The CV

WhiteWashMan · 27-03-2002 10:32am #1

ok, i figure we should probably have a little sticky thread about cv's and resúmes so im going to start one of.
i will post up whatever i find that looks like good advice.
anyone else who has some interesting points stick em up.
i will also post up my own CV at some stage if i can find it, so you can take pointers etc.
and remember, the CV is only there to get you the interview, so you want to promote yourself completely.
point out your obvious greatness.
tell them all about how bloody wonderful you are
tell them how fantastic you are at team work, but....
also tell them how you would make a marvelous team lead
explain to them how invaluable you would make yourself to the company.
make them understand why you should be the one they want.

you know, the usual. the CV should be the biggest ego boost you ever give yourself.
now, go get that interview......

ButcherOfNog · 28-03-2002 2:20pm

Get someone else to read over it when your finished, not for spell checking/grammer etc, but just to see how it reads and what sort of image you're giving of yourself. The person you choose to do this should be someone that will be able to tell you 'you sound like a right wanker from this cv'.

I get a few CV's in every week, i mark them with a tic if they seem good enough to interview, an X if they're unsuitable and a W if they sound like a wanker.

Don't go completely overboard on the 'I'm the best, I'm a god' stuff, don't go into too much detail on your hobbies and outside of work interests, for instance I really don't want to read nor do I need to know that you have the nose cone of a F1 McClaren in your bedroom, it just makes you sound a wee bit deranged

GoneShootin · 03-04-2002 12:57pm

any chance of putting up the IDEAL cv ? i know each one should be personalised to each job application, but just to give ppl an idea

leeroybrown · 03-04-2002 1:08pm

Which reminds me, ...

I really need to put together a proper CV.

Employers/HR People out there what do you really want to see.

I've always tended towards a CV that focuses on Skills, Projects, Experience etc. I always find filling out the Hobbies and Interests a pain in the ass (I play soccer once a week as part of a ...). All that crap seems to be a waste of space when you want to fit a clear and concise resume on two pages.

I'm just wondering do potential employers actually pay any attention to that section when selecting the candidates to call back for a full interview.

alb · 03-04-2002 1:23pm

2 pages? I was recently complimented by an interviewer for keeping it down to one page. Whats your opinions on this?

dazberry · 08-04-2002 10:37pm

Basically keep your CV as free from fluff as you can, and no essays.

I've been using the same format CV for the last 7 years, and have only ever had one criticism, which IMO was unfounded. My CV lists all my experience with relevant details, and if you want to know more indepth details, ask me at the interview

My CV consists of
Personal
Education
Tools experience - for software development

Work Experience - for same!

No hobbies, no mission statement, no unrelated experience when I was 16 etc., just what I've used, what I've done, and where I've done it. With the experience my CV has just creeped onto the 4th page which is a bit long IMO, I generally aim around 3.

So if you can, keep it short, brief and to the point ...

papashiv0 · 26-04-2002 11:44am

Originally posted by leeroybrown

I always find filling out the Hobbies and Interests a pain in the ass (I play soccer once a week as part of a ...). All that crap seems to be a waste of space when you want to fit a clear and concise resume on two pages.

A few hobbies can't hurt shows you have interests and that you can interact with other ppl. But your right they are a pain in the h0le to fill out.

Hellrazer · 26-04-2002 12:05pm

Personally I prefer to see a 1 page resume arrive on my desk.
As papashiv0 says knowing peoples hobbies etc. is not what I want.All I want to know is that a person can do the job.If there cv/resume can show that then they will be interviewed.
Another thing which some people consider a small item and dont bother to put on their CV is if they are a keyholder for a previous employer-This shows a high level of trust and should be included.

Heres a hilarious example of a Cv I got in one day regarding a job.
Under hobbies this person put down that they like walking and socialising and since the CV came from someone I though would be suited to the job I decided to interview.
Me:So I see you like walking-what type of walking do you do,is it hillwalking and if so where do you walk.
Interviewee:Well its not really hillwalking that I do.I walk from my gaff to the birds gaff and back home later on(done in best finglas accent)
So I said to myself here we.
So I then asked about the socialising aspect on the CV.Asked was he involved in sport/social clubs or similar.
The reply;Well I hang around at the corner with lads a few flaggons and a bit of smoke.
Needless to say this guy didnt get the job.

Gaz · 26-04-2002 12:20pm

My 2 cents ...

When listing your duties/tasks of previous jobs, do it in short bullet points. They are easier to read than a big essay. When you consider the amount of CV's some positions get , they may be only looked at for 30 seconds, you want your CV to convey as much info as possible in that time !!!

Karoma · 08-07-2002 10:20am

confident not arrogant

confident not arrogant (everything on the page should back you/your image up)
anything over 1 page better be worth it (it's best to restrict yourself to 1 page-conent will improve. but NOT if it means sacrificing the layout-clutter kills your chances from the very start)

WhiteWashMan · 09-07-2002 2:04pm

Originally posted by Karoma
confident not arrogant
confident not arrogant (everything on the page should back you/your image up)

anything over 1 page better be worth it (it's best to restrict yourself to 1 page-conent will improve. but NOT if it means sacrificing the layout-clutter kills your chances from the very start)

1 page is a resúme.
2 pages is a cv.

dont mix the two up....

Lump · 07-08-2002 12:42am

Hmmmm, said I'd stick my nose in here.

Basically when I was in secondary school, my guidence teacher told me to keep my CV simple, formal, and plain. (Standard B+W, no pics etc......) However now that I am in college the tutor of our course gave us a lecture on CV writing..... Oh dear god I thought, not this crap again. However he told us to use colour, design, photo's etc. TBH I prefere the formal approach, what are peoples views on this?

John

Wook · 08-08-2002 2:48pm

hmmm , i am in kinda trouble then with my 4 page CV....

pika · 14-08-2002 2:22pm

I recently was looking to change jobs and the feed back I was getting from agencies was that they ask you questions and they alter your cv to fit??? 3 or 4 agencies asked me to email my cv and said dont worry I will clean it up for you !! I shoul of asked for it to be mailed back. But they generally want is...
1 name,
2 address,
3 dob,
4 schools, (as this was one of the main topics of my interviews)
5 exam results, be breif as 5 honors 3 passes will do for LC
6 work (general outline of what you do
7 references
all the above should be on pg 1 bar references which is pg 2.

Hope this helps, as I got lots of offers of jobs and was called for 12 interviews (took the first one)

Good Luck.

Hobart · 14-08-2002 2:30pm

Never ever ever let an agency send out your amended CV/Resume without getting a look at it. Always read your CV before an interview. Kepp it short and snappy. No colour, no pic's and nothing on hobbies etc..... All that crap is for the interview,

Make sure and contact your referees before your prospective employeer does. And do not tell fibs..

Kolodny · 14-08-2002 5:46pm

Good point Hobart, I work for an agency and I've seen them change bits of CVs to suit to the job they're trying to place the candidate in and it's really caused problems for some people once they've stared the job: "What do you mean, you DON'T have fluent French, German, Spanish, Portugese, Chinese and Swahili?! If we'd known that, we never would have hired you!"

Ok, maybe not that bad, but they will exaggerate certain points if it means making a decent amount of commission for themselves out of it.

Victor · 14-08-2002 5:51pm

Does anyone know where I can get sample CVs?

Kolodny · 14-08-2002 5:55pm

I'll sell you some (joking). A lot of recruitment websites have sample CVs, can't think of any off hand though.

CareerSearcher · 15-08-2002 9:20am

As the last post indicated, there are many online facilities now to create or build a CV. Most are excellent.

Generally,

- Two pages MAX
- Well organised
- Important information easily read, highly visible and understood
- Indicate your key achievements (what you actually did)
- Be relevant
- Change the CV content for each job application if required.
- Emphasise the key elements that you have experience in
- Rule of thumb:
Page1: Contact information 1/4 page
Career Summary: 1/4 page
Education 1/4 page

CareerSearcher · 15-08-2002 9:36am

Ooop's!

Hit the wrong button.

Where possible top half of first page should be made up with your contact information, summary details and educational qualifications.

The bottom half of the first page should start on your most recent experience.

In this way you are getting at the most important information within 1/2 a page.

At most 3/4 page should be given to contact, summary and educational.

It is vital to have experience on first page to keep the reader interested and to get your CV ahead where relevant.

Second page should be 3/4 experience.

Remainder should indicate general information: example drivers licence, interests and hobbies very briefly.

Lastly, indicate that references are available on request.

After that you need a good cover letter......

IMPORTANT READING: Have a look at www.irelandHiring.com where there is an excellent and free CV builder which allows you to print or save for future use. It does a pretty good job at creating a good CV.

Happy job hunting!

GoneShootin · 26-09-2002 1:16pm

as per discussion in another thread on this very forum (STICKY IDEA) I am slapping up my Resume

id appreciate any comments on it, helpful or otherwise, and should u know of a job that it suits please let me know

also, if it can be of some help to others, then thats just great too

seamus · 26-09-2002 1:30pm

I've always worked with the same format. Each set of info in a small block, separated by a single line.

Example:
http://www.boards.ie/members/seamus/CV.html - In very basic html

Any pointers?

I went a bit overkill on the computers bit, but I normally edit mine depending on what type of job I'm going for. I also have the exact same in MS Word format, so I can send it to less tech-savvy employers

Kix · 27-09-2002 1:20pm

I don't think it's already been said:

Avoid bindings of any type. A simple staple in the top left corner is perfect. Two pages in a complex plastic monstrosity does not look more professional, it just looks ridiculous.

Employers will rip your CV out of it, throw the pages in the bin and use the binder for their stamp collections. You have been warned.

K

Promo · 07-01-2003 1:55pm

Check out the CV Builder under "Career Tools" on this page....easy to use and very helpfull

Promo · 07-01-2003 1:56pm

Sorry this is the link

edited to remove link...

WhiteWashMan · 09-01-2003 12:01pm

Originally posted by Promo
Sorry this is the link

two things.

1) the layout of that CV is awful.

2)what happens to the details that are inputed? do they get added to a database for you to use in recruitment?

Promo · 09-01-2003 1:47pm

That layout enables over 2000 people a year to get jobs, so I think it's effectiveness is reasonably well proven.

The details are not captured on the database unless you explicitly decide to register those details yourself. In fact most CV builder users are completely unknown to the database.

WhiteWashMan · 09-01-2003 2:21pm

well, ok then, i dont like the layout.

and it doesnt get people jobs.
people get people jobs, cv's get people interviews.

and im still not happy that the details are not kept and used, so im still not going to allow it.

however, i have left your other two links in because they are free and htey are useful and there is no catch.
if someone feels the need to browse your site and use the cv maker, then good for them, and good for you.

lets leave it at that shall we?

Promo · 09-01-2003 2:23pm

Chaos-Engine · 10-01-2003 2:42am

Don't make a Generic CV.
Some CV's should truely be portfolio's
And again. Tailor the CV to the Job you are applying for.
If its IT. DO include what you have done and your IT skills.
it its not an IT job. Don't...

pretty straight forward

And formal is always better. If you want that jazzy CV get a web site.

[Iramus] · 26-05-2003 3:29pm

i just wanna say this a a really helpful thread. I was kind of lost when it came to the CV. This was a great help.

Cheers;)

The CV

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