Motorsport CV help

[Caddy93]

As some of you may have seen I've been looking for a motorsports apprenticeship for a while now. I know very few positions come up and a lot of people go for them. So when I apply, with a CV is it worth putting down any experience I have? (Sounds like a stupid question but...)

Things like. My dad is an ARDS instructor and so, has a lot of friends racing. I've spent many an hour helping out at a lot of our national circuits. Still don't really know what i'm doing (YET) But am keen and have been there. Dabbled in racing myself when i was even younger (karts). And have been servicing/helping to repair family cars since I was 12/13. Would it be worth mentioning things like that? Also, anything else that people would be looking for that is easily available and good to put on a CV for a motorsport position.

Any advice welcome! Thanks, Tom.

[marine boy]

Tom, sent you an email

I've read a few motorsport CV's and eventually borrowed a style that a good mate of mine showed me. I won't post mine on here but I'll try and explain the layout I've used over the years that seems to work for me.

It wants to be two pages maximum as you are just starting out don't worry if it isn't, better to have less info. than one padded out with waffle and blah! Only include training/experience that is relevant to the role you are applying for.

1st Page

Full name (in bold text slightly larger texy to make it stand out)
Address
Tel contact no.
(the above wants to be aligned with the centre of the page)
Don't be tempted to stick a photo of yourself in the corner

Below this add a brief descripition (ie a couple of lines) of how best to describe you eg for you it could be along the lines of 'A recently college educated trainee with practical experience from working in both motorsport and automotive enviornments'. It wants to brief and to the point. (this wants to be aligned with the centre of the page)

Education
School - inc. start and finish dates
College - inc. start and finish dates
Other eduction ie training courses, workshops, any awards or achievements etc
(align this with the LH margin)

Work Experience
Start with your latest experience and with your earliest
I put the compnay/place in bold against the LH margin and put the start and finish date against the RH margin (both in bold)
Below this add a few lines of your responsibilities and how you contributed and any achievements

Other Information
Age Birth date
Nationality
Driving licence
(align this with the LH margin)

Interests
Don't put I like going down the pub or nightclub or you are interested in motorsport, everyone is think of things that interest you that might make you stand out from the crowd. Don't lie as the person interviewing you might be too and if they catch you out chatting about something you know nothing about they will think you made the rest of the info. on your CV up.(align this with the LH margin)


References
Again make these relevant to the role you are applying for, make sure you ask their permission before.(align this with the LH margin)

Also don't wait for a psotion to be advertised send it to every company/team you think you would like to work for. Your CV only needs to land on the right desk at the right time, the more you send the better your chances.

Good Luck

Edited in anticipation of the gramer police kicking in my front door on Saturday 27th November 23:11

Edited by marine boy on Saturday 27th November 23:13

[Caddy93]

Thanks for the email, Stephen. I'll get cracking on a draft on monday (possibly sunday evening). Thanks a lot for your post!

[JontyR]

Personally Id avoid putting references down directly......just put references on application.

You will soon annoy the hell out of a referee if they are receiving phone calls out of the blue! Agencies are a bugger for this!

Also if you are single, and have no kids....put this down! It will make a difference, although it shouldn't, as they know you aren't going to worry about family commitments.

Mine is stick all of your info at the top

Technical summary, this needs to be bullet points, no explanations. If you can weld....put "2 years MIG Welding"

Training (most recent and relevant to the job)

Employment History.....and go into the finer details, as long as it is relevant to the role! No point in telling someone how to flip burgers! Start last job first

Education

Personal Skills

Interests, and leave out I was the captain of the cricket team at primary school! I had this on a CV!


The personal skills section I put near the end.....but if you think you can sell yourself well with it, stick it up before the technical summary

[V8mate]

Caddy93 said:

As some of you may have seen I've been looking for a motorsports apprenticeship for a while now. I know very few positions come up and a lot of people go for them.

Someone was posting on here a few weeks back. Was really struggling to get a motorsport apprentice.

[Caddy93]

V8mate said:

Caddy93 said:

As some of you may have seen I've been looking for a motorsports apprenticeship for a while now. I know very few positions come up and a lot of people go for them.

Someone was posting on here a few weeks back. Was really struggling to get a motorsport apprentice.

Yeah I think I had a gander on there, it was in Wiltshire though. And annoyingly that is just too far away from me to be viable.

[V8mate]

Caddy93 said:

V8mate said:

Caddy93 said:

As some of you may have seen I've been looking for a motorsports apprenticeship for a while now. I know very few positions come up and a lot of people go for them.

Someone was posting on here a few weeks back. Was really struggling to get a motorsport apprentice.

Yeah I think I had a gander on there, it was in Wiltshire though. And annoyingly that is just too far away from me to be viable.

You're not that keen, then?

[JontyR]

V8mate said:

Caddy93 said:

V8mate said:

Caddy93 said:

As some of you may have seen I've been looking for a motorsports apprenticeship for a while now. I know very few positions come up and a lot of people go for them.

Someone was posting on here a few weeks back. Was really struggling to get a motorsport apprentice.

Yeah I think I had a gander on there, it was in Wiltshire though. And annoyingly that is just too far away from me to be viable.

You're not that keen, then?

On reflection, as the job was offered by me, Caddy turned the position down because he didn't want to have to fend for himself so far from home. The wage isn't great, £95 per week is all an apprentice is paid for the first months......and then it is down to the good will of the employer to reflect their ability. This is obviously increased as time goes forward. You do however receive free college tuition....so a better deal than going to UNI. If you aren't able to afford the accommodation etc, then its best to find something local. There is a lot of paperwork, and commitment, and without it the college wont take you on if they feel you will drop out before the course finishes.

[V8mate]

JontyR said:

V8mate said:

Caddy93 said:

V8mate said:

Caddy93 said:

As some of you may have seen I've been looking for a motorsports apprenticeship for a while now. I know very few positions come up and a lot of people go for them.

Someone was posting on here a few weeks back. Was really struggling to get a motorsport apprentice.

Yeah I think I had a gander on there, it was in Wiltshire though. And annoyingly that is just too far away from me to be viable.

You're not that keen, then?

On reflection, as the job was offered by me, Caddy turned the position down because he didn't want to have to fend for himself so far from home. The wage isn't great, £95 per week is all an apprentice is paid for the first months......and then it is down to the good will of the employer to reflect their ability. This is obviously increased as time goes forward. You do however receive free college tuition....so a better deal than going to UNI. If you aren't able to afford the accommodation etc, then its best to find something local. There is a lot of paperwork, and commitment, and without it the college wont take you on if they feel you will drop out before the course finishes.

Fair comment, and had you simply been offering a.n.other motor trade apprenticeship I'd tend to agree.

But given the OP acknowledges that opportunities are few and far between and that any such opportunities will attract people with a real passion for the subject matter rather than an 'oh go on then, I s'pose it's a job' attitude, I'd expect that genuine applicants would do everything they can to secure their 'dream job'.

I don't know the OP from Adam, but there's a general lack of initiative and drive amongst too many youngsters these days.

[JontyR]

V8mate said:

JontyR said:

V8mate said:

Caddy93 said:

V8mate said:

Caddy93 said:

As some of you may have seen I've been looking for a motorsports apprenticeship for a while now. I know very few positions come up and a lot of people go for them.

Someone was posting on here a few weeks back. Was really struggling to get a motorsport apprentice.

Yeah I think I had a gander on there, it was in Wiltshire though. And annoyingly that is just too far away from me to be viable.

You're not that keen, then?

On reflection, as the job was offered by me, Caddy turned the position down because he didn't want to have to fend for himself so far from home. The wage isn't great, £95 per week is all an apprentice is paid for the first months......and then it is down to the good will of the employer to reflect their ability. This is obviously increased as time goes forward. You do however receive free college tuition....so a better deal than going to UNI. If you aren't able to afford the accommodation etc, then its best to find something local. There is a lot of paperwork, and commitment, and without it the college wont take you on if they feel you will drop out before the course finishes.

Fair comment, and had you simply been offering a.n.other motor trade apprenticeship I'd tend to agree.

But given the OP acknowledges that opportunities are few and far between and that any such opportunities will attract people with a real passion for the subject matter rather than an 'oh go on then, I s'pose it's a job' attitude, I'd expect that genuine applicants would do everything they can to secure their 'dream job'.

I don't know the OP from Adam, but there's a general lack of initiative and drive amongst too many youngsters these days.

The lad that we took in the end, comes from London. Stays here within the week and goes back home at the weekend. He is getting on really well, and so it was a shame that Caddy missed out. I do agree if you want something, its best to go out and get it with open arms.....but if you cant afford to be here, then its a tricky position to be in! Although taking a pub job in the evenings is always an option.

[Caddy93]

It really does wind me up when people automatically jump to the conclusion that I wasn't that keen about the apprenticeship in Wiltshire. As has already been said by the employer of said apprenticeship, it really just wasn't viable for me. I respect how people may see this, but I had no choice. I will keep looking and hope to find a place somewhere soon.