Latest news with #CV
Telegraph
a day ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Jonathan Reynolds risks ban from practising law over CV scandal
Jonathan Reynolds risks being barred from practising law after the scandal over false claims on his CV, The Telegraph can reveal. The solicitors' watchdog decided not to prosecute the Business Secretary over allegations that he lied about his legal career after it found a lack of evidence to justify the move. However, The Telegraph has learnt that several concerns raised about Mr Reynolds's claims were investigated 'no further' because the incidents in question took place more than two years ago. If those 'time-barred' matters were ever substantiated, they could be held against Mr Reynolds if he tries to qualify as a solicitor in future. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said the revelations proved that the Business Secretary had not been cleared of wrongdoing. He said: 'Reynolds hasn't been cleared of breaking the law. The SRA [Solicitors Regulation Authority] have just decided not to investigate because it happened more than two years ago. 'The evidence of his persistent false claims over many years is clear for everyone to see. If the SRA investigated, they would have found him bang to rights.' 'Safe on a technicality' Andrew Griffith, the shadow business secretary, said: 'The Business Secretary repeatedly lied about being a solicitor and was caught out. In the private sector he is destroying he would long have been sacked. 'He may think he's safe on a technicality, but it's unclear how any hard working businesses can trust him now.' Backlash over the Business Secretary's CV erupted in February after it emerged he had said on several occasions that he worked as a solicitor before becoming an MP. In fact, he did not qualify for the title because he never finished his training contract with Addleshaw Goddard, a law firm, having quit in 2010 to run for Parliament. The SRA initially said it would not be taking any action after Mr Reynolds updated his online CV to remove a claim he held the legally-protected role. But it launched a fresh investigation for 'further information' about the Business Secretary's conduct after Mr Jenrick demanded action with a 'view to prosecuting'. Under Section 21 of the Solicitors Act 1974, it is illegal for any unqualified person to take or use 'any name, title, addition or description' implying they are qualified to act as a solicitor. Prosecutions for breaches of this kind are subject to strict time limits, meaning the case must be brought within two years of the alleged offence or six months from its first discovery by the prosecutor, whichever expires first. Insufficient evidence for prosecution The SRA confirmed last week that it had closed its investigation into Mr Reynolds, arguing it was neither proportionate nor in the public interest to bring criminal proceedings. In a letter to Parliament's standards watchdog in May, seen by The Telegraph, the regulator said it had found insufficient evidence to justify a prosecution. But it revealed that it had not looked 'further' into some of the concerns raised because they related to matters that occurred more than two years ago. If substantiated, it said these incidents could be 'relevant' if Mr Reynolds tries to qualify as a solicitor in future. The letter said: 'A number of the concerns investigated demonstrably occurred earlier than the two year period stated in section 26. 'As such matters are time-barred and could not be the subject of a lawful prosecution under section 21, the SRA has determined to investigate and consider them no further for this reason. 'Time-barred matters, if substantiated, could however be relevant should Mr Reynolds apply in the future to be admitted as a solicitor.' Mr Reynolds previously claimed on his website and in the Commons that he worked as a solicitor in Manchester before becoming an MP, and implied that he had held the role in a post on Twitter, now X, in 2011. He made the same claim in a campaign leaflet for the 2015 general election, at which he was re-elected as MP for Stalybridge and Hyde. He also previously stated on his LinkedIn profile that he was simultaneously a 'solicitor' and a 'trainee solicitor' between 2009 and 2010. The Telegraph revealed that he was warned a decade ago not to lie about his legal career, but dismissed the concerns, accusing the complainant of 'reading too much' into his comments. In its letter to Daniel Greenberg, the parliamentary standards commissioner, the SRA said any unqualified person wilfully referring to themselves as a solicitor was 'potentially a serious issue'. However, it said: 'Taking account of the explanations offered, our investigation did not find evidence sufficient to justify the bringing of a prosecution in evidential terms. Nor was it considered that a prosecution would be proportionate or in the public interest. 'Generally, the SRA would be more likely to regard the public interest as justifying a prosecution (if justified by our analysis of the evidence and explanations offered) where the person has engaged directly with consumers of legal services, public protection being a fundamental aspect of our regulatory remit; or where there were a material risk of repetition.' A source close to the Business Secretary said: 'Mr Reynolds was happy to cooperate with an investigation by the SRA, which has now concluded with no further action. He is pleased to continue working hard on the post-Brexit trade deals the Conservatives failed to deliver.'
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Expert reveals the common phrase you should never put on your CV if you want to land your dream job
An HR expert has revealed the most common CV mistakes she sees from job applicants that can cost them the role of their dreams. Tracey Beveridge, HR Director at Personnel Checks, knows exactly how a CV should be structured to set you up for success at every stage. In order to understand the importance of having a polished CV, it's helpful to know what companies are looking for before they even think about offering you a crucial job interview. Tracey explained that, once an applicant submits their CV, it typically goes through three stages before reaching the hiring manager. These are: Applicant Tracking Systems (ATC), recruiter review and HR team evaluation. So for a CV to stand out, it has to pass all three stages - but what are the common mistakes applicants are making that are causing them to fall at the first hurdle? According to Tracey, the most common mistake made by job seekers on their CVs is not using the right keywords. She explained the main reason applicants are encouraged to tailor CVs to job descriptions is that ATS software is often used to scan the document for keywords and phrases that appear in the job description. 'Including these in your CV will help get you past that first hurdle,' Tracey says. 'Similarly, while recruiters and HR teams will know something about the role, they are unlikely to be experts. 'Ensuring that your CV includes the skills, certifications and achievements detailed in the job description will help to make sure you tick their boxes and move on to the next stage.' In a case where an applicant's CV is not tailored to a specific job role, Tracey's advice is to look carefully at several job descriptions to identify commonly used words and phrases, and to incorporate those into the CV. The second mistake most people are making when writing up their CV is making it too much about themselves rather than the potential employer - which might sound counterintuitive. However, Tracey says: 'Recruiters aren't interested in what you want. Sorry. Their focus is finding the right candidates for their client. Leave discussing your aspirations for the interview and focus your CV on what the role needs. 'Your opening statement is key here. Avoid generic phrases that could apply to anyone such as 'hard-working team player'. Tracey adds that getting a key relevant achievement into your opening statement could leave even more of an impact. 'Instead, show that you are already the real deal. Whether you are an award-winning marketer, a qualified ACCA accountant or a Senior IT Project Manager with full lifecycle experience, your opening line should say exactly that.' While it's crucial to ensure CVs contain all the right keywords and essentials, don't let it get bogged down by too much text - CVs must be easy to read, Tracey says. 'CVs are often reviewed in batches, on the run, between meetings and even on mobiles. Stick to plain fonts and a clear layout for maximum readability. 'Consider what is important to the employer. Your CV doesn't need to contain everything, but it should include the detail that will make it easier for them to say yes to you than to someone else.' Applicants don't need to include personal information such as marital status, date of birth and even hobbies, unless any of this would be relevant to the role. Instead, keep just the essentials, which are key certifications, professional accreditations, achievements, and experience. 'These show your employability, suitability, impact, and breadth,' Tracey adds. 'Make sure your contact information is at the top of every page. You'd be surprised how many people forget to include it!' Finally, Tracey says to keep in mind that your CV should get straight to the point and, ideally, be no longer than two pages long. 'A CV is a hybrid document which showcases your skills, highlights your key experience and qualifications, and markets you as an individual,' she says. 'The interview is the time for the details. 'Customise your CV to align your experience and achievements to the specific requirements of the role. Make it easy for a potential employer to 'see' you in the position when they read your CV.'
RNZ News
10-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Property valuations drop for Auckland
money housing 30 minutes ago Council valuations or CV's for Auckland's 630-thousand homes have decreased by an average of 9 percent. For many, the drop is unnerving and a tough pill to swallow, especially after the highs of 2021. But property experts have said the CV is just a taxation tool, and homeowners shouldn't let it influence their decisions. Felix Walton reports.
Express Tribune
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Brazil's funk star's arrest sparks censorship debate
The arrest of a popular funk singer in Brazil on suspicion of glorifying a powerful crime gang has revived a long-standing debate over the criminalisation of a genre born in Rio de Janeiro's gritty favelas, or slums. Unlike its US namesake, which was popularised by James Brown, Rio funk borrows more from hip-hop, blended with samba and other Brazilian rhythms. The lyrics, seen by many as celebrating favela drug lords, have repeatedly led to calls for songs to be censored. Last week, MC Poze do Rodo, one of the genre's best-known artists with 16 million followers on Instagram, was arrested on charges of glorifying crime and having links to Comando Vermelho (CV), one of Brazil's biggest gangs. The police argue that Poze's music "clearly condones" drug trafficking and illegal use of firearms and point to concerts held "exclusively in areas dominated by CV, with a notable presence of traffickers armed with high-calibre weapons." After five days in preventive custody, the 26-year-old singer was released on Tuesday to a rapturous welcome from waiting fans, who swarmed his car in a column of motorbikes. Speaking afterwards, the singer claimed he was the victim of police discrimination. "Rio de Janeiro police don't like me... because I'm black? Because I'm from a favela?" Marlon Brendon Coelho Couto was born in the favela of Rodo, one of the biggest in western Rio. He has admitted to selling drugs in his youth but says that he abandoned crime to devote himself to music. Police footage of his arrest at his current home in the upmarket Recreio dos Bandeirantes district, cuffed and shirtless, surrounded by heavily armed officers, caused an outcry among his fans. Fellow musicians took part in a campaign for his release, organised by his wife, influencer Viviane Noronha, on the grounds that "funk singers are not criminals." The debate surrounding funk's role in crime mirrors long-standing discussions in the United States over the links between rap and violence in Black communities. Danilo Cymrot, a doctor in criminology at the University of Sao Paulo, pointed to a "grey area" in the definition of glorification of violence, relating to artistic content. "The artist doesn't necessarily agree with his lyrics," Cymrot, author of a book about Rio funk, said. He added that "oftentimes, the police and the judiciary have a hard time understanding funk as a work of art." As a result, he said, the artist's origins are often used to determine whether he condones violence. "It's less the message itself and more who is singing it."
Khaleej Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
How to write that perfect CV in the UAE: Tips by an HR professional
One page can change your life. This one piece of paper is your invitation to a meeting, your certificate of excellence, and your chance to get a bumper raise before you've even begun a new job. What's on this precious note? Your CV. 'The worst thing you can do for your CV is write down your job description,' says HR veteran Anam Irfan, who has worked with the likes of Majid Al Futtaim and Tenaris, and across industries such as oil and gas and construction. The Pakistani expat, who has been in the UAE for 35 years, is currently the chief people officer and partner at byteSpark AI, and spoke to wknd. about the difference between a good CV and an effective one, what companies can do to draw and retain talent, and what you can do to boost your own profile in the tough-as-stone job market. Her firm is a headhunting initiative that uses AI to pursue candidates and link the right person to the right job. 'Our platform does a recruitment with speed, with efficiency. That, and we help people with CV-building skills,' explains Anam. If you are looking for a new job this year, you are, unsurprisingly, not alone. According to a survey by Censuswide, 75 per cent of the professionals in the UAE are searching for new employment in 2025. But to make your CV (and application) stand out, says Anam, 'Don't tell me what you were hired to do, impress me with what you have done. What you have achieved. A CV needs to be clear, concise, impactful. That means talking about outcomes, numbers.' To make things more engaging, she recommends paying attention to your personal brand. 'After all, if you don't write about your accomplishments on social media (or LinkedIn), how will a recruiter know about your abilities? With the new generation that is coming into the workforce, Gen-Z and Alpha, it will be all about the personal brand. They're all on social media, whether it's Instagram, or LinkedIn, or TikTok. If you want to excel, you need to up your game on these platforms.' Closing the gender gap As a woman who has worked in traditionally male-dominated industries, Anam says her formula for being seen and heard is simple: Show up with irrefutable data. 'If you have your own clear voice and influence at the table, and you come backed up with data — that's when magic really happens. I make sure that when I speak, it is with facts and figures, making them curious about 'why did she say what she said',' she adds. Having a comfortable relationship with your audience will also smooth your way to a receptive audience, the HR executive adds. 'You have to make sure that you're building relationships through the journey. Women have the gift of empathy; relationship-building is natural. When you do that, things become easy.' The first challenge to success — both when it comes to speaking to colleagues and presenting an argument (or counter-argument, for that matter), she says, is the negative self-talk that women tend to suffer from. According to a study, published by the US-based National Library of Medicine, positive self-talk has the ability to improve cognitive performance. 'We women sometimes lose out because we are very self-critical, thinking we need to over-prepare. Sometimes, we overthink and stop ourselves from expressing a certain viewpoint. You don't say it, but someone else does. And you are left reeling,' she says, adding that one needs to curb that instinct to keep mum at important moments. Don't tell me what you were hired to do, impress me with what you have done. What you have achieved. A CV needs to be clear, concise, impactful. That means talking about outcomes, numbers" Anam believes the foundation to professional success then begins in one's formative years. 'If you don't have a very good childhood, it impacts you and your personal skill set,' she explains. However, if you are taught resilience in the face of diversity, it will hold you in good stead. If you do find yourself without glowing personal skills though, remember that many things can be learned — all you need is a growth mindset; that ability to find lessons in everything. It's also why grooming is so important in a work place; it helps your discover and grow your abilities. 'You may have your own mindset and your own aspirations, but if the opportunity is not given in the right organisation, it changes everything,' she says. 'When I was just in training,' she recalls, 'I was already presenting budgets to CEOs — my mentors and leaders put me in the room and pushed me to learn by doing. My confidence was built up like this.' Anam is the mum of a six year old, and she laughs when asked about work-life balance. 'There is no such thing,' she says. 'For me, it's not about a work-life balance, it's really about integration. So, I have boundaries — at five, I have to leave. My son is six. He needs a mom. I need to spend at least couple of hours with him once he's back from school. He needs to have mealtimes with me. He needs to have his sleeping time with me. He needs to have some reading time with me. Once he's gone to bed, I can get back to any pending work that I have. The key is to know when to take a break and pause.' Corporations need to understand that you cannot have those legacy annual performance reviews. You need to move beyond that. Things are agile. That's where frustrations happen in employees — they feel it's not a fair assessment" Organisations too need a shift While she's quick to say that she's only worked in supportive firms, she does admit that the way many organisations do things leave a lot to be desired. 'Performance management systems are so outdated. There is usually an annual goal-setting in organisations and annual reviews; but the goal posts are constantly shifting. 'Corporations need to understand that you cannot have those legacy annual performance reviews. You need to move beyond that. Things are agile. That's where frustrations happen in employees — they feel it's not a fair assessment.' 'The other thing is, teaching employees about their potential growth trajectory. The more you know where you are heading, the greater will be your commitment to your cause,' she explains. At the end of the day, your turn with a company begins with an introduction — and you owe yourself the best one. Begin by working on an effective CV.
