Discussion
I'm 19, no work experience despite trying several times to get even unpaid work just for experience.
I'm home educated so I don't have any GCSEs but I am Cisco certified (CCNA, CCNP, and currently studying for CCIE).
I'm after a network engineering role but from what I've read online that will be difficult without experience, although I have spent the past 4 1/2 years using Cisco kit in a learning environment if that's relevant?
I'm home educated so I don't have any GCSEs but I am Cisco certified (CCNA, CCNP, and currently studying for CCIE).
I'm after a network engineering role but from what I've read online that will be difficult without experience, although I have spent the past 4 1/2 years using Cisco kit in a learning environment if that's relevant?
Basic format:
Personal details
Personal statement
Education
Other qualifications
Work history
Interests
(some may have a different view on format/layout order).
No more than 2 pages long (preferably 2 exactly).
Always written in the 3rd person.
Sell yourself and promote all your positive qualifications and experiences without being overly big-headed.
Keep to the point - a CV is not about rambling on. You can do some of that in a covering letter, if one is required for a job application.
Personal details
Personal statement
Education
Other qualifications
Work history
Interests
(some may have a different view on format/layout order).
No more than 2 pages long (preferably 2 exactly).
Always written in the 3rd person.
Sell yourself and promote all your positive qualifications and experiences without being overly big-headed.
Keep to the point - a CV is not about rambling on. You can do some of that in a covering letter, if one is required for a job application.
If you have the chance I would consider enrolling and getting a GCSE in Maths and English. Junior and entry level roles have a lot of applicants and you are up against people with an easy to understand educational standard holding known certificates. Use your network, excuse the pun, and make some friends in the right places to try and get some paid or unpaid experience. If that means knocking on the door or cold calling several local companies to find out who the IT or Network Manager is then do it. Are there any local IT Manager networking groups. You have got to start somewhere. I have an acquaintance who had no real interest in IT and few qualifications who got a job as phone support for an IT reseller. It's a foot in the door and he's getting training and it is opening up other IT opportunities for him.
As for the CV, I would write in the first person. It is your CV after all. Think of the soft skills that will be required in the roles you will be applying for and ensure you can demonstrate some of that in your CV.
As for the CV, I would write in the first person. It is your CV after all. Think of the soft skills that will be required in the roles you will be applying for and ensure you can demonstrate some of that in your CV.
edc said:
If you have the chance I would consider enrolling and getting a GCSE in Maths and English. Junior and entry level roles have a lot of applicants and you are up against people with an easy to understand educational standard holding known certificates.
I've tried, unfortunately the colleges around my area refused me because I didn't have exam scores from school they wouldn't even let me take an IT GCSE when I had my CCNA lol.My plan is to grab adult literacy and numeracy if I can find somewhere as that's supposed to be an equivalent, although you would think looking at my other qualifications that they could tell I'm literate and numerate but I understand its just box checking for most places.
edc said:
Use your network, excuse the pun, and make some friends in the right places to try and get some paid or unpaid experience. If that means knocking on the door or cold calling several local companies to find out who the IT or Network Manager is then do it. Are there any local IT Manager networking groups. You have got to start somewhere. I have an acquaintance who had no real interest in IT and few qualifications who got a job as phone support for an IT reseller. It's a foot in the door and he's getting training and it is opening up other IT opportunities for him.
I've got a few friends which is why I'm after help with a CV because one of them knows someone who has asked for mine. I have knocked on doors/cold called but I've just been turned away each time, I'm either not what they're looking for or overqualified. I don't know what an IT Manager network group is I'm afraid, but if I can find one I'll contact them.Thanks for the help it's much appreciated
MattHall91 said:
Basic format:
Personal details
Personal statement
Education
Other qualifications
Work history
Interests
(some may have a different view on format/layout order).
No more than 2 pages long (preferably 2 exactly).
Always written in the 3rd person.
Sell yourself and promote all your positive qualifications and experiences without being overly big-headed.
Keep to the point - a CV is not about rambling on. You can do some of that in a covering letter, if one is required for a job application.
Thanks for the help! Personal details
Personal statement
Education
Other qualifications
Work history
Interests
(some may have a different view on format/layout order).
No more than 2 pages long (preferably 2 exactly).
Always written in the 3rd person.
Sell yourself and promote all your positive qualifications and experiences without being overly big-headed.
Keep to the point - a CV is not about rambling on. You can do some of that in a covering letter, if one is required for a job application.
I'm sorting through CVs for several roles at the moment. As per the above, keep it to a maximum of two pages. Remember that the more you put on there, the less likely the person recruiting is to read your best points that get hidden in the text. Personally i'm happy with one side.
With younger people I really like to see some kind of paid work, even bar work or work in a shop. I always asked them what they learned from it, and it shows a willingness to work even at something that might not be the most interesting thing. Do go out and get something if you have no employment history at all - anything.
I have a checklist for my first filter and look for a number of key points from the job description mentioned either in the cover letter or CV. Even if the person has not worked that particular aspect before, failing to even mention anything about a key aspect of the role gets them binned. As an example I am looking for a digital account manager at the moment and want to see something about account management, and something about digital (even if it's "I have always had a particular interest in...". Failure to mention one or the other in some form = bin).
I rarely look at the 'other interests' myself and often think people waste space describing multiple activities in detail that I don't care about at all as an employer. Make sure you don't focus on this at the expense of the rest of your CV. I keep this to one line on mine.
With younger people I really like to see some kind of paid work, even bar work or work in a shop. I always asked them what they learned from it, and it shows a willingness to work even at something that might not be the most interesting thing. Do go out and get something if you have no employment history at all - anything.
I have a checklist for my first filter and look for a number of key points from the job description mentioned either in the cover letter or CV. Even if the person has not worked that particular aspect before, failing to even mention anything about a key aspect of the role gets them binned. As an example I am looking for a digital account manager at the moment and want to see something about account management, and something about digital (even if it's "I have always had a particular interest in...". Failure to mention one or the other in some form = bin).
I rarely look at the 'other interests' myself and often think people waste space describing multiple activities in detail that I don't care about at all as an employer. Make sure you don't focus on this at the expense of the rest of your CV. I keep this to one line on mine.
Good luck. Not CV advice, but some C&C on applying for jobs....
No Qualifications or experience is going to go against you for better paid jobs - e.g. an Engineering role (project and BAU).
Working towards CCIE will go against you when applying for some low level junior position like support/administration.
You'd also be bored sh*tless looking after some crappy infrastructure when you've been studying and learning best practice for virtualised infrastructures, data centre's etc spanning multiple sites. Imagine turning up for a desktop support role at your local school when you've got the knowledge you have - I did that once. Gave the job to a guy I worked with in retail who had a 4 year old degree and no network experience or qualifications which he was smug about. I now earn over double what he does and Id of been bored out my skull.
As for your CV, Google CCNP CV I'm sure you'll find examples. Whatever you do keep it very brief, oversell yourself but don't bulls
t and be prepared to talk about EVERYTHING you put on your CV. As a graduate I was ripped to bits by some hiring manager or techies for what Id put on my CV but it got me in the door. As for which jobs to apply for just apply for everything you think you may not get and perhaps offer slightly less than what the pay range is.
Bit jealous you're 19 and working towards CCIE. Im CCNP, CCNA-S and CCDA and I am 26. I plan on doing CCIE in 18 months or so when Ive completed CCDP and CCNP Security. Ill be about 31 when I get CCIE probably. Maybe go do your CCDA as well. I didn't learn much from it and the exam was embarrassingly simple (put the right shape in the right hole). But it would have been useful before I left uni and had I not done a degree (mine was a lot of pretend project/design modules which surprisingly turned out to be very useful) would have provided me with some idea on how to grab my testicles and undertake project work and given me an overview of how stuff actually worked.
No Qualifications or experience is going to go against you for better paid jobs - e.g. an Engineering role (project and BAU).
Working towards CCIE will go against you when applying for some low level junior position like support/administration.
You'd also be bored sh*tless looking after some crappy infrastructure when you've been studying and learning best practice for virtualised infrastructures, data centre's etc spanning multiple sites. Imagine turning up for a desktop support role at your local school when you've got the knowledge you have - I did that once. Gave the job to a guy I worked with in retail who had a 4 year old degree and no network experience or qualifications which he was smug about. I now earn over double what he does and Id of been bored out my skull.
As for your CV, Google CCNP CV I'm sure you'll find examples. Whatever you do keep it very brief, oversell yourself but don't bulls
t and be prepared to talk about EVERYTHING you put on your CV. As a graduate I was ripped to bits by some hiring manager or techies for what Id put on my CV but it got me in the door. As for which jobs to apply for just apply for everything you think you may not get and perhaps offer slightly less than what the pay range is. Bit jealous you're 19 and working towards CCIE. Im CCNP, CCNA-S and CCDA and I am 26. I plan on doing CCIE in 18 months or so when Ive completed CCDP and CCNP Security. Ill be about 31 when I get CCIE probably. Maybe go do your CCDA as well. I didn't learn much from it and the exam was embarrassingly simple (put the right shape in the right hole). But it would have been useful before I left uni and had I not done a degree (mine was a lot of pretend project/design modules which surprisingly turned out to be very useful) would have provided me with some idea on how to grab my testicles and undertake project work and given me an overview of how stuff actually worked.
Profile (Who you are what you are what you're looking for)
Core Skills/Technologies
Achievements (may not be relevant when you have no experience)
Professional Qualifications
Work History
Education
Interests
Might have to be inventive as you've no qualifications or experience. Perhaps keep your CV to a single page. Try not to get wound up if you get nowhere because of your lack of qualifications.
Core Skills/Technologies
Achievements (may not be relevant when you have no experience)
Professional Qualifications
Work History
Education
Interests
Might have to be inventive as you've no qualifications or experience. Perhaps keep your CV to a single page. Try not to get wound up if you get nowhere because of your lack of qualifications.
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