CV help

[NotAGolf]

Would any kind soul mind taking a look over my CV and letting me know if there's anything that sounds naff (please don't say all of it ). I'm looking to stay in a similar role.

The thing I've struggled with is trying to find a balance between writing for a recruiter who might not know the job role too well, without making it too simplistic for someone who knows the role inside out.

 

[gambitt]

Don't need GCSE results at all. Never liked the "own initiative or part of a team" line; it gives me a case of the roll eyes I've read it so often.

Too much in the additional information section - cut it down and save the detail for the interview if you're asked about it.

I don't know much about what a system tester does (I suppose it's intuitive) but you reel off a list of technology keywords such as HTML, JS, SQL etc but none of these are mentioned in the many bullet points you list under your latest role.

 

[Nix]

Personally, I think your layout is horrible. Too much unused white-space leading to word bunching. It makes it seem like reading it is a chore, which will go against you.

Use some line-spacing. Pull the text back towards the left, or use a different layout altogether.

Lose the GCSE results. Your additional information seems a little redundant, I'd work on that.

Less is more.

 

[NotAGolf]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I will cut down the additional info section.

Would you remove the secondary level education entirely, or just remove the GCSE results? Or maybe say 10 GCSEs A-C or something like that?

The technology keywords I've used are things that I've had experience of working with but they don't really play an integral role in my work so I don't think they really belong in the main 'job role' section.

I'm not a massive fan of the layout, but I'm not sure increasing the line spacing and spreading it over the entire page will make it easier to read will it? If anything it will make it look more text as there will be very little white space.

I do agree that there's a bit too much content on there though. It's just working out what to strip out

 

[Tuppy_Glossop]

It's far too verbose. Try rewriting it with half as many words in each bullet. Then change the formatting becaue it looks like a 1980s CV.

 

[stufflol]

edit

 

[cheesyboy]

Would you remove the secondary level education entirely, or just remove the GCSE results? Or maybe say 10 GCSEs A-C or something like that?

Yeah, cut it down to:
10 GCSEs at A-C grade, including A* Maths and B English
(since Maths and English are the important ones - though you can omit that detail too if you prefer)

The detail on your degree may be fairly irrelevant now: you've got 5 years of actual work experience, so just the basic details (dates, course, university, grade) is probably enough.

 

[Quartz]

Understand that it's the top half of the first page that make people want to read further. So your abilities and skills should be near the top - underneath your profile (which is far too long). Then for each of your jobs you want about 5 responsibilities and 2 achievements. Also, people tend to want more precise dates.

ETA: And good luck!

 

[NotAGolf]

Thanks for the feedback again. I've made a few changes:
- Shortened my profile
- Removed several bullet points from my job spec, my uni info, and the additional info section
- Changed the layout and increased the line spacing


I haven't removed my GCSEs. I did shroten it as suggested, but this only saved ~10 words which is nothing. If someone is not interested they can easily skip over it, whereas if I omit it it looks like I'm trying to hide something. Plus my Maths result is good which hopefully helps balance out my **** poor A level grade!

I also haven't moved my IT/skills section up. I understand the logic but apart from the ISQTQB (which I've mentioned in the profile), the skills section in my job role is more relevant and impressive in my opinion.

Here's the new version:

 

[ivrytwr3]

I quite like it, but my thoughts:

a. Your profile is too short and you are not selling yourself very well.

b. Before i start my current role, i have a 'key skills' section and an 'Achievements' section - nothing too heavy, but shows the panel in an instance what you are about.

 

[triggerthat]

Split the job description for: Responsibilities and achievements (tangible).

 

[Nix]

Much better.

Lose the GCSE results though.