CV help / advice

[Ki3r]

Hello!

I'm hoping that someone is able to give my CV a quick read over and see if I can improve it in anyway. I'm applying for a couple of jobs, both call centres dealing with home and car insurance. This is my first CV since I was at school in 2006, so not too sure what I need to put in there!

CV said:

Name
Address
Phone
Email
DOB

Personal Profile
I have a wide range of experience with working with the public, I enjoy having the chance to challenge my abilities and always looking to improve my skills and professional knowledge. Looking for full time employment. Very flexible with working hours.

Education and Qualifications

September 2007 – March 2009 xxx College

OCR National Certificate in Media – Pass
AS Film Studies – D

September 2002 – July 2006 xxx school

5 GCSEs at grade C, including Maths and English
GNVQ ICT – Pass

Work Experience

March 2010 – Present xxx Police – Special Constable

Main responsibilities – Helping the regular officers with day to day policing.

Gained skills in communication, working in a team, working to deadlines, working under pressure and in stressful conditions.

September 2007 – Present Tesco – Petrol Station Assistant

Customer service assistant, responsible for the financial transactions within the fuel department, also responsible for the friendly resolution of queries or issues, opening and closing of the kiosk, fuel reconciliation paperwork and conducting the fuel survey of local prices twice a week. Assists with the training of new staff members in the legal responsibilities of working in a petrol station.

Gained skills in communication and working in a team.

July 2009 – September 2009 kids respite home– Child Support Worker

Child Support Worker at a children's restpite home for children with severe disabilities.

Main responsibilities – Working one to one with a child with severe disabilities on days out.

Gained skills in working in a team, and communicating in different forms, for example, basic sign language.

September 2006 – March 2007 PC World – Customer Assistant

Helping customers find the right product for their needs.
Processing sales though on the till.

Gained skills in communication and working in a team.


Skills
Experience with Windows and Mac based products.
Can work in a team and individually
Good at working under pressure and in stressful situations
First Aid
Basic web design


Interests and Activities

I have an interest in media, including films and music. I enjoy keeping up to date with the news. I enjoy going to the gym and running in my spare time.

I have a full UK driving licence.

References

I've got rid of the children's respite home name and my school/college, in the CV it is there.

Any advice would be great.

Thanks.

[Fun Bus]

First impressions? I skimmed it as it looked hard work to read, just a mass of text not well laid out. Formatting is important as it needs to get someones attention to read it properly. I realise though that this may have been lost in the copy/paste you've done?

I never include interests in my CV. If a potential employer wants to know it will often come up in interview 'small talk'. Also, I'd put work experience above education.

Edited by Fun Bus on Thursday 10th November 00:35

[Ki3r]

Fun Bus said:

First impressions? I skimmed it as it looked hard work to read, just a mass of text not well laid out. Formatting is important as it needs to get someones attention to read it properly.

Its better formatted in Word...didn't come out very well just copy/pasted!

Headings are in bold, and the information about the job roles are two tabs in to make it clearer, if that makes sense.

[Fun Bus]

Yes, makes sense and I realised after posting what I originally did.

[Jonboy_t]

Fun Bus said:

I never include interests in my CV. If a potential employer wants to know it will often come up in interview 'small talk'. Also, I'd put work experience above education.

Edited by Fun Bus on Thursday 10th November 00:35

This! And you missed out cars in your interests - you never know if the interviewer might be a fellow petrol head (or pistonhead!) so you could instantly have a 'relationship builder' in your small talk.

[zaphod42]

Lead with work experience, most recent first.

Then education, most recent first.

Most CVs get read quickly, you want the most pertinent to be read first, which is what you are doing now, and the skills you have to bring to the role.

[rog007]

Happy to provide detailed feedback if you email the original across.

[Ki3r]

rog007 said:

Happy to provide detailed feedback if you email the original across.

Only just seen this, thanks for the offer!

Must of been OK as I had a phone interview today, and have a face to face interview tomorrow! Fingers crossed!

Thanks for all the help .

[rog007]

Great news; and good luck! Do let us know how you get on.

[Ki3r]

Interview went OK I think, will find out in 48 hours!

Big step going from Tesco to car insurance sales though. Apparently the floor only has 20% of sales...is this good or bad? Anyone know what the targets are likely to be?

[Ki3r]

Looks like I'm stuck at Tesco for a bit longer! Got the reject letter today.

Oh well, least at Tesco I work in the evenings so I get the chance to work on my fitness before going for the Army in a few months!