CV advice wanted

[Kozzy]

I've been applying for quite a few jobs (mainly technical support roles) over the last couple of weeks but not really getting anywhere other than a bunch of phone calls from agencies wanting me to sign up with them.

With the amount of jobs being advertised, looking for exactly what I seem to be offering I can only assume the problem is my CV.

Can anyone wiser than me in the world of recruitment/HR/technical support etc give me any advise?

I have an anonymised version of the CV here: CV


Many thanks

Edited by Kozzy on Monday 6th June 10:35

[walsh]

CV looks fine to me, im sure someone who works in HR will be along shortly with some pointers.

Where are you based, we are currently looking for 1st/2nd line support tech's, based in Hitchin. PM me if thats local enough.

Cheers

[Gargamel]

Kozzy - looks fine to me ( I read around 50 cvs a day)

Nice and clear, concise etc. I would give you an interview based on that profile.

Maybe you most recent role is putting people off, if you are looking for IT support roles.

Maybe website admin, as a job title could become - IT support ?

Classically you previous role has far more detail than your current job, perhaps improve the content in your current role a little, and include a note to say why you are looking (lack of career development or similar)

Good Luck - let me know if move to Woking !

[Kozzy]

Thanks, I've been going over and over it but nothing seems obviously terrible.

I'm based in Gloucestershire so the commute may be a little much unfortunately.

[Kozzy]

Thank you Gargamel very good advice there, I am going to make those changes now. I did worry that maybe people would look at my education choices along with my previous role and see that maybe I wanted a career in web development.

Perhaps I should consider moving... although I do love it here

[walsh]

Try uploading your CV to http://www.reed.co.uk/, make a profile etc.

I was called for an interview 2 days after creating my profile, for the position im in now (IT Account Manager).

Sorry you are too far away, CV looks spot on for the positions we have available.

[wiggy001]

If it was me, I would change the following sections:

Name/Personal Details: Put your name and personal details in the header of the document to saver space and keep it all together and ensure I (as a recruiting manager) can quickly find your contact details.

Areas of Expertise/Key Skills and Compentencies: I don't know why these are 2 seperate sections and why your Key Skills are at the end of the CV. If the Key Skills are important for the recruiter to know about, they should be at the start of the CV (not after your details about your job as a baker and what you did at school!). Maybe these points are more suited to the personal statement at the beginning but they are a bit "woolly", so maybe not needed at all. For example, I've been a programmer for 14+ years and I've no idea what a "Standard computer language" is?

Employment: I always prefer CVs that show me what someone knows, and what they've acheived, and that's how my own cv is split for each employer. So for example, with your second job listed (IT Support Analyst, I'm pretty sure you're 2 years there weren't wasted, so what change to the company did you make? Did you make any improvements to the way calls were dealt with, or build up such a good rapport with the business that issues were resolved quicker/better/before they occurred?

There will be hundreds of people out there going for IT support roles, and you need your CV to stand out, especially as IT Support is often the first step to other roles in IT, so employers want to know that you have an aptitude for more.

To use an analogy, if I wanted a tea boy and a cv read "Able to make tea", I would think that is the minimum I would expect from someone applying for the role. If it said "Implemented a system that streamlined the tea ordering process, improving efficiency and reducing downtime within the office", I'd think that this boy was above average compared to other tea boys.

Hope that makes sense.

[Mr Kitten]

Not meaning to hijack this, but I've recently given my CV a bit of a polish up - is the general consensus with an IT CV to have "key skills" at the top of the CV?

At the moment I've got this at the bottom with my work experience being at the top.

[Kozzy]

Hey wiggy, thanks for the detailed critique.

I guess what I was trying to do with the "AREAS OF EXPERTISE" was to list the more practical technical skills and the "KEY SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES" was more a list of less formal personal qualities although it seems I have made a hash of separating these.

In the past I have always put the contact details at the top as suggested just thought I would change these around for this iteration.

"standard computer languages" was a very cheesy way of me conveying that I have a good basic understanding of the way computer software actually works and how computers read it.

I have noted all of your comments and will update my CV shortly repost and see what you guys think.

[Kozzy]

Ok, I've taken what was said into account (removing that awful phrase "standard computer languages" for example) and updated the CV accordingly.

Let me know if this is an improvement.

Thanks,

[Rich_W]

I'd like for someone to look over my CV. However, I don't work in IT and I'm going to guess Wiggy doesn't need the extra work.

Anyone recommend a DECENT 3rd party company that might be able to give it a once over. Though I have to admit when I go to Interviews it seems the most common (re Laziest) question I get asked is. "Run me through your career starting in 1998" or "Tell me a little about yourself" Both of which are set out quite nicely/obviously on my curent CV!

[Stevenj214]

Hi Kozzy,

I guess your link points to your revised version?

As others have said it's not too bad so some things I say may be nit picking.

At first glance it looks very busy.

Personal Profile

I'm not sure why I find it reading wrong, but I think it would be better as simply:

Profile said:

A multi-skilled IT support analyst with in-depth knowledge of installing, configuring, maintaining and supporting computing systems. Experienced in providing client focused IT support and in successfully analysing and resolving IT hardware and software problems in a timely manner whilst maintaining a high degree of customer service

with the 2nd paragraph completely removed too.

Areas of Expertise

I'm not a fan of calling a section this. The list is also fairly lengthy and wishy-washy in some places. You are an "expert" in setting up PCs? (last bullet point). I would expect competent installations of PCs and software to be a given for an IT role and can't get my head around the difference between a 'competent installation' and an 'expert installation'.

You mentioned a Key Skills section earlier that you removed. I would put it back in and keep it as a bullet pointed 'soft skills' list with a separate 'Technologies' (or similar) section listing the software you are familiar with.

ETA - just saw the key skills at the end quite a few of these repeat the information in your personal profile (which i have suggested you trim a lot already. I would bring the key skills up to below the (revised) personal profile and try and make them less 'general' i.e.

Able to understand client issues and offer creative solutions where required

instead of

Excellent problem solver employing creative and logical thinking to complete tasks.

Employment History

A bit waffly. For example you say "update products database with over 10,000 products" then list "Updating, editing and constantly adding to a large products database." as a duty.

For your first job, I would have the 'blurb' only as:

Employed as the sole computer/website administrator for a performance car tuning company.

Followed by a list of "Key Achievements" - maybe 5 or 6 bullet points only (which can be tailored to the specific job you apply for)


The last 3 jobs I would remove completely.

Education

Your education section confuses me. You went to uni twice but failed to achieve a degree both times?

I would add in a very small blurb giving an overview of the course then list 3-4 subjects studied (again, tailor these to the role you are applying for if appropriate)

I would also remove the (2 years) from all of them. I'm sure the reader will be able to deduce that from the years.



I started writing this several hours ago so apologies if you have already made changes since then.

[Kozzy]

Hi Steven,

Right now I'll accept any criticism if it is constructive so your comments are indeed welcome.

I guess in my personal statement I am trying to pre-empt the opening job description for the kind of position I will be applying for. Also, I have been advised to put a small amount of info concerning why I am looking for a new position, I guess this could be a little dangerous as this would be pointing out negatives?

I agree with the “area of expertise” titling now that I look back over it, but am at a bit of a loss at what to call it, “technical skills” perhaps?

The employment section I also agree with. I will cut down the 'blurb' sections a little and bullet point a bit more concisely although I am worried my CV will look like a long, sectioned, bullet-pointed list.

I have been told in the past that one should put in the last five or so jobs they have had no matter how irrelevant to show that having a job is important to them, that and it is better than leaving gaps between dates in the CV, is this actually a bad idea?

I will take on your comments and amend and update the CV tomorrow.

Thanks for your input, it is appreciated.

Edited by Kozzy on Wednesday 13th September 09:37