it makes me so mad.
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#TuesdayTreasures
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Haaa! Love this. #bigpinklink
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Thanks Laura! Don’t forget to hit follow if you’d like to hear more.
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This is brilliant. In my 7 years in Recruitment that’s the most interesting CV I’ve ever read! #bestandworst
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Love this! It sounds soul destroying but well done for getting on with it – you’ll get there in the end I’m sure #bestandworst
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Haha I would employ you!
It gives you an edge…and sets you apart from the crowd! lol you’ll have to let us know if it works!!
#bloggerclubuk
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I definitely will, thank you. I’m glad it made you smile.
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An entertaining read! Loved it 🙂
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I loved reading this and how much better would it be if we could write our CV’s like this rather than tailoring to what we think the company wants us to say. #TuesdayTreasures
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I used to work in HR and loved the honest CVs that I would come across. Good luck with your job search 🙂 #BloggerClubUK
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This is so good to know! I’m very tempted to send both out for over the coming weeks and see which one gets the best response.
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Hahaha! During the interview when they ask ‘so why do you want this job?’ And you’re like ‘In broke, I need the damn money’. Hahah xx #bloggerclubUK
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Did you see a lady was rejected for a job for asking how much the salary was? It’s awful! I’m definitely one for wearing my heart on my sleeve and just telling it like it is!
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HI Amy- I’ve just sat down with a cup of coffee and read your blog and I hear your frustrations. As a recruiter myself, I hear all too often from candidates that they’re not given the time or the opportunity to showcase their skills. I think you’re doing an awesome job of this with your blog and your talent will certainly see you come good out of this.
Just before Christmas we an exceptional young lady find her new job – your story resonates with me as she too had been made redundant through no fault of her own…. I’ve wracked my brains to see if there is a door I can open for you but sadly there isn’t but hopefully it won’t be long before your get https://amumfullofdreams.wordpress.com/2017/02/07/if-recruiters-could-read-my-mind-an-honest-cv/#comment-form-load-service:Twitterthat call, that invite to meet and land that “perfect” job… best of luck.
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Hi Natasha, I just wanted to say thank you ever so much for posting this it means so much to me to have feedback from a recruiter.
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It must be so tough and disheartening not even hearing back from your applications. I hope something perfect comes along for you soon. Thanks for linking up with #TuesdayTreasures
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That must be so frustrating when you have put all that work in and sound like a flipping good candidate. Feedback is all that is needed. Hope you get somewhere soon and thanks for sharing with #bestandworst x
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Thanks Sarah, I may add ‘flipping good candidate’ to my personal statement!
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Love this! The no response from an organisation is what bugs me the most or a generic email saying you’ve been unsuccessful! Great post! x
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Thank you for popping over to read this John!
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I think you should send this in! It would definitely get my attention. It’s awful that you often don’t even get a response. Really sad when you invest so much effort and emotion into it. Thanks for being such an important part of the #bigpinklink
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In my past couple of jobs, recruiting was something I had to do. I have to say if I’d received that cover letter, you’d have gotten an interview. It was always refreshing to get a letter that was honest and I always preferred to hire someone who would tell it how it is!
Thanks for linking up to #BloggerClubUK 🙂
Debbie
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That’s a refreshing CV, I kind of hope you send it to someone. I think creative employers will like it. Good luck. #BloggerClubUK
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Love this – way better than any bog standard CV! I hope you get a break soon and secure a job. Thanks for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday
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This is a really great post! Thanks Laura this has really helped me as I am going through the same situation after being made redundant from my current employer. I agree the worst part of he process is that recruiters never seem to respond to applications or even acknowledge them as received. Good Luck with your search I hope this works for you! 🙂
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Hi Sadie, I really hope that you are getting on okay now. Have you read my first post about being made redundant? I hope that it is something you can relate to.
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Nothing worse than when they dont reply 😦 so frustrating x #BLOGGERCLUBUK
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I have a plan to send it to a few people later this year when I am stepping up my search for more work, keep an eye out!
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Oh, I’ve been there – so many applications, so little response! I really hope you find something perfect for you soon. I think a little bit more honesty in a CV can be a great thing and make your application stand out. Obviously it’s a difficult balance to get right though! Thanks for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove
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I hope you find something soon. I think an honest CV is way more refreshing than your average bog standard one! I would love you to send this out! #sharingthebloglove
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I’m really keen to do this as there has been such good feedback on this blog, I wonder what reaction it would get? Watch this space!
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[…] risky would it be to send off my ‘honest CV’ that I wrote as a blog and which has received some really great […]
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[…] after that it’s down to me to sell myself. And do you know what? I can’t do that if I’m still feeling sad about what happened […]
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