40 yr old and CV advice

[JABB]

If I were to be writing my first CV, would I be listing things like GCSEs still, at 40 years old? Are they still relevant?
Also, I have been in just 2 jobs for the last 2o years. Is it right to list both for references?
Thanks

[ClassicMercs]

My wife is the same sort of age and just in the same position - more or less. One job for just shy of 25 years since leaving school before ...
Anyway - she is finding many jobs require application forms completing rather than use of CV's - keeps the information standard across all applicants. So they do require the (totally irrelevant) school qualifications to be entered as they can't account for the age / experience of the applicant. The hunt for the old certificates was fraught - I have no idea where mine are !
Only just getting going and both positions she has been shortlisted for so far actually have literacy and numeracy tests before the interview.
Is there another referee you might be able to offer who is more relevant ? My wife has done volunteer work more recently and is using that.
Also - whilst application forms create you more work than a standard CV, they do allow you to tailor your response to the job description and person specification listed alongside a vacancy. (She is ex HR role so this is coming fairly naturally). This includes picking experience and skills from the volunteer work.

[escargot]

Just a line like:

'9 GCSEs with grades A-C, including English and Maths' will suffice.

[WhereamI]

It's also information that, as an employer, is useful to know - it is ancient history, you aren't going to base an employment decision on it, but it is a useful part of the background picture that you want to build about a candidate.

[rog007]

Rule of thumb; if you have the space on a 2-sided CV, then put them in. If you're tight for space, show highest level qualification and go down one only, e.g. MA and first degree only. If you went on to a PhD, you'd drop first degree. Good luck!

[Sir Bagalot]

escargot said:

Just a line like:

'9 GCSEs with grades A-C, including English and Maths' will suffice.

^^This

Also if you're asking this type of question then you really should be paying someone to write your CV. Nothing wrong with that, I'm a Manager and have seen 100's of CV's and thought mine was fairl;y good. Until it was done by a professional. Much much better.

[JABB]

Sir Bagalot said:

^^This

Also if you're asking this type of question then you really should be paying someone to write your CV. Nothing wrong with that, I'm a Manager and have seen 100's of CV's and thought mine was fairl;y good. Until it was done by a professional. Much much better.

Any recommendations?

[New POD]

I don't put references on my CV. I used to put "References available on Request" but no room.


My CV has my name

A brief description of me ... A chartered .... with X years experience of .... and .....

A list of Achievements

Project Managed the Introduction of ....
Saved £XXX Million in a cost reduction project..
Customised Order based on job spec.

A list of Transferable skills (Customised for job spec)

A list of Jobs I have done

A list of qualifications ....

Honours Degree (Don't mention it was a desmond)
Don't mention my st A levels, or quite brilliant 9 O levels

A list of Relevant Job related Training I have done (Not mentioning the dates, but making them in different order based on Job spec)

[escargot]

JABB said:

Sir Bagalot said:

^^This

Also if you're asking this type of question then you really should be paying someone to write your CV. Nothing wrong with that, I'm a Manager and have seen 100's of CV's and thought mine was fairl;y good. Until it was done by a professional. Much much better.

Any recommendations?

YWHM.

[rog007]

JABB said:

Any recommendations?

[mph1977]

escargot said:

Just a line like:

'9 GCSEs with grades A-C, including English and Maths' will suffice.

This is what i do although i do tend to quote the specific grades for maths, english and science as once you are into the realms of 'experienced' jobs that is all they really want to know at the CV / application stage - if they need full results for due diligence they can copy the certs ...