“My management accountant cv is not being shortisted”, Ask Sam … calls in resident cv expert Paula Capelli from CVWizards to help

Dear Sam I am looking for an Assistant   Management Accountant job  but my cv is not getting me shortlisted, can you help ?  …….. Alan
 
Dear Alan, Thank you for forwarding your CV to us for a review.  Before you get into the body of my response, please take my comments objectively, I can be very candid, but it is not my intention to upset or cause offence. 
 
CV’s can always be improved and there is no right or wrong way to present or market your skills and experience, but provided you follow the “storyline” ethic, i.e.: an introduction, a body and a conclusion, then you’re on the right track, but what you say about your skills and how you manage responsibility in your CV is crucial to getting the right response.
 
Appearance
With the economy the way it is right now, there are thousands of people looking for work and only a few jobs available in comparison; consequently, you need to make your CV look different and stand out from the crowd.  Everybody uses either Arial or Times New Roman fonts, use something different.  There are lots of fonts that you could use, but some of the ones that I use are: Trebuchet, Microsoft Sans Serif, Franklin Gothic Book,Verdana, Book Antiqua and Calibri.  Any of these is infinitely more interesting and they have the potential to make your CV look less crowded and much more professional. The layout you’ve chosen is not bad, but the font and use of headings makes it less than easy to find what I want, compared to other CV’s.  Besides which, you have use headings indiscriminately which causes confusion and this makes the CV harder to read. 

You need to make your CV into a very plain and easy to read document, the arrows and too many headings make your CV look complicated. The margins that you’ve used are odd, making the first page of your CV look very crowded.  Documents which are even all the way around are viewed more effectively – a good analogy is the human face, the even the features the more attractive the face looks, it’s just the same with a document.  Your margins should be equal all the way around and I would suggest you use 1.5cm top and bottom and left and right.
 
There are lots of problems with the way that you’ve tried to segment information into the various sections of your CV.  The bullets are much too big and I am sure that you could find something that looks more professional.  Always use simple additions and symbols; use straightforward layouts, do not use templates, everybody else does, aim to be different.  Besides this, 75% of CV’s written by applicants are based on templates. Templates aren’t wrong, but they are very dated and out of touch.
 
Content
There isn’t a lot wrong with the content of your CV, however, you’ve shot  yourself in the foot by adding details about each of the temporary jobs that you’ve held. 

Whilst it’s important to show that you are keen to work and will do anything to ensure that you are able to meet your commitments, you only need to add the very basic details.  Since the jobs that you’ve held so far are intended only to support you, it would be better if you could amalgamate them and add a section to your CV that deals specificallywith part time work whilst studying, it’s then up to the reader if they want to read it or not.  Right now, your CV layout suggests that it’s important for the reader to read everything on your CV, whereinfact the reader could just flick over less important information.  This will also reduce the length of your CV quite significantly.

The order of information and the importance of each section needs to be addressed.  Once you’ve worked on the the importance of information, the layout should be easier for you to manage.
 
Additions
A CV is like a story, your CV needs a beginning, a middle and a conclusion………..your CV definitely has a middle and an end, but the introduction is being confused with what you want out of your initial career.
Add an Introduction/Profile.  Take the “objective” out of your Objective and talk about personality traits and skills, things that you can offer to an employer. 

Remove the Objective from your CV.  Objectives are now very passé on CV’s, especially on graduate CV’s.  Telling an employer what you want before they can decide what you’ve got to offer them is quite aggressive, besides, your current objective doesn’t really say anything revealing beyond the usual waffle that most people put on their CV’s.  If you haven’t got anything profound to say, don’t say it!
 
Add an Achievements section.  Tell a propective employer about what you are good at, things that stand out in your life, plus points, all the psoirive things that make you who you are.  Sell yourself.  Your CV is your chance to market you, use the opportunity to tell employers and recruiters why its in their favour to to employ you rather than anyone else.  If your CV is confusing, boring, unsure, waffles or any of the other things which I’ve mentioned previously, then you are not marketing yourslef and your skills effectively.
 
Add a Languages section.  You’ve mentioned two different language skills in two different places onyour CV – put them together under their own heading, but put it towards the end of the CV as they will not profoundly affect your application for work in the UK unless you intend to find a job that requires a specific bilingual capacity.
 
I am assuming you want to pursue a career in Accountancy because you are part-qualified ACCA, and require further exposure to management accounts to complement your academic study. You are obviously looking at accountancy recruitment sites, for Assistant Management Accounts jobs, but although you have some management accounts exposure you have not included this on your cv.  Although you don’t have this in depth, its worth showing this on the cv. You also need to highlight the fact that you are part-qualified, why have you put:  ACCA Accelate Student in the last but one section of your CV?  High-light the things that help to promote your job application and put them in obvious places not as an afterthought!
 
Overall, your CV is not bad, but it could be so much better and, with a  little thought, could be made to be so much better by following the points I’ve mentioned above.   If you need more help or if you have specific questions, please do call or email me, I’m usually in my office between 8am and 9pm Monday to Friday.
 
Best regards and kind wishes
 
 
Paula Capelli MBA, MCIPD

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Finding a job in the UK, from India

J C from Winchester, asks Sam Walpole this week
Hello Sam,
I have shifted to Winchester,UK nearly six months back from India with a post graduate degree in Economics.I have revalidated all my degrees with UK NARIC and my degrees are now comparable to British taught Masters Degree.I have already started studying AAT at Intermediate level(passed Foundation). I would like to know what kind of job should I get and the salary level.I have good experience in teaching,managing my own jewellery business,and in corporate world( in Finance department environment) in India.I have to stay in UK for more than 3 years as my husband has got transferred to this country and I am on Tier 2 dependent visa and I have full right to work in UK.
Please help me to find my job.Any kind of help from you is highly appreciable as I am highly concerned for my career.Thank you. With regards,

Sam Walpole answers :-

Dear JC
This is a tough time for individuals without current UK experience to break into the labour market. I think the best option to try and focus on what you believe your key skills and experience are and pursue roles specific to that – whether that be teaching, retail or accounting. You should tailor your CV to highlight the chosen area of work and focus on specialist agencies covering this area, rather than taking a general scattergun approach.
Good luck.
Sam Walpole

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Temporary Workers Regulations : Can you Tell me whats happening

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Sam Walpole writes : Julia who is temping at the moment with agency Selby Jennings , as a Financial Analyst asked me what was happening with the the new Temporary Workers Regulations , recently?

I did some digging and found out the following for her :-

There will be no ‘early’ introduction for temporary workers’ regulations. The Prime Minister has indicated that new rules affecting the employment rights of temporary workers will be included in the new legislative programme for the next parliamentary session. Gordon Brown made the announcement in his speech to the TUC conference, held recently. Under the Directive’s terms, temporary staff will be entitled to equal treatment with permanent staff on pay, holidays and hours after 12 weeks on an assignment.

Business groups have been lobbying for the Directive to be implemented at as late a date as possible so that employers have the opportunity to recover from the recession before the rules take effect.Mr Brown’s announcement means that the Directive cannot be implemented as soon as April 2010. Kevin Green, the chief executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), said: “Last week, the REC’s Report on Jobs showed that temporary and permanent placements were beginning to rise after nearly 18 months of decline. The availability of a flexible labour force will be key for struggling businesses climbing out of a recession.  “Any early implementation of the Directive could kill off these green shoots. The REC will continue to lobby strongly on the delay of the implementation of this Directive at the end of 2011.” Tom Hadley, the REC’s director of external relations, insists that the government’s timing plans on the Directive had not shifted, despite the Prime Minister’s reference to a “fast-tracking” of the legislation. Mr Hadley said: “It has always been the government’s stated aim to have new regulations on the statute books before the next election. The key issue is when the regulations actually come into force and the REC has been lobbying hard for a delayed implementation.” Mr Hadley argued that the government’s confirmation of an extended second round consultation on the draft regulations is significant. As well as providing an extra chance for business groups to express their views, it means that effectively the earliest the regulations could go live is October 2010 rather than April 2010. He adds: “The REC will continue to fight for actual implementation to be pushed back as late as possible – to the end of 2011 – in order to provide the industry with time to prepare and with much-needed breathing space in a tough business climate.”

No rush there then Julia, by the sounds of things !!

Sam Walpole , 17 September 2009

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Is it a good idea to have more than one CV so that it is tailored to individual jobs?

Is it a good idea to have more than one CV so that it is tailored to individual accounts jobs?  George A, London

Sam Walpole writes:

Hi George,

Having more than one CV is probably not the best idea unless you have 2 radically different career paths you are considering. However, reasonable tailoring of CV detail is not a bad thing, you have the ability to do this and set up two profiles, with altered cvs on our jobsboard. Clearly not every aspect of every role can be detailed on your CV, so adding in relevant information can be a good idea particularly if there is a mandatory aspect to the role that you have covered but not included on the CV. Equally, highlighting areas that are more pertinent to a role is acceptable, provided there is no exaggeration. Most of all, the golden rule is the CV has to tell the truth. Changing dates, missing off jobs etc are no-no’s. Truthful but tailored!

If you want some tips on CV writing, here is a useful link:  http://www.justaccountancyjobs.com/CV-Writing-Advice

Or for JustAccountancyJob members  get your current cv rated  click here

Good luck.

A Sick Joke or Symptoms of a Deep Malaise?

Sam Walpole writes:

In my other blog on JustAccountancyJobs.com/wordpress I have talked a few times about the differences between the public and private sector jobs.  Public sector jobs offer a great deal of career flexibility, since they are within a massive centralised organisation, as well as an excellent non-contributory pension and flexible working options. However, pay may be lower and the inability to make a genuine impact on an organisation can be frustrating. For some, the culture can be stifling.

The annual Absence Management survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development highlights the fact that absenteeism in the public sector has dropped slightly, from 9.8 to 9.7 days per employee. However, in the private sector it has fallen from 7.2 to 6.4 days per employee (dpe). In other words, the gap between public and private sector has widened from 2.6dpe to 3.3dpe.

What lies behind this trend? One might suppose that staff in the private sector are keen to be seen to be working harder than ever, since there have been plenty of redundancies. Or it could be that those with poorer absentee records have already been axed. But what is clear is that absenteeism is about 50% higher in the public sector – despite more flexible working. Is the public sector an unhealthy place to work, given the large concentrations of staff, the proximity of healthcare staff to sick people, etc.? Or is it the private sector which is the sick place to work, given the fear of the chop just for taking time off for illness? I’m sure economists and politicians from the right and left could argue about this one forever. But let me leave you with one thought: essential workers in the healthcare and emergency services will be given priority for vaccination against swine ‘flu, and rightly so. But are the private sector workers who distribute our food and stock our supermarket shelves also not essential?

Can My Boss Impose a Pay Cut?

We’ve got wind at work that the company might impose a pay cut on us. I’ve worked as a credit controller for several years, and have been in the company pension scheme most of that time. Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated.

Sam writes:

If you are forced to take a pay cut, then it will require a new contract of employment. If your employer were just to impose a pay cut out of the blue, then that would be breach of contract. My understanding of the law is that if you refused to take the pay cut, and were subsequently made redundant, you would be able to pursue your employer for unfair dismissal. You must also understand that a pay cut affects every aspect of your life – from your tax banding to your pension contributions. If you take a 10% cut from your pension contributions, you are seriously jeopardising your future wealth. My advice is to get everything documented and in writing.  Ask for written guarantees about increased future payments of your pension in return for a pay cut in the short-term, for example. You and other members of your team might even think about proposing a bonus scheme to recoup some of your lost pay, for example. After all, if you’re in credit control, you are one of the people in the company who is critical in improving cash flow and reducing debtors.

Who Will Pay My Exam Fees?

I am a part-qualified accountant working in a publicly-listed company, and have been there for eighteen months. The organisation has made some compulsory redundancies in the last few months. In my contract, it stipulates that my exam fees will be paid for the by the company. However, I have been asked by my boss if I will pay these myself, as the departmental budget has been cut. What should I do?

JL, London

Sam writes:

Frankly, my blood boils when I read about incidents like this. Your employer will be in breach of contract if they don’t pay your fees. If you’re in an accounting department and your boss is an accountant, then he or she must know this as well. What appalls me is the underlying and unstated threat of potential redundancy hanging over you unless you capitulate. From an organisational point of view it’s sheer idiocy – it is the role of a manager to nurture talent for use by the organisation. If you were to leave over this incident, the organisation has lost a valuable and experienced employee. And this is over an amount of money that must surely be trivial to the organisation (although significant for an employee). The good news is that you’ve been there over a year, so you’re protected by employment law.

I would stick to my guns and get them to pay for your exams and any other professional fees or costs that are in your contract. If it were to come to redundancy, you would have grounds for constructive dismissal if you could produce evidence that you had been singled out because you’d not acceded to his/her demands.

I’d be fairly sure that the HR department doesn’t know about this wheeze (being a publicly-listed company, I’m sure you have an HR department). The way I would play it would be to tell your boss that this would require a rewrite of your contract, and that you would therefore have to discuss it with the HR department. The HR department would realise exactly what was going on. Either your boss would back down at the mere mention of HR involvement, or they would put your boss right. If your bluff is called, you can tell HR that your contract states your fees are paid. I’d be pretty amazed if you were made redundant with any of that on the record. I do hope that we’ve seen the worst of the redundancies in your company. Good luck.

Accountancy Jobs in Greater London

I’m having difficulty finding an accountancy job in Greater London at the moment. I’ve attached my CV. Is it me, or is it the market?

Sarah, London

Sam replies:

First of all, it’s not your CV. If you do want someone to look at your CV for free, go to http://justaccountancyjobs.com/CV-Writing-Advice

In fact, it’s the state of the market at the moment. Accountancy jobs in Greater London are in short supply at the moment. Compounding this is the laying off of staff, who are now competing for the smaller number of vacancies. The steady sector of the market has been temporary accountancy jobs, so if you’re prepared to be flexible you should at least be able to find something to tide you over. Good luck with your hunt for a job.

Ever Considered Being an Internal Auditor?

I have served my time as an external auditor working for a large firm. I don’t like travelling to clients’ sites but I do enjoy the variety it brings. I do like an intellectual challenge but I have a toddler and can’t work long hours. Are there any jobs you could recommend?

Jayne, London

Sam replies:

I sympathise immensely with your position, and for the record I think it’s a terrible waste of talent that the inflexibility of employers leads to individuals like yourself sometimes being unable to find employment. There is a tremendous reservoir of talent in this country that is untapped.

Okay, rant over! How about being an internal auditor?Internal auditors work in large organisations to ensure that stakeholders are getting value for money. They often have more power than external auditors would have in private companies. The kinds of organisations that would have internal auditor jobs would be local and central government, as well as other public organisations such as the NHS. I think it would provide you with the kind of variety that you’re seeking, given that you could work in so many facets of a larger organisation. And of course there’d be nothing to stop you from transferring from one kind of public sector organisation to another, giving you a whole new career path. You’re at a particular advantage being in London, where there is a large tranche of such organisations. The advantage for someone in your personal situation is that public sector bodies tend to allow much more flexible working than their private sector counterparts. Furthermore, you will be eligible for a public sector pension – not to be sniffed at in these straitened times. I wish you every success.

Contract Accountant Job vs Temporary Accountant Job

I’ve recently seen contract accountant jobs advertised. What’s the difference between a contract accountant jobs and a temporary accountant job?

Sam replies:

At first glance, you might think there’s little difference between the two. But there is, and it;s a subtle one. A temporary accountant job tends to be arranged via an agency. That means that the agency is your employer and that’s who your contract of employment is with, including your rate and other terms and conditions. They have their own rate and terms and conditions with the company they sell your services to. Their profit is the difference between the two. When it comes to things like holiday entitlements, it’s the agency who will pay you.

Contract Accountant jobs are quite different, although they are often advertised as temporary jobs. In this instance, your contract of employment will be directly with the client. You will negotiate your rate and other terms and conditions directly with your employer. More often than not, these kinds of jobs are very senior, and far better paid than any equivalent temporary position. The reason is that the company/client will be expecting a greater commitment from you, and daily – rather than hourly – rate.

This kind of relationship is best administered by way of a limited company, and it may be a condition of employment. This is for your own protection, since as a sole trader you would be exposing yourself to unlimited liability should anything go awry. Despite recent legislation, there are still considerable tax advantages to this kind of setup. If you’re a good networker, this could be the first step in setting up your own firm or partnership. Remember to get the appropriate legal advice. Your professional body should be your first port of call.