How to Write a Killer General CV

[Nix]

I did mine, using your template as I didn't have a decent CV, I've cut it right down.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzgYANWrFLFVTFVUTXo1WHZOZEE/view?usp=sharing

I hate CV writing. It would really depend on which role I was applying for though, if I was going for another contract role, I'd highlight a bit more on the PM side.

May want to edit out your personal details if you're posting on here.

It's coming along and looks like you're on the right tracks. It looks clean.

Personally, I think your summary is too text heavy. You have about seven seconds to make an impression, make it easy on them!

You have too many pages. I suggest you utilise your white spacing more effectively (you have double spacing at the top which uses up unnecessary space and far too much text).

I'd also suggest losing the blue boxes altogether as they distract the eye and take up space. You can be just as effective with dividers. The blue boxes around your numbering also look like an orphan.

Get all your qualifications on one page, not spread across two.

Lose the 'Notable mentions' and 'Explain'. Change it something like 'Professional skills'.

Grammar! Make sure you have en-dashes between your dates without spacing. e.g. Jan 06–Jul 07. IMO, you don't need the apostrophes.

Was your degree an honours? If so you should be including that.

Hope this helps.

 

[randomshenans]

Ta

 

[Edrof]

Thank you. Helped my simplify and properly structure my CV.

You're welcome.

Edrof, do you have any good links for CV writers?

I need a new one, mine are ok but I feel the language used could be better and the layout/structure could be improved upon.

Ta

I can't recommend anyone, sorry.

I'd paid to have my CV written almost 10 years ago lol. I've been using the same layout ever since. Well worth the monies imo.

A properly written CV raises your chances of getting a better job and greater income and can have life-changing effects. I'm amazed that most people write their own (badly).

 

[Edrof]

I did about 120-150 technical job interviews for a large networks consulting house last year (Cisco/Juniper stuff) and I'd say that 60-70% of the CVs I got were MASSIVE, one guy had 8-9 pages to his CV.. Just bloody awful trying to go through that lot.

It's amazing how easy the process is when you get someone with a really good 1-page CV, they almost get to the interview stage simply because their CV doesn't wind up the person reading it

I think in almost all circumstances, 1 page is doable

I once had to rewrite one that was about five pages of pure bullet points.

I encourage people to have two pages at the most. You could fit most CVs onto a single page, certainly, but really good writers take into account psychological factors like visual readability and logical flow - all of that cries out for an aesthetically pleasing layout that needs space to breathe.

 

[Snookums]

I'm gonna have to keep this guide in mind for the next week or so. Just looking at writing my CV again now, I'll actually need two. One for just a bog standard job eg. Bar work/retail etc the other for an engineering apprenticeship.

Do you have any tips for someone of a young age, with just qualifications/retail/bar work? I always find a CV is waffle with me not being able to talk about experience etc. Due to very limited.

Just out of curiously, I'm not even sure if you'll be permitted to say on here but what is the charge for a someone (such as yourself) to write a cv? I feel it would very much be a waste of money with my scenario but I may well be wrong.

Any advice or help you could give would be great if you don't mind. I've always kept my cv one page however I did have any other page which just listed references in case the place I handed needed them it was almost a pre made reference list for them.

 

[Edrof]

I'm gonna have to keep this guide in mind for the next week or so. Just looking at writing my CV again now, I'll actually need two. One for just a bog standard job eg. Bar work/retail etc the other for an engineering apprenticeship.

Do you have any tips for someone of a young age, with just qualifications/retail/bar work? I always find a CV is waffle with me not being able to talk about experience etc. Due to very limited.

Just out of curiously, I'm not even sure if you'll be permitted to say on here but what is the charge for a someone (such as yourself) to write a cv? I feel it would very much be a waste of money with my scenario but I may well be wrong.

Any advice or help you could give would be great if you don't mind. I've always kept my cv one page however I did have any other page which just listed references in case the place I handed needed them it was almost a pre made reference list for them.

Hi Snookums. Simply be honest. No employer is going to look at a young person and wonder why they don't have a decade of high level industry experience already, but they will notice flagrant embellishment. Do try to make your existing experience go as far as possible, though, as even your bog-standard retail jobs can be written up to show transferable skills.

One page is fine and a recruiter would probably thank you for it!

I can't talk fees on the forum, sorry. In general though, most writers are surprisingly cheap (we have to be to live up to the impoverished writer stereotype) - especially when you compare the cost to the positive effects a better job might have on your life. There are companies out there that specialise in CV writing. They are sort of supermarkety in-bulk CV editors - they might be very cheap; however, with a short, simple CV like the one you're describing I'd suggest having a go by yourself.

 

[Snookums]

Hi Snookums. Simply be honest. No employer is going to look at a young person and wonder why they don't have a decade of high level industry experience already, but they will notice flagrant embellishment. Do try to make your existing experience go as far as possible, though, as even your bog-standard retail jobs can be written up to show transferable skills.

One page is fine and a recruiter would probably thank you for it!

I can't talk fees on the forum, sorry. In general though, most writers are surprisingly cheap (we have to be to live up to the impoverished writer stereotype) - especially when you compare the cost to the positive effects a better job might have on your life. There are companies out there that specialise in CV writing. They are sort of supermarkety in-bulk CV editors - they might be very cheap; however, with a short, simple CV like the one you're describing I'd suggest having a go by yourself.

Thanks for the tips fella, I feel cheeky asking but once i rewrite mine would you mind taking a look at it? I'd love a professionals opinion on it all. Don't feel obliged to say yes.

 

[Edrof]

Depending on my workload yes of course I'd be happy to.

 

[hargi]

What's your opinion on references add them specific to the job or just put available on request?

 

[Edrof]

In general, you shouldn't write your references on your CV as it is considered unnecessary. Even writing references available upon request is unnecessary. I'm sure there are some recruiters and some jobs out there that demand their inclusion but then if you're in an industry like that you should probably know already.

Plus, you should be keeping your CV's length as short as possible.

 

[hargi]

Edrof, May I send you a trust message?

 

[Edrof]

Of course, buddy.

 

[Phate]

Edrof, I'm currently rewriting mine based on your advice in this thread and the mock-up you posted. Once completed may I send it over to you for a once over please?

 

[Edrof]

No worries Phate - I'm happy to look through it and let you know what you might need to change.

 

[Phate]

Thank you!