Why does my boss want my CV?
May 10, 2011 7:16 AM Subscribe
My boss wants a copy of my CV (resume) to give to a client. Why...?
This morning my boss (of 5 years) asked me (a UK geek) to give him a copy of my CV/resume so that he could include it in a proposal to a US company through a US agency.
When I asked "why?" he told me that it was "just one of those American things".
Why the hell would a client want to see my CV? I'm a web developer not a creative or the VP of something. What gives? Is this real or is he yanking my chain?
This morning my boss (of 5 years) asked me (a UK geek) to give him a copy of my CV/resume so that he could include it in a proposal to a US company through a US agency.
When I asked "why?" he told me that it was "just one of those American things".
Why the hell would a client want to see my CV? I'm a web developer not a creative or the VP of something. What gives? Is this real or is he yanking my chain?
The client wants to be sure the people they are working with are qualified to do the work?
This happened to me all the time when I worked for a consulting firm.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:20 AM on May 10, 2011
This happened to me all the time when I worked for a consulting firm.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:20 AM on May 10, 2011
Standard practice. Don't worry.
posted by archivist at 7:23 AM on May 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by archivist at 7:23 AM on May 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
North American companies usually want to see tech resumes with proposals, in my experience. You're being considered for work as part of your company, they want to know what you've done.
posted by Jairus at 7:24 AM on May 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Jairus at 7:24 AM on May 10, 2011 [2 favorites]
Yes, this is part of working on proposals for US governmental agencies. They sometimes want proof that the people slotted to work on a project have experience and qualifications for that project (after getting burned hundreds of times by companies who claim to have the staff to do the work, but actually don't).
At our firm, instead of submitting resumes we write Personnel Data Sheets that are like the more narrative form of a resume, and go more in-depth on contributions to in-company projects.
posted by muddgirl at 7:29 AM on May 10, 2011
At our firm, instead of submitting resumes we write Personnel Data Sheets that are like the more narrative form of a resume, and go more in-depth on contributions to in-company projects.
posted by muddgirl at 7:29 AM on May 10, 2011
I'm a consultant working for a firm in the US. My resume gets sent out to prospective clients all the time.
posted by chazlarson at 7:30 AM on May 10, 2011
posted by chazlarson at 7:30 AM on May 10, 2011
When I was doing contract engineering, I was required to maintain an updated resume and a bio for our potential clients. Having the firepower to write proposals to get the work is fine - that was someone else's job. Companies want to know the folks who are implementing the designs - your resume lets them know that you are qualified.
I'd consider writing a brief bio to accompany your resume that includes information on how long you've worked for your current employer, any stellar prior employers, the types of projects you've worked on, your specialties and certifications, and a clean headshot.
posted by Nanukthedog at 7:30 AM on May 10, 2011
I'd consider writing a brief bio to accompany your resume that includes information on how long you've worked for your current employer, any stellar prior employers, the types of projects you've worked on, your specialties and certifications, and a clean headshot.
posted by Nanukthedog at 7:30 AM on May 10, 2011
Not only in the US, but I have also had to do this in multiple countries in Europe, as well. CVs or resumes get sent out to agencies along with proposals for many levels of collaboration or funding. Standard practice on both sides of the pond.
posted by copperbleu at 7:43 AM on May 10, 2011
posted by copperbleu at 7:43 AM on May 10, 2011
Sometimes it's used for qualifications to win a bid -- make sure the right resource is being used on the job or that your experience matches up to what they're pitching.
Sometimes it's being used for large companies' procurement departments to try to squeeze the cost down by looking at everyone on the team and verifying their seniority level to the seniority level and bill rate in the RFP.
This is pretty typical.
posted by Gucky at 8:37 AM on May 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
Sometimes it's being used for large companies' procurement departments to try to squeeze the cost down by looking at everyone on the team and verifying their seniority level to the seniority level and bill rate in the RFP.
This is pretty typical.
posted by Gucky at 8:37 AM on May 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yes, standard practice in the UK, too. Had to provide a cv of sorts for any tender process my name gets added to as prospective team.
posted by koahiatamadl at 8:44 AM on May 10, 2011
posted by koahiatamadl at 8:44 AM on May 10, 2011
Yeah, it seems to be quite an American thing. It happened to me when I went on contract in New York and yeah, it doesn't really make a hell of a lot of sense, as far as I can see. I'm actually surprised to hear (from koahiatamadl) that it's now seen as normal in the UK. Cuh. As long as we don't fall for mandatory drug tests and that unpaid internship nonsense, I suppose...
posted by Decani at 10:50 AM on May 10, 2011
posted by Decani at 10:50 AM on May 10, 2011
Canadian too. Every design proposal I submit over about $50,000 or so needs this for at least 1/2 of the staff in our branch, not to mention Head Office.
You should have seen the hoops we had to jump through to gain access to the Olympic venues last year.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 1:28 PM on May 10, 2011
You should have seen the hoops we had to jump through to gain access to the Olympic venues last year.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 1:28 PM on May 10, 2011
Are you being billed out by the hour? When I worked in consulting out of college (US) I had a CV on file in case clients asked for it... my employer needed something to wave at clients who asked why they were paying way too much for my time.
If you're just charging to get the job done, then it makes a lot less sense.
posted by _Silky_ at 5:25 PM on May 10, 2011
If you're just charging to get the job done, then it makes a lot less sense.
posted by _Silky_ at 5:25 PM on May 10, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ldthomps at 7:19 AM on May 10, 2011 [1 favorite]