How to tart up the CV?
Author
Discussion

tuscan_v8

Original Poster:

2,496 posts

314 months

Monday 7th November 2005
quotequote all
Currently trying to write the CV and what sort of CV do companies like to read?

beano500

20,854 posts

305 months

Monday 7th November 2005
quotequote all
Phew! Whatever you do, somebody will come along and say.."oh but these days you should......."

Well that's my experience anyway.

(If anyone wants to visit my CV (it's on the site linked form my profile) feel free!!!!)



BUT!!!

There is a (very sensible) view that you should write your CV for each individual situation. (Hard work, I know!!!) Have you any experience of hiring in your field of expertise? Can you see what people will want to see?

Mikey G

4,894 posts

270 months

Monday 7th November 2005
quotequote all
Why tart it up? keep it simple, tidy and informative and you stand a very good chance. Not all employers want to see fancy boundaries or hear about every single hobby and sporting achievement.
My format is:-

Front page, headed Curriculum Vitae, contains my address and contact details.
then in order its my education, including work experiance during that time. followed by previous employment including any promotions and reason for leaving. and finally a small bit about your goals and personal achievements headed as a personal statement, but keep it simple.

Good luck

FunkyNige

9,836 posts

305 months

Monday 7th November 2005
quotequote all
I asked lots of people for advice about my CV before I got my latest job, I had a careers advisor tell me to leave off references and details about my degree, a recruitment agency telling me to leave them on, etc., etc.

The main thing they all agreed on was to have a 2-3 line personal statement at the top, mine was -

A statistics graduate, I have spent the past 18 months working in a team at a high school
where I have to be punctual, precise and calm at all times. At university I was able to develop my analytical, numerical and rational thinking skills using modern computer software such as SAS. For the past two years I have attended evening classes in computing, which has developed my ICT skills, both in software and hardware.

Wow, that's the first time I've read that since getting my new job as a SAS programmer, good job I put it in!

beano500

20,854 posts

305 months

Monday 7th November 2005
quotequote all
Mikey G said:
Why tart it up?
I believe you've thought about "tarting" in presentational terms. In which case I agree, K.I.S.S.

It could be that we're talking "presentation" in terms of content.........











.....in which case, lie like hell and hope you don't get caught!!!!!!!!

tuscan_v8

Original Poster:

2,496 posts

314 months

Monday 7th November 2005
quotequote all
Look like keeping it simple but informative is the best way to do.

All, thanks for pointing thing out.

rick_172

194 posts

256 months

Monday 7th November 2005
quotequote all
The best advise I can give is to make it concise. It needn't run over more than two pages unless absolutely necessary. You have to remember that the person reading it in the first instance probably has thirty or more CV's to go through so they aren't going to read it word for word. Its more likely that they will be skimming through it looking for things that meet the selection criteria. Which leads onto the next point; its very important that you tailor your CV to each job. It doesn't have to be a massive overhaul, you can just move things about so that the most relevant information is the first bit they'll read.

DJ111S

30,320 posts

257 months

Monday 7th November 2005
quotequote all
Anything over two pages = instant bin fodder for me.

Make it concise and informative, make sure you list all your relevant knowledge and experience but don't jibber and don't bullshit (people will ask questions about your hobbies etc so don't claim to be a dolphin trainer).

simpo two

92,882 posts

295 months

Monday 7th November 2005
quotequote all
Head of School
Mountain Climbing

Apparently.

DJ111S

30,320 posts

257 months

Monday 7th November 2005
quotequote all
simpo two said:
Head of School
Mountain Climbing

Apparently.


Perfect.