Some CV questions...

Creamy Goodness

Right i know some will - upon reading the thread title - be shouting Google it mofo'.

I have some questions that i can't seem to find answers for on Google or they are too career specific (Computer Science).

Ok so I’m in final year of college and i haven't got a job lined up for when i get my degree. I had a job lined up with Ericsson in Clonskeagh until they've announced the redundancies .

So I’ve thought i need to try and spruce up my CV.

The first CV i ever wrote was in November 2007 for my colleges work placement which landed me the job in Ericsson for 6 months.

The questions i have about my CV are as follows (I’ve attached it below).

1. I have various email addresses, i have a gmail.com one and a neilcremins.com one (which if you haven't guessed is my name) so I’m wondering which one would look better on a CV, <MY NAME>@gmail.com or <MY FIRST NAME> [at] neilcremins.com if i use my own domain one they'll be able to see my personal site, which although there's nothing bad could it look bad to a potential employer?

2. In college we had a CV prep class which told us to list subjects we had done in college and stick the mark you got in your best subject in as well. I know a CV is about selling myself but is it necessary to stick in marks? Also looking at my subject list I’ve done over 30 modules over the 4 years and I’ve tried to give a good blend between the programming and software eng. / business kind of subjects but it still seems kind of lopsided.

3. In my computer languages section i have in brackets certain areas of programming that were done eg. Socket Programming with C and Servlets, Enterprise Java Beans and JSF with Java. Again I’m not sure does this make me look good or make me look like I’m trying to say i know it all, which I’m far from that but i don't want to look incompetent as well.

4. Projects section will include my FYP when i finish that, i don't want to list it yet. Also can i talk about projects that i worked on in work placement? How much detail should i go into?

5. Are leaving cert results still relevant to stick in? I was originally told to put them in to fill up space (in that CV prep. class i had).

6. Other skills, i think looks fine, maybe i can stick in here that i learned about programming methodologies like extreme Programming, RUP and Agile in here.

7. My work history contains jobs i done for my father's business, where i worked under his business partner for one summer, i was employed to install an accounting package, router, hardware firewall etc. along with a server, 3 clients and 3 laptops. Will this look bad to a potential employer that my surname is in the company name? Its valid experience and I’d not like to take it out if possible.

The CV is attached below please feel free to nitpick (i.e. what to change, is the layout ok? etc.) at it as much as possible.

Thanks.

JmcG

I would highly recommend checking out this 'CV for Tech' guide done by a very successful DCU graduate.

I stumbled across it by accident a few months ago and found it very useful in rewriting my CV.

cronos

The numbers below match your post

1. Dont think it matters, it might look good that you have the technical knowledge/interest to create a website. But to be fair if you did comp science you would want to.

2. Its more important to tell the employer what you want to do in future than the subjects you have done. If your subjects are lopsided that means you have an interest in a particular area which is a good thing. Attach a full student transcript at the end if you want but your 2 page cv only needs your predicted final grade.

3. I think what your doing with the languages and putting the specifics in brackets is a really good idea. Stick with it

4. Read up on the web too hard to say in this case

5. Leaving cert points should go in unless they were bad. less than 300.

6. Other skills, i think looks fine, maybe i can stick in here that i learned about programming methodologies like extreme Programming, RUP and Agile in here. AGREED

7. My work history contains jobs i done for my father's business, where i worked under his business partner for one summer, i was employed to install an accounting package, router, hardware firewall etc. along with a server, 3 clients and 3 laptops. Will this look bad to a potential employer that my surname is in the company name? Its valid experience and I’d not like to take it out if possible. Keep it in and when it comes up at the interview just explain that you were being paid, you took it seriously as it was important for your dad's business and you did a high quality job.

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cronos

You might want to rephrase this sentence in your cv. "I am actively seeking in learning classical piano"

Change it to "I have recently begun to learn classical piano"

Offy

Add DOB maybe?

nesf

Drop the LC marks, your degree marks are what matter now tbh. Give overall degree mark and don't bother with individual subject marks (in my opinion). Describe your degree from a skills gained point of view rather than subject: mark point of view. Though if you've really good marks it's not the worst idea to emphasise them when you're short on work experience.

ladiee24

hey creamy goodness!

CV content looks good I work in recruitment so have a wee bit of experience in reading CV's.

1. with regard to your email address either or is totally acceptable what wouldn't be would be something along the lines of computergenius222@emailprovider.com

2. i'd go with your best marks for your final year i know you're not complete yet but average up any marks from continious assesment or honestly put in the mark your expecting & state this is an expected mark be realistic when doing this though.

3. i'd also agree with cronos re languages keep it as is.

4. i would give a mini introduction into what your FYP is & how you're working towards that try not to be too heavy on wording for this one it may run a small risk of sounding like blowing the trumpet too much but a brief intro is ideal.

5. for your leaving cert just state the year completed & total points you can take out subjects & levels those subjects were taken at not relevant anymore with your degree.

6. Other skills is fine but i would rename it to further skills & accomplishments.

7. again 100% agree with cronos keep this in it was paid work during summer months to expand on real time experience & fund your time out of college.

just with date of birth, marital status, health etc you are no longer leagally obliged to provide this information it's EU equality law.

the overall format of your CV isn't very impressive it looks like the Europass CV's that alot of people who don't have english as their first language pay to have written for them. i'd get online & really look at some different templates there's loads out there!

best of luck & i think you're being smart starting to look for something sooner rather than later. hope this helps.

robinb

Hey JmcG, thanks for linking to my "CV for Tech" :-)

-Robin (ByteSurgery).

Creamy Goodness

hey sorry for dragging up again but i have another question regarding sending CV's to companies.

I've found some jobs i want to apply to but i'm unsure what they looking for when they say

"if you would like to send us your CV, please attach a cover letter and email [email]jobs@<site>.com[/email]."

now obviously i attach a CV - i ain't that stupid - but the question i have is about the cover letter. do i write the cover letter in the body of the email or do i attach it separately to the email so i have two documents attached or do include the cover letter in with the CV so there's only one document that contains cover letter and CV.

i assume it's one of the 1st two options i think?

Eoin

It makes sense to put the cover letter in the email body, but the wording does suggest that they want it as a separate document - maybe easier to save it locally or something.