CV Advice

[adamharrisuk]

Hi Guys,

I've been updating my CV lately and working really hard to try and get it perfect. I wondered if anyone wouldn’t mind going over it and suggesting where I may be going wrong and maybe offer some constructive criticism.

You can view the CV here:
CV - Advice needed.doc

Thanks
Adam

[spikeyhead]

The personal statement is too long.

Your employment history section is woolly, concentrate on facts about what you have achieved, not on the job description.

[otherman]

You need to think about what sort of jobs you'll be applying for. Its not possible to make a one size fits all CV, you need to re-model it for each application working the strengths and experience that fit the job you apply for.
I see hundreds of CVs and a great many are clearly just banged in without any thought to what I have asked for and include lots of information on irrelevant experience. For instance, the stuff you write about SEO isn't of any importance unless you're apply for a job that includes it - indeed it might put me off because you might be more interested in your own website project than my job.
Also, like many candidates you make lots of grand claims about your skills (communication, self motivation etc) which is OK but you need to be ready with examples to back those claims up if it gets to an interview. Lots of people write that they are great teamworkers and skilled team leaders, but when I ask them for examples they are very woolly and clearly have no real experience to offer. Anyone who's really done something will have stories to tell.

[Ultuous]

As above, it needs to 'pack more of a punch' to sell the skills and knowledge you have and not seem like waffle - bear in mind how little time (especially in the current climate) people have to review each CV in a big pile!

I'd cut out phrases such as 'strive to benefit my employer' - anyone can say stuff like that and TBH (don't take this personally!) when I see such things on CV's it often seems to padding/ making up for lack of education or experience (although it is of course useful to demonstrate the presence of 'softer skills' by mentioning exposure to a wide-range of clients etc.)... There's lots of IT skills in hidden away there - I'd suggest bullet-pointing them to make them stand out!

As for the rest, it seems a little 'back-to-front' to me... I'd not be that interested in what GCSE's you have - I'd want to see work experience first (starting with your latest job) rather than it being buried away in page 2!

[Kermit power]

Totally O/T, but what on earth is a GCSE in Resistant Materials????

[bigandclever]

A few grammatical errors:
"I am a polite and always ensure..."
"I run a successful website in my spare time in which I perform..."
...

A few spelling inconsistencies:
seo SEO
IT I.T.
...

Don't understand the ordering of your qualifications.

Don't understand the gap between finishing one job in Dec 03 and starting the next in Sep 04 (I know it's college, but it's not clear).

From the CV, I can't work out what job you're going for.

Your anonymised CV still has your name and (your dad's?) email address in the file properties

[AlexC1981]

bigandclever said:

Your anonymised CV still has your name and (your dad's?) email address in the file properties

You would think someone with 'strong skills' in IT would know that

I think you should put your work experience on the first page. Then your qualifications. List the important ones first and ditch the primary school info.

I'd also get rid about of the stuff about being polite, working well in a team etc. as that's all hot air that anyone can put on their CV. Say something about references being available on request and perhaps a hobby that suggests you're not just a gym monkey.

[Silver]

Personal statement too long. It should be one short paragraph stating the type of work you're looking for and what makes you suitable for it.

Put your employment history before your education/qualifications. And don't bother listing your GCSE subjects, just say 'x GCSEs at grade x and above'.

Put your job titles in on your work history.

Don't list your job description, concentrate on what you have achieved in that role.

Put your IT skills as a separate bullet-pointed section after your work history.

Put your interests as a separate section at the end of your CV

Also, I know it sounds trivial, but put a footer on each of your pages saying 'CV - Anon Person' and the page number. Just in case the pages get separated.

[adamharrisuk]

Kermit power said:

Totally O/T, but what on earth is a GCSE in Resistant Materials????

Wood work and Metal work! God know why they change what they are called all of the time.

otherman said:

You need to think about what sort of jobs you'll be applying for. Its not possible to make a one size fits all CV, you need to re-model it for each application working the strengths and experience that fit the job you apply for.
I see hundreds of CVs and a great many are clearly just banged in without any thought to what I have asked for and include lots of information on irrelevant experience. For instance, the stuff you write about SEO isn't of any importance unless you're apply for a job that includes it - indeed it might put me off because you might be more interested in your own website project than my job.
Also, like many candidates you make lots of grand claims about your skills (communication, self motivation etc) which is OK but you need to be ready with examples to back those claims up if it gets to an interview. Lots of people write that they are great teamworkers and skilled team leaders, but when I ask them for examples they are very woolly and clearly have no real experience to offer. Anyone who's really done something will have stories to tell.

I must admit i was looking to create a CV which lists everything i can do, hoping that employers can see i have a broad range of skills.


Thanks for all of your input guys! Clearly i've missed quite a lot of important points! Cannot believe some of the errors i've made.

I better get to work...

[otherman]

adamharrisuk said:

I must admit i was looking to create a CV which lists everything i can do, hoping that employers can see i have a broad range of skills.

That's what a lot of people do. Effectively you're asking the employer to put in the effort so you don't have to bother - see? The world doesn't spin like that. To me, you'd look like one of the many who can't put in the effort to make a targetted application, which leaves me thinking maybe you can't put in the effort to do a decent day's work either.
I am an employer, I know what I speak of. I'm offering gold advice here, but y'know, take it or leave it.

[Ultuous]

Whilst I totally agree a CV should be 'bespoke' for the job if you're serious about getting it, I don't see a problem with having a 'fully-loaded' CV to start with...

Not only is it a good basis for cutting down to customised versions, but the simple fact is a lot of jobs (IT being a prime example) are recruited through agencies these days, and a lot of those agencies are lazy/ efficient (depending on how you look at it) and will look to pull from their database of CVs - often without a human even reviewing the document until a much later stage in the process!

[rog007]

If you need some specialist support, PM me.