Critique My Curriculum Vitae

Matt-Page

Matt-Page

Matt-Page

Soldato
Joined
23 Nov 2004
Posts
3,794
Hello,

I've seen a similar thread in the past and wondered if OcUK would do me the kind favour of giving some input/comments on my C.V.

I've only ever written a C.V. twice before and didn't really know where to start. Also, if anyone has any recommendations on where to look for IT jobs other than reed.co.uk, I'd appreciate some guidance.

Thanks in advance, and be as critical as you like. :D

http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/70142401?access_key=key-78a1ccil9yckll7ygty
 
My 30 second reaction:

  • Telephone and email to the same line
  • Sort some spacing out in that professional profile
  • Key skills to page 2
  • Keep all your career summary to the first page
  • Have only your career summary on the first page
  • Perhaps condense the career summary a bit - it's a wall of writing at the moment
  • Personal details, I'd remove DOB, nationality and health.
  • Sort out the spelling in your personal statement: Cinema, Reading - no caps.
  • re-write your personal statement not to include cinema and reading.
  • expand on your personal statement to a few more lines - this is the only bit you get to let them know you don't sit there at night with a towel on your chest..

just my 2c :)

Edit: I've never had any professional involvement with recruitment - the above is personal/what I understand a "good" CV should have
 
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GCSEs has no apostrophe. Motorsport is one word. Do not put a capital letter for each of your hobbies, this isn't German.
References are always available on request, so don't write this.
No one cares about your health.
Saying your college is in Taunton is enough info.

You can easily fit all this info on one page.
Remember, less is more.

Apologies for the blunt reply.
 
Thanks for the replies. Will take this on board, edit and then re post a new version.

No apology required, blunt is fine. I appreciate people taking their time to help me. I want to get it right and then send it out to see what is about.
 
shouldnt have XXXX at the top... :p

apart from other people's suggestion, i wouldnt put nationality/dob as they could discriminate you, no need for languages and driving licence/health either.
 
+1 to everyone's suggestions so far. definitely expand your personal statement a bit - talk about what you do with your spare time, what you want to achieve or gain from the job you are applying for.

and sort out the spelling/grammar errors there are many. (no offence you said blunt is fine :D)
 
Your indents are not the same throughout; check the paragraphs formal quals and key modules; they fall left of the underline yet on the first pages your paragrpahs are in line with the underline, get me?
 
Yea, It seems to of gone like that when converting to PDF for some reason. I'll ammend that tomorrow when I've got access to the latest version of Office. I've only got 2003 here and its been a nightmare to host/convert it as they kept messing it up. The indents, etc will all be sorted.

It's the content I'm after feedback regarding if possible :)
 
I'm absolutely no CV expert but when it comes to making any claim or statement would it be best to provide evidence to back it up?

e.g. "I also regularly partake in runs to raise money and awareness for charity. Most recently I raised £300 for cancer reasearch by completing the Great Northern Run"

Not sure if anyone agrees, I just view it from how we write our annual reports for servicemen. It's all good blowing smoke up your ass but it means nothing without evidence to back it up.
 
I too am no CV expert, but I wouldn't put Awarded after Award: it doesn't seem to read right!

Edit: Also too many 'products' in the first bullet point of the June 2001 job, and the tense changes too, eg.

Advising customers on products and assist them in choosing the correct productor service

Advisory role to customers assisting them in the correct choice of product or service.

Edit 2: A singular charity or multiple charities?

I have always had a big passion of in all aspects of motorsport and have won many events. I have also as well as engineered my own parts (for my vehicle).

The last part in brackets is up to you to edit and change - but please look at all the tenses in the document, as well as how it reads. tags are strikethrough
 
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Captain Planet said:
I'm absolutely no CV expert but when it comes to making any claim or statement would it be best to provide evidence to back it up?

e.g. "I also regularly partake in runs to raise money and awareness for charity. Most recently I raised £300 for cancer reasearch by completing the Great Northern Run"

Not sure if anyone agrees, I just view it from how we write our annual reports for servicemen. It's all good blowing smoke up your ass but it means nothing without evidence to back it up.
Click to expand...

Seems like good advice to me.

I also think that blue column is far too wide
 
I'd ditch the blue column at the side, Matt. Bear in mind cv's may be photocopied / faxed. A B&W photocopy of a blue column with white text may not look so nice...

Don't take this the wrong way, but to me it would seem that the blue column was added to pad the document out and make it look longer. I'd also suggest tailoring the key skills to the particular job you are applying for.

Mind you, I'm between jobs so perhaps my CV advice isn't to be relied on! ;-)
 
In the key skills sections you could add the versions of Office and Exchange you are familiar with. You dont appear to have any server OSs on there either
 
I would try and rewrite the personal statement without all the 'I's', space is valuable here so save it, 'An extremely hard working... Excellent communication skills' etc They know its you, your name is at the top.

Really think this can be 1 page if you cut down the career stuff and go very minimal with the personal interests (personally I wouldn't put it there at all). Atleast delete the drivers license line.
 
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