Any employers using this website care to answer this one? (No, I'm not asking to give me a job!)

As pretty much anyone looking for a job should know, there are lots and lots of websites that give advice on how to write up a CV. The usual standard format consists of personal profile, key skills/transferable skills, education, qualifications, experience/work history and then provide references.

I have been unemployed for far, far too long and whilst not disheartened with the situation, I am getting a little perplexed as to what employers exactly do with the CVs they get, what makes them want to read those CVs in the first place (other than that they’re looking to fill a vacancy) and what they immediately tend to ignore about a CV.

I have been following every kind of layout that’s been presented to me by advisers, careers officers, etc etc, who in large groups tend to contradict each other as to what the best layout is, what get’s the most attention, what really seals the deal as far as getting that elusive interview is concerned. I’ve been doing that for more than just months. I could ask where could I possibly be going wrong, instead I want to ask, where the heck can I possibly go right?

In the past six months I have applied for more than 200 jobs and not once, not once, have I heard back from a potential employer. So you can easily imagine I also haven’t been to an interview. I am rapidly running out of resources with which to print streams of CVs and send out vast numbers of stamped envelopes to these people. So I’d like to think there are some people out there who do have some notion as to what goes on at the other end of this equation.

Any takers on this issue?