I'll annoy you with this one. CV critique please?

Al Vallario

Al Vallario

Al Vallario

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Joined
3 Aug 2005
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UK
I just uploaded the most recent copy of my CV to my website. Was just wondering if anyone could provide some pointers on how I could improve it? I know I'm not exactly ProOrWhat, and I could never hope to achieve his level of earning, but any pointers would be much appreciated.

Available here: http://www.guanhill.com/contents/documents/CVJanuary1.doc

Many thanks in advance. ;)

Edit: Terrible mistake, see post below
 
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First thought, without reading anything was where is the work experience?
I like the use of colour, especially to separate the 'quick info' section.
Only provide 1 email account, setup [email protected] or recruitment@ it looks very professional and is easy to do! Remove the Skype address.
I really hate the "Hi There" bit also try and limit the number of 'I''s
Don't repeat on the C.V. either. You've listed that you are bilingual twice.


Moving forward, with so little work experience you shouldn't need more than 1 page for a C.V. Remove the management section and bullet point the useful information on the first page with a small paragraph about you outside of work. List that you have # GCSEs A-C and list the A levels that you have achieved too. Say more about the small company that you setup with details of what part you played in it.
 
Ok, lets roll ..

1) Lose the picture - looks unprofessional
2) Lose the first paragraph - they already know your name so it give no extra info.
3) dont bother with when you moved to glasgow - who cares?
4) not sure why you suddenly wander into italics! dont!
5) 'during my 4th year at university' - you don't need a comma after this
6) Get rid of your mobile number if posting here otherwise in 5 months when you are trolling someone will phone you up and give you trouble .. which will freak you out ..
7) Put your website address at the end of the sentence, not half way through. in fact, isn't it in 2 places on the same cv?!??!
8) 'i spend at least 3 times a week in the gym' sounds like bad english. 'I visit the gym regularly'. (who cares how many times?)
9) Dont ever put exclamation marks in your CV. anywhere. ever! its not the place for humour.
10) you need examples throughout the 'skillset' section - otherwise you could have just pulled all those 'factoids' out of your bum!
11) Technical in no order? WHAT? At least make it alphabetical order.
12) 'previously worked on'? how long for? can you do infinite script well? bad? have you used for 5 months or 5 minutes?
13) Get rid of '2008' from your experience and just put 'Office' etc. not least because 2008 isnt the latest version!
14) Did I mention - lose your mobile number if posting it here! morons will call you! or skype you with video as they fap over hovis.
15) we need to know more about your company as it seems like the only work experience you've had -- the massive gap in this cv is with work experience - your sandwich year sounds like you spent your year in industry just messing aroud with mates whilst others were actually working :(
16) no one will care which high school you went to - though they will care about the uni so leave that in .,. also - if you have good a level results -- put them on the cv. dont bother with gcse's though ...


GENERAL - stop trying to be their new best mate/drinking buddy. they don't want to be your friend. They want to know that you will be professional and work hard.
 
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'Other than all the geeky stuff, I spend at least 3 times a week in the gym, and I am also a big fan of the movies and sports too!'

That bit needs changing imo.
 
Sorry but that would go straight in the bin... If I can't see what I am looking for in 10 seconds and I have 100's of applicants for a role then I am not going to read all that crap...

You need a summary of your skill set

You need relevant employment history where you tell me what you have done and how it will benefit my business

You then need education / qualifications / professional bodies

what you don't need is 1 page of waffle... 1/2 page of "management" experience which then isn't justified anywhere else on the CV and looks stupid if your a graduate..

for instance you talk about
'excellent project skills' - what methodologies have you used... have you delivered to time and budget? what size of project have you run.. was this managing software development or business change? etc...

The whole thing is just woolly and unjustified and screams of someone trying to make-out they have experience when they don't... there is nothing wrong with limited experience but don't dress it up like you are uber experienced as employers will see right through it


A concise 1 page CV that communicates your skills and experience would be much better
 
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What kind of position are you looking for? You mention management skills but there doesn't seem to be any commercial experience. You then go on to list experience as a software developer which is in line with your degree.

Don't take this as gospel but, in my personal opinion, as an employer who hires software developers, lose the Microsoft Office bit entirely. When going through 100 CVs I must admit that those which had listed 'skills' such as these were pushed towards the no pile.

It's really not a skill when an 8 year old can craft a Powerpoint presentation in his sleep. It's even less of a skill when you're listing it alongside C# and C++. If you're going to have it there, I'd put it at the end of the list. You don't want the kind of job where you're hired on the basis of your Microsoft Word abilities.

Good luck with the job hunting :).

Edit: Agree with Pneumonic too; lose the prose. Getting to know you is what the interview is for. The CV is there to get you to that stage which means it needs to immediately grab the attention of the reader with skills relevant to the position.
 
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Ditch the white space, the picture, the informal tone.
Focus more on the business you started up, showing you have experience is crucial

Formatting in general is pretty bad as well, are you sure you are familiar with microsoft office? (Not meant to be a dig, its just thats what I though looking at it, so I imagine an employer would think similarly )
 
That's really bad, sorry. The photo with your crossed legs leaning on a tree, the "Hi there", the "quick info", talking about when you farmed MMO game currencies, "geeky stuff", and the date - why?

There's too much about yourself and your experiences. Then a couple of points on your skills. If you want to do a bio then make it a paragraph at most, rather than a whole page.
 
You only briefly mention your degree without going into specifics regarding what you have learned and what you can do.

You have a large list of software/technologies but there is no way an employer is going to be able to tell if you able to do the job at hand. "Previously worked with" C++ - Anyone who has written helloWorld.cpp has previously worked with C++.

More formal, less chit chat and sell your strengths.

REMOVE the "CV OF GUAN HILL" at the top. They already know what they are reading.

Edit: Aren't BSc degrees usually 3/4 years?
 
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Just some points i picked up on.

- What is your CV tailored for? Programming? Art? Design? You need to make this clear.

- The page of text under profile can be reshuffled and split up under more suitable headings.

- You've listed skills such as teamwork, but saying how you used them is the key.

- You have technical experience in all these software packages, but what can you do with them? Quick, concise examples.

- Stick all of the in my spare time stuff at the end under Hobbies & Interests.

- Remove average marks above 65% under your MA, it sounds a bit desperate.

Hope that helps!.
 
Looks more like a dating website profile if viewed from a distance, and I have never ever used one of those before!
 
That's more of a letter than a CV.

CV's do not need an introduction, even so, never start a letter with "Hi there!" :s
 
Good heavens, it seems my poor CV is being torn to shreds!

Thanks for your comments so far everyone. I'll take your criticisms on board. In the meantime, I note my general lack of work experience has been a common point of concern. On that note, do you believe adding either of these to my CV would help:

1. I've been playing Counter Strike since v1.3; I used to play under the name HotmaiL but I now prefer Ph3N

2. I have recorded and made available on the Internet some most excellent video productions

Do you think either of these would impress prospective employers? All comments appreciated :)
 
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Al Vallario said:
Good heavens, it seems my poor CV is being torn to shreds!

Thanks for your comments so far everyone. I'll take your criticisms on board. In the meantime, I note my general lack of work experience has been a common point of concern. On that note, do you believe adding either of these to my CV would help:

1. I've been playing Counter Strike since v1.3; I used to play under the name HotmaiL but I now prefer Ph3N

2. I have recorded and made available on the Internet some most excellent video productions

Do you think either of these would impress prospective employers? All comments appreciated :)
Click to expand...

Only if you change your photo to one of you dressed in a home made counter-strike suit ...
 
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