Geddon

Anyone know any good websites that help with CVs?
Got to write mine and could do with some help with format and content.
Cheers

GaryK

well everyone has their own views and ways, me I always reckon no longer than 3 pages, work history with most recent first and DONT include your hobbies, you may (will and yes Ive seen it) get judged on what they are!

Gary

P.S. O and lie like hell about your qualifications, worked for me for about 10 years!

mart360

no longer than 1 sheet of a4 any longer, and will more than likly be rejected on the first cut..

needs to have a brief resume of your career, high points targets etc.

then brief summary of previous jobs / responsibilitys


do not mention previous salarys age qualification grades unless specifically asked


Mart

Scooby96

Geddon, email sean@jacksonrundle.co.uk - he used to own and run iwantacv.com - now into recruitment (jr)

Jerome

This site was thrown up by google.

I've done lots of job searching and a fair bit of interviewing and reviewing of CV's. So, further to the standard advice, I would suggest:-

Never lie on a CV. A decent interviewer will expose many lies. Even if you get the job, any lies may come back to haunt you years down the line. Reasonable exageration on the other hand is fair game.

Try and avoid cliches, eg. "Excellent written and oral communications skills". Be more creative if possible.

Spell and grammar check. Get someone else (whose English is excellent) to double check it. Ensure all apostrophes are used correctly. Look out for using a words that the spell/grammar checker might miss, eg. "there" instead of "their".

Don't include personal interests unless relevant to the job. Not many people get hired because they are good at knitting.

Ensure all alignment is correct - paragraphs, bullet points etc all line up down the page.

Ensure the cover letter and each page of your CV have your name somewhere at the top. Number the pages of the CV also.

Check consisitency - the same font & font size for heading etc.

HTH

Geddon

Cheers guys.
Any more?

Rachael

I bought a professional CV writer for the PC. It has 250 different templates, covering letters and all sorts. I needed to do a CV for a temping firm.. with this, it took a matter of minutes, and looks pretty good.
It gives suggested phrases, a 'dirty dozen' of things to avoid in a CV, and is so easy to edit.
It cost me £10,and will definitely be used again!
GSP CV writer. (Instant Solutions)

Brendan Hughes

Sorry, it had to be done...

Jerome

Brendan you swine

I thought I'd got away with that one...

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

I disagree with this comment.

My boss is an old school FD and wants to see a rounded person. Not someone who is 9 to 5!

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Surely this would depend on the type of role you are applying for!

I've always been told that anymore than two pages and they will normally be the first to go!

See my last comment! Hard to get a rounded person from just one side of A4 in most cases (especially with the IT Professional CV's I've seen)

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

There are several formats and layouts that can be used. (All depending on what sort of career, what skills, etc are required)

Basically there will be one that makes you and your skills shine!

I've found the format that works for me and I was initially told that I was overqualified for the roles I was applying for. I even had to 'dumb down' some of my skills and experiences to get my foot in the door!

I've learnt not to change the CV, but rather aim slightly higher!!