CV Examples

[gruntygiggles]

There have been lots of threads recently about CV's and job searching and I have been inundated with requests for help. Below is my own CV, which I have altered about 90% of to hide personal information and not make my work history available on a public forum. However, it shows what a professional executive CV should look like and I have left in the Information on my Partnership in the Exec Search Firm so that you can see my qualification for offering assistance with this.

After mine (which I've put in John Does name) I have written an example of the kind of CV I have been recieving. Not all are like this, but I do get quite a few like this. This example is not based on the CV of anyong on the forum or anyone in particular, it is a mix of the variety of CV's I get sent.

Mine:-









Now, I had to use powerpoint to capture the CV as I don't know how to import it in it's full form, so it will look a bit disjointed and I've never done this before so it won't exactly be perfect....lol
This is a very detailed CV as needed for some positions, not all positions need a CV with this amount of detail, most will just need brief descriptions and a few bullet points of achievements.

Bad CV

Mr. John Doe
1 Second Street,
Third Town,
London,
EN1 2GP

Tel: 1234 567899
Mob: 07123 456789
Email: john.doe@hotmail.com

QUALIFICATIONS

ABC Degree in Technology 2009
Imafalse University, London


A Levels 2005
Imafalse College, London
List of grades
List of grades
List of grades


G.C.S.E. 2003
Imafalse Comprehensive School, London
List of grades
List of grades
List of grades
List of grades
List of grades
List of grades
List of grades
List of grades

EMPLOYMENT

BAR STAFF 2007-2009
Imafalse Bar, Imafalse University, London

In this job I carried out the usual activities of a bar man.

BILLY BOBS SHOE’S 2005-2007
Billy Bobs Shoe’s, London

While at Billy Bobs Shoe’s, I would have to help customers choose and fit shoes, keep the shop floor tidy, take payment at the cash register and help with stock takes.

HOBBIES

I have always loved motorbikes and now have my won and enjoy getting out on the weekends and exploring, going to new places and enjoying the freedom that riding the bike gives me. I also love listening to music, reading books and socialising.

REFERENCES

Mrs. Jane Doe,
Imafalse Bar,
Imafalse University,
London


Mr. Mike Hunt,
Billy Bobs Shoe’s
London

Now........you don't have to use the Exec format like mine, but it's best to avoid the "letter" style of the bad example. Find yourself something in the middle. Do a search of CV samples on Google until you find one you are happy with or copy mine of you want. Most CV's shouldn't be more than 2 pages unless you are applying at Executive level or have a technical/medical profession which requires far more detail. Whatever you do, remember these key points-


* Decide on a layout and stick to it, structure and format should be consistent throughout.
* Decide on a font and stick to it. You should only ever have one or two sentences put into italics to highlight that stand alone sentence. Too much text in italics is hard to read.
* Don't underline everything, it makes the appearance become too fussy and don't have everthing in bold either, just the headers and key information.
*Expand the margins of your page so that you can put your name and details in the header space, leaving page space free for information.
*For at least your last position or two, give a brief description of the job followed by a bullet pointed list of your main achievements in that role.
* Don't start any sentences "I have" or "I am" until you are writing about your interests. The job descriptions an initial profile should be information based only. "I have" and "I am" should be save for your cover letter.
*Be specific about the responsibilities in your job descriptions. This is what employers will be looking at and so you need to highlight as many of the responsibilities and skills that you used in each role as much as you can. The employer will be looking for transferrable skills, so you need to give them some.
* If you are going for an executive level job, you don't need to put hobbies or personal interests in the CV. Better save the space to highlight career achievements, but you do need to put some of that info in your cover letter.
* Always send a cover letter specific to the job for which you are applying. Research the company and send a considered and articulate cover letter explaining why you are interested in the role and why you think you would be successful in it.


I'm sure I've missed loads, but I think that's plenty long enough of a post for now...lol.


There's loads of great advice being given on the threads on this subject, so listen to it all. Not everyone will want to do things my way, so choose a way for yourself, but I've arrived at the above through on the job experience and studies, so it's all coming from feedback from actual employers, not just my brain!


Good luck peeps xxx

[fastdruid]

Interesting, while I have (I hope) no immediate need for a CV, I may rewrite mine soon as I haven't updated mine in close to 10 years and mine last looked scarily like the "Bad CV".

Druid

[gruntygiggles]

Originally Posted by fastdruid

Interesting, while I have (I hope) no immediate need for a CV, I may rewrite mine soon as I haven't updated mine in close to 10 years and mine last looked scarily like the "Bad CV".

Druid

It's a very common CV format, but it's just not what employers want and can get thrown in the "no" pile without even being read!

[fastdruid]

A good trick I heard of when applying for jobs online is to include the entire body of the advert in white, 0 point size at the end of your CV, gets past the automated HR checking scripts.

Druid

[tigersaw]

OK, no offence to anyone, but to play Devils Advocate, I get to sift a lot of CV's and applications, and often conduct the show arounds / informal interviews.
I would have binned the example CV within the first 20 seconds. Its too long, full of lingo bingo and too self important.
Bad CV got rejected too, but I would have read it all, and if it had a bit more meat on it I might have put it in a maybe pile.

[gruntygiggles]

Originally Posted by tigersaw

OK, no offence to anyone, but to play Devils Advocate, I get to sift a lot of CV's and applications, and often conduct the show arounds / informal interviews.
I would have binned the example CV within the first 20 seconds. Its too long, full of lingo bingo and too self important.
Bad CV got rejected too, but I would have read it all, and if it had a bit more meat on it I might have put it in a maybe pile.

No offence taken, that's why I said go for something in the middle, if I said that on another thread, not this one, I'll amend it, but the example good CV is an exec level CV and that's what the industry standard is for senior level executive CV's. Not me saying that because I designed it, I didn't. It's the CV format favoured by CEO's and Board members that are recruiting for C-Level roles. As said, it's just an example to show format/layout that utilises space to the best advantage. The parts of that CV that are mine are the Bansal, Bray & Shackelford role and the Yard Assistant Manager role.....the other roles and all the blurb are ficticious taken from the example CV's that I and my old partners built our study around. There's a wide range of professionals on the org, so one CV won't suit all.

Not all roles will need that level of information, but for certain jobs, if you don't have it, the CV will get binned, so I need it there.

Ordinarily, I would advise far less which is why previous advise I have given is to have maybe 3-4 sentences giving a brief description of each role and then 5-6 bullet points of achievments in that role. Much less detailed than mine and so easier to refer to and read through, but well structured, consistent and professional.

Each to his own, you have to go with what works for you.....unless it's like the Bad CV, in which case you could do with updating it.