Curriculum Vitae's!

[Gray]

Its been a good 5 years or more since i have actually made one of these, and my old one/s are well gone now and i really cannot remember how to set one up!

I have had a look at a few examples of templates which do things like

Name across the top/address

Some form of objective [Would this be in relation to the job you're looking at?]

Eduction [This would class itself as being school/college/university etc?]- In regards to school education, would you list EVERY GCSE/A-Level you had, or only ones like maths/english/successful ones?

Work Experience [This be the history of your previous *x* amount of jobs?]

References [How many would be applicable? One or two for instance?]

I remember hearing your CV shouldnt really be anymore than 2 pages long, so that should be okay.

Finally, if it is an email application you're sending, would you send the word document or instead would you copy/paste the information into an email [Albeit i am pretty sure that would mess the formatting up of the wording structure]

Halp!

 

[Cadelin]

I have been redoing my CV recently too.

For a CV:
Name + Address at the top.
Education: Start with the best, you don't need to include GCSE unless you think they are useful in some way. Mentioning you have a GCSE in english/maths can be helpful to some employers. So: 9 GCSEs A-C including Maths and English would be fine, assuming you have other qualifications.

Relevant Work Experience: Make sure you don't leave holes in your employment history but try and highlight the ones that would be more useful to the job.

Other experience: Hobbies, volunteer work etc.

Referee don't have to be added to the CV. Often they ask for referees in a separate part of the application form and the requirements might be different. If they don't ask anything its best to put down your present and previous employer and maybe somebody who could give you a good character reference. (ie an old tutor from uni?)

Leave statements about why you would be good for the job for a covering letter. The CV is a block of information that the employer can refer to if necessary, so they might miss bits on it which is why in a covering letter should contain why you would be good for the job. A short CV is good.

Finally convert it to a .pdf and attach it (although leaving it in word format wouldn't be terrible) and make sure you name it GrayCV.pdf so that they don't get it confused with other applicants.

 

[old.user4556]

I remember hearing your CV shouldnt really be anymore than 2 pages long

I read conflicting advice on this a lot. Some say no more than two pages, some say a third page is fine.

*shrug* - I don't know what's right, but I will need to know as the "job selection process" will be happening soon at my place.

 

[pcg79]

3 pages is way too long.
2 pages for most jobs

unless youre JUST out of school, list your A-Levels/GCSEs in a condensed format
so
GCSEs: English, Maths, Science all at A*-C level
A Levels: English A, French B, Maths A

instead of
GCSEs:
English Language A
English Literature B
Maths A

etc

whatever work experience you have, try and write a little blurb outlining resposibilities/duties AND MAKE SURE THESE RELATE TO YOUR PROSPECTIVE JOB.
so if you were a bartender and are going for a sales job, big up your selling skills.
obviously use some judgement and probbly dont do this for EVERY job

 

[DaGaffer]

Unless you're straight out of college, employers are interested in your work history first, education second. The two page rule is a good rule of thumb unless you really do have a lot of relevant stuff to talk about, in which case, don't artificially restrict yourself. Condense older qualifications and jobs, expand the relevant stuff on recent work and quals.

The advice about tailoring your cv towards the respective employer is also critical; cookie cutter cvs go in the round filing cabinet.

The Word v email thing: if the employer insists you use a form, do it but add the Word CV anyway. Pain in the arse but its the best way (and I bet if you get an interview it will be the Word doc they are holding when you meet them).

 

[Chilly]

just ring up, give em the fonz "eeeeeeeyyyyyyy" and you wont even NEED a CV. Dont use a word template, either.

 

[tierk]

I have interviewed over 300 people in the last year and a half try to squeeze it all into 1 page if you can and max 2.

NO More!! We never get past the 2nd page like ever ever ever!!!

 

[Scouse]

Relevant work experience first (after intro maybe), education last.

 

[rynnor]

It depends on the job (civil service/academia are big on qualifications) and also on the applicant.

I always write a CV for each job - not a complete re-write but I focus on the relevant bits of my experience that match the requirements of the job.

The key is to show exactly how suitable for the job you are - many CVs of capable people mention everything they have ever done and no-one reads em.

2 sides - nicely spaced - if you need it - for people fresh out of school/uni probably 1 side.

 

[Furr]

Remember to write and compile it in LaTeX

 

[Kami]

Not customising a CV for the job you're applying for is the main reason many people don't reach interview or have far less chance even if they do. I've always made my CVs target the specific items mentioned in job adverts first, then anything extra that I've done/know afterwards. People frankly want to know they've covered the basics before considering you for an interview, if you lay that information on their lap you're vastly more likely to get one.

 

[pcg79]

Remember to write and compile it in LaTeX

only if youre in academia or a quant-esque job

 

[Cadelin]

only if youre in academia or a quant-esque job

I am in academia and there is no need to use LateX for a CV.

A CV is short and all about presentation. A WYSIWYG editor will allow you to edit your CV much more easily than LateX.

I had assumed Furr's comment was meant to be sarcastic.

 

[dysfunction]

Here is a great template for a CV.

It lays out your info in a superb way that makes it so easy to read...

 

[Furr]

I am in academia and there is no need to use LateX for a CV.

A CV is short and all about presentation. A WYSIWYG editor will allow you to edit your CV much more easily than LateX.

I had assumed Furr's comment was meant to be sarcastic.

It was ;P Gaytex is gay... one of the worst things I've ever had to do is write a 20k word report with it, nearly drove me mad!

 

[Gumbo]

As an employer, 1 page cv is best, 2 page if you must, 3 pages and I simply don't have the time, sorry.

It must be tailored to the position I have advertised, and to that effect, a good covering letter is almost more important than the CV.

The last place I worked there was an application form, and a set criteria we worked through on interviews. The current place, which is my own business, but a smaller employer, it's more informal. My most likely first contact with someone is them dropping in for a chat, or an email asking if we have any positions. I quite like this approach rather than advertising and then wading through endless dross trying to find a suitable candidate.

 

[Gray]

I have been going over my CV over the weekend since i dont want to hastily send it off and then find i need corrections to it, but i think im farly close to finalising it now.

On the offchance i managed to find my old CV, so i was able to just get some quick ideas off that too.

The old one went through things like a "profile" at the beginning, then went onto career history [Even though it WAS short], then onto training and qualifications before outside activities.

On my new CV i have gone for something similar, but like this:

Page 1 consists of Education and then work experience. I might move work experice up and then put education below it though. I have put a small number of references down.

In regards to referees again, would it be fine to put contact email address' down or would a contact phone number be imperitive? I cant seem to get get response from the number i have so it might have been changed.

Lastly on first page i have just noted some small interests, only 2-3 lines.

-

On the second [and final] page, this is where i have put my "profile", explaining in more detail about my qualifications and experiences while in work. Approximately this takes up about half a page or so.

People mention covernotes, but what would a cover note consist of that hasnt already being mentioned in any of the pages on the CV and would that be a seperate entity altogether not tied to the CV file?

 

[dysfunction]

The covernote would be a letter you write:

just introducing yourself
and saying stuff like you are pleased for this interview opportunity
and saying you have enclosed your CV...

It is seperate from the CV and is kind of an ice breaker for you to introduce your CV.

For the references I would try and get hold of a working phone number or e-mail address. If you are currently employed and don't want them to contact your current employer then just write there "available on request" or something similar...

 

[Lazarus]

remember to run the spellchecker m8y

 

[Insane]

remember to run the spellchecker m8y

and have someone else read through it to verify there are no silly mistakes regarding grammar or words the computer might not pick up on.

I have seen a few CVs in my short time where the person has clearly hit F7 and then sent it off without re-reading it or having someone else look through it to pick up on silly stuff.

 

[DaGaffer]

and have someone else read through it to verify there are no silly mistakes regarding grammar or words the computer might not pick up on.

I have seen a few CVs in my short time where the person has clearly hit F7 and then sent it off without re-reading it or having someone else look through it to pick up on silly stuff.

But then people I know might discover the tissue of lies on my CV. Especially the bit about being a secret-agent astronaut millionaire

 

[Gray]

Dadaa! Big bumpage.

I "finished off" my CV sometime ago, sent it in but didnt hear anything back. Seemed like a whacky company anyway so i am lucky about that.

Regardless, something else cropped up a few days ago, working in the Citizens Advice. Opposed to actually sending in a CV, they have a pre-determined application form which you complete instead.

Ive been looking over it, but by golly there is some bits that stand out as a worry. First and foremost, they give you boxes to explain yourself/write in. They start off easy enough, then they get to things like:

1] Should organisations like the CAB have equal opportunities - If yes, why?
Now, how the hell are you meant to answer that? Especially if you're view is "of course i BELIEVE in it, but in a hard to explain way!"

2] How do you prioritise workload in order to meet deadlines, how do you monitor them etc etc
This sounds like its a common question, since i have seen it a few times - But how exactly is it you answer it? I am not completely 100% on how this type of organisation [/other companies] work, especially on maintaining work like this.

The rest of the form looks easy enough to fill in, but its those tricky questions which need perfect explanations or it gets iffy

 

[mycenae]

In answer to the equal opportunities question...I would answer it like so...
'Equal opportunities is important to the CAB because everyone, irregardless of race, culture, gender, physical/mental ability or sexual orientation, has something to offer. Advice be sought from the CAB from anyone and everyone, so it is necessary to have a representative of all walks of life working within the environment.'

or something like that anyway.