CV writing help/Advice

[metalmonkey]

Okay so I have seen a job I want, I know I can do I just hoping the lack of a bit of paper doesn't prevent me from do it. My HND if effectively operational enginering.

I have freelanced for the company in past, so I know all their products are am fully up to speed with the way film sets work ect.

So I how to I make my CV stand out? Show my experince and make my really good skills stand out. I have a god skill set both techincally and dealing with people, dealing with stressful situations ect.

I haven't been for a job interview for about 3 years or more! SO anyone here a wizz with CV's? Thx guys:cool:

[SoulKiss]

Dont be stupid - I spent a lot of money training you to be a cop and you haven't given enough back yet

So no changing jobs :P

Seriously tho - do your own version, you can find loads of examples, then, if you can, give it to someone you know who looks at CV's - ie HR/Recruitment person to give you feedback.

Good luck :)

[custard]

used to be in recruitment some time ago. i generally follow the following

put a skill set at the top of the page.

ie mentalist biker - over the past 3 years i have manged to ride my sv like an idiot.

any memeberships you have (do not include the org..)
quals

keep it to two pages. go into depth on jobs you feel are relevant to the role you are applying for.

compose decent covering letter spelling out why you think you may be good for the role. pref bullet points.

would have a look at monster etc as this may now not be the fashion.

[MiniMatt]

Bypass the whole CV thing - you've already freelanced for them in the past so you've already got an "in". Talk the talk direct to your contact, put the schmooze on and you're in.

Warning. Spraying your interviewer in the face with pepper spray and saying "So, you think you're Lewis Hamilton do you sonny?" might get you a long way in the Feds but is generally considered a career limiting maneuver out on civvy street :D

[metalmonkey]

Its been about 2 years since I last did any work for them, so thats quite a while ago. I ned to call back tomorrow as the guy that made the job ad, isn't there! So tomorrowI will try again!

[fizzwheel]

Keep it to two pages. Make it a plain simple font. Stick to basics, dont list all your qualificatinos, just list the relevant ones for the job you're after. Employment history with experience, again tailor it to job you're after if possibe.

Just dont waffe on it and definately dont make stuff up. You will get caught out.

Simple, Straightfoward and Honest.

When I was going through CV's I used to read

Name
Quick Skim at Qualifications
Look at last two jobs the person was doing.
Hobbies interests - looking see how they would fit with my existing team

And then rest I used to ignore. Anything more than two pages never got looked at. I hate wading through piles of irrevellevant drivel.

HTH

[etuna]

Okay so I have seen a job I want, I know I can do I just hoping the lack of a bit of paper doesn't prevent me from do it. My HND if effectively operational enginering.

I have freelanced for the company in past, so I know all their products are am fully up to speed with the way film sets work ect.

So I how to I make my CV stand out? Show my experince and make my really good skills stand out. I have a god skill set both techincally and dealing with people, dealing with stressful situations ect.

I haven't been for a job interview for about 3 years or more! SO anyone here a wizz with CV's? Thx guys:cool:

This is entirely genuine and not sarcasm - check spelling if that post is anything to go by.

[Biker Biggles]

Are you leaving the Bill?
Not being funny,but Id say that was poor career move in the current economic climate.

[El Saxo]

While you're talking about CV's, I was wondering about including references - is it better to just put 'references available on request' or do employer's prefer to have the referee's details on the CV from the start?

I've got both of my referees' permission to give out their details, just wondering what the accepted practise is when writing a CV?

[etuna]

is it better to just put 'references available on request' ?

affirmative

[Stig]

Most people forget that your CV is to get to an interview nothing more. Your CV wont get you a job. Your interview might.

You need to tailor your CV so it sparks interest from the person reading it. That's all you need. The first page needs to shout " I can do the job I am applying for" qualifications, skills, experience.

The second page needs to show examples of why 'they' want to interview you. Include Career history, achievements, personality, ambition.

The first page is critical. Medium sized headings. No fancy fonts and no colours. It needs to be simple and easy to read. If you have so much career history, list your jobs and give less detail as you go back in time for each job. No one cares that you started life stacking shelves at Tesco's so don't bother putting details in. They can ask you those questions at the interview.

[metalmonkey]

Well I'm still looking for work, haven't been around much of late either for that reason, plus I really feel quite ill right now.

I applied for 2 jobs, didn't even get an interview, haven't got any feedback either, which isn't useful.

I still thinking what do I want to do......I'm thinking along down the lines of marketing, sales, event production but breaking across into that could be pain. I still have hands on techincal skills as well, the techincal side of event stuff doesn't gretly intrest me, having do something like it before but I could do it. The job isn't hard at all.

I would also think about moving overseas if I found the right job, I would quite happily live in the US, I almost got a job there once. I would happily live in europe, but I would have to learn the lanuage as I go along which isn't too much of an issue.

How would you emphaise transferable skills? Thats what I feel I need to do with my CV. I want to take a job that will maybe last 2 years, the idea being to build up experince. I'm thinking out loud here, but still working things out.

[gettin2dizzy]

Focus more on the covering letter.

A CV is really a checklist: Do you have the necessary skills?

A covering letter tells them if you're someone they want to work with :thumbsup:

[gettin2dizzy]

Oh, and; I sent my CV to many many agencies for advice. ALL offered something completely different and contradictory. There is no "correct" way of doing it.

[Lozzo]

I hate wading through piles of irrevellevant drivel.

HTH

Don't ever subscribe to Visordown.

HTH