cv's

[womanofdulwich]

Has anyone an idea as to how a good cv looks?

I think mine is dated, especially since I am starting a new career-as a TEFL teacher. Limited experiecne but 25 years working in a business profession before that.

Does everyone put a photo at the top of theirs?

My first attempt has not opened any doors- so welcome any POSITIVE suggestions.

Many thanks

[pablogrande]

At a company I once worked at someone put sexual deviation down on list of hobbies, it guarenteed an interview but not a job offer

[zeban]

No photo and no sexual deviation!

[Loz]

Keep it simple. No fancy graphics, no fancy fonts, no photo, no more than two pages. I've had to read through a fair few in my time and, believe me, the ones you can get the pertinent information from fast are the ones that get your attention.

And get someone else to proof read it for you. Any spelling or grammatical errors are bad. Small things can be the difference between getting an interview or not.

(Once seen on a cv... some bloke applying for an IT position put in his email address as: 'mummyslittlehelper@...'. Sigh.)

[AbDabs]

Make sure you tailor your CV to each and every job. It's so easy to see that someone has spent hours polishing the only CV they've got, which means it fits only one job. Chances of finding that one job are quite small.

[Ruffler]

If you don't have much experience as a TEfl teacher, maybe you could try doing some voluntary work (assisting at a language school or something similar) - highlight that in your CV along with transferable skills from your previous jobs. Good luck!

[womanofdulwich]

Thanks Ruffler- I start my volunteering next week ;-)

So no photo then.

[Hoopster]

As you are changing career I suggest a skills-based or functional CV will give you the opportunity to demonstrate which skills you have previously developed that are transferable to your newly chosen path. Google for examples.

To make it easy for the hiring manager to read:

- Make sure that your contact details are correct and easy to find at the top of your CV

- Make sure that the phone number you provide can accept voicemail

- Use bullet points to list key duties/skills (much easier to read and find info looking for)

- Use a regular size font (eg. arial 10; times new roman 12) that is easy for most people to read

- Keep your formatting consistent, eg. where you put company name and date consistent for different roles, bolding etc.

- Record your work experience in reverse chronological order

- If sending your CV electronically make sure that you use common software like MS Word which is compatible with lots of systems. A pdf make work better as the formatting won't get messed up in translation.

Beneath your contact details you could include a short summary of why you want to teach which will indicate your motivation and enthusiasm (but avoid statements that could apply to anyone eg. 'work well on my own or in a team').

Include a cover letter in which you can outline why you are applying to that particular organisation or role and what you will bring to the job. This will also show that you have done some research.

Good luck.

[KidKruger]

Mine's 6-7 pages never had complaints, maybe it depends on the sector you're in. I think it makes a difference to explain what you did/delivered rather than what yo 'were involved in', 'contributed to' or other such vaugeness.

[Voyageur]

More than 2 pages a mistake IMO. Keep it pared down, focused and geared to the job in question. Avoid bland, generic phrases and try to include something that will make you stand out and gain attention - just don't overdo it.pared

[El Pibe]

I have to read CVs pretty often.

Keeping it short is key, my eyes will glaze over at the thought of a 6-7 page CV but it won't exclude anyone, I'll simply skip much quicker for salient points meaning I might miss more, but all else being equal i'll go for the 1-2 page over the 6 as to me it demonstrates an ability to sift information and a more disciplined thought process.

My general points would be make it readable (try and avoid tables, graphics, clutter in general). Use as few fonts as possible and use something that doesn't detract, arial/helvetica would be fine.

Keep it short, no more than 2 pages, salient bullet points can be preferable to descriptive sentences (but not necessarily).

As mentioned above, tailor your cv for each job, you can lose whole chunks if they're irrelevant and beef up bits that are key to the role. I tend to keep a template cv with everything and just delete/edit bits as appropriate in a new copy.

Avoid any mistakes. Spelling error = bin. Bad grammar = bin. Clunky sentences and structure = bottom of pile.

Vague structure to follow, by no means hard and fast:

top level personal details (no photo).

career precis (keep each stint short with emphasis on relevant experience / responsibility)

skills

education (put this higher up if more relevant than experience for job)

[optional] A very short bit about yourself. Avoid humour and cliches. I'm pretty sure every one loves travel, reading and socialising. I rarely look unless it's down to final 2 or 3 and even then it doesn't really sway except maybe negatively "I love dogs but i couldn't eat a whole one" = bin.

At no point try to be cute or clever. Someone is trying to scrape through 40 CVs for something that fits. Make sure the pertinent stuff leaps off the page. Get someone else to read and ask what they remember an hour later. Ooh, and definitely get soneone to proof it, spellchecker can't spot it all.

edited for typos, do as I do not .....

[Sue]

Succinct but covering everything in the job description and (especially) person spec for the particular job, I should say.

If it's not in the CV it should deffo be in the covering letter.

What you've personally done, not what your team did or what you helped with.

And anything irrelevant omitted.

Deffo no photo.

And get someone else to read it over before you send it off - it's very easy not to see a typo when you've spent ages staring at something.

[DulwichFox]

As Sue Says:-

And get someone else to read it over before you send it off - it's very easy not to see a typo when you've spent ages

staring at something.

Typos...

Providing the first and last letters of each word are correct, generally a sentence can be understood.

Prvoidnig the frist and lsat ltetres of ecah wrod are crorcet, genrelaly a senetcne can be udnersotod.

If you have written somwthing and know what it says, you will not spot the typos.

Fox.

[Loz]

And never rely on your spelling checker...

Eye halve a spelling checker

It came with my pea sea

It plainly marks four my revue

Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strikes a key and type a word

And weight four it two say

Weather eye am wrong oar write

It shows me a strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid

It nose bee fore two long

And eye can put the error rite

Its rare lea ever wrong.

Eye have run this poem threw it

I am shore your pleased two no

Its letter perfect awl the weigh

My checker tolled me sew.

[El Pibe]

That actually hertz two reed

[KidKruger]

Oh, and forget the 'hobbies and interests' bit.

I'm interviewing staff now and couldn't care less whether someone is a bell ringer, breeds newts in their pond in Kent or is almost qualified as a Scout master.

[Loz]

Really KK? I always used to look for a couple of ice breakers in those sections.

[KalamityKel]

"interests/hobbies: reading, movies, horse riding, chewing gum" - Seriously how old are you?

Only pop that in if it's relevant to the job spec where you are unable to demonstrate the skills through qualifications and work experience.

As mentioned many times above keep it simple. If you must put lots of writing break it up with paragraphs! Dont ramble on about anything and everything. It's so tiring to those going through applications when you're looking at solid writing that's irrelevant. IME when hit with CVs/applications like that I stop reading and chuck it on the no pile (yes I know I could be rejecting the perfect candidate but if it bores me...!)

If you've expressed a "keen eye for detail" bloomin' well check for mistakes and inconsistencies! Again, if I see obvious mistakes I lose interest.

Photos are only useful for portfolios for those in acting. Seeing it on a general CV gives me the impression of someone who is vain, pretentious and probably someone I wouldn't really want to work with.

Most employers receive, especially when using services such as the Guardian etc, hundreds of applications many not relevant to the job at all (I've come across butchers, scientists and the likes applying for simple reception positions!) so you need a good, simple and relevant CV/application that's going to avoid the no pile just because it's too "busy" and not set out in an easy to read manner.

[david_carnell]

Don't put "CV" or "Curriculum Vitae" at the top. We all know what it is.

[computedshorty]

Submitting a C.V.

Then attending the Interview.

When submitting a hopeful C.V. You have only been given a very slight indication of what that job would entail.

When you are making up your C.V. although you might have a slight knowledge on a certain subject, could you do the whole job yourself unaided?

When attending an Interview the person who carries this out might be a Personnel Officer who has only a written request from the Dept for a person with certain skills, a far more responsible post for such a the Council would have a several managers from various departments, only one from the Department where the person would work, only that person knows what your job would entail, find that person ( easy to find he knows what he is talking about ) and convince him, his findings will convince the others of your capability as they have not a clue about the post offered

If you are interviewed by the actual employer you will be asked far more details of your experience.

It is always a good idea to have any paper work that relates to your previous employers.

Ask questions about what you are expected to do, is there any prospect of advancement, what are the terms of your employment do they have a pension scheme, would you be entitled to a car, or travelling expenses. During the interview you could start to find that you would not be willing to take the job, if this happens and the interviewer has come to a decision that you are suitable, you can then put forward your own wishes if these are not granted no worry you did not want the job.

If you do get the job then it means that the interviewer appreciates your firmness in bargaining this would show that you are a person who could be in charge of others.

Remember you will be asked why did you leave these previous jobs, if you were sacked it might be better not to mention that you worked there. If you did not get on with management is a No No, if employed it could happen to them.

Are you willing to move house to the area, and are you willing to move again if the place of work changes.

Feel confident, a quick answer even if you don't really know the answer leaves them little time to think of an other question.

In my experience to enter the interview room you are expected to sit facing the interviewing panel, on entering I offer my hand to shake before I sit. This acts in your favour as you have now come into personal contact, and they might think that you are compatible, the other will show if they are Masons most are and they will want to find out if you are.

If you are not but want the job indicate that you are. You will be on six months trial, if in this time you find you are not suited you can leave, or if they find out that you are not one of the Brethren you will be out anyway.

Remember if appointed as an Executive you must not sit at a table for your lunch with a lesser graded employee, or walk along the street with them chatting, and certainly not give that person a lift home even if he is your neighbour.

If you are prepared to be subservient and toe the line for the rest of your life good luck.

This is compact to save space.

[Sue]

KidKruger Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Oh, and forget the 'hobbies and interests' bit.

> I'm interviewing staff now and couldn't care less

> whether someone is a bell ringer, breeds newts in

> their pond in Kent or is almost qualified as a

> Scout master.

xxxxxx

Exactly.

Unless your hobbies and interests are directly relevant to the post you're applying for, you shouldn't include them (and whoever is sifting the CVs shouldn't be taking them into account either - they should be looking for information directly relevant to the requirements of the person spec).

[womanofdulwich]

I always thought they were there as ice breakers/ to see the candidates social skills. No longer?

[Loz]

They are there for the 'Attending Star Trek conventions' filter...

[????]

Big gap in advice so far, big. That is Monetise/Quantify achievements, this is a key element of a good CV and missing in so many I see.

So

"I headed up gang activity in SE22" becomes "As head of gang activity in SE22 we saw a 22% increase in mobile phones stolen"

"I was a key member of the clown troop" becomes "The clown troup I was in consistently scored highest customer satisfaction accross all circus acts throughout the summer"

"I introduced vegiterean Foie Gras to our menu" becomes "I introduced vegiterean Foie Gras to the menu and sales topped ?3000 in the first year"

etc

Demonstrate the return on investment on your skills and achievemnts - all wanky Management stuff maybe but so much better on a CV than just saying what you can do, big deal!

[womanofdulwich]

?????'s ,

If you are applying for your first taching job I cant think of any statistics that would help. All I can say is that I have spent hours in the ladies toilets in the past 20 years counselling crying secretaries after being treated badly by the boss? I have improved staff moral by 100%?

Made my targets? Who lives in a world where there is feedback as you suggest? Please tell me not everyone. WHo has the time or inclination?

I have had 100% success in all my grads qualified? who is going to check? isn't that all bullshit?