winning CV's

[louisiana]

Anybody got any useful advice on CV's? Apart from the usual 'keep it to no more than two pages'.

I haven't written one in years...

[Pandora]

I've just gone through this...

Key things I've learnt having asked lots of different opinions, and also having done recruitment myself are as follows:

* Make it really easy for whoever is reading to find the relevant information. They owe you no favours! If they have 100 CVs to read, they're not going to faff around finding details, so make them stand out. Bullet points and headings are good for this.

* What is important to your career? This is what needs to stand out. For example, I'm a project manager, so prospective employers want to know that I can manage projects, and they want to know details of that e.g. budgets, how many people I managed, what results I got.

* I put work experience first, as I think that's the most relevant information for an employer. Most recent employer first.

I use the headings personal profile, career history (with responsiblities and key projects for the most recent one), key achievements, experience & skills, training, education and references.

I've also found this website really useful: Business Balls

Hope that helps! Also I think it's important to remember that your CV is personal to you, so you don't have to follow all the advice to the letter, it needs to reflect your personality as well! Good luck.

[????]

Make it results/ achievement focussed rather than "This is what I did"

- eg "Whilst I was front of van, Ice cream sales rose by 10% and the higher value add Double 99s by 20%"

Employers want to see evidence of achievement not what your job function was and most CVs are crap on this

Edited for: Employees/Employers what's the bloody difference

[Tony.London Suburbs]

louisiana Wrote:

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

> Anybody got any useful advice on CV's? Apart from

> the usual 'keep it to no more than two pages'.

> I haven't written one in years...

Lulu, just ensure that your grammer, spelling and punctuation are correct.

I'm here to offer advice if you require it.

[Tony.London Suburbs]

???? Wrote:

Make it results/ achievement focussed rather than "This is what I did" - eg "Whilst I was front of van, Ice cream sales

rose by 10% and the higher value add Double 99s "....

Thats fascinating Quids, I, wrongly, assumed that you were some kind of Broker in The City.

Where's your patch and do you have "Turf Wars?"....

[????]

Want a flake with that Tony?

[Tony.London Suburbs]

???? Wrote:

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> Want a flake with that Tony?

I'm not impartial to a "99" I must say Quids:))

Prefer the other varieties these days though..a "49" or "59" or, er. "79" or "89"...heard other variations are fun, as well.B)

[louisiana]

Tony.London Suburbs Wrote:

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

> louisiana Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Anybody got any useful advice on CV's? Apart

> from

> > the usual 'keep it to no more than two pages'.

> > I haven't written one in years...

>

> Lulu, just ensure that your grammer, spelling and

> punctuation are correct.

>

> I'm here to offer advice if you require it.

There speaks the master. All hail.

[Tony.London Suburbs]

louisiana Wrote:

I'm here to offer advice if you require it.

There speaks the master. All hail.

I proffer the offer of advice and help and all I get in return is a sarky reply.

Charmed I'm sure.."slips away head bowed, disconsolingly"....

Scientology for example - no proof there either is there? But we know it's nuts right?

[louisiana]

Tony.London Suburbs Wrote:

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

> louisiana Wrote:

> I'm here to offer advice if you require it.

>

> There speaks the master. All hail.

>

>

> I proffer the offer of advice and help and all I

> get in return is a sarky reply.

> "Lulu, just ensure that your grammer, spelling and

> punctuation are correct."

Check out the spelling, Tony. :)

>

> Charmed I'm sure.."slips away head bowed,

> disconsolingly"....

>

>

> Scientology for example - no proof there either is

> there? But we know it's nuts right?

[Tony.London Suburbs]

louisiana Wrote:

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

> Tony.London Suburbs Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > louisiana Wrote:

> > I'm here to offer advice if you require it.

> >

> > There speaks the master. All hail.

> >

> >

> > I proffer the offer of advice and help and all

> I

> > get in return is a sarky reply.

>

> > "Lulu, just ensure that your grammer, spelling

> and

> > punctuation are correct."

>

> Check out the spelling, Tony. :)

>

> >

> > Charmed I'm sure.."slips away head bowed,

> > disconsolingly"....

You've dun me up lyke a kipper Louisiana B)

I'm feeling disconsolate now:-S....

Scientology for example - no proof there either is there? But we know it's nuts right?

[woofmarkthedog]

Yeah print plenty of them, work is scarce out "there"

Good luck though

W**F

[bignumber5]

  Quote

just ensure that your grammer, spelling and punctuation are correct.

Tone, that really did make me chuckle! ;-)

I have only ever had to write my CV for one profession, though a few jobs (if you see what I mean) and I keep a rough skeleton saved on my hard drive with all the dates of courses etc updated once I get home from said course - saves the pain that is trying to dig them out when you need them. Beyond that, a paraphrasing of Quids: focus the info to the post.

[paulino]

I like Pandora's advice. Notice how she HASN'T got a heading entitled 'Hobbies and Interests'!

It makes me want to SCREAM when I get to that bit on people's CVs.

If you're stuck for space, references can also be eliminated - they're normally only required for successful candidates and you'll probably be asked to supply details if/when the time is right (although if you have some impressive referees then I guess it's good to keep them in for showing off).

[louisiana]

Thanks paulino and all.

The problem is getting a fair reflection of 30 years' stuff in there and prioritising (when you have a pretty busy portfolio career).

And working out the priorities when it's board/trustee stuff is slightly tricky. (In other words, the voluntary stuff more important that the paid stuff in this context.)

Hobbies? Who has time for those?

[Tony.London Suburbs]

Pandora Wrote:

I use the headings personal profile, career history (with responsiblities and key projects for the most recent one), key achievements, experience & skills, training, education and references.

I've also found this website really useful: Business Balls

Good thought process Pandora.

Its always refreshing to see someone thinking outside the box...

[Keef]

Just get head hunted, saves the need to write one.

[giggirl]

Don't overlook the importance of a good covering letter. The covering letter is your opportunity to tell the prospective employer what you can do for them and how good a fit you will be in their organisation. 2 - 3 short paragraphs at most. Most people write a covering letter along the lines of "please see CV enclosed". What a wasted opportunity. Sell yourself. Stand out. But don't overdo it or you'll look like a jerk. And another thing - don't use glib phrases like "exciting opportunity". Sick making and unimaginative.

When you've written your CV and covering letter and you've proof read them half a dozen times each, give them to someone else to proof read.

Good luck.