CV's

[Gray]

At the moment i am on a course which assists with finding work, about 3 months long in total but i've been there about 4 weeks already.

I had a basic CV setup which over the course of the weeks i have been adding to and modifying, but there has been certain elements which are making my CV tricky.

I use the conventional format, employment history, training and education, blahblahblah - But this course i am on have recently decided to try and setup a skills-based CV system. Some tutors don't really like it though, while some others decide they love it.

I want to stick with the conventional template though, but upto now i haven't had any one-to-one time directly with any of the tutors, because in honesty the organisation is a bit messy and we're constantly being pulled from one group to another...

Anyway, i managed to get my CV fitted nicely onto one page, using font 9. However my recent work placement has ended up bumping the Cv into 2 pages, and i don't particularly want to make the font smaller as i am probably pushing it as it is...

My hobbies and interests are fairly bland as well, i feel it can be built upon but its the old "do these hobbies/interests really suit the jobs im applying to? i feel like a right dick".

Finally, references. I have never really had to give a reference for my previous jobs before. On my old CV's from years ago i think i used to put details of previous employee's etc, but now i have adopted the "References are available upon request" line.

CV's. Such complicated little tools..

 

[Tom]

Well if you want to impress you could learn how to correctly use the apostrophe

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Damn you Tom. Beat me to it.

 

[Syri]

I've just had to do a small bit on CVs for my college course. We were advised that the most important things to consider are:
1. Getting your information across
2. Making it interesting, and stand out
3. Keeping it short

I don't think it matters so much if you list everything by skills, or by experience, as long as the prospective employer can see from it what skills you have, and where you got them.
Using a larger font is recommended, as lots of writing in a small font can be very hard to read, and could easily put someone off. Try to use fairly simple explanations for events and experiences. For example, if one of your hobbies was golf, you wouldn't list every tournament you've played in, and every course you've visited. You'd just say that you have a passion for golf, having visited many courses and played in some tournaments.
If you only have one page, some might think you have very little experience to offer. Two pages is pretty ideal, as this gives you room to spread things out, make it nice and easy to read. It also means that you're not over-loading them with information. If you use more than two pages, chances are they'll give up by the end of the second page.
To make it really stand out, use some decoration. Not Disney characters, or anything like that, but if you use a border around your name, some stylised underlining for each section header, and maybe a splash of colour, you could make it really stand out from the rest.
Hope some of this is some help.

 

[Gumbo]

Two pages is fine. For me the covering letter is what makes me actually want to look at the CV. If the covering letter has got me that far, I can stand to read two pages.

If you want, email it to me and I'll give you my real world thoughts via a pm. I've been employing people for a long time now, and see a lot of cv's.

 

[SilverHood]

Make sure all the important stuff is on the first page. We were hiring for about 8 months last year and the amount of crap on the CVs was unbelievable. One CV was 16 pages long and had copies of annual reviews and what not. Straight in the bin. 2 pages is fine, 3-4 is fine too as long as it's relevant job experience. From my personal experience, I read the top half of the 1st CV page and looked at the bold stuff on subsequent pages.

As Gumbo said, covering letter is what counts. If you are submitting through an agency, then include a paragraph about yourself at the top of the 1st page, since you wont get a chance to write a cover letter.

 

[Deebs]

I would love to see Tom's CV.

Highlights:

I am a pedantic **** and love waterways especially Canals. Oh and allotments.

 

[Tom]

My CV includes a list of programmes I've worked on, and a list of the equipment I own. Most of my work is word-of-mouth.

Working for one's self has its advantages, which includes not having to attend job interviews.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

My CV includes a list of programmes I've worked on, and a list of the equipment I own. Most of my work is word-of-mouth.

Working for one's self has its advantages, which includes not having to attend job interviews.

Is that because they hear a description of you and think "must be a paedo"?

 

[Ormorof]

two pages is fine, when i was working in a recruitment company part of my job was to find CVs and as long as its clearly written, easy to follow and doesnt go on too much about how you love cats it should be fine

i would also recommend trying to get a written reference from your previous employer as you never know how much previous companies you've worked at might have changed (few worse things can happen than a company that like your CV because of your experience calls a company with a manager that doesnt know you who just says "WHAT? no i have no idea who that is" and hangs up )

also in cover letter dont talk too much about skiing holidays and whatnot, talk abit about experience you have and shiz like that

 

[ford prefect]

I occasionally have to shortlist and interview people. Keep your CV realistic, to the point and factual. If I come across a bulky or overly bloated CV, it goes in the bin. Equally, when people start banging on about there surfing, hand-gliding and photography hobbies - bin.

As an employer I simply want to know what your skill set is, how qualified you are, what your experience is, what you can bring to the job. Anything else is superfluous. If I want to know anything else about you I will ask at interview.

 

[MYstIC G]

As an employer, two pages is fine afaic. If you don't like the thought of two sheets of paper print double sided on good quality paper (i.e. so there is no bleed through).

Am I the only one thinking 9pt is ridiculously small though? Save the small print for bastards that write legal contracts.

 

[Zenith.UK]

Well if you want to impress you could learn how to correctly use the apostrophe

Or even how to correctly use a full stop.

 

[Zenith.UK]

In reply to the OP, I've not had to update my CV for a few years nor have I gone seriously job-hunting. I do know that some items of information are now superfluous such as age or date of birth. The new age discrimination laws mean that they aren't factors in applying for a job any more.

I was part of a job club when I was out of work and recreated my CV from scratch with the advice of the tutors. The key point they rammed home was 2 pages is the ideal. 1 page can be too cramped for easy reading, more than 2 pages shows you aren't selecting the key points. 2 pages shows that you've assessed your working history and experience, and distilled it down to the essential information.

It might be an idea to get registered with a temp agency. No, bear with me... there's a good reason.
As part of the registration, they give you an IT and office skills test. You can use the results of that test as a baseline to determine if you need to improve any aspect of your office skills. I found out that I have a typing speed of 55wpm with <0.5% errors over 5 mins. The point is that I learnt something I didn't know, and could improve on it.

(More than 10 mins edit time - had to post a new post.)

 

[Tom]

Or even how to correctly use a full stop.

Or even how to construct a full sentence

 

[Ch3tan]

Am I the only one thinking 9pt is ridiculously small though? Save the small print for bastards that write legal contracts.

Me, 9pt? Seriously? 12 is fine, it's readable and won't cause people to squint and throw your cv in the bin in a rage.

 

[Chilly]

nowt wrong with two pages.

 

[Zenith.UK]

Or even how to construct a full sentence

Once again, you're missing a full stop.

 

[Tom]

Once again, you're missing a full stop.

Actually it was the sentence I wrote that was missing a full stop.

 

[SheepCow]

10pt is as small as I'd ever recommend. Go to 2 pages, at 9pt they'll be reading it and thinking "this arsehole may as well have used 2 pages, it'd have spared my eyes from discomfort, what a bastard".

 

[Gray]

Just an update, but mid-way through last week i got a call from an agency to start working over at an Argos call centre. Was quite suprised considering i applied for it over a month ago, so i completely forgot about it.

Plus the fact it was using my old CV, heyho.

I was initially chuffed to get into here, since it's a few minutes drive from where i live, and i tried to get in directly with them ages ago but seemingly failed the interview.

But then i was told i was going to work for the financial services bit, shit myself considering anything money related i'm no good at - whether it be maths or certain payment plans like buy now pay later.

Training is awesome. Monster hooters on some of the girls in there, keeping me distracted from learning about said interest free/buy now plans. Dammit.

 

[old.Tohtori]

Me, 9pt? Seriously? 12 is fine, it's readable and won't cause people to squint and throw your cv in the bin in a rage.

Use a 12.5pt. It won't change much of anything, but it'll make your CV look like there's something there which they just can't put their finger on

 

[Chilly]

Use a 12.5pt. It won't change much of anything, but it'll make your CV look like there's something there which they just can't put their finger on

A poorly aliased font?

 

[Jupitus]

Go double spaced and let them read between the lines

 

[TdC]

Training is awesome. Monster hooters on some of the girls in there

you rock Gray