A great portfolio won’t save a weak CV, and a great CV won’t save a weak portfolio. This week alone, we’ve seen some incredibly strong designers held back by avoidable basics: • CVs that list software but don’t explain how it’s been used on real projects • Portfolios with beautiful imagery, yet no context such as role, stage of project, or responsibility, • Applications that don’t align with the CV and portfolio (job titles, dates, or project scope don’t match). Your CV tells us what you’ve done. Your portfolio shows us how well you’ve done it. Studios expect both to work together, not compete. If you’re actively looking, it’s worth spending the extra hour tightening both. It genuinely makes the difference between “interesting” and “let’s interview”. If you want a 2nd opinion, feel free to reach out to me with both! ccolley@planningrecruitment.com #arc h itecturejobs #interiordesignjobs #architectlife #designcareers #recruitmentinsight
By Kirsty Sibbald A comment a candidate made in a recent conversation has been playing on my mind. When speaking about how their search has been going outside of our efforts, they advised they were applying to what they can see on LinkedIn but not bothering with some as they had hundreds of applications. It got me thinking, hundreds? We get a lot of applications yes, but hundreds? Rarely. But they were right, many adverts do show as "over 100 applicants" including jobs we have advertised. But what applicants don't know is that the number of applicants sent to the job poster is often much less, therefore, there is less competition than LinkedIn suggests! As an example one job we posted on LinkedIn stated there were over 100 applicants, but in reality, I only received 74 of those. LinkedIn auto-archives candidates who don't meet the essential job criteria such as holding the required UK work visa. If you see a job you want to apply to and have the relevant experience, DO NOT let the number you see on here put you off applying, because you can bet that number is significantly less. I see EVERY application. We can't respond to all, but if your application is a strong fit, we will ALWAYS follow up.
In today’s society everyone has access to Social Media posting their life online. Any comment, opinion, picture or video shared reflects on you as a person and can be easily found by current and future employers. Companies will employ a search online as part of their screening process and any remark made in the heat of the moment might come back to haunt you. Ensure that there is no adverse information about you online. Follow these tips below. Clean up your act. What to do if you have bad press? Removed all negative statements, videos or pictures from any social media. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Flickr, forums, company websites etc… (Usually they allow you to delete or hide comments. If not, contact the service provider and ask for the information to be removed). If you have been tagged in any pictures or conversations that you would not want public, ask the person who posted it to remove the tag. Ensure your privacy settings are positioned to the strictest level i.e. only friends and family. Paint the right picture How do you want to be seen? The right public profile will support you in your future growth, so nurture how you are seen. Only post positive remarks Always think twice about what you write or authorise to be seen. Pictures/Videos - Would you be happy to show them to work colleagues? Comments would you say them to your employer? Add statements that demonstrate your experience, knowledge and insight into the industry. Timing – Avoid posting in core working hours. Often sites will time/date stamp. Status – How do you want people to perceive you? Recommendations – Only asked for referrals when you have performed a good job and ensure it is from senior management. A peer adding a recommendation will only dilute what you have done, rather than carry weight. Don’t be upset with a person if they decline to recommend you. Sometimes this can be their company policy or perhaps concern about their ‘public face’. Think about what groups you are in or what your interests say about you? Schmoose, Network, Interact Proactively give intelligent, well thought views of the industry. Channels to utilise could include to tweet, update status, comment on industry articles (such as BD online), blog, forums etc… Pursue recommendations – you will not get them unless you ask Link to influential people in your industry Be associated with all major industry events 5. Key Points Protect your reputation Keep up to date with what is being disclosed about you and act accordingly. Only reflect information in a professional and intellectual manner. Become someone who’s views, comments and opinions count and are sought after. Above all use Social Media to sell you. Agency Representation When you are ready to move jobs the agency(s) selected to represent you is crucial to how you’re perceived in the marketplace. If you register with a number of agencies you run the risk of your CV being sent to the same client on a number of occasions. This only reflects desperation and often a client will disregard your application to avoid a dispute over which agency has ownership. Select one agency to take you professionally to marketplace in the outset. You can always expand this to 3 agencies after a few weeks if you are not getting the desired outcome. You should have:- Control over who is being approached on your behalf. Trust that an expert is representing you A strong relationship your agent
