Employers of graduates in Engineering - a CV question
Discussion
I'd value some thoughts and input from any forums members who are potentially involved in the recruitment process of Engineering graduates.
My son has just graduated from Birmingham University with a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering (with an extra year in Computer Science). So at last, he's in the market for a proper job.
My experience of CVs has been in the passed producing my own and as an ex-surgeon, looking at and sifting through those (lots over the years!) of junior doctors applying for jobs where I was the consultant.
Obviously, over the years, my own CV grew with time (various junior jobs etc. etc.) and so ran to several pages. My son obviously doesn't yet have that benefit of time behind him yet. But, it's not like he has nothing to put on it.
However, when he showed me his CV it is literally condensed down to one side of tightly-spaced (by necessity) that to me is hardly readable, let alone inviting of serious scrutiny. When I was looking at CVs, I have to say, had I been presented with such a CV it would have found its way into the bin very quickly!
On mentioning this to him, he is insistent that it has been drummed into them at University that they MUST keep their CVs down to one side of A4.
Am I wrong, old-fashioned and out of touch with what's expected or wanted by employers these days? Is there a different expectation within the medical and engineering professions? Or, have they just been misguided by the advice given at University?
Many thanks in advance for any thoughts or help.
My son has just graduated from Birmingham University with a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering (with an extra year in Computer Science). So at last, he's in the market for a proper job.
My experience of CVs has been in the passed producing my own and as an ex-surgeon, looking at and sifting through those (lots over the years!) of junior doctors applying for jobs where I was the consultant.
Obviously, over the years, my own CV grew with time (various junior jobs etc. etc.) and so ran to several pages. My son obviously doesn't yet have that benefit of time behind him yet. But, it's not like he has nothing to put on it.
However, when he showed me his CV it is literally condensed down to one side of tightly-spaced (by necessity) that to me is hardly readable, let alone inviting of serious scrutiny. When I was looking at CVs, I have to say, had I been presented with such a CV it would have found its way into the bin very quickly!
On mentioning this to him, he is insistent that it has been drummed into them at University that they MUST keep their CVs down to one side of A4.
Am I wrong, old-fashioned and out of touch with what's expected or wanted by employers these days? Is there a different expectation within the medical and engineering professions? Or, have they just been misguided by the advice given at University?
Many thanks in advance for any thoughts or help.
That's really, really helpful everybody...Thank you!
Seems he was more right then me!
I'll certainly also take up the offers that have been made too. And, if sending the CV I'll send it in the exact current format that he sent it to me.
I'll even remove the bit that I (surreptitiously) added in the 'Outside Interest' section about being:
"..an accomplished light entertainer, proficient tap-dancer and stand-up comedian."
In the hope that he wouldn't re-read it before presenting himself for a face to face interview!
Many thanks again.
Seems he was more right then me!
I'll certainly also take up the offers that have been made too. And, if sending the CV I'll send it in the exact current format that he sent it to me.
I'll even remove the bit that I (surreptitiously) added in the 'Outside Interest' section about being:
"..an accomplished light entertainer, proficient tap-dancer and stand-up comedian."
In the hope that he wouldn't re-read it before presenting himself for a face to face interview!
Many thanks again.
bucksmanuk said:
32 years in mech eng here, chartered etc… interviewed 100’s and recruited many people over the years.
I look at qualifications, last 5 years of experience, and then hobbies.
For graduates I look for any clues along the lines of “do they actually want to be an engineer?” as the majority don’t. It usually comes out in the interview anyway.
As above, its real-world experience, especially practical, and even more so if its customer/supplier facing. It must be realistic too. I’ve seen CVs of fresh mech eng grads claiming widespread knowledge of 3 CAD systems and 2 FEA systems. Err… really? No-one in engineering would believe that.
I’m afraid to say most of HR are lazy and just look for buzz words and have savage filters in place that ignore promising people. In the past I’ve told HR that I want to see all the CVs that come in for roles, including the ones they have binned. An interesting exercise on its own.
In most companies many CVs longer than 2 pages get binned unless they are amazing, they certainly shouldn’t be longer than 3 pages. As above, for a grad, one page is fine.
For a graduate I would put as much thought, if not more, into the covering letter than constantly tweaking up the CV. At their age, all the applicant’s CVs will look the same anyway, having a well-structured covering letter will make sure his CV actually gets read.
That's brilliant advice especially about the covering letter! Thank youI look at qualifications, last 5 years of experience, and then hobbies.
For graduates I look for any clues along the lines of “do they actually want to be an engineer?” as the majority don’t. It usually comes out in the interview anyway.
As above, its real-world experience, especially practical, and even more so if its customer/supplier facing. It must be realistic too. I’ve seen CVs of fresh mech eng grads claiming widespread knowledge of 3 CAD systems and 2 FEA systems. Err… really? No-one in engineering would believe that.
I’m afraid to say most of HR are lazy and just look for buzz words and have savage filters in place that ignore promising people. In the past I’ve told HR that I want to see all the CVs that come in for roles, including the ones they have binned. An interesting exercise on its own.
In most companies many CVs longer than 2 pages get binned unless they are amazing, they certainly shouldn’t be longer than 3 pages. As above, for a grad, one page is fine.
For a graduate I would put as much thought, if not more, into the covering letter than constantly tweaking up the CV. At their age, all the applicant’s CVs will look the same anyway, having a well-structured covering letter will make sure his CV actually gets read.
I can see now that my previous advice to him was indeed wrong.
At present his only relevant working experience is on the 'Year in Industry Scheme' that he did PRIOR to university with the two design Engineers at a firm in Telford who design and make the bodies/rears for light commercial vehicles.
Many thanks
Thank you for the further advice chaps!
Norwegian Blue.....great, detailed and insightful advice.
"at least partly developed social skills (hey, we're talking engineering here)" made me literally LOL!
He's got quite a few of those 'extras' that you mentioned. But, as you also advised, I don't think they're necessarily well-highlighted in the current iteration of his CV. They are there but perhaps easily overlooked.
Many thanks indeed.
Norwegian Blue.....great, detailed and insightful advice.
"at least partly developed social skills (hey, we're talking engineering here)" made me literally LOL!
He's got quite a few of those 'extras' that you mentioned. But, as you also advised, I don't think they're necessarily well-highlighted in the current iteration of his CV. They are there but perhaps easily overlooked.
Many thanks indeed.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff