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My iProfile: The preferred online CV for leading recruiters

Key Skills Section:

Work History Section:

My Preferences:

My iProfile

What's an iProfile?

It's an online CV service with a major difference, it is dynamic and rapidly replacing the static traditional CV. What's made it so popular for candidates is that it puts you in total control of the information recruitment agencies and employers see: so your carefully prepared CV doesn't get lost (or reformatted) across the various different recruiter databases. With an iProfile, you decide which recruitment agencies can see your personal information (rather than having lots of Word documents in other people's hands), and can easily keep all the agencies and contacts you have up to date - with a simple, single point of information. The result is that employers and agencies can spend more time helping you find the right job - faster.

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How was my iProfile created?

We've worked with recruitment agencies to develop software that can take information from your CV and put it into a suitable format. So, when you first upload your CV, you may find it's been re-formatted for your iProfile. If you've already got an iProfile and send a new CV to a different agency who use the service, you'll be asked to update your details to make sure we're using the most accurate iProfile for you.

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How did iProfiles come about?

The iProfile is a simple idea that has solved lots of problems in the recruitment industry. Agencies and employers have to sift through and compare CVs - often thousands every week - that all look different and include different things. Till now, what agencies and some employers have had to do is transfer CV information into databases that they can search. But information can get lost in that transfer, and the information in each database is out of date straight away (bad news for agencies, and for candidates too). The iProfile created a standard, real-time format and a single reference point that agencies, candidates and employers could all share safely. This makes recruitment much more accurate, flexible and efficient - so vacancies can be filled faster and more effectively.

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What are the benefits?

in control - you stay in control of your information and your profile: you know exactly what employers and recruitment agencies will see and know that it's up to date. You decide who gets to see it and when - and you'll soon be able to track exactly who's looking at your profile and why. It also helps protect your personal details, because your information is kept in one, secure place - rather than being sent out, beyond your reach, to lots of different people.

saving time - you only have to go to one place to update your profile, and you can then share it instantly with as few or as many agencies and employers as you want - and you can post it directly onto job boards too.

first in line - having an iProfile gives you an immediate edge on other candidates, because iProfiles are often the only thing or the first thing that's searched when it comes to filling a vacancy. They make recruitment much more efficient - so they're the first port of call for thousands of employers and recruitment agencies.

better placed - whether or not you're actively seeking a new role, using an iProfile helps you in your career, by providing a focus to your development that you can share with others - and get feedback and advice on.

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What if an agency got my CV because it was held in a database run by a job board?

If this is the case then an iProfile is not built. The best iProfiles are only built from the original CV, which means you need to send an original CV to an iProfile Compatible agency in order for them to create you one.

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Why complete my iProfile?

Your CV is extracted in a format which is easily accessible to recruitment agencies. This type of data extraction is never perfect. We ask you to invest 5 minutes of your time to review and update your iProfile, to ensure recruitment agencies have the most up to date version of your CV. By completing your iProfile you will ensure that all the information is accurate. By completing your iProfile, recruiters will have your details on a database which will allow a quicker and more accurate match of your skills to jobs.

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Who has access to my iProfile?

Agencies you sent your CV to have access to your iProfile. Once you apply for an advertised role and upload your CV, your consent is sought by the recruitment agency to hold and process your data. This agency has engaged iProfile to perform their CV processing, with a view to match your data with relevant jobs, a lot faster. Your iProfile is only accessible to the iProfile Compatible agencies that you have previously sent your CV to. You can check which agencies currently have access to your iProfile from your Control Panel. Your iProfile will not be made available to employers without your express consent.

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How do recruiters search on my iProfile?

Recruiters use our technology to search on their database of iProfiles and can match you on skills, experience and preferences that you defined in your CV. The search engine is hierarchical, which means that if a recruiter searches on a skill that is higher or lower than the one you have defined in your iProfile, you will still be found. CVs are ranked on relevance, i.e. the iProfile with the most accurate match and those that are seriously looking for work, ranked at the top. The recruiter decides whether to shortlist you for a particular role and may contact you for follow-up discussions. Remember to ask recruiters if they found you via your iProfile.

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How will I be contacted about a job?

If a recruitment consultant is interested in putting you forward for a job, they will contact you using the details on your iProfile. It’s important you keep this information up to date. Recruitment consultants will also need to gain your permission to send on your details to prospective employers. Consultants can be very busy people and do not always remember to tell you that you have been found via your iProfile. Ask them how they found you.

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How can I access my iProfile?

You can access your iProfile by entering your User Name (which is your email address) and Password into the log-in section of the agency's website you are registered with, any website that has the iProfile Compatible logo and at http://www.iprofile.org/ .

If you log in via the central website (http://www.iprofile.org/) and attach a new CV you will automatically update all agencies with the new CV. If however you log in to your iProfile via an agency website and you attach a CV, you will only update that specific agency. It is always worth going to http://www.iprofile.org/ and attach a new CV to ensure that all agencies are kept up-to-date with the most recent information.

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What do I do if I forget my password?

If you forget your password go to our homepage (http://www.iprofile.org/) and click on the "Forgotten your details?" link which is placed beneath the log-in section-. By entering your email address in this section, you will automatically get sent your password.

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How do I change my email address?

Log-in to your iProfile using your old email address and click the Contact Details button on your home page and update your home email address. Please note this will be used as your new username to log into your iProfile.

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How do I change my password?

To change your password, simply log in as usual then click on "control panel" at the top of your screen then click "change password" and follow the prompts from there.

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Who or what is iProfile Assistant?

iProfile Assistant will send you regular reminders to update your details to ensure that you get the most out of having your iProfile. iProfile Assistant will also help you during the iProfile building process with useful tips and answers to many of your questions.

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What do I do if I get an error message?

First try closing down your browsers and logging back in. If you're still having problems, send an email to support@iprofile.org with the following information:
- Description of the problem
- Operating system you are using
- Browser version you are using

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Is my data secure and are you registered with the Data Protection Act?

We take security and privacy extremely seriously. Unlike with traditional approaches, we give you control over exactly who can see your information. We comply with the DPA, and registered with Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

iProfile is safer than using traditional emailed documents or paper CVs.

CVs sent via word document can't be controlled because they are distributed so easily. But with an iProfile, you simply send recruiters the online link (URL) where your CV resides. You can remove access to that link at any time.

Your iProfile is only accessible to the iProfile-compatible agencies you have previously sent your CV to. Using your iProfile control panel, you can check which agencies have access and make changes to those permissions at any time.

Your iProfile will never be made available to employers without your express consent.

Everyone who views your iProfile has to log in first. Our software tracks those log-ins so you know exactly who has viewed your CV and when.

Your iProfile information resides behind a secure log-in ID and password (that you determine) on a website designed with industry leading security measures.

We don't sell our users' information. We don't even look at it. Only you and the recruiters you designate will ever see your iProfile posting.

iProfile complies 100% with the Data Protection Act and the Conduct of Employment Agency Regulations.

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How do I unsubscribe?

You can unsubscribe by either clicking on the unsubscribe option in the email you received from iProfile Assistant or by logging into your iProfile home page and selecting preferences. Both these links will take you to your Control Panel where you have the option to block specific agencies’ access to your iProfile, unsubscribe from emails and inform agencies that you're no longer looking for work. You can also delete your iProfile.

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How do you make money, and is iProfile a free service ?

We are not a recruitment company. We are an independent AND FREE service, with a mission to replace the CV with the more efficient iProfile. We make money through online advertising and by promoting selected partners who can deliver better value products, than anywhere else on the market. It’s what we strive for. This enables us to stay independent. We never sell your data, and we take data security seriously. We also adhere to the Data Protection Act, to ensure your privacy is protected.

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How will I be contacted about a job?

If a consultant is interested in putting you forward for a job, they will first contact you either by phone or email to tell you about the opportunity and gain your permission to send on your details. Consultants are busy people so they may not always remember to tell you that it is as a result of your iProfile so feel free to ask them.

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How can I access my iProfile?

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What is the industry saying about the iProfile?

"The iProfile simplifies things a great deal - you are able to easily update your details online without the worry about the template or presentation of a paper CV, and recruiters will always have access to up-to-date, accurate information. Contractors can also see how much their skills are worth at any time, based on real live information, not speculation. The quality of the information stored via the iProfile should also enable recruiters to be more targeted when contacting candidates, and reduce the number of wasted calls, something contractors and recruiters alike will welcome!"
James Leckie, Editor of the UK's most visited IT contractor site, Contractor UK

"The iProfile is the best technological advance since online job advertising!" - Ann Swain, CEO of the Association of Technology Staffing Companies (ATSCo) "I have had an iProfile for some time now and as a contractor I've found it the ideal tool for updating agencies with my latest availability, skills and job preferences. The great thing about the iProfile is the level of detail it allows me to go into when defining my skills. I've definitely found this has helped in reducing the number of calls I receive about jobs that simply aren't relevant to me."- Gabrielle Drewitt, PeopleSoft Contractor "I’ve recently spent a lot of time completing different online registration forms with various agencies and having to enter the same information each time is incredibly frustrating. The creation of an industry standard CV template is something that the industry needs, as it will save candidates a lot of time. I personally found the iProfile to be extremely easy to complete and it only took me 5 minutes."
Martin Whitehouse, Network Administrator

"As a result of completing my iProfile I now have a job interview lined up! The iProfile was quick and easy to complete and has definitely saved me a lot of time. It has also given me the confidence that when sending my CV to an agency that it will be dealt with rather than ending up at the bottom of a pile. By defining my skills using industry standard definitions, I now know consultants can hone in on my specific skills and requirements so that I don't miss out on relevant jobs." Carole Jacotine, IT Customer Services Manager "I found the iProfile very straight forward and it was nice to actually get a response back from an agency when sending in my CV. I think the standardisation of the CV is definitely a good thing, especially if it means that I have a better chance of being selected for jobs."
Paul Boone, Purchasing & Logistics Manager.

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Key Skills Section

What are key skills?

From your list of selected skills, these are the skills that you use the most as well as the ones you wish to use in your next job. We recommend you select no more than 10 key skills and that you always select the associated years of experience and proficiency level for them. Recruitment consultants search against their database of iProfiles using key skills to match you with the relevant job. It’s important to invest time when selecting your key skills.

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How many key skills should I enter in my iProfile?

Ideally you should enter no more than 10 key skills. Any more than this can dilute the value of your skills to recruiters.

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I can't find my skill in the dictionary?

If you can't find a skill in the dictionary, send the details of the missing skill to support@iprofile.org so we can update the skills dictionary. In the meantime consultants who are looking for someone with this skill will still be able to find you. In the new release candidates will be able to update their skills section.

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Work History Section

What is the Employer’s Industry Sector?

This is the sector you or your prospective employer operates in. For example if you are an IT professional working for a bank, the sector you would select is banking.

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What is the difference between Job Title and Job Role?

Job Title is the title you use in your job and the one that you would put on your CV.

The Job Role is the closest match from our list to your role. As a role can have a number of different job titles, recruitment consultants will use Job Role to quickly and accurately return candidates who match their Job Vacancy criteria.

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What is my Current/End Pay Rate used for?

This information is not visible to recruitment consultants. The data you enter here is used to produce pay rate analysis reports such as the iProfile Skills Survey, which is commissioned by the Association of Technology Staffing Companies (ATSCo). We are also working on expanding to other sectors.

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My Preferences

What are my Preferences?

These are the things you are looking for in your next role. For example, the pay rate you are looking for or your preferred location.

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What are my Preferences used for?

Your Preferences provide recruitment consultants with an insight into what you are looking for in your next job. Job Preferences helps recruitment consultants better match the type of roles you are interested in.

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What is my Job Seeking Status used for?

Via your iProfile you can tell recruitment consultants when and how keen you are to hear about new jobs. For example if you are "Seriously Looking" for work or "Open to Opportunities", consultants know that you want to hear about possible vacancies. Consultants can also rank their search results based on your job Seeking Status, those that are "Seriously Looking" will rank above others.

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What are my preferred and current pay rates used for?

Only your preferred pay rate is visible to recruitment consultants. This gives them an indication of the salary or contract rate level you are looking for. Your current pay rate is not visible to recruitment consultants and is used to produce pay rate analysis reports such as the iProfile Skills Survey, which is commissioned by the Association of Technology Staffing Companies (ATSCo).

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What are EAA regulations?

The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations (known as the EAA Regulations) were introduced in 2004 by the government to provide greater protection to vulnerable temporary workers, and ensure recruitment companies provide a quality service. All workers seeking employment via recruitment companies are, by default, covered by this legislation.

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Why does an opt-out clause exist?

When the legislation was drafted Limited Company Contractors and their representative trade bodies lobbied because they did not want the protection provided by the EAA regulations. This is mainly because they are not vulnerable individuals offering temporary labour but legitimate businesses providing services under contracted commercial arrangements.

In addition, it is generally thought that companies are attracted to use Limited Company Contractors because there is less risk of these people being deemed to be employees and therefore entitled to claim the same rights as permanent employees. Lastly, but significantly, relying on legislation to protect vulnerable workers would be in direct conflict with most Limited Company Contractors claims for beneficial tax treatment possible under IR35.

As a result the vast majority of Limited Company Contractors have taken up the option to opt out of the regulations.

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Can you opt-out?

Only if you are looking for work as a Limited Company Contractor can you opt out of the EAA regulations. A Limited Company Contractor is somebody that is employed by a company and the company has signed a contract for that person to complete work.

If you are looking for a permanent job or a temporary job and paid through PAYE then you are not able to opt-out of the EAA regulations and you will be automatically protected by the provisions within it.

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What are the benefits of opting out of the EAA Regulations?

You will be more marketable
You will not risk losing IR35 status
Some companies will not employ Contractors unless they have opted out of the regulations

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What do I do if I want to Opt Out of the EAA Regulations?

Simply mark on your Job preferences section that you wish to opt-out of the EAA regulations. Then, before your agency can raise a contract, they will ask for written signed confirmation of your status in the form of a letter from your Limited Company and a letter from you as an individual. Preparing these in advance will prevent any delay in you being able to start a contract. Some agencies will also require confirmation that you are legally entitled to work in the UK, so have a scanned copy of your passport or other supporting documentation to hand.

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What’s in the EAA Regulations?

To find out more about The Employment Agency Act please go to: http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2003/20033319.htm.

The DTI has also published a general advice guidance document on how the regulations will impact you at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/agency/conduct.pdf.

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