Ashfield dad made redundant during coronavirus lands job with giant CV on the back of a lorry

A determined dad who was made redundant as a result of coronavirus has landed a new job just hours after putting a giant copy of his CV – on a lorry.
By Lloyd Bent
Published 10th Nov 2020, 15:47 BST
Updated 10th Nov 2020, 16:18 BST
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James Pemblington, 33, had worked as a technical projects and events manager at Alton Towers for five years before being furloughed in March.

In June he was made redundant as a result of the theme park cutting costs and struggled to find a new job.

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He applied for around 100 jobs but despite getting two interviews, he was not offered the roles.

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James Pemblington who had not worked for around eight months, who now has a new job thanks to his giant CV being advertised on the back of a lorry.James Pemblington who had not worked for around eight months, who now has a new job thanks to his giant CV being advertised on the back of a lorry.
James Pemblington who had not worked for around eight months, who now has a new job thanks to his giant CV being advertised on the back of a lorry.

James, who has two sons aged seven and three, even set up his own website called HireJP and sent out “edible” CVs to companies on chocolate brownies featuring a QR code which linked to his site.

But he still had no luck, until he spotted an online competition to have his CV displayed on the back of an 18-tonne HGV.

James won the contest, which was run by lorry advertising firm DrivenMedia and job website Zoek.

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James Pemblington who had not worked for around eight months, who now has a new job thanks to his giant CV being advertised on the back of a lorry - Pictured with Edward Hollands - DrivenMedia & Hannah Scragg from Zoek.James Pemblington who had not worked for around eight months, who now has a new job thanks to his giant CV being advertised on the back of a lorry - Pictured with Edward Hollands - DrivenMedia & Hannah Scragg from Zoek.
James Pemblington who had not worked for around eight months, who now has a new job thanks to his giant CV being advertised on the back of a lorry - Pictured with Edward Hollands - DrivenMedia & Hannah Scragg from Zoek.
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The company, run by Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Ed Hollands, slapped James’ CV and photograph on the truck which travelled across the UK.

Just 48 hours later he got offered a job as deputy manager at Burton testing centre from a boss who spotted it while waiting in traffic.

James, of Annesley, said: "I had applied in total to about 100 jobs. It was just rejection emails or nothing at all.

"I had two interviews where I got down to 13 of 100-odd and the companies said my CV was great but the person employed had been in the industry longer.

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"I needed to do something different and creative to show my personality and get the attention of the recruiting manager.

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"When I saw the competition to have your CV on the lorry I thought 'that is wicked.'

“I loved the idea. Then I got the message that I had won.

"It was fantastic but surreal and odd. What else can 2020 throw at you? You have to get a truck sized CV to get a job."

The mobile CV started its journey in Nottingham, making a delivery in Birmingham and returning via Burton-on-Trent.

James starts his new job on Sunday (8 November).

Related topics:AshfieldHGVAlton Towers