Killer CV - Job Hunting

[daz500]

Although I've loads of experience, I don't think my CV writing skills are that great and are certainly dated or 'classic' Anyone any tips or examples? Alternatively, is anyone any good at putting together a killer CV if the bare bones are provided?

[ptomo]

Oh boy if its owt like the Mrs she had to re do hers about 5 hrs it took mind you i weren't complainin i didn't have to fight for the remote

I find myself struggling with things like that and prob why i'll not be in any kind of profession with achievable targets mind you i have made 2nd in charge so not all bad.

Iirc the Mrs was on the net for hrs as well as there's guides to help you along,i'll ask which one she used when she returns.

[420gazza]

the easiest way i've found is to make a covering letter and use this to sell yourself to them (how you're suitable for the company position and what you have to offer them etc).

Then put all the neccessary details in the cv, explaining your qualifications, previous work history etc .

[Null_Byte]

Pop it across Daz, I'll take a gander if you like.

I update mine on a regular basis and have only been turned down for two jobs, and I apply for several each year just for the lulz.

[Marty]

I have phone places in the past and they have said send in a CV to which i reply dont do CV's they seem shocked at that reply and to be honest most end up in bin when you send them in anyway and all the jobs i have ever had i have met face to face as in my eyes a piece of paper does not express a person properly. So in my opinion if a company wants a CV they not worth working for

[618ireland]

So in my opinion if a company wants a CV they not worth working for

Depends on the industry I suppose
I'm on my 5th job / contract since leaving college, in my line of work no CV means no interview and no job, which also means you can't get all the €€€€s off the bastads.

[Marty]

So in my opinion if a company wants a CV they not worth working for

Depends on the industry I suppose
I'm on my 5th job / contract since leaving college, in my line of work no CV means no interview and no job, which also means you can't get all the €€€€s off the bastads.

Good point but in my line of work a CV is not important

[Sheaf]

So in my opinion if a company wants a CV they not worth working for

What a bizarre statement.

I think most jobs will require a CV, and rightly so. If a company is to employ somebody who they have to pay, but also trust with responsibility they need to have all the info to hand that they can.

I agree that you need to meet somebody face to face and personality is important, but so are qualifications, previous achievements, and preparing yourself for that person to come through the door. If I was interviewing for a job I'd want to have as much info to hand as possible, otherwise it's pretty much impossible to make sure you ask all the right questions in order to make a good choice.

I'd think the opposite to what you said, if they dont ask for one, it's not worth applying for. The only people I know who dont have a CV have pretty low paid menial jobs.

[618ireland]

The only people I know who dont have a CV have pretty low paid menial jobs.

Lots of well paid jobs may not require a CV, industries which are very specialized that have a limited pool of expertise for example, a chap / chappette may be headhunted by the company. I would think it the norm however that a CV is generally required / expected. Also I'm sure that builders etc weren't throwing CVs about at the height of building booms, and they were well paid

[daz500]

I actually prefer an application form because at least then you are filling in a standardised form whereas a CV can take many different formats. I don't like CV's but unfortunately all recruitment firms want them before they will talk to you. I do try to speak to them as I can talk for ages about my experiences but trying to get that onto 2 A4 pages is a 'mare.

Jon, I did a bit of research and have changed my CV style. As soon as I get the new formatted updated, I'll send you a copy for a gander. Thanks for the offer.

[BlueRover]

I did one on a website. I can't remember which one unfortunately but all I did was answer the questions such as school, work experience/history, skills etc and the computer did all the work with formatting etc.
It looked really good. From that I got agency work and then was offered full time, permanent work from one company.
I'm now a team leader and enjoying working again.

I think the real killer CVs are certainly eye catchers. A bold personal statement is the key to being asked for interviews and I would always start with that. History is secondary to that.
This is the first part of mine.

Gordon Walker
Professional, Hard Working, Honest and Reliable.


Personal information

Name, address etc. etc.


Professional, Honest and Reliable.

Personal Profile / Personal Attributes

I am the sort of person who likes to maintain a high standard within my personal and professional life. My attention to detail is very good and my general computer skills are above average. My spelling and numerical skills are excellent and I will only use a calculator when I absolutely have to.
I have an IQ of 143. My speciality is visual numerical awareness (or so I was told).
I am very adept at DIY and I will complete a task to a very high standard.
My hobbies include still photography, videography, computing, drawing/painting, walking/hiking, ornithology and fishing. I enjoy going to the cinema and have an extensive video collection for which I created a database on my pc.
My attention to detail helps me to problem solve and this was useful in my role as a District Auditor within the CIS.
I have personally constructed and also maintain my own website.
I am reliable, honest and I have excellent people skills.


Employment History

etc. etc.

[C2K]

So in my opinion if a company wants a CV they not worth working for

Lol i'd be unemployed as an engineer for my entire career with that sentence defining my approach.

[200coupe]

I think the main thing for a cv is to keep it clear and consice as they dont want to sit reading a ton of waffle.

For me anyways the main thing they want to know is where you have worked previously so they can build a picture where i have experiance in designing.

Just wright it so that they can get the main info they want to know easly and quickly as they just tend to scan through the cv's, i changed mine a couple of months ago as id got the earliest jobs at the top and the latest ones at the bottom as i got asked why i was now working in a shop when id been in construction firms in the past.

This despite there being dates listed above the job. lol

[Marty]

The only people I know who dont have a CV have pretty low paid menial jobs.

I do not have a CV and I would not call my job menial and low paid i bring home around £1600 a month and is that a low paid job nower days if it is can someone do me a CV

[Sheaf]

The only people I know who dont have a CV have pretty low paid menial jobs.

I do not have a CV and I would not call my job menial and low paid i bring home around £1600 a month and is that a low paid job nower days if it is can someone do me a CV

No, it's not.. and I didn't say that all people without CVs have low paid jobs. I'm just pointing out that *most* people in decently paid jobs required a CV to get that job.

[Din]

i bring home around £1600 a month

How the hell do you manage that ? my basic is about that, but then the tax man has his flippin chunk
Do you earn bonus ? overtime? (just wondering really) cos unless i hit bonus i really cant take home more than £1300ish.

[pre620ti]

i bring home around £1600 a month

How the hell do you manage that ? my basic is about that, but then the tax man has his flippin chunk
Do you earn bonus ? overtime? (just wondering really) cos unless i hit bonus i really cant take home more than £1300ish.

You two wouldn't want to know how much I take home each month then

[Din]

You two wouldn't want to know how much I take home each month then

but what line of work are you in ? both Martin and I ah mechanics.... sorry, vehicle technicians

[Null_Byte]

Putting away our willys and getting the topic back on track....

Not every job requires a CV, sometimes experience or reputation counts for a lot more, for example, one of my first jobs was an incredibly hard market to break into. They would only ever employ people who had done the job previously, and therefore had the experience and a standing reputation to apply. A catch 22 situation that required some blagging to get around. They didn't even glance past the name on my CV.

Having said that, these jobs are far and few between, and tend to be in specialist areas. For the most part if you want a job you will need a CV, which is useful as it gives the interviewers a way of sorting the wheat from the chaff, the key here is making your CV extra wholegrain.

My tips for a killer CV (and I stress, there is no right way, but this has worked very well for me)

Start off with your name, address, D.O.B etc all the basic stuff at a glance they need to know who you are. This makes it easy to work out which CV belonged to which candidate.

List your qualifications or experience, start with the latest stuff at the top, and work backwards. This is how it is expected, and reads logically. If I’m interviewing somebody I am more interested in their last job, not what they did 10 years ago.

Give prominence to the newer jobs, and those where you have demonstrated particular skills, responsibilities or outstanding work. You want to sell your self, without being arrogant.

Don't feel like you have to put every little thing you have done down. I put a heading for each job, and bullet point any cool stuff I did for each job underneath. Make sure you put the dates you worked to and from, for each job. Ideally you want to demonstrate (if possible) you show a continuous record of improvement, or employment.

Finally list any professional accreditation, or bodies you may be a member of.

Keep it concise, 2 pages is really all you need. Make it a clear, lay it out well and make it look professional. Don't use a lot of fancy fonts, or try and make it look pretty, it detracts from the information, which is what you really want to get across. Unless you a graphic designer, stick with a clean clear layout.

Please, please, please read it through. There is nothing that will put people off quicker than a CV that is hard to read and full of grammar or spelling mistakes

I never put a personal statement on my CV, for two reasons.

1) There isn't enough room

2) I don't find a stock statement works as well as a personal letter. If you put your personal statement in the application covering letter (which you should be doing anyway right?), You can tweak it to fit the job you are applying for. It makes it more relevant and leaves your CV clear for just the facts.

That’s the basics really.

Oh, one more thing. Don't lie! If you get caught out it will be game over.

[Din]

Putting away our willys

never got mine out

[Marty]

i bring home around £1600 a month

How the hell do you manage that ? my basic is about that, but then the tax man has his flippin chunk
Do you earn bonus ? overtime? (just wondering really) cos unless i hit bonus i really cant take home more than £1300ish.

No there is no Bonus scheme that is bassed on a working a Saturday morning as well if there is any bonus its a cash bonus

[Marty]

Putting away our willys

never got mine out

Never got mine out either and im not going to

[pre620ti]

I agree with Null_Byte, if a CV is more than two sides of A4 (printed on good quality paper) most companies would not look through it properly (if at all) and you are best keeping to the point and accompanying it with a well written letter where you can expand on things that would be relevant to the position you are applying for.

but what line of work are you in ? both Martin and I ah mechanics.... sorry, vehicle technicians

I'm a weapons tech in the Navy - no CV required

[Marty]

You two wouldn't want to know how much I take home each month then

but what line of work are you in ? both Martin and I ah mechanics.... sorry, vehicle technicians

Yes lol we are no longer called mechanics

See at my place im the only one who will do.

Diagnostics
Cambelts
Engine rebuilds and headgaskets
Welding
as well as MOT's and general repairs

The other mechanics only do general repairs i do all the tecnical stuff

So i do a lot more involved work then the rest and there for get paid for what i know and do

[618ireland]

in the Navy - no CV required

Lots of dipsh1ts in the navy

[pre620ti]

Lots of dipsh1ts in the navy

How true you are - although I would like to say, I'm not one of them (know plenty though)

[618ireland]

We know you're not one
I worked with a chap a few years back who was ex English Navy, he went into the submarines on account of there being more money in that end of it, he had some right good stories.

[Jonny 5]

The only people I know who dont have a CV have pretty low paid menial jobs.

I do not have a CV and I would not call my job menial and low paid i bring home around £1600 a month and is that a low paid job nower days if it is can someone do me a CV

My CV is going out again for that sort of takehome... a fortnight.

I think yours and mine are probably not the normal though so it would be silly to suggest CV's get you twice as much money...

Mind you thats a 37 hour week.


My biggest tip for a CV is to try it out in Garamond font. Its awesome for standing out and looking super pro.

On a serious note, are you not self employed anyway?

[618ireland]

My CV is going out again for that sort of takehome... a fortnight.

..........

Mind you thats a 37 hour week.

Didn't you see this bit ?

Putting away our willys and ............

[Jonny 5]

I did, but it poked out near my sock

[618ireland]

Chuckle chuckle Fair play though.

[Sheaf]

The only people I know who dont have a CV have pretty low paid menial jobs.

I do not have a CV and I would not call my job menial and low paid i bring home around £1600 a month and is that a low paid job nower days if it is can someone do me a CV

My CV is going out again for that sort of takehome... a fortnight.

I think yours and mine are probably not the normal though so it would be silly to suggest CV's get you twice as much money...

Mind you thats a 37 hour week.

.... yet you still drive a slow, economical car?

On that kind of money I'd be prioritising power/luxury/class over economy

[618ireland]

.... yet you still drive a slow, economical car?

On that kind of money I'd be prioritising power/luxury/class over economy

Why waste money on an expensive motor? I earn good money and have absolutely no intention of prioritising luxury, power and class into my transport. Something cheap as chips that will start every day and get me around the 2000 miles or so I do a month does me fine. I have buddies that earn p1ss all and they have the same attitude as yourself, I find it fairly amusing to be honest. Working hard for the €€€s and then splashing out on a rapidly depreciating, petrol guzzling car is not for me. Life throws up enough expense.

[Din]

Or you can work hard for ££££s, splash out on a very cheap performance car (also gas guzzling) and not have the deprieciation

[Marty]

.... yet you still drive a slow, economical car?

On that kind of money I'd be prioritising power/luxury/class over economy

I dont Ill put it away now