Tens of thousands of jobseekers have already benefited from our new digital employment support tools, which help people build CVs, prepare for interviews and take the next step into work.
In this blog, Recruitment Consultant Ian, explains how he helped his customer Hugh, go from struggling to secure an interview to landing a job.
Spotting a common problem
While working on a Youth Project, I noticed a common theme among the customers I supported with job matching: they were applying for large numbers of vacancies but struggling to secure interviews.
When I reviewed their CVs, the issue often wasn't a lack of skills or experience, it was how the CVs were formatted. Many were using creative layouts, columns and images that looked good to the eye but weren't easy for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) which is a software employers use to receive, organise and manage job applications to read.
When I reviewed their CVs, the issue often wasn't a lack of skills or experience, it was how the CVs were formatted. Many were using creative layouts, columns and images that looked good to the eye but weren't easy for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to read – which is the software employers use to manage job applications.
Hugh's story
Hugh was a great example of this. Despite having strong experience and applying for 20 to 30 jobs a week, he was receiving very few interviews. His CV was visually impressive but wasn't suitable for modern recruitment systems.
I introduced Hugh to the Build a CV tool on Work Hub and showed him how it could help him create a professional, ATS-friendly CV. Within days, he had completely rebuilt it following the step-by-step guidance.
The difference was immediate. After being referred to a sales opportunity with Apollogrid through our Employer & Partnerships team, Hugh passed the sift, progressed to interview and was offered the job that same day. He is now thriving in work.
Making a difference for customers and colleagues
Hugh isn't an isolated success. Since promoting the Build a CV tool, I've supported at least six more customers who secured employment after using it to rebuild their CVs.
The benefits extend to colleagues too. Promoting the CV Builder earlier gives colleagues greater confidence and helps customers leave appointments with stronger, more professional CVs.
The CV Builder is doing much more than helping people write CVs. It's helping customers build confidence, secure interviews and move into work, while giving our colleagues a valuable tool to strengthen the support they provide.
It's a great demonstration of how useful these digital tools have been in complementing the human support we give our customers.
seen at 21:30, 27 October in Jobs and Careers Service.