CV review, engineering student.

[alock]

I know I'm probably being unfashionable here, but I don't like CVs in the third person. Why not "I am a...." or "I have....".

To me it looks like you were unable to write your CV and have employed someone else to do it for you. I hope you wouldn't present yourself in an interview like this so why on a CV?

[Pit Pony]

PaulG40 said:

Some really good offers there, I would definitely take them up!

I just finished my CV (well, until I decide to mess with it again) .

My CV is never finished. I alter it each time I send it out.

[PHuzzy]

l354uge said:

Should be 'A' instead im guessing?
I'll go adjust it thankyou

Yep. no worries and good luck.

[blank]

l354uge said:

I am a little early, but my coursework hasn't really started yet so I'm utilising my free time to getting my CV sorted now rather than rush it later.

Plenty of opportunities still to come then

I didn't have mine sorted until about June I seem to remember!

JLR, MINI, Lotus, Millbrook, MIRA all good ones to apply to.

[Matt_N]

l354uge said:

I have taken on your feedback and have made adjustments accordingly.
Can I have an opinion on my re-written personal profile please?
To save time I'll just post it here:

A 2nd year Automotive Engineering undergraduate. An excellent problem solver who has developed excellent communication, problem solving and management skills while in study.
An highly motivated, creative and punctual individual with a huge passion for engineering, seeking a 12 month, hands on, testing and development placement within the automotive sector.

What kind of management?

Staff, project, budget etc...

Most reading would assume staff / line management but I'm guessing being at uni you haven't had much of that?

[Twin2]

blank said:

Plenty of opportunities still to come then

I didn't have mine sorted until about June I seem to remember!

JLR, MINI, Lotus, Millbrook, MIRA all good ones to apply to.

I applied last September, didn't hear back about an interview until March, so although it seems too early, it's better this than missing out when coursework gets the better of you later in the semester.

Also, if you're interviewed by a large OEM, tell them that you're interested in vehicle attribute testing and you should be able to get in a department that will go to MIRA and places like that almost every day.

[The Beaver King]

My first pass and rewrite:

I am a 2nd year Automotive Engineering undergraduate; who is adept at problem solving, with strong communication, teamwork and management skills aquired through study and work.
I am a self-motivated, creative and punctual individual with a huge passion for engineering and automobiles. Currently I am seeking a 12 month, practical, testing and development placement within the automotive sector.

Just some suggestions really

[Chris Hinds]

Hi Aaron,

I'm sorry it's taken me until now to read your CV - it's been a long week. Take these points for what they are worth, they are from my experience having been a grad applying and now being involved in recruitment from my former university (which isn't more than a couple of miles from yours). You have some good comments already so I'll try not to repeat what others say

1. Your personal statement is a little repetitive - I think someone else mentioned "Excellent Problem solving" which appears basically the same the line directly below
2. I would bring your relevant experience up above your educational qualifications - it's more pointed than a list of stats
3. Your educational background shows you've consistent improved in academic performance from GCSE to now where you are recording marks of a 1st class degree in some modules. You can make more of this when selling to an employer
4. Pay attention to spelling, punctuation and grammar e.g. you have "Lead a chassis..." it should be "Led a chassis..." in your 1st year project section. Too many people get "affect" and "effect" the wrong way round and that's a big irritation for many. You affect those people around you; but the effect of drinking to much alcohol is become drunk.
5. Your CV tells me I'm dealing with a competent young person. It doesn't tell me what makes you truly special, what things above all else mean I should bring you in for an interview (or even keep reading). Every word on the CV has to sell you. The world is awash with academically qualified people, you need to tell me the other bits that grades don't
6. You've listed some awards... what did you get them for? They could be skills I want as an employer
7. Give me an idea of how you handle difficult situations... you've worked in the F&B industry so you've definitely dealt with difficult customers but I can't find anything that tells me you can calm down an angry client
8. Your CV formatting went onto 3 pages with the third page blank. If sending in word format make sure you leave a couple of lines for expansion, if not PDF the CV. I would go for PDF unless the employer specifically requests another format

Overall there's a lot of promise in the words you have written but it needs to scream "INTERVIEW ME" not let me join the dots by the time I get to the end of the second page.

Think about how you have worked and how to sell that experience appropriately e.g. tell me you have managed relationships in an SME environment but don't tell me you have multinational experience because you worked for McDonalds! I have seen a lot of CVs from people who want a job and the CV let them down because they didn't order things right. Get your parents, a trusted friend, a neighbour who happens to be an English team to read the CV.

Crucially, don't put any text based in the CV that you then have to cover again in the application form. Most employers now ask you to answer their questions and provide a CV as backing information. If you have to use something normally in your CV on the application form, then see if there are other things you can make examples of on your CV (this definitely gets easier as you gain experience) and basically it's all about making the most of the limited space you have to sell yourself.

Hope that helps

Kind regards

Chris

[rog007]

I hope you found the feedback helpful.

Some great advice coming in, but be aware, it's all advice! None of us have The Answer, but we can contribute to a better solution. The aim is to have a brochure (aka CV) that sells you to a prospective hirer. As anyone in marketing will tell you, there is no single approach that will win all people over as we are all just too different. And it's the same with writing a CV. If you keep it honest, heartfelt, simple (less is more in my experience) and outcomes based, you'll be doing as well as you can. Good luck and well done for taking this issue so seriously; I wish more would as the state of many of the CVs I see from what are really good, competent people is such a shame as it really holds them back in what is a very competitive jobs market.

[Poloding Along]

Looks like the OP got a lot of good advise here so I would appreciate it if any of you would also be willing to have a quick look over my CV and provide some feedback. I am however at the opposite end of my studies, currently in my masters year, and just updating the CV before applying to graduate schemes.

So if anyone has 2 minutes to have a quick look and see what you think then let me know and I'll send it over.

Thanks.

[l354uge]

The advice was very helpful indeed, my career advisor said my CV was top notch and not much should be changed atall. Thankyou everyone for your help!
I've applied for 7 positions so far and only got one response, from Vauxhall, letting me know I'm through to the next stage so that's a good start!