Where do i go from here?
Discussion
Current situation is that I am being made redundant. My notice is until the end of April. My current Job is a trainee CAD tech, which I don’t mind and quite enjoy the design aspect of it, but that’s when I am actually drawing and designing. In my 3 and bit years at the company I have basically been nothing more than a data imputer.
So since i found out i was at threat of redundancy I have been applying for new jobs, mainly trainee and apprenticeships roles, as I don’t think I could apply for a fully blown CAD tech role due to my lack of experience this would not be fair on any future employer, trying to blag my way through and making a fool of myself.
The problem is I seem to be over qualified and too old for any apprenticeships as I am nearing the end of my HNC in civil engineering. That’s the basic reply I have had from any apprenticeships I have applied for so far.
So where do I go from here?
So far I have applied for trainee and apprentice roles in:
CAD tech’s
Assistant project managers
QS
Estate agents
And many more, with hardly any replies and not a single interview.
My CV seems fine, I have had 2-3 different people read over it who all said it was good.
All suggestions much appreciated.
Thanks in advance
So since i found out i was at threat of redundancy I have been applying for new jobs, mainly trainee and apprenticeships roles, as I don’t think I could apply for a fully blown CAD tech role due to my lack of experience this would not be fair on any future employer, trying to blag my way through and making a fool of myself.
The problem is I seem to be over qualified and too old for any apprenticeships as I am nearing the end of my HNC in civil engineering. That’s the basic reply I have had from any apprenticeships I have applied for so far.
So where do I go from here?
So far I have applied for trainee and apprentice roles in:
CAD tech’s
Assistant project managers
QS
Estate agents
And many more, with hardly any replies and not a single interview.
My CV seems fine, I have had 2-3 different people read over it who all said it was good.
All suggestions much appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Ok, a few comments:
I would start with contact details, as you have, but then put your most recent employment and work backwards in time. I would put your education after this.
You do not list the grades you achieved in your A levels? (I presume you still get different grades these days?!)
I also find your employment history a little confusing ... you are working two jobs at present? As a Trainee CAD technician AND as a PA at Wigan Council?
Instead of just putting 'Jan 2008 - Present' I would put 'Job title, employer, dates
.
I would also attempt to bullet point your various roles and responsibilities and cut down on the 'waffle' words. Be specific about your roles and the value they added. And perhaps this type of work is very specific to the roles you are applying for but personally 'populating seismic evaluation walkdown sheets...." doesn't mean much to me. Try to highlight and detail your specific skill sets.
Hope some of that helps.
I would start with contact details, as you have, but then put your most recent employment and work backwards in time. I would put your education after this.
You do not list the grades you achieved in your A levels? (I presume you still get different grades these days?!)
I also find your employment history a little confusing ... you are working two jobs at present? As a Trainee CAD technician AND as a PA at Wigan Council?
Instead of just putting 'Jan 2008 - Present' I would put 'Job title, employer, dates
.
I would also attempt to bullet point your various roles and responsibilities and cut down on the 'waffle' words. Be specific about your roles and the value they added. And perhaps this type of work is very specific to the roles you are applying for but personally 'populating seismic evaluation walkdown sheets...." doesn't mean much to me. Try to highlight and detail your specific skill sets.
Hope some of that helps.
NewNameNeeded said:
Ok, a few comments:
I would start with contact details, as you have, but then put your most recent employment and work backwards in time. I would put your education after this.
You do not list the grades you achieved in your A levels? (I presume you still get different grades these days?!)
I also find your employment history a little confusing ... you are working two jobs at present? As a Trainee CAD technician AND as a PA at Wigan Council?
Instead of just putting 'Jan 2008 - Present' I would put 'Job title, employer, dates
.
I would also attempt to bullet point your various roles and responsibilities and cut down on the 'waffle' words. Be specific about your roles and the value they added. And perhaps this type of work is very specific to the roles you are applying for but personally 'populating seismic evaluation walkdown sheets...." doesn't mean much to me. Try to highlight and detail your specific skill sets.
Hope some of that helps.
My A level grades are not stated as I left before my first year exams, but I am told I should not leave gaps in education or work so have put it in anyway.I would start with contact details, as you have, but then put your most recent employment and work backwards in time. I would put your education after this.
You do not list the grades you achieved in your A levels? (I presume you still get different grades these days?!)
I also find your employment history a little confusing ... you are working two jobs at present? As a Trainee CAD technician AND as a PA at Wigan Council?
Instead of just putting 'Jan 2008 - Present' I would put 'Job title, employer, dates
.
I would also attempt to bullet point your various roles and responsibilities and cut down on the 'waffle' words. Be specific about your roles and the value they added. And perhaps this type of work is very specific to the roles you are applying for but personally 'populating seismic evaluation walkdown sheets...." doesn't mean much to me. Try to highlight and detail your specific skill sets.
Hope some of that helps.
And yes i am currently working two jobs, the personal assistant job is just weekend evening thing, looking after a 14 year old disabled lad, we go watch the football and on trips out ect.
Regarding the job descriptions in my cv I will change that and post a second draft for you to see this evening.
you seem to be wasting a lot of space with your layout. i would suggest adding a skills section including what cad packages you are skilled with.
unfortunately, cad techs with much more experience thatn you are ten a penny at the minute. given that fact, i'd approach companys personally rather than using an agency. you need to show them 'you' rather than a piece of paper. this isn't easily done though, so good luck.
unfortunately, cad techs with much more experience thatn you are ten a penny at the minute. given that fact, i'd approach companys personally rather than using an agency. you need to show them 'you' rather than a piece of paper. this isn't easily done though, so good luck.
I would prefer a gap I think. At the moment it read as if you have qualifications that you don't actually have. I can't imagine it going down well if you were asked about your grades during an interview and told them that you left before taking the exams. And if they don't ask and you don't mention it then you might end up getting a job and then being asked to produce the certificates.
In my opinion, keep that section purely for qualifications that you have already gained or that are clearly stated as in progress.
In my opinion, keep that section purely for qualifications that you have already gained or that are clearly stated as in progress.
BiggusLaddus said:
I would prefer a gap I think. At the moment it read as if you have qualifications that you don't actually have. I can't imagine it going down well if you were asked about your grades during an interview and told them that you left before taking the exams. And if they don't ask and you don't mention it then you might end up getting a job and then being asked to produce the certificates.
In my opinion, keep that section purely for qualifications that you have already gained or that are clearly stated as in progress.
This is the problem, so much conflicting opinions about how a CV is constructed but I agree and I will take the AS level section out.In my opinion, keep that section purely for qualifications that you have already gained or that are clearly stated as in progress.
First and foremost remove the words Curriculum Vitae from the top. Any employer will know it is a CV just by looking at it and, should there be any doubt, they will also know it is a CV because you will have also written a covering letter making reference to your included CV.
Just put your name and address. Do not write something like contact details next to an address as an employer will know that it is an address just by looking at it.
Remove the field nationality.
Change the title of the Education section from "education base" to just "Education".
You waste masses of space by your layout. Have a title for employment.Under that in bold have the details of the employer such as dates. Under that write the details of what you did.
In the section where you talk about your CAD work remove the "during my time with X" and just start the sentence "I have been working on".Remove the line "In my role as personal assistant" and just start with "I am responsible for"
In the Wigan Sports remove the line "In this position" and just start the sentence "I was the coach for"
How long is your CV? I doubt that is two pages. The rules on CV length are broadly
1. You ought to aim for two pages.
2. You must have full pages. NEVER finish with half or two thirds of a page. A little time with word will allow you sufficient manuipulation.
3. If you don't have enough for two pages (ie. too much blank space) keep it to one page. Best to have one good page than two pages half full of crap.
4. You may only exceed two pages generally if 1) You are an Academic setting out your qualifiations 2) You are or have been a worker who has worked on a number of short to medium term fixed term contracts.3) You have had periods where you have had more than one job at a time. Bearing in mind all the pages must be full.
You mention that you did something with first aid? Do you have a qualifcation or have you recieved training for this? If you have why not state that?
Lastly your interests section. Generally as a rule for an interests section to be worth anything they must be substantial and broadly relevant to or enhance your experience. Something like sailing around the world, helping orphans, teaching English or volunteering in which you utilize your skills.
Everyone goes on holiday. The fact you went to watch a particular game is little more relevant than saying you went to the shops this afternoon. I could see some merit in suggesting that your football experience is evidence of team work. What does golf add?
You may think I am being unnecessarily cruel but I have assisted a number of people with their CVs in the past and they have ended up with jobs. I am being blunt and objective in the nicest possible way; I am not trying to mock your efforts.
Just put your name and address. Do not write something like contact details next to an address as an employer will know that it is an address just by looking at it.
Remove the field nationality.
Change the title of the Education section from "education base" to just "Education".
You waste masses of space by your layout. Have a title for employment.Under that in bold have the details of the employer such as dates. Under that write the details of what you did.
In the section where you talk about your CAD work remove the "during my time with X" and just start the sentence "I have been working on".Remove the line "In my role as personal assistant" and just start with "I am responsible for"
In the Wigan Sports remove the line "In this position" and just start the sentence "I was the coach for"
How long is your CV? I doubt that is two pages. The rules on CV length are broadly
1. You ought to aim for two pages.
2. You must have full pages. NEVER finish with half or two thirds of a page. A little time with word will allow you sufficient manuipulation.
3. If you don't have enough for two pages (ie. too much blank space) keep it to one page. Best to have one good page than two pages half full of crap.
4. You may only exceed two pages generally if 1) You are an Academic setting out your qualifiations 2) You are or have been a worker who has worked on a number of short to medium term fixed term contracts.3) You have had periods where you have had more than one job at a time. Bearing in mind all the pages must be full.
You mention that you did something with first aid? Do you have a qualifcation or have you recieved training for this? If you have why not state that?
Lastly your interests section. Generally as a rule for an interests section to be worth anything they must be substantial and broadly relevant to or enhance your experience. Something like sailing around the world, helping orphans, teaching English or volunteering in which you utilize your skills.
Everyone goes on holiday. The fact you went to watch a particular game is little more relevant than saying you went to the shops this afternoon. I could see some merit in suggesting that your football experience is evidence of team work. What does golf add?
You may think I am being unnecessarily cruel but I have assisted a number of people with their CVs in the past and they have ended up with jobs. I am being blunt and objective in the nicest possible way; I am not trying to mock your efforts.
Through experience at work personally, I would have to say its an unfortunate fact of the role you chose to become qualified in is basically that of 'data input'. We have someone at work who has a similar role to yourself OP and despite being titled 'design manager' he basically draws what people tell him to draw.
Could you perhaps persue a structural engineering or architectural avenue? From what you have written above, it would seem you do not perhaps have the authority to make design decisions yourself due to qualifications. Is there a reason you chose cad tech rather than engineer or architect because it sort of pigeon holes you into drawing what people with higher qualifications tell you.
Also, I would say QS, project manager and estate agent rolls are so different that it would basically be starting again from scratch. Personal opinion only.
P.S - If you are applying for another cad tech roll - go for a company who is small. You will get a lot more experience overall and a lot more responsibility.
Could you perhaps persue a structural engineering or architectural avenue? From what you have written above, it would seem you do not perhaps have the authority to make design decisions yourself due to qualifications. Is there a reason you chose cad tech rather than engineer or architect because it sort of pigeon holes you into drawing what people with higher qualifications tell you.
Also, I would say QS, project manager and estate agent rolls are so different that it would basically be starting again from scratch. Personal opinion only.
P.S - If you are applying for another cad tech roll - go for a company who is small. You will get a lot more experience overall and a lot more responsibility.
BazzaH said:
Just AutoCAD but mainly 2D, I have limited experience of 3D but do know the basics of it.
3d autocad or inventor? it'd be worthwhile 'aquiring' the latter and learning how to use it. pointless knowing the former imo as noone uses it. good luck with the interview. tips would be to meet your contact for a beer and find out what their expectations will be. best of luck.
BazzaH said:
Out of the blue today an ex colleague contacted me with a job at the same place he is working, so I have an interview on Thursday morning. But for a contract role, any hints or tips?
Just be positive! Don't say you have limited experience of 3d cad, say you have a good grasp of the basics and are keen to learn more. Don't downplay what you know and what you are good at. Doing a job everyday you start to think that anyone can do it but I bet if you look back you are far more proficient and knowledgable than when you first started the role. Find out as much as you can on the role from your contact. I'm going through redundancy too. Not nice but I know something wil come up soon...hopefully!!
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