Help with a C.V.

[dan.squires]

Wondering if anyone is a manager on here or could give me some advice for my C.V.

I am currently looking to change my job and need to sort my C.V. out, the problem is I havent really done a proper C.V. before, as I have been at my company since I left school (done an Apprenticeship).

I have written one but not sure if it could do with a bit more to really sell myself (no funny jokes lol).

Thanks for any help anyone can give me ,

Dan.

[Sanj]

Dan,

Also do a google search for CV examples - LOADS come up and will give you an idea of what is the current trend.

While back it was - make the CV standout, why would someone want to look at yours in a pile of many, etc...

But I'm no expert on this I'm afraid.

[X5Sport]

As a Manager, and someone who reviews CVs all I can really suggest is that you read the job advert very carefully and then craft your CV to fit the role by highlighting the experiences that are relevant to what the Company is looking for. That may well mean that you have a 'stock CV with paragraphs you can embellish (but be absolutely honest) when appropriate, or play down as well.

If I'm looking for people to fill a particular role and our advert has said what is an 'essential' skill and what is a 'nice to have' then I'm going to be looking at what comes across my desk for those specific things. If they're not present, or not in the recent past, then the CV gets passed over. I see hundreds of CVs a year from throughout EMEA and India and I probably reject about 85% simply because they do not mention what is being asked for. That's the first sift. The next sift is to find those with the best fit from what's left. Those who get through both get called for interview.

Personally I'm not bothered if someone is a Graduate or has 2 GCSE's unless it is specifically asked for. What I want to see is what relevant experience they have, and that it is recent - within the last two or three years - and at what 'level' they were gaining that experience. If the vacancy asks for specific qualifications then you either have to have them, be studying for them, or have something special that makes you 'interesting'.

I wish you the very best of luck in your search and remember, if it's meant to be then it'll happen.

[ITBarbie]

Hi Dan

It depends on who the CV is for? I worked in recruitment for 10 years and you should always have more than one CV. If your CV is going to an agency it should be clear and concise and not more than 4 pages at most! You don’t say what market you are looking for employment in either? For example in IT recruitment you get what they call resourcers and all they do is spend all day (unless they are any good) looking at CV's and just pick out key names mostly by computer. For example if they wanted someone who uses SAP and SQL they would search on these so its important that this features in your CV many times as their search would pull your CV up first when looking for that type of candidate.

You need to have a main CV and after your contact information have your Current Job role with bullet points about your main duties underneath and then a paragraph outlining what you do within the role. Then of course your previous employment in the same format, but don’t go back too far especially if you have had loads of jobs! You then need to tweak this dependant on which job you apply for. For example if it’s a heavily admin led post you applied for you would go into more detail about your spreadsheet and report writing skills but if it was more management based you would concentrate more on your ability to motivate and get results with a team.

I spent the last two days interviewing candidates for a post at work and the things that drove me nuts were long CV's that were not clearly written, fancy italics and grammatical errors. But hey maybe it’s just me.

What ever you do remember. To change the CV for the job you are applying for without inventing experience or skills in other words play up the bits you need to but lie at your peril!

Good luck

[ITBarbie]

Hi X5Sport

Sorry for repeating some of what you said I had already written the post but just took ages to press send and no one but Sanj had replied at that point!

[kena]

[quote=""ITBarbie""]

not more than 4 pages at most! [/quote]

Oh dear, mines about 9 pages. I think I need to have a look at it.
Mind it hasn't done me any harm. I work in engineering design as a contractor and haven't been out of work for as long as I can remember.

Dan,
If there is no specific job you are applying for or just branching out for more experience then try uploading your cv to the following sites. Mine is on there and I get several calls every week for positions.
Jobsite UK
CV Library
as well as others which are more specific to my industry.
I'm no expert but matbe IT Barbie or someone else could have a look at it for you, just a quick perusal, and tell you where it may need changing.
If you want to email me a copy I'll have a quick read of it and see if I can offer anymore advice.

[X5Sport]

[quote=""ITBarbie""]Hi X5Sport

Sorry for repeating some of what you said I had already written the post but just took ages to press send and no one but Sanj had replied at that point![/quote]

Nothing to be sorry about it took me a while to write it too so we both probably spotted it at the same time, and it's nice to know that two separate people have said broadly the same thing... and Sanj's response was the only one at that time too. A few seconds difference and the shoe would be on the other foot so to speak.....


@Kena, my CV is also long but then it is primarily for internal use by my company and they stipulate what goes in it because they are an IT Company and our roles (assignments) typically last 12 months because we are leveraged (horrible term) to customers for that period.

.....now if I could just get my Grade 7 or 6 back in the Civil Service I'd be a lot happier....
Richard

[ITBarbie]

I tended to find the IT Project Managers had long CV's as each project could be vastly different and contractors would have a plethora of jobs. My clients were the ones who made it vey plain that long CV's were not welcome. I once had one that was 15 pages long for a contractor in his mid 50's and it went all the way back to his school days!


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[X5Sport]

Sounds like mine............

[pvr]

I only have experience with IT based CVs as I only employ sub contractors, and I look for very different items than you would for a permanent position.

My main approach is a bit like that from the guys from the Apprentice. I pick holes in CVs and spot lies, so when I see bull - it is a bin job. Trendy words such as "team player" is another sure way of ending in the bin ... I just want to see straight, honest CVs without any flowery bits. But that is just me though ...

[X5Sport]

.......Oh how I do so hate 'job speak'. Unfortunately working for an American Company I can't get away from it, and I very definitely keep any use of it out of my CV!!

Be prepared to provide supporting evidence about anything in your CV when you get to the interview/assessment stages too.

[ITBarbie]

Lol! Hence the lie at your own peril in my post!!!!

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[dan.squires]

sorry for the late reply have been busy all day.

Thanks for all the useful tips people, I do agree with the no bull policy as I look at it that if I were to employ someone and they put all the crap in about team player etc. I would turn them down lol. I have just literally put in my qualifications and skills, my past jobs and roles.

I actually have had a phone call from an engineering firm today asking me if I would be available for an interview soon, so fingers crossed I get somewhere .

Thanks again everyone really appreciate it .

[kena]

That's excellent news
Good luck

[X5Sport]

Great News