Here's my CV, insult it!

Civilian_Target

OK, I'm a student studying Computer Science and my work experience (that I was supposed to get) just fell through, and I'm trying to get a job. It's possible, however, that my CV is lumbering me.

Because I'm doing a joint degree, I get no information on writing a CV, no-ones ever really shown me how, and what I have here is my own formatting of a couple of friends CVs, although the info on it is God's honest truth.

So, am I over-waffling in the interest department, are my skills to vague, or am I doing something blatantly wrong? I've tried reading the sticky's at the top of the forum but a lot of the information in them in uninteligible

Please, make me an informed man.

NB. I've done my best to remove personal details, if I haven't, tell me so I can fix it. I could do without my own (or other peoples) details getting googled.

silverside

Looks good to me. You are pushing yourself strongly, but no harm in that.

Small points -
take out the word 'limited' from your knowledge of C++.

Have you done any Visual Basic? Recruiters love to see 'VB' on a CV. Even if you havent done much you could prbably bluff it.

and 'student' is not really a position. Change that to 'Currently studying blah at blah'.

Civilian_Target

I've done Basic, but not VB, so I can't bluff that one...

As for C++, how about a "working knowledge" of C++?

Good call on the position, definitely, that never even occured to me. So that people know I'm in 2nd year, I've added that to the top of eduction.

Imposter

Originally posted by Civilian_Target
I've done Basic, but not VB, so I can't bluff that one...

As for C++, how about a "working knowledge" of C++?

Good call on the position, definitely, that never even occured to me. So that people know I'm in 2nd year, I've added that to the top of eduction.

Working knowledge as I understand it would imply you can actually program something useful with C++. That's a huge jump up from limited C++. Just leave it at C++ and hope you don't get asked too many questions about it. Putting text in front of it will just invite questions on it should you get an interview.

WhiteWashMan

for you contact numbers, just use (+44) or (+353)
dont add your area code on there.
also, just use one contact number. who knows when students have term or not these days.

many of things you have said are subjective. you cannot prove youare an awsome programmer, or troubleshooter. give them facts and only facts.

that little story about christmas 99, lose it. it sucks.
'myself and ahandful of my classmates'

they are your colleagues, not your classmates!

whats the figures beside your modules? are they percentages?
are they out of 1000?
are they random numbers dropped from heavan? quantify.

no need to put your leaving results all down the page. you are wasting paper. also, you can fit the rest of your education stuff on the bottom of the page.

the layout is horrible. the presentation is horrible, and the content, sorry, is horrible


still, at least now you can fix it!

king_of_inismac

Hey man,

Structure, structure, structure!!!

Ok my first impression: your results are very good, but you should make that obvious. The structure of your cv doesn't lend itself to this at all!!

Take a look at ToxicPaddy's CV he posted earlier for an idea on how to structure your cv.

Next, get someone to proof-read your CV, the syntax of some of your paragraphs is terrible:
"I am currently learning PHP in my free time, thanks to its increased efficiency of
use in large sites"

What is "increased efficiency of use"?? I know what you're trying to say, just be more carefull.

Don't mean to be harsh man, your results are good, don't let yourself down with a bad CV ;-)

best of luck,
King

Civilian_Target

OK. This is the kind of thing I was hoping for.

Phone number-wise, I can't really change that I'm afraid, I go to college in the North and my family live in the South, but their phone is engaged all the time, so it's of absolutely no use. It's ugly I know, but there's not much I can do.

I'm aware that some of the stuff in the CV isn't great, particularly the "Other Experience" and "awards" section, but you've got to remember I'm a student, I haven't a lot of experience and I feel is better than saying "Team work comes from cleaning the corridors in hospitals." The real question is, should I be shortening it to a page if I do that?

I've heard conflicting views on whether to date my CV or not, but have dated it because it seems to make sense to me (as long as I update the date every time of course )

I couldn't find ToxicPaddys CV but will come back and look again later for it, because I have to go. Thanks, and keep the criticism coming

RicardoSmith

Originally posted by silverside
...
Have you done any Visual Basic? Recruiters love to see 'VB' on a CV. Even if you havent done much you could prbably bluff it.....

What happens when you are given a technical exam?

Civilian_Target

Yep. I was given a C++ exam at my last interview and I was so glad I said "Limited C++" on my CV

I can't find Toxicpaddys CV at all (it doesn't help that you can't search for CV), can anyone point me to it?

Civilian_Target

I got it upgraded again slightly, I changed one of my referees from a school teacher to a professor in university (with permission of course)

WhiteWashMan

Originally posted by silverside


Have you done any Visual Basic? Recruiters love to see 'VB' on a CV. Even if you havent done much you could prbably bluff it..

just noticed this.
to all you kids out here, this is the worst advice i have ever seen.

never ever ever say you can do something on a cv when you cant. if you are asked, and you cant answer, you wont get the job.
if they ask and you tell them you dont know everything, but you are learning, then you will look good.

never try and bluff anything in an interview. remember, the person is interviewing you because they probably know everything you have to do.

civilian_target, with regards the phone number issue, i simply meant remove the area code from within the brackets, and place it outside. you only put international dialing codes in brackets.
at least inthe rest of the world.

ToxicPaddy

Originally posted by king_of_inismac
..Take a look at ToxicPaddy's CV he posted earlier for an idea on how to structure your cv.

Huh????????????????

Did I post my CV here????

Tox

silverside

Just to clarify - I didnt mean put down VB if you did nothing with it. I meant 'even if you don't know much' not 'even if you know nothing' However if you have spent a few days coding something as a one off, then put it down as 'basic /working knowledge of X' and see how any questions go.

TBH if you know java/C++ and Basic, you could learn VB sufficient to debug other peoples code, within a few days.

king_of_inismac

sorry toxic-paddy,

I know there was some young lad posting his CV up here recently,

thought it was you, sorry man ;-)

king

isolde

I can be extremely pedantic, I must admit, so to some people this might not seem like a big deal, but it's a huge deal to me.. you were born on 1st of January, not 1th of January.

Also.. what about part-time jobs, summer jobs, any work you've done? You must have worked at something over the last few years. I'd scrap the transition year stuff, it's only transition year after all, and stick in details of proper paid employment that you've had.


~isolde

ToxicPaddy

Originally posted by king_of_inismac
sorry toxic-paddy,

I know there was some young lad posting his CV up here recently,

thought it was you, sorry man ;-)

king

Whew!!

Thought I was losing it there for a min

No worries mate

Tox

Civilian_Target

OK, first of all, I was born on the 9th of December, so that's why it because the 1th

And yes, I've had a little work since, but nothing I can post a reference for (ie. it's been very much 1 week, cash-in-hand jobs) but I really haven't got anyone I'd be putting on my CV to be honest.