Who fancies looking over my CV?

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by gruntygiggles

Also Mike.........if people are using agencies, cover letters ofen don't go very far and are very rarely passed on to the actual employer. I always write cover letters, but when applying on websites like Monster, the cover letters are not always picked up or bothered with, especially by agents, so it's a good idea to keep the contact details on your CV.

Agents / monster get a very different CV.

[gruntygiggles]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Point taken Cheryl, but to me that smacks of folks not thinking about what they want but what they expect to be there. I was advised by a CV 'doctor' during an outplacement exercise not to waste my 'one page advert' space by stating non-essential information such as name and address. I'll certainly be bearing in mind what you said in future though and if I feel I have space I'll include my address in the header.

Good thread this, reminds me I have not updated my CV for ages and my latest job role needs to be added, plus all my new skills.

Yeah, You have to keep the header short and you have to have your name at the top so that it can be found easily. My header is just that, a header. I don't just write it where the cursor lies when you open word, I extend the page so that it is literally right at the top, then the normal page layout is dedicated to CV info.

You need a very different CV for an executive position, highly technical position or board position than you do for an admin or customer servoice type position. The parametres change depending on not just the position you are applying for, but also the people in the organisation that will be interviewing you.

I went for an interview last weekand spent two weeks preparing and researching, not just the role, the company, it's competitors and the current market, but also the VP that was interviewng me. I knew more about his career going into the interview than he knew about mine, so was able to tailor the answers to his questions in a way that I knew would strike a chord with him.

CV doctors are great......just be careful as there are many that are too one dimensional. Sounds like you got good advice Mike!

Well I got a phone call this morning about a job, but turned out i need a valid passport. I've just ordered one to be delivered within a week but when calling the agency back they have no record of calling me!!! The job sounded really good as well so just hope they figure it out

Oh and thanks for all the advice guys, its really helped especially ms gruntygiggles, really knows her stuff!

[gruntygiggles]

Originally Posted by arcdef

Well I got a phone call this morning about a job, but turned out i need a valid passport. I've just ordered one to be delivered within a week but when calling the agency back they have no record of calling me!!! The job sounded really good as well so just hope they figure it out

Oh and thanks for all the advice guys, its really helped especially ms gruntygiggles, really knows her stuff!

Sounds great about the job Ash. Give them a day or two and chase them up!

There are loads of peeps on here that know probably more than me, but glad I could help.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by kitkat

im not an employer or have any official title but I can look over your cv if you want. Have been doing my own CV for past 25 years with no problems. Always get interviews, just dont get the job sometimes

i'll send you mine if you don't mind KK?

+1 to the layout,
every job I've sent my CV in for I've been offered an interview, compeared to most people the context of mine must be terrible but its looks really pretty so i get a call

Originally Posted by Viney

I have always wanted to put


Month/Year - Month/Year - Worked for Government

Resposibilites - Classified!

Obviously witht he correct spellling

class............

i think that would get you the job, just so they could try to find out what you did

I type CV`s for people so have to keep up to date on the layout and what employers are currently looking for. The last update I did in early 2009 recommends putting your contact details on the first page as a centred heading. Use the same font but the name can be in a larger or bold font. The heading should include your name, address, contact phone numbers both mobile and home plus your email address. Date of birth should be put lower down the first page.

The purpose of this is so that prospective employers have the relevant info to hand without having to search thru pages and pages. Your personal profile outlining your skills should also be on the first page as this is what an employer will look for first.

An example of the heading would be ..............

CLAIRE MACFARLANE
14 Anonymous Road, Liverpool, L23 5JJ
Tel: 888888888
Mob: 888888888
clairemacfarlane@internetthingymygig

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Speedy Claire

Date of birth should be put lower down the first page.

The purpose of this is so that prospective employers have the relevant info to hand without having to search thru pages and pages.

Again why??? Taking up valuable 'one page advert' space without adding any value. Age has ABSOLUTELY no bearing on someone's ability to do a job, there's even a law that says so.

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Again why??? Taking up valuable 'one page advert' space without adding any value. Age has ABSOLUTELY no bearing on someone's ability to do a job, there's even a law that says so.

Sorry, I should have said d.o.b. goes on first page if your are including it. Nope, there is no legal requirement to put your age on a C.V. and prospective employers are not allowed to ask questions regarding your age but hiding the number in the CV or leaving it off completely isn't going to change anything. Most employers can work out your age anyway from your CV.

It is "recommended" you provide your age or date of birth as you want this CV to be read... there are employers that might (and I`m not saying it`s right) discard it if they don`t see an age on there. As I said it is recommended but not vital