The Perfect CV

[Sark79]

If you were an employer, what would you expect from an applicants CV?

I am in the process of updating mine at the moment. 

thanks

[mikkyT]

Concise and to the point. Professional looking, but not OTT. Certainly I would expect it to be wordprocessed at the minimum. If you cant go to the effort of using free computers at the library and spending 10p for printing, then you are not worth employing.

3 pages at a maximum. If you are moving from one job to another after working for 5-6 years I do not expect to have to read details of how you were a 5-star employee at McDonalds on Saturdays during your summer break waiting for your GCSEs.

Similarly, I want to see the highest standard of education achieved and keep the rest really brief. Its best to get this information onto the first page, after your current position. Again, if you have been working for more than a couple of years, education is not the most important and should go at the back, after your job history. Outlining your key skills on the first page is paramount. Many people will not read your CV, they will simply scan it looking for buzz words that catch their eye. Certainly this is the case with many professional positions.

My own CV goes like this:

Name, contact information

Core skills (Eg. "Extensive use of C, C++ programming languages, Embedded operating systems, Mobile phones incluing propietory OS. Symbian Series 60 & UIQ. Web design, PHP & SQL,  & etc etc etc)

Personal statement (I am a hard working blah blah blah) KEEP IT BRIEF.

Present position

Brief work history

Education

Outside interests

References

[marcro]

Try doing a google search for "perfect cv".

[mikkyT]

In fact if you want to look at my CV, its prob online somewhere anyway...

[TightEnd]

and remember not to lie, even though 25% of all CVs contain whoppers accoriding to an article I read last week

Potential employers will also want any breaks from the employment market explained.

[Sark79]

Concise and to the point. Professional looking, but not OTT. Certainly I would expect it to be wordprocessed at the minimum. If you cant go to the effort of using free computers at the library and spending 10p for printing, then you are not worth employing.

3 pages at a maximum. If you are moving from one job to another after working for 5-6 years I do not expect to have to read details of how you were a 5-star employee at McDonalds on Saturdays during your summer break waiting for your GCSEs.

Similarly, I want to see the highest standard of education achieved and keep the rest really brief. Its best to get this information onto the first page, after your current position. Again, if you have been working for more than a couple of years, education is not the most important and should go at the back, after your job history. Outlining your key skills on the first page is paramount. Many people will not read your CV, they will simply scan it looking for buzz words that catch their eye. Certainly this is the case with many professional positions.

My own CV goes like this:

Name, contact information

Core skills (Eg. "Extensive use of C, C++ programming languages, Embedded operating systems, Mobile phones incluing propietory OS. Symbian Series 60 & UIQ. Web design, PHP & SQL,  & etc etc etc)

Personal statement (I am a hard working blah blah blah) KEEP IT BRIEF.

Present position

Brief work history

Education

Outside interests

References

Thanks.   I am on the right path then.  It has been a while since I changed anything on it, so I will take this on board 

[AndrewT]

Make sure your spelling and grammar are perfect (if you're not hot at this get someone to check it before you send it out anywhere)

Lay it out nicely in Word - don't spew out reams of condensed text. Use bullet points, tables with white borders (so they don't show on the page) and plenty of white space.

Don't just list what you did at previous jobs, list what good things you did. Think in terms of achievements, not responsibilities.

Get as much of the information that will get you an interview on the first page (ie no marital status, GCSE results, nationality, date of birth - this can go at the end, if needed)

Three pages at an absolute maximum.

Don't mention the mushrooms thing.

[Royal Flush]

and remember not to lie, even though 25% of all CVs contain whoppers accoriding to an article I read last week

Potential employers will also want any breaks from the employment market explained.

 

[Colchester Kev]

Always mention a criminal record, they will find you out if you dont.

[TightEnd]

Oh and Sark....

Or cacti

Or Thomas the Tank Engine

Or horses.

Not Too much anyway

[AndrewT]

and remember not to lie, even though 25% of all CVs contain whoppers accoriding to an article I read last week

25%!! That's a very conservative estimate, I'd reckon. Or are you not counting embellishing as lying?

Potential employers will also want any breaks from the employment market explained.

That's an easy one - just say you supported yourself playing internet poker, developing key skills in logical thinking, risk evaluation, financial management and discipline.

[mikkyT]

Employers aren't usually concerned with any breaks from the employment market at the CV stage, that can be covered at interview stage (actually leaves you something to talk about...). It depends upon the market you are applying for. In the technology market, turnover is very high and certainly at this time, companies are always going bust and redundancies are commonplace. Make sure however that you can explain what you have been doing. If you have been away from the job market for a length of time, make sure you can show how you have kept your skills up to date.

It would help sark if you stated what type of career you have or what is your target job market.

All CVs contain whoppers. Dont do it however tempting. However feel free to exagerate the truth. Thats what these things are for, they are for making you look good.

[Sark79]

and remember not to lie, even though 25% of all CVs contain whoppers accoriding to an article I read last week

Potential employers will also want any breaks from the employment market explained.

I have a few breaks, but most of my previous work experience was cash in hand labouring type work. So it is impossible to write exactly what I have been doing.  Earlier today I had two telephone interviews, one for a bank and the other for a call centre. I did ok in those and they said after I send them my CV, they will arrange an interview.


lol,  no cacti or Thomas or Horses.  I may mention the Tweenies briefly though, I am an expert on the show

[TightEnd]

Good luck Sark

I should say I meant explain break in the interivew, not the CV

[kinboshi]

I'm currently involved in the recruitment side, so here's my tips:

1.  Two pages - maximum.  Anything more is waffle.

2.  Don't want to know about your hobbies or inside leg measurement, unless relevant to the job (can talk about these at the interview if important.

3.  Don't put references on the CV, but you can say that they are available on request (if you must).

4.  Don't include DOB, Nationality, Race, etc.  These things are not relevant, and you open yourself up to discrimination at the initial stage if you include them.

5.  No photo (unless it's a modelling job).

6.  Make the experience relevant.  Tailor your CV for each job you are applying for.  If you have worked somewhere that is very applicable to the job you are going for, focus on this area and maybe reduce the focus on less relevant bits.

7.  Print it out on nice paper.  If I get a CV on toilet paper, what does that make me think of you?  Yes, you will have probably emailed a copy to them (or via a recruitment consultant), but this might be a crap photocopy.  Take a nicely printed and up-to-date version in (take in 3 or more just to make sure everyone can have a copy) - this will reflect well on you.

8.  The CV gets you in the door (or shuts it in your face), give the recruiter a reason to want to see you, and not reasons to turn you away.

9.  The cover letter is just as important.  This needs to be very tailored and relevant.  Don't just re-hash what you've said in your CV - they don't want your life history in a cover letter.

10.  Spell check it.  Then check it again.  Then get someone else to check it.  Then check it again...