Thoughts on my CV

Thats for all the comments, i will tidy it up later and check my dodgy spelling. What are thethroughts on the layout in terms of paragraphs and bullets?

Thanks, I will upload the final version when done :)
 
My thoughts

1) It looks horrendously boring (sorry!)
2) Work experience at the top - always, then uni, then school
3) Don't say "skills honed"
4) Change the interests to bullet points or CSV
5) Jazz it up a bit - in my experience people do respond to CVs which look nice.
6) Tailor your CV for each application you make
 
Mr Jack said:
Bad advice. What goes first is your best selling point. For those out of uni, with a handful of rubbish jobs, you put the degree first. For those of us with a ten year successful career you put the work experience before the qualifications.
Click to expand...

But he has relevant work experience - if you have absolutely no relevant work experience, you obviously exclude that section (or put non-relevant experience below Education).
 
Mr Jack said:
He's had a summer job, that's hardly equal to a degree.
Click to expand...

When I was shortlisting people for interview, I always put relevant work experience above a degree, even if it was a 6 month placement as I believe it far more appropriate in his line of work. After all, a degree is just a degree, whereas work experience (when relevant) shows application of knowledge.
 
Rocker said:
I Have now uploaded what I believe to be my Draft Final version. See OP.
Click to expand...

- Put experience first
- Leave DOB out
- "I consolidated many skill sets, liaised and built relationships with showing my communication skills". - doesn't read right
- "My responsibilities included stock replenishment, stock recording and the ability to work individually and as a team". That seems to be mixing up responsibilities and key attributes to carry out those responsibilities?
- "Responsibilities: Study current development, organised meetings and timescales and undertake development in a java environment." mixing past and present tense
 
Last edited:
Basher said:
- Put experience first
- Leave DOB out
- "I consolidated many skill sets, liaised and built relationships with showing my communication skills". - doesn't read right
- "My responsibilities included stock replenishment, stock recording and the ability to work individually and as a team". That seems to be mixing up responsibilities and key attributes to carry out those responsibilities?
- "Responsibilities: Study current development, organised meetings and timescales and undertake development in a java environment." mixing past and present tense
Click to expand...

Points taken.

"I consolidated many skill sets, liaised and built relationships with showing my communication skills"
Should read:
"I consolidated many skill sets, liaised and built relationships with clients showing my communication skills."


Didn't notice this:
"Responsibilities: Study current development, organised meetings and timescales and undertake development in a java environment."

Responsibilities: Study current development, organise meetings and timescales and undertake development in a java environment."
 
Had a quick glance at it, and although I'm not especially qualified to comment I did want to point out that 'summary' is not spelt with an 'e'. Glaring omissions like that aren't the kind of thing you want adorning headings. :)
 
[FnG]magnolia;17487721 said:
Yeah, don't do this. One page tells me that you're either simply brilliant in your field (pro-tip : if you were, I'd know this in advance) or you're just a jerk and/or lazy.

Do some spell-checking though, man. I'd be keen to see your finished CV if you ever get time to post it :)
Click to expand...

Except that he basically has no experience and anything more than 1 page would be excessive.
 
Some things you might care about, might not. I think an employer would be picky to discard your CV for any of them, but still...

Your opening paragraph begins "I am an enthusiastic, motivated and driven IT security graduate..." Motivated and driven mean the same thing (motivated is the better word, though be prepared to be asked "what motivates you"). Replace driven with something else.

It's common to see items listed in reverse chronological order rather than Education first, though I appreciate that your employment experience are short term jobs or placements rather than full time. I'd certainly list the work experience above your Higher results though. Once you have a degree these are included pretty much as a formality. If you were pushed for space, remove the Tesco experience - I don't think it'll be an interview decider based on the rest of the CV!

"Summery of skills" should be "Summary of skills" - do NOT make spelling mistakes in your CV or cover letter. Ever.

Your interests paragraph doesn't read well to me. "Keeping fit by going to the gym" seems clumsy ("keeping fit" is enough?), and "playing the electric and acoustic guitar which includes a passion for a variety of music" just isn't good grammar. Rephrase to "... keeping fit, and playing the electric and acoustic guitar, which has given me a passion for many varieties/genres of music" or similar...

I'm not sure you need to list "IT Security" in your interests, given that it's the focus of your CV.

Hope that's helpful in some way!
 
Don't use ampersands and your date ranges are not consistent ("Jan-Feb 2010" vs Jan - Feb 2010").

Check for double spacing between words and new sentences.

Align your headings to the left, not the middle.

Remove your interests unless you can turn it into something exciting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom