Kevin Groat

Anyone give me any good advice or links on producing a CV that employers will sit up and take note of. Or should anyone have a template they'd be prepared to forward - even better, please email it to me.

Thanks in advance

Kevin.

S55 HOT

Always remeber what the purpose of a CV is.

It's not to get you a job.

It's to get you an interview.

You need to include enough relevant detail to establish credibility, but leave enough unsaid that they want to talk to you.

CV's that are too long or too detailed are a complete turn off - aim for 2 pages.

Also tailor your CV for each job - read the advert/requirements and make sure you have addressed all the points in it.
Research something about the company and make sure that your CV is relevant to what you're applying for.

I see loads of CV's and most of them fail on these basic items. For example I work in IT for an Investment Bank and I got one recently where the guy wanted to work here because he was very interested in circuit design - straight into the bin.....

Amanda-Jane

I've noticed recently that some companies are only accepting Microsoft template CV's how boring!

Amanda

Diesel

Keep it short and concise. Include a brief line on interests/hobbies (I always interview the guy that has Scoobys or racing on his CV ) and add a short covering letter that doesn't repeat info in the CV too much.

Include a good short showreel if you are going for a presenter's job

(this may not apply for more formal professions, but it's the type I like to get...)

ADP

find someone else whos got a good un! Then copy the format.

I had mine done by a friend who does em for a living, I ll let you have a copy if you want? then you can delete all my blurb and put your own stuff in - if suitable?

andy

ScoobyK

On the interests, try and put a lot down, and keep them brief - the more that are down, the more there is likely to be something in common with the person reviewing the CV - and it always helps for "small talk" in the interview.

Also try and list your "career highlights" or "successes" that really show what you are capable of....and good luck

Kevin Groat

Thanks for all the advice. Andy, wouldn't mind seeing a decent version if you don't mind mailing it to me.

groatkj@v21mail.co.uk

Thanks

RoShamBo

iTrader: (1)

Always include a team sport (rugby / footie) as well as an individual sport (orirnteering etc) on your interests.

The rugby shows that you are a team player & the orienteering shows that you can work as an individual too.

Ro.

Regacy

Interesting view.
I read a large number of CVs a week and I'd offer 1 piece of advice....
Tell the truth, in most cases you'll get caught out and even if it's years later it's grounds for dismissal. (Useful trick if you want to get rid of someone go back and check out their CV in detail.)
r

STi-Frenchie

You are getting a lot of VERY good advice in this thread. Any time I have a position going I see lots of CVs, 200-300 is not uncommon so think about how to make yours stand out a bit more than the rest.

My selection process usually goes like this -

1st casualties - any CV which has a spelling mistakes. There is no excuse for this - you have spellcheckers so use them. Poor spelling and grammar shows sloppiness which no employer wants.

2nd in the line of fire - those CVs which don't address the requirements of the job, i.e. skills don't match. No point in applying for an IT position if you are an accountant and vice-versa. It usually ain't gonna happen.

3rd to go - those CVs which run to more than 2 pages - 3 maximum. I don't need Stephen King's ramblings tomes when Dean Koontz gets to the point a lot faster.

This quick-selection process, believe it or not, will get me to a short-list of maybe 20-30 candidates within an hour or two.

Lastly, a concise (couple of short paras) and well written covering letter cuts to the chase and can get your CV put to the side for later perusal, so give that some thought.

Good luck !

GaryK

see thats the thing with CVs everyone has a different view on them, I never put interests/hobbies down because I have actually been alongisde maangers that wont interview people cos they judge them on their interests!

Gary

RB5320

when writing down your employment history dont just describe the job you did, try to show what you brought to that job. for example - if you were in sales (which I am) dont put - "responsible for selling product X by cold-calling, visiting clients, etc". everyone knows already what a sales job entails. instead, try to say how you increased the sales of product x by your innovative approach.

steve

Diesel

Gary - interests can get a chat going which I prefer to help finalise the decision. (Err dont put pornography or sadism/animal cruelty/hunting in there though )

I really like seeing enthusiasm in people (a fantastic and positive character trait) and have delivered it and received it in interview situations... I think it goes a long way - you need someone that people can get on with , not just someone that will be brilliabt at the job. I wont expand/write further, but hope you get my drift...