Check my CV

[gambitt]

That's a lot better. I've made a few more suggestions for minor changes. The dates thing it just a personal preference for me. They don't really care about the exact date you started and finished a job but it's quicker to read "2007 (3 months)" instead of "03.06.07 - 06.09.07". They will only glance over the first page in a matter of seconds so they don't want to start calculating dates in their head. Like I said it's only minor.

Not sure how to comment on the "Career highlights" section as I've never seen it done like that before. I would probably split that info between a section called Expertise (basically bullet points of software with versions) and the rest of it under your Career history section.

Maybe I'm being a bit harsh with the Interests section

http://www.2shared.com/file/GRy6lsXI/Alexs_CV_2_-_Copy2.html

I'm currently re-writing my CV at the moment which explains my sudden interest in them

 

[meghatronic]

tl; dr: add skills throughout. - I dont understand that bit

I meant if you couldn't be bothered to read my entire post, just add skills throughout the cv.

E.g. from gambitt's cv:

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. CATI Project Interviewer. Working on various projects for clients over the telephone. Excellent telephone communication skills were required to succeed.

Whilst I would maybe word it different he has told us what he did, where he did it and the skills learnt.

 

[gambitt]

haha where did that quote come from meghatronic?

I stole this from a contractor forum, I found it amusing and relevant:

One of the things that seems to take ages to realise is that:

a) some clients like CVs that look like permie CVs otherwise they get confused.

b) some clients like CVs that come across as hard-hitting consultants problem-fixers, sorter-outers because that is what they are looking to hire.

c) some clients expect CVs to show achievements and results because that is what they are buying.

d) some clients want a one-page CV with one line per role because they are so busy and so organised they like similarly organised people around them.

e) some clients want a bound, 20-page dissertation of what you can do for them and the evidence to prove it to make them feel comfortable.

f) there might even be one or two clients that actually like the generic CVs produced by the CV writing service companies, but they are mad.

g) some people say "you're in business - since when do businesses do CVs?".

A CV is a marketing brochure, the purpose of which is to convince the client they should interview you. One of the above is the correct format for the client ... but which one? You won't know until you meet the client. (But you won't meet the client unless they like your CV. Yes, the process demonstrates Catch-22 attributes.)

Any two people random people will, on average, fight to the death to say CV type 4 is right versus CV type 7. If you ask 20 different people, you will get 30 to 40 different opinions. Every book on the subject has a different opinion.

Just use whatever YOU think sells you best into the market segment you are wanting to sell yourself into.

 

[Guest2]

E.g. from gambitt's cv:

Whilst I would maybe word it different he has told us what he did, where he did it and the skills learnt.

Thats what I had in my CV

Gambitt just marked with red bits that can be changed. Thanks guys, ill have another edit tonight. I'll remove juggling and change the weight training part as that does sound a bit cheesy. maybe just something like 'I enjoy weight training and keeping fit'

Ill have a think about career highlights part. I do want to get a list of skills, like the matrix in there but its keeping it to 2 pages thats the hard part

 

[meghatronic]

Thats what I had in my CV

Gambitt just marked with red bits that can be changed.

Ill have a think about career highlights part. I do want to get a list of skills, like the matrix in there but its keeping it to 2 pages thats the hard part

Doh. I was reading the wrong version then -- slow week.

Don't worry about 2 pages. .... There are always columns.

 

[Dazza_Random]

Yea defo make it 2 pages

 

[HangTime]

-Ditch Skills matrix (no harm in compressing it down and just listing some under 'specialist experience' or something though)
-Career 'highlights' just looks like you've listed all the things of note you've done, not saying that you should exclude all that experience, just to me if someone considers "updating asset register" as a career highlight I would be worried about how much they can handle.
-Why not include some stuff about your time as a Software Developer in career highlights? Surely there must be something you can call upon there that is more impressive that the list of support tasks?
-Remove referees unless you've got something out of the ordinary on there
-Interests and hobbies, chop it down enough so that you can fit everything on 2 pages along with the other changes. "In future I wish to take more winter holidays as I also enjoy the cooler climate." isn't going to land you IT jobs

 

[QlimaxUK]

I cant access it, just wont download.

i cant either
i better take 'awesome ability to download CV off a heavy spam site' off my CV

 

[Guest2]

Ok, its been updated now (again)

I’m reading fixed views on the referees part of the CV. Is it referees or references? Some are saying references, some referees

Also, some people are saying to list them as its important but others are saying just put ‘references available upon request’

edit - stuff like this


A recent story of mine:

After one telephone interview, recruiter told me the client needed some references. I forgot my own rules, and gave my references to the recruiter. Ah ah, the troubles started!!!! They probably did not give my references to the client, but bothered my references a lot and did something else pretty bad.

In this situation, I should have asked the client's email, and sent to the him/her directly!

edit 2.

Is this correct?

Mr Smith is one of my Referees

Mr Smith provided me with a written Reference

Not

Mr Smith is my Reference

 

[meghatronic]

referee - A person who writes a letter of reference for someone
reference - information about a person, provided by someone (a referee) with whom they are well acquainted

 

[Guest2]

referee - A person who writes a letter of reference for someone
reference - information about a person, provided by someone (a referee) with whom they are well acquainted

Thanks. Stupid US English

 

[meghatronic]

Thanks. Stupid US

Fixed.

 

[meghatronic]

edit