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Hire me websites – the new fashion?

  • Publish Date: Posted over 12 years ago
  • Author: Emma Dadswell

Fashion is a notoriously hard industry to break into. Even the most qualified and enthusiastic candidates can have difficulty getting their foot in the door. Lately, however, we’ve seen a new trend emerging among Britain’s new generation of fashion industry job seekers.

Meet Celine Cavaillero. She’s one of the many would-be fashion professionals going the extra mile in order to stand out in a crowded marketplace. Rather than churning out covering letters and sending off traditional CVs, we’re seeing a large number of creative job applications, just like Celine’s, that are changing the way people apply for roles.

It’s not just the fashion industry that’s seen candidates make creative use of online resources. The rate at which video and web technology is developing has given creative individuals a whole new world of ways in which to showcase their talent. Marketing candidates, would-be video editors and producers have found success through “hire me” websites or videos. Gareth Cash, a graduate from St. Albans recently created a viral storm with his “hire me” YouTube video – and even received an equally creative reply from Channel 4.

Critics have commented that this new wave of “hire me” video and websites means that candidates are no longer tailoring job applications to their employer. Some have even said that creating a website, for example, implies that the candidate is not proactive enough in their job search and is waiting for employers to come to them.

Here at Handle Recruitment, we love seeing an original or different job application. For employers sifting through hundreds of CVs, something really inventive is bound to stand out. Moreover, candidates who demonstrate their skills in such a practical way are more likely to find a job that’s tailored to them as opposed to amending their CV to fit a job description.

What do you think? Are creative online CVs the way forward? Or are they too informal? We want to hear from you!