Writing a CV

[Alpinestarhero]

I need to prepare a CV; whats the best format? How should I prepare mine best?

Matt

[Speedy Claire]

http://www.europeanresources.co.uk/jobseekers/writingcvs.html

[Dan]

Keep it simple and factual.

Make sure it's gramatically correct, ensure spelling is correct. Especially 'Curriculum Vitae' - there's a special MS Word conjoined ae symbol which always impresses me when I see it used.

Ensure formatting, capitalization etc is consistent.

Formatting should be kept simple and professional looking. A simple sans-serif font like Arial works best.

Try not to make it too long.

Avoid 'cut and paste' sounding personal statements like 'I am a hard-working, highly motivated individual who performs well alone or as part of a team blah blah' (if it was up to me, I'd avoid personal statements entirely - most of the CVs I read which start off like that go straight into file 13).

That's about all I can think of for now. There's plenty of online resources about writing a good CV, it might be worth checking some out - but avoid any which have a distinctly US bent, as the Yanks write their 'resumé' in a different way normally.

[Alpinestarhero]

Thanks claire, and thanks Dan - you make a good point about those cut-and-paste statements!

Matt

[Drew Carey]

Hello matey. I've recently re-done mine and have had very good feedback from agencies and from a direct application with a Stockbroker. I am happy to email you a copy if you want to PM me your email addy. Obviously the content will be useless but the format seems to get good feedback and I've been told its easy to read and the info is easy to gleame from it. Drew

[gettin2dizzy]

There's no 'right' way at all. Keep it real is all I'd say. A CV is to serve a purpose showing your qualifications, so keep it as simple.

A covering letter is where you show them your personality, and where a job is one providing you have the necessary qualifications.

Besides, I though Subway have application forms anyway ;)

[Speedy Claire]

No worries... i agree with keeping it simple(ish) and to the point. Remember how many C.V.`s potential employers have to read. Yours needs to be to the point and needs to stand out.

[Alpinestarhero]

There's no 'right' way at all. Keep it real is all I'd say. A CV is to serve a purpose showing your qualifications, so keep it as simple.

A covering letter is where you show them your personality, and where a job is one providing you have the necessary qualifications.

Besides, I though Subway have application forms anyway ;)

I'm applying for a job at Papa Johns, Pizza Hut arnt paying enough to cover topbox maintainence

:chef:

[stewie]

When replying to potential employers DO NOT not use the following statements

'Works well under constant supervision'

'Sets a low standard and fails to acheive it'

and if they ask you at an interview what you can bring to the new position, DO NOT reply
'er, well ive got me own workboots'

trust me, it doesnt work

[ThEGr33k]

When replying to potential employers DO NOT not use the following statements

'Works well under constant supervision'

'Sets a low standard and fails to acheive it'

and if they ask you at an interview what you can bring to the new position, DO NOT reply
'er, well ive got me own workboots'

trust me, it doesnt work

Damn. Just what I was planning on using. Bah. Back to the thinking tank...

[ooger]

Get your name right, and don't trust agencies with your CV.

We had a CV for a fella by the name of Gut recently. He went through the interview process and has since joined us as an admin.

I put 10 minutes into writing a script that renamed his mailbox from Guy to Gut every hour. He joined 2 months ago and he's still not been able to hunt it down.

Everyone else calls him Gut too, and we've even added him an email alias.

The best part is when customers start an email to him "Hi Gut" (a typo, usually)

[stewie]

Damn. Just what I was planning on using. Bah. Back to the thinking tank...
Oh yeah, and DO NOT use the expression 'bah' they may think you are writer for the beano or dandy.

[Blue_SV650S]

As others have said, there is no 'correct' format.

The format I use is

Personal Details - Name address, contacts, Summery of who you are - in your case, a recent Chemesry Graduate etc with experience/speciality in blah bla i.e. a single sentence summing up who you are.

Skills -

Bulleted skills

Work Experience - (if you have some, if not delete the word work and just use the word experience and waffle on about what you did at uni and when)

This part should take up about 1/2 of the page by itself.

Qualifications -

Interests -

I kept it to one side and one side only (needed to edit it to keep it concise), no one wants to read a thick tome, they need to get the gist of you in the first few sentences or it will be filed under b1n. That is why there is a summery of skills - these skills are then expanded on in the experience part, but you need to hit hard at the top.

Good luck!! 8)

[ThEGr33k]

Get your name right, and don't trust agencies with your CV.

We had a CV for a fella by the name of Gut recently. He went through the interview process and has since joined us as an admin.

I put 10 minutes into writing a script that renamed his mailbox from Guy to Gut every hour. He joined 2 months ago and he's still not been able to hunt it down.

Everyone else calls him Gut too, and we've even added him an email alias.

The best part is when customers start an email to him "Hi Gut" (a typo, usually)

LMAO. Great. I know a fella called guy Seed... often nick names "Man Fat". Though that wasn't a CV thing that was the parents... they were cruel! :p

[mary]

Also depends what you're applying for- if you're staying in science you'd need to focus more on your academic interests, projects etc. Whereas non-sciencey employers won't want to read that.
mary

[Alpinestarhero]

Thanks mary; i will be applying for chemistry-related jobs and PhD's.

Should I have a short section about myself? What should be included in this section?

[mary]

In my experience (which is fairly limited), do include personal info but explain it. Interests: cycling is not so good as explaining the interest - are you part of a club, do you compete etc. Brief but personal I think is best.

With PhDs I'd suggest tailoring your cv to the position - emphasise parts of your course relevant to the PhD. In your covering letter you get to explain why you are interested in the position etc. so you don't need enormous detail on the CV but you can highlight different aspects of your course to show how qualified you are for the project. If you really want a PhD position nothing beats contacting the supervisor directly - have some questions relevant to the project to show your interest, if possible ask to come and have a look round the lab and meet the group. I think it goes a long way, they can always so no but you're looking keen (not pushy). THen when you apply the supervisor knows who you are already. You've also got a better idea if you want to work with them.
Good luck with the applications
mary

[Ace-T]

As others have said, there is no 'correct' format.

The format I use is

Personal Details - Name address, contacts, Summery of who you are - in your case, a recent Chemesry Graduate etc with experience/speciality in blah bla i.e. a single sentence summing up who you are.

Skills -

Bulleted skills

Work Experience - (if you have some, if not delete the word work and just use the word experience and waffle on about what you did at uni and when)

This part should take up about 1/2 of the page by itself.

Qualifications -

Interests -

I kept it to one side and one side only (needed to edit it to keep it concise), no one wants to read a thick tome, they need to get the gist of you in the first few sentences or it will be filed under b1n. That is why there is a summery of skills - these skills are then expanded on in the experience part, but you need to hit hard at the top.

Good luck!! 8)
Some good advice there, but make sure you use a 'summary'. ;)

I have looked at literally hundreds of CVs. The ones that stand out immediately are the ones that:

1. Are neat.
Use a san-serif font like Ariel. Times New Roman or pretty much anything else is a no-no unless you are a graphic designer and know what you are doing with it.

2. Are well laid out.
I like to clearly see each section and what it is supposed to tell me. You have a very short time to make an impression. Make sure it is the right one.

3. Have no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors.
See me later Mr Blue_SV650!. ;) Get someone to proof read it for grammatical errors. If you don't use spell check before you print you need a good kick!

4. Tell me who they are and how to contact them at the top on the first page
This is so I don't have to go hunting for their phone number when I invite them for interview. A good trick is to dump the 'Curriculum Vitae' words (I know what the document is!) and use your name, address and telephone number as your header. Gives you more space to put more stuff in too.

5. Are 2 pages long.
Yes you can go to 3 pages but you need to have been working for a long time and have a damn good list of jobs to need 3 pages.

6. Tell me more about their most recent work experiences at the beginning of the CV.
A skill paragraph is all very well but what employers are really interested in is whether your last job(s) have given you enough experience to be able to do the job I want you to do. If you have not got a job that does this then use your voluntary work as the first piece. In other words MAKE IT RELEVANT!

7. Do not waffle on about irrelevancies like school exams when you are in your late 20/30s onwards.
See 6. Putting the school you attended and the types of exams you did is enough at that stage. Even a degree result doesn't necessarily need to be there if you have a longer work history than school history. If an employer wants to know they will ask at the interview.

8. Are tailored to the job they are offering.
Never have a standard CV you send out to all and sundry. Pick a job or a career and tailor the CV to that. Difficult I know when you are going through agencies but if you pick a career path rather than just going for anything you can get it just about right. By this I mean look at the advert and see what skills/experience are being asked for in the advert. Then make sure your experience of those areas is demonstrated in your CV.

9. Don't necessarily have references.
A comment like 'References will be supplied upon request is fine. Most employers don't take you up on them anyway. But be prepared to be asked for some.

10. Are honest.
Employers will question your dates. Make sure they are accurate. To within a month is fine. You can however if you have had a series of temp jobs over a period bundle them up into one 'job lot' if you will excuse the pun. You can then give an indication of the work you were doing and how relevant it was to the job you are applying for now. You can enhance but do not lie. Ultimately it will bite your bum.


If you need help please pm me and I would be happy to look at your CV and give you some pointers. Make sure you include a description of the job though so I have context.

Good luck!

Trace :)

EDITED TO ADD

For your job application area, Mary's advice is spot on. Though I would keep the personal interests to a line unless they are directly relevant to the position for which you are applying. I.e 'In my spare time I help the local kids make fun things with chemicals. This has given me many opportunities to work with the local community hospitals'. Well you know what I mean! ;)

[missyburd]

Thought I might as well drag this up rather than tarting a new thread. Am currently writing my CV, although I'm not so much planning to go ahead with my set career path just yet (graduated from uni in June) as hoping to just get a bit of agency work to keep me going this year. I'm going to be using this year as time to build up experience, voluntary and travel-wise, so hence the agency work to get me some cash quick.

I just want to make a general CV, but obviously handing it to an agency means it's going to have to be a fairly broad one. Some great advice in this thread, any more pointers for me?