HR tips and CV inspiration

Hello boys and girls,

Today on Business Week, Jessica Djeziri HR Manager at InterCloud.comagreed to answer a few questions and give us some advice. Jessica has almost nine years' experience in human resources development, in a wide range of sectors including e-commerce and digital marketing. So, what are the things you should never do on a CV? Tips for a successful job interview? We'd also like to give you a few examples of hot CVs we've received at Lemonade Studio, which stand out from the crowd thanks to their originality, form, layout etc... CVs that leave no one indifferent!

I remember a particularly stressful interview to become a set assistant at a major Parisian photo studio. I was just starting out in photography, I wasn't sure of myself and I didn't know anything about it. It was my first year in Paris, and I'd sent in an almost empty CV and a badly-written cover letter. First I had a standard interview with the big boss, and in two or three words it was settled, before I found myself on a set in the middle of a shoot the very same day for a "test day". Panic on board: I don't know anyone, everyone knows it's my test day and above all: I'm unprepared (and to top it all off I had new shoes, you know the ones that go *quick quick* when you walk? That's it).

At first, people weren't very kind to me, but deal with it, I stood my ground and played along. At one point, I was quietly dying of stress in a corner of the set, when the photographer's assistant walked past me saying "it's URGENT we need 4 mandarins", hello shit delighted, no time when you're saving lives. In my head, "wtf, we need mandarins URGENTLY?", I'm given this mission of the utmost importance and I rush to the local greengrocer's and, with the utmost delicacy, select the FOUR most beautiful mandarins on display. I spend an inordinate amount of time choosing them so that they're perfect in shape and color, not too hard and not too soft, some with leaves and some without. The greengrocer looks at me circumstantially, but I finally find the perfect 4 mandarins. I go back to the studio, puff out my chest and step onto the set with my shoes going quick quick (discreet) and proudly place my 4 dulcinées in front of the photographer, "And there you have it, the 4 mandarins you asked for! :)" Silence. Embarrassment. Everyone stops and looks at me, I think they're in awe of such beautiful mandarins. And then, general laughter. I stare blankly, the photographer turns around, rolling his eyes, his assistant rushes over, grabs the mandarins and balances them in a corner, and pulls me off the tray by the arm. Then, with tears in his eyes and holding back his giggles, he explains that tangerines in photographs are not fruit, but a type of lighting.... Naturally, I moon-walked from the embarrassment to the nearest emergency exit and never set foot in that studio again.

But let's get down to business if you don't mind, and heeding Jessica's advice:

  • Things never to do on a CV?
In France, you really shouldn't make your CV more than one page long. The ready-made templates you find on the Internet are obvious and don't help you stand out from the crowd. The worst: the pdf CV that's actually taken from Linkedin.
I'd advise you to be careful about the title of your CV. If it's too specific, it may close certain doors, or you need to adapt it to each job you apply for.
  • How to apply for a spontaneous job?
In any case, spontaneous or not, you should always find out more about the company, checking out their careers site to see the type of profiles they're looking for and the ads they're running. The cover letter should be very precise, to help the recipient who will have to process the application.
I was recently contacted by a candidate who wanted me to see his profile and find him a job. After a short exchange, it turned out that he hadn't even looked at my published job offers, but had simply searched for me on a professional social network, thinking that I would decide for myself which job would suit him. This is totally counter-productive.
  • What are your 5 tips for a successful job interview?

- Preparation is essential. You need to be up to speed on the company's business, projects, values...and be able to answer the question "why did you apply with us?"

- Having questions to ask: this shows your interest in the company and the job in question.

- Don't present yourself in a linear way, by reading your resume (this can sometimes happen, and should be avoided!).

- Anticipate the classic questions: "Why are you looking to leave your job?" "What are your areas for improvement?" "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
  • As HR, do you take into account the candidate's dress code?

What do you think should be avoided at all costs? Not at all! Dress is important in certain traditional sectors (banking, insurance, etc.) or for certain functions (key account sales, for example). I've worked in telecoms and e-commerce, and there's no dress code at all. When in doubt, a sober outfit (no flashy colors, no T-shirt with a message...) may be recommended, but you just have to take into account the sector of activity. In my last company, nobody wore a tie, not even the CEO!

  • I've been interviewed. Should I send a thank-you e-mail? How long does it take to get back in touch?

It's appreciated, but not necessary. If you want to do it, within 2 days of the interview may be appropriate.

  • Do you research the candidate on the Internet before the interview? And how much attention do you pay to the candidate's online image? 
It's a myth! Nobody has the time, we deal with so many applications (even in a small business) that we never do that. From time to time, for a shortlisted candidate in a "sensitive" position, I'll do it. What's more, recruitment software is increasingly doing this for us! Applying with your e-mail address links your file to your social media profiles... in this context, it makes things easier!
Thanks to Jessica for taking the time to answer my questions, and I hope you find them useful! If you have any further questions, I'm sure she'll be happy to answer them in the comments to this article.
As for me, I'll see you next time, and if you've got a juicy anecdote (tangerine-based too, who knows) from a first day on the job, don't hesitate to share it in the comments!

Love!

Simoné

November 23, 2016
Left Older Post Back to Make My Lemonade Blog Newer Post Right