CV preparation services
If you've had some experience in creating CV's you may not need to seek professional guidance. However, if you're new to the job market, re-entering after a long break, looking to move into a new area or keep missing out on the interview, it may be well worth getting an expert opinion.

You may think that you have such limited work experience that it's not even worth having a CV — wrong. A professional CV writer could find a wealth of experience in jobs that you thought were unrelated to the work force: charity work, football coaching, social committees or school canteen manager. These jobs may have provided you with respected skills that can be related to your employment objectives.

If you're looking for help in preparing your CV you may want to seek the services of a professional CV writer. They offer a range of services varying from full-scale skills assessment and interview preparation to basic word processing. These services are often offered by former human resource manager or careers counsellors, who should know the area thoroughly. Don't be afraid to scrutinise their qualifications and experience and don't be shy about asking for examples.

If you already have your CV prepared, you may just need a secretarial service to help you pull it all together. Expect to pay £10-£15 per hour for basic word processing, and allow two to three hours for full formatting of a CV.

Upside
The writer assesses your skills and experience during a personal interview. The writer may visit you at your home at a convenient time, saving on travel time. Offers a quick turnaround. Your CV is presented in a professional format, typed, printed and bound for you. You can get changes made quickly for specific job applications.

Downside
Typically, CV preparation might cost: £50-£100 per CV . Tailoring CVs to specific jobs becomes very expensive

Where to find CV writers
One Recruitment associates can professionally prepare your CV for you. Simply call us on 01236 439499 and ask about our CV Writing service or look at our CV Writing page.

Questions to ask before you buy
What will it cost and what exactly do you provide?
Is your travelling time included in the cost?
What experience and qualifications do you have in the field?
How long have you been doing it?
Can I see some samples of your work?
Do you use more than one type of CV format, depending on my skills and circumstances?
How long does the interview session last?
Do you offer a job referral service?

How to evaluate the service
Were the service and costs clearly explained in advance?
Do you feel comfortable with the writer?
Did they seek to find out what your needs were before they started writing?
Did they take their time in the interview session with you?
Were your true skills and aspirations reflected in the CV?
Did your CV get you a job interview?

CV books and resources
Books can be an excellent source of advice, samples and formats when you're creating your own CV. You can work through the information at your own pace. The disadvantage is that there's no personal guidance. You have to decide what advice best suits your situation.
There's lots of options for finding good books and resources. You can find books at your local library, bookshop and second-hand bookshop.

How to evaluate books
These tips will help you decide between the many books available.
Read the author's biography and or introduction. There are many different opinions about what is the "best" way to prepare a CV. Critically analyse why this author's view is credible and trustworthy. What are the author's qualifications and experience?
Check to see if the book offers samples that you can copy or adapt.
Check the first few pages, to see where the book was published. Locally published books will be more in touch with workplace culture. Advice for American job-seekers isn't always effective for the UK.
If the book was first published two or more years ago, has it been reprinted, or new editions published? Does the book say how many copies have been sold? This indicates how popular the book has been.
Is the book endorsed or recommended by relevant associations or individuals? Has it won any awards or commendations?

Libraries
Your council-run library is a terrific, free resource. Membership is usually open to anyone — you don't have to live or work in a particular area to be eligible to join. Borrowing books is free; plus audio loans and search and reserve services are often available at no or little cost. Look in the White Pages under the name of your local council to find your nearest library.
Libraries respond to their members' needs and interests, so it's a safe bet you'll find books on looking for work and CV preparation. These books are also likely to be popular. If you can't find them, ask a librarian about how to reserve the books, or to request that the library purchase a particular title.
Borrowing from your local library means you can review a range of professional opinions from different authors. This includes different examples of CVs and cover letters, which you can copy and adapt. On the other hand, libraries often don't have the most up to date edition of a book. Check the publication date. Anything older than four or five years will be less useful.

Where to find the right books
Either go to the Careers Section in the library or type in the following key words into the key word search section of the library's computerised database.
Jobs
Resume
CV
Career
Employment
Interviewing

Bookshops
Bookshops offer up-to-date resources, which detail the latest in techniques and approaches to job-hunting. Most bookshops will specially order any book you want, usually at no extra cost. This is useful if you've had to return a library book you found very helpful! Don't forget you can order books online too.

On the other hand, buying books can quickly get expensive, particularly if you want to consider more than one opinion or approach. Evaluate the book carefully. Ask your bookseller or friends for recommendations.

Second-hand bookshops
Buying books second-hand is worth considering. You'll save money, but it may take some time on your part. Have a look through more than one shop and be patient. Many second-hand bookshops now have computerised records of books in stock, so don't hesitate to ask the bookseller if you're after a particular book.
You may be looking for your first job, re-entering the job market or hoping for a career change — whatever your situation, job searching can be a time consuming, exhausting task. Here are some short cuts to help make the task a little bit easier. We tell you where to find seminars, services and resources that can help you in your search and how to evaluate them before you part with your hard earned cash.

Over 85 per cent of interviews for jobs came from a referral from a friend, colleague, relative, employee or contact.

Special services for unemployed people
Job Centre Plus run a centralised job search facility for unemployed people. You can find out information like the job title, description, hours of work, pay rate, start date and number of positions available via a touch screen. Private job providers can now assist you with preparation of CV, business cards and career counselling.

Workshops/coaching
The most popular courses of training in this area involve personal presentation and/or interview skills. Personal presentation courses generally covers grooming, deportment, self-esteem, interpersonal skills and communication skills.

Interview skills courses cover those areas too but tend to focus mainly on more detailed aspects, such as preparation, question handling, interview styles, relaxation and salary negotiation.

This section will handle interview skills training specifically, although the information can be applied to personal presentation courses also. Courses are often offered on an individual or group tuition basis.

Upside
The interview is everything. Any training to assist you in handling the interview with more confidence and power is valuable.
Thinking on your feet under pressure is a great skill to have and can only be developed with practice.
It develops transferable skills that you will have at your disposal forever.
Video playback of your performance can save hours of discussion — you can see your habitual mannerisms and vocal tendencies that could be preventing you from communicating effectively.
It offers you the chance to gain practical experience in a simulated environment that allows you to mentally rehearse before the actual interview.

Advantages of group tuition include:
You can learn a lot from watching other people make mistakes.
It can be a lot of fun and you can make new contacts.
You can receive group feedback as opposed to one person's feedback.

Advantages of individual tuition include:
Can focus on specific problems.
Can be less confronting than a group situation.
Get more personalised attention and more time.

Downside
Can be expensive.
Time-consuming.
Requires personal commitment and a desire to change habits.
It can be uncomfortable watching yourself on camera.
Can be confronting for shy or introverted people.

Where to find them
"Careers Counselling" section in the Yellow Pages.
Word of mouth recommendations.

How to evaluate them
Ring them up and ask for an information pack and, if available, a video of their work to be sent to you.
Ask to speak to people who have been through the course.
Ask what the success rate of course graduates