Category Archives: CV tips

Other peoples’ opinions can be dangerous

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Other people's opinions

Other people's opinions

Other people’s opinions can be dangerous – always check it out before making a decision based on them.

We have had 2 recent episodes where our job seekers had been told by other people negative things about the Company they were applying to for a job and nearly pulled out as a result.

This is where word of mouth can be dangerous.

Check out the facts yourself first before making such a critical decision regarding your career and life balance.

Both cases were unfounded and it transpired that these were ex Medical Sales Reps who had left both Companies on a bad note and were both spreading negative feedback about these Companies down the Medical Sales Grapevine.

If you are a job seeker, you need to be very thorough in your methods and your research.

It is okay to hear negative things about the Company you are considering, but check it out – try to get a balanced non biaised opinion.

We are very thorough as Recruitment Consultants within the Medical Industry and will know whether rumours or word of mouth is true or not as we know our Client Companies very well and can therefore advise.

However, it is still imperative you seek out both sides of story and DO NOT let one person’s opinion dictate your career path.

Track your CV

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Check!

Check!

Are you applying for jobs on the internet? Make sure you track your CV and know exactly where you send it. It is good CV management to know who you have applied to so you do not duplicate your applications.

Take a look at our advice section on ”A Guide to Using Recruitment Agencies”.

The best advice we can give you is to start a checklist on each and every company and agency you send your CV to. Recruitment Agencies should always tell you where they would like to send your CV and leave the decision with you. From here you can goto your checklist and see if you have already submitted your details to that same company.

We have a special excel spreadsheet you can download to make sure you don’t forget who you send you CV to.

If you are using multiple agencies or applying to multiple positions around the country then this document is a must!

Your Best Foot Forward

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Be the Best

Be the Best

When reviewing or re-doing your CV, stop and rethink it. You need to think of your CV as your representative on first look! Put your best foot forward with your CV.

  • Do not tweek your CV to the job, rather include the relevant details in each position you have held and that should speak for itself.
  • Pur your jobs in chronological order and not in terms of relevancy to the job you are applying for. i.e. in date order not your Nursing jobs first then your Medical Sales jobs.

It is easier to read a CV when put in chronological order. If your CV has all the relevant duties worked per job, then it will speak for itself and your best foot will be put forward to potential employers.

So rethink when revising your CV – simply make sure all the details are up to date and it will speak for itself!

Nail that Interview

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Nail it!

Nail it!

When coming to the end of your interview, it is vital that you come out of there knowing exactly where you stand. Nail that interview!

  • See it as closing a sale
  • What happens now?
  • Where do I stand?
  • Will there be a second interview?
  • Will you call me or do I call you?
  • When will I hear feedback?

“Close the sale” to put it in Salesman terms!

There is nothing worse than walking out of an interview, getting into your car and thinking “what now?”. Instead of being unsure as to whether you impressed your interviewer, or whether you gave them all the information they needed to hear, simply ask them at the end of the interview.

Believe it or not, it is seen as assertive!

Nail that Interview!

It’s All in the Details

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Details Details Details

Details Details Details

Whether you are applying for a Medical Sales job, a Nursing Job or a job in the Medical Device industry, your CV says everything about you from first glance. Whether you get that second glance depends on the contents of your CV. It’s all in the details you have provided.

Where as once upon a time, your title in the medical company you worked for and the dates you worked there were all self explanatory, these days a little more fine tuning is required in the details of your CV.

For example, if you are a Nurse, it is no longer acceptable to simply give the name of the hospitals you have worked in and your title of “Staff Nurse” and hope for the best. You need those extra details of not just the hospital, but the type of ward, the specific duties you carried out on a daily basis. Whether you are Orthopaedics or Cosmetics… it is all in the details.

Similarly, if you are working in the Kitting Department of a Medical Device company, you cannot just assume that your next potential employer will automatically know what your current job entails:

  • Do you deal with QA? How so?
  • Do you have regular contact with R&D? In what capacity?
  • Do you have detailed involvement with Product Development? Explain the details.
  • Have you named or detailed the specific projects you have worked on?

It is a very difficult mission, and although a bit daunting it will be worth it in the end. It is those extra details in this day and age that could get you that second glance.. possibly the job!

Format your CV

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Tidy it Up

Tidy it Up

Please format your CV!

A few key points to note before sending your CV out:

  • Font – is it clear and concise
  • Font Size – trust me, 12 is big enough!
  • Bold/ Italics – Bold is best for titles, the rest in plain text. I find that Italics can be a bit hard on the eye
  • Use the tab button for spacing!
  •  Do not forget the dates, the company name and your job title

So whether you are a Nurse, a Medical Sales Rep, a Chief Medical Scientist or a Radiographer, it helps those reading it to format your CV!

No CV?

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Start from Scratch

Start from Scratch

No CV? Why not try downloading our CV layout and start there?

http://www.jackiebrownmedical.ie/advice/cvlayout.php?url=cvlayout

In this day and age it is the most essential tool for the working person! No CV is a no-no. Your CV should have a permanent place on your desk top where it can scream at you to update!

With sites like Linkedin and connections being made through social networks, it really is essential that you have a CV drawn up.

If you have no CV don’t worry, sort it with our layout!

Suits you Sir!

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Suits you Sir! Just as we wear different clothes to suit an occasion, when looking for a job it is sometimes worth considering these CV tips to suit each prospective employer or position you are applying for and to present your best assets accordingly. Consider your skills, your experience and more importantly- you!

A bad CV can be as bad as no suit at Interview. Think of how you want to look.

A bad CV can be as bad as no suit at Interview. Think of how you want to look.

For instance if you are a specific engineer you would phrase your CV to emphasise your skills to suit the role required and also give relevent examples of where your technological skills, experience or software abilities will complement the specific job required.

If you issue a generic, one size fits all CV to every client you will naturally find your CV appears to have limited if any success as a result of your CV content being limited or only partially relevant.

Having a CV for a specific type of role, either Radiologist, Nurse, Manager, Engineer, Sales Rep, Trainer or Technician means that the CV content will exlusively reflect the required role. It also means, if you have several years experience you can offer your best and most comprehensive CV without running out of  CV space room without producing an overly long CV.

Similarly having several specific letters means you can choose specifically to present your technical, personal  or management skills exclusively depending on what the Job Description calls for. This is helping the employer or agency and they will be greatful for it.

Once more this allows you to make your best possible presentation and further increases your chances of being called for interview. This of course then means you only have the issue of  deciding what you will choose to wear to  interview. After all it suits you to look and feel at your best when you have presented your best assets.