CV discussion

nesf

Ok, due to the crazy amount of threads on here lately about CVs lets try and collect some information for people here.

1 page CV or 2? Formatting? Fully justified? Font? Colour/No colour? etc etc

Got advice or an opinion? Share it here.

Ideally, give advice based on industry/field. What works as a CV in IT wouldn't work in academics, legal etc.

ArthurDent

Work in Pharmaceutical field and also in Education, have interviewed candidates in both fields. Some things pretty universal.
Keep fonts and colours simple - if you're reading through 40 or 50 CV's itallics and lots of underlining and bold just ends up pi$$ing you off.
Spell check, spell check and spell check and then give it to a friend to read - if it comes down to a choice between two candidates for interview and there are grammatical errors and typos in one cv the other one wins out.

2 pages max.

Only give full details of highest qualifications. If you have degree - don't give leaving cert results, if you have an MSc don't give breakdown of college results all thorugh undergrad (unless something it's key to why you should be given job)

If you a "padding" and pretty much everyone does - don't outright lie - very often the person interivewing you will know someone in your company and will pick up the phone and ask - do you know so-and-so, did he really do......

on a totally personal level I HATE the section on past-times and hobbies - everyone reads, goes to the cinema and travels, but if you are going to out it in please have a better answer for - what was the last book you read than - David Beckhams biography

Also - as so many people going for the job you want probably have the same/similar qualifications and experience as you - make a bit of an effort in your covering letter (probably not so true if you are going through an agency). Try and pinpoint why you would be a good fit for the job or why you really want this job

hope this helps

deevey

I hear lots of people saying one or two pages max .. but...

I was unemployed the past three weeks and had known my job was ending ..so a week before (yeah I know not alot of time) I started sending out the CV's

My CV is, at this stage 4 pages long!! :O

2 Colour Navy and black and i send as a PDF and Word Doc, last 3 interviews they only opened the PDF BTW.

So far...

4 interviews (2 jobs I rejected after the interview)

3 agencies calling me to let me know they will be putting me forward.

1 job ... I start on monday - not bad for 3 weeks i'd say ?

I'v also had alot of interested email replies, many saying they will contact me when they are doing the interviews..I dont have time to sit on my butt though.

My experience is very varied to say the least and I feel that all the information that is on it is relevant and did not include stuff like "I like chatting with friends in yahoo messenger in my spare time".

As far as writing a CV goes I think that you need to include anything that may of use in the job you go for, in my case it was a combination of everything I'v been doing since I was sixteen, I think the layout is good and what duties I had in the job bullet pointed for easy reading.

A long but clear transparent layout sometimes may be better and needless to say a follow up call will almost always work wonders if its email (all of mine) a well worded cover letter will also prompt them to look at your CV no matter the length, with more interest.

I should note my cover letters are generally a synopsis of my interest and experience in the field of this job, again with no unessesary information.

My CV has almost always been this length BTW (except out of school when it was 3 pages) and has got me 5 jobs so far... after the last few I started phasing out info about the older jobs.

AARRRGH

If you did not complete your Degree, don't mention that on your CV.

If you were fired from a job (which was short lived), don't put it on your CV.

Spell check, grammar check, spell check, grammar check!!!

p~b

what should you do to fill the page if you havent had a job yet