Five family office hiring trends in 2024
Summer is fast approaching and, for family offices, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable sunny season requires strategic planning, especially when hiring staff. Here are five ways private employers can optimise…
As Head of Tiger Private, an exclusive domestic staffing agency, a huge part of my job is sifting through CVs. In any given week I might open in the region of 500 CVs — and some get my attention for all the wrong reasons! That said, I know it’s not easy to capture your experience and skillset in two pages, especially if you’ve worked in the weird and wonderful world of private households! To help you avoid mistakes in writing your CV, here are seven points to consider.
Don’t use your dating profile photo
It might look amazing on your Tinder profile, but your CV isn’t the right place to showcase your best selfie! If you want to include a photo, use an image taken by someone else where you’re well-presented and professional. Most importantly: choose one situated in the office, not on a night out!
Don’t be scared to sell yourself
Some of our private jobseekers tend to feel a bit embarrassed about writing down all their skills and experience on their CV, especially when listing the details of what they’ve done for a previous employer. Remember, your future boss wants to know what you’re capable of, so list everything you’ve covered in your previous roles. Bullet points are a good way to do this succinctly!
Don’t use the third person
This can be a bit unnerving for those reading your CV! If you’re applying for a role in a private household, like a chauffeur job or a house manager job, use first person instead.
Don’t be indiscreet
The golden rule with a private household CV is to use discretion when referring to your past employers. Remain mindful when sharing information about your past roles and remember any non-disclosure agreements you may have signed in the past.
Don’t write more than two pages
If, like me, you’re of a certain age where you can remember when Take That first formed, you’ve probably accumulated a lot of fabulous work experience! If this is the case, it probably won’t fit on one page. In this situation, two pages is absolutely fine, but any more and it will be too long. Whoever receives your CV may have to sort through hundreds of documents and they’ll be less likely to take the time to read your third or fourth page of experience.
If you’re using a recruitment agency, there are a few other considerations you should keep in mind before sending them your CV!
Don’t send a PDF document
Many of our jobseekers send their CV over in PDF form, making it harder for us to format. For Tiger Private, we take off any contact details and pop on our Tiger Private logo, so your CV is consistent with our guidelines and formatted nicely. It’s so much easier to do this when it’s a Word document, so please do bear this in mind.
Don’t forget to update your CV
If you’re using a recruitment agency, it’s always a good idea to send your consultant an updated version of your CV every six months or so. This way, you’re more likely to come up in our searches, and we know your exact availabilities and recent experience. It also helps your consultant place you in a role which suits you best!
At Tiger, we’re always happy to give CV tips and answer any specific questions you may have about your job search. It’s worth the time to finesse it, as it might just land you your next dream job!
