I was thinking about...

[Craftypig]

updating my CV but I want to do it with an actual person in a face to face way and could answer any questions that I may have. Not one of these "top tip" websites, where can one find such a place that could assist in said endeavour?

[boxtops]

You could go to a reputable employment agency, and ask if they can help you?

[Maydup]

I'm not sure where you can go for that sort of help, unless you're unemployed in which case there's probably help available at the job centre. Otherwise have a look here and see if it helps at all.

http://www.direct.gov...yingforajob/DG_173655

[Craftypig]

Ok, I'm liking the advice so far. So, lets suppose you are responding to a job advert. You are sending your CV via e-mail (which seems to be the most common request from companies these days) "please send your CV to John smith" at blah blah blah....Obviously you need to compose a covering letter but would you start it with "Dear John" or "Dear John Smith"? Would it even be appropriate to start with the word "Dear" whether it was to a male or female?

[tenrec]

Could you do some research on that company and see how they respond to people via email?

[elliemay1]

I'd just begin with: Mr Smith,

[cazzz1975]

recruitment agencies will often give you tips to spice up your cv, it helps them sell you, if you know what I mean :)

[erin-x]

I know this is isn't particularly helpful but when I was searching for a job, I never actually used my CV. All the adverts I responded to said to phone or email for an application pack and with the council it was an online application.

I used a template I found online and asked on here for advice when making it. The woman at the job centre said it looked very good. :)

[erin-x]

Saying that ^^ I suppose it depends on what kind of work you are looking for. Just ignore it if it's not helpful! :) haha!

[boxtops]

If I were sending a c.v. by email, I would write a covering letter (a proper letter) in Word -

Dear Mr Smith.... Yours sincerely, craftypig), saying that you enclose your c.v. and a paragraph about why the job interests you - just as if you were sending the application by post.

The covering email (to which the c.v. and letter are attached) then would say:

Dear Mr Smith (or Dear Sirs, if no name is given), please find attached my letter of application and c.v. for the post of ****. I look forward to hearing from you in due course. yours sincerely, craftypig.

It's not standard email format, but it's polite.

[Craftypig]

I'm not actually sending my CV to anyone Tenrec, its just an example of questions that I would ask if I was getting one to one help. There is no set format according to the link Maidup posted, but I am wondering what is acceptable....

[Eve]

A lot of recruitment agencies would do their own cv to use if they send it for any jobs, often tailored depending on the job.

If they are agents working on commission then time is money and few would probably give their time to help you do your CV to get a job yourself that they won' get a fee for.

[boxtops]

If it's a woman, you'd say "dear Ms Brown" if it wasn't specific.

The questions you are asking, though, are about application technique, not about updating your c.v.

Ideally, your c.v. should be no more than 2 pages of A4 long...

[erin-x]

Just noticed that the templates Maidup has linked to are the ones that I used.

[Maydup]

Soemthing like this:

Dear Mr Smith

I saw your advertisement in the Newtown Evening News for a part-time Credit Control Assistant and would like to be considered for the post. I have considerable experience as a Credit Control Assistant having worked for 5 years in a similar role at the Newtown Recycling Company and previously at the Shropshire County Council in their credit department.

I'm available to start work at your earliest convenience and am quite flexible with regard to the part time hours.

I enclose my CV for your consideration but please don't hesitate to contact me should you require any further information from me.

I look forward to hearing form you.

Yours sincerely

Miss E Hopeful

[Maydup]

^^ Don't forget to attach it! Easy done.