My CV, need suggestions...

[OV3RCLOCK3R]

Time for me to apply for a job again.

I've updated my CV but can people please have a look and tell me if it can be improved in anyway?

http://www.oc-arena.co.uk/cv/

Thanks in advance

[ajbrun]

After reading your CV, I have no idea what job this is for. I'm no expert on CV writing, but it's probably a good idea to make it clear what area of work you want to be in. Like I said, I'm no expert, but here is what I would do:

* Get rid of all the empty spaces. Especially below the education section, there is a massive blank space. I'm sure you can see how blank spaces on a CV are probably not a good thing. After deleting all the blank spaces, and decreasing the margins slightly, I've managed to fit it onto just a single page.

* Have a 'future' section to give a bit about what you hope to be doing in the future perhaps.

Lastly, I can see you're 18. Your CV doesn't need to give any details concerning your age/gender/sexuality etc. It's just not needed afaik.

Also, I'm not sure how wise it is to put up your full contact details onto the internet. Other may have other opinions, but it's just not something I would do.

EDIT - having such a small font probably isn't helping with the blank spaces. I use Arial 12pt.

[Mama Sumae]

Originally Posted by ajbrun

Also, I'm not sure how wise it is to put up your full contact details onto the internet. Other may have other opinions, but it's just not something I would do.

Seconded that you really don’t want to give away all that info about yourself, not the only reason but identity theft is one of the most common crimes in the UK and the internet is the right place to make yourself a victim.

[DataMatrix]

I noticed quite a lot of info on there including a telephone number which could be used to prank call you.

I implore you to change it to only show minor details.

[Howard]

Yep, the contact info should all be on the covering letter really? It would also get it down to one page which will do wonders for the readability

[muddyfox470]

I think you should put down references down by default (not get them to ask for you - as it's up to them whether they want to use them or not), normally it is 2 - a personal and an academic reference... - but ask them before you put them down as one of your references.

As for the style of the CV, it all depends on how you have been taught and it is always good to be 'individual' - I personally was taught (at a CV workshop) to put my home and term-time address at the top of the CV along with any contact details.

You have good descriptions about your past jobs which is good Although if you do get asked for an interview be prepared to answer questions (possibly probing) about what you have written down.

Also see your tutor at your college, see if they can give you any advice - as normally they can give you a lot of guidance to writting a good CV. Plus when writing a CV you can adapt it slightly towards the company you want to work for, but also put a good covering letter in as well

Hope that helps

Ian

PS. I echo the rest of these guys, put a dummy copy up without your contact details, it's not a great thing to do; you can never be too sure.

[schmunk]

Your address is in the wrong order, anyway.

Anyway:

* Take the words "Curriculum Vitae" off - they know what it is.

* Keep the contact details on the real thing, but really do get some dummy details on this one. Use 2 columns to shrink them down

* Take the table out of the education section, and bring the two entries a bit closer together to shrink it down.

* Use bulleted lists where possible for the work experience section. Think about skills learnt and responsibilities held. Give examples of where you have excelled, or gone above and beyond (if they can be easily fit in, otherwise leave them for the interview)

* Try to condense your 'Hobbies & Interests' section, and possibly lose the 'socialising and listening to music' bit.

That should get it down to one page.

[Nick]

Without even looking at your CV I'll give you a few tips just from other peoples responses.

Having looked through literally HUNDREDS of CVs in my time, here's a brief list of what you should think about:

1) Tell me your age, sex, (if your name doesn't make it obvious), address, nationality, phone numbers etc all on the CV. Make it easy for me. Stick ALL your contact details in the same place as all the other info you want me to know, so if I'm shifting through I can find everything about you easily.

2) Education history: Keep it concise and relevant. I don't need to know which primary school you went to or if you were captain of your middle school cricket club... not if you're applying to be a network manager. BUT, if you were head of the computer club in senior school, THAT matters.

Don't lie about your qualifications, cos I might ask to see them and then you'll either look like an idiot for not bringing them to the interview or you'll be made out as a liar. Ok, it's unlikely I will ask but do you want to take that chance?

3) Employment history. Again, keep it relevant. If you're coming up short on qualifications, emphasise relevant jobs you've had in the past. Note any positions of trust or responsibility you may have held but don't make them out to be more than they were. We all know that an executive petroleum products delivery assistant means you worked in a petrol station... and everyone had a Saturday, weekend or 'between jobs' job... just keep it relevant with which ones you go into detail about.

4) Hobbies: Yeah, you like football, watching films, reading books... yada yada yada... So what that tells me is that unless you're applying to be a footballer, a projectionist, or a librarian, you have NO interest in work outside of work. So how about making your hobbies relevant to the job? Network job? Then you're building a server rack at home for your planned media and gaming network. Estate Agent? You like to browse the windows at the weekend looking for a fixer upper for your parents and you to cash in on. Mechanic? You spend the weekend working on the family cars doing simple stuff like oil changes, brake pads etc.

5) Length: Right, you should be able to get that lot into 2 pages with a 12pt font. If you can't, get vicious with the editing. Keep the font the same throughout and try and avoid italics. Just make headers underlined or bold. It keeps clean crisp appearance to your CV. Now, if you can't stretch to two pages don't worry, but definitely don't go over two, I'll get bored reading all that, and if you're young and just starting off, what the hell are you going to waffle about for more then two pages??

Ok, let's just have a look at what others have said now...

Originally Posted by ajbrun

After reading your CV, I have no idea what job this is for. I'm no expert on CV writing, but it's probably a good idea to make it clear what area of work you want to be in.

Good point, and here's where you're cover letter comes in. But many employers can spot a standard CV from a mile off whereas a tailored-for-the-job CV stands out like a lighthouse in the dark... If you've tailored your CV and cover letter to the job I'm advertising rather than just send out a blanket 'mailshot' I'll be FAR more likely to interview you.

Originally Posted by ajbrun

* Get rid of all the empty spaces. Especially below the education section, there is a massive blank space. I'm sure you can see how blank spaces on a CV are probably not a good thing. After deleting all the blank spaces, and decreasing the margins slightly, I've managed to fit it onto just a single page.

Yep, blank space looks like padding... but don't cram it too much to get it onto one page.

Originally Posted by ajbrun

* Have a 'future' section to give a bit about what you hope to be doing in the future perhaps.

Not a good idea really. I want to know that you're interested in the job I'm offering you... I don;t want someone who is already looking to move on. You could of course put something aspirational in a small 'About me' section, but if you do, make sure you have the knowledge to back it up if questioned.

Originally Posted by ajbrun

Lastly, I can see you're 18. Your CV doesn't need to give any details concerning your age/gender/sexuality etc. It's just not needed afaik.

I absolutely disagree with this. Your CV MUST have this very info. Your protected by law from being discriminated against. I don't need to know sexuality but I want to know how old you are, gender, where you're from etc. Remember, your CV is building a picture of you in my head. Put as much relevant detail on there as possible.

Originally Posted by ajbrun

Also, I'm not sure how wise it is to put up your full contact details onto the internet. Other may have other opinions, but it's just not something I would do.
EDIT - having such a small font probably isn't helping with the blank spaces. I use Arial 12pt.

I agree. For the sake of us helping you out, pull all your details off but put in as much contact info as you can when sending your CV out. And if you put an email address, check it DAILY.

Good luck!

[Steve]

I don't think it's wise to put some of the information you have on the Internet. Anyone could come along and half inch it.

[schmunk]

Originally Posted by Steve

I don't think it's wise to put some of the information you have on the Internet. Anyone could come along and half inch it.

I know I have.

[ajbrun]

Originally Posted by Nick

I absolutely disagree with this. Your CV MUST have this very info. Your protected by law from being discriminated against. I don't need to know sexuality but I want to know how old you are, gender, where you're from etc. Remember, your CV is building a picture of you in my head. Put as much relevant detail on there as possible.

Why?

If that information cannot be used for selection purposes anyway, then why have it on at all? If everyone leaves it off, then there's no possibility for using it for discriminatory purposes? I was always told to leave it off for that very reason.

[Lucio]

From my experiences in writing CV's, one thing I do is put my experience first before my personal statement. That way the person reading it can figure out whether or not I'm actually qualified to do the job.

Secondly, when you're describing your jobs, it's helpful to include a brief reason why you left. In my case, I've attended university twice and have some large gaps that without explanation, would have left people wondering.

With regards to your personal statement, it's highly generic, it's like you've reguritated a standard response. Try to expand on what are the good points of your personality and definately don't make things up here!

To give you a little help, I've posted my own "about me" statement below, it's been something that's gotten attention as people have actually mentioned aspects during the interview.

"I am a technically minded individual who enjoys problem solving in a corporate environment. My main areas of skills lie in the fields of data analysis and IT setup, including some basic skills in network administration using Windows Server 2003 SBE. I am familiar with most aspects of Microsoft Office 2003 and have been using editions as far back as Office 97, with my biggest strength being Excel. I have also had experience in using some similar types of software including open source packages like openoffice.org. My current role of Sales & Technical Administrator has required me to become familiar with a vast product catalogue including up to 25,000 alternative references and has seen me develop related knowledge such as hardware and basic electrical skills to help solve customer’s problems with their key cutting equipment. It has also broadened my knowledge of IT infrastructure as I have had to maintain the company’s server and basic network structure. To date I have been entirely self-taught, learning new skills as jobs have demanded it, though my progress has always been rapid picking up new skills, software or information within a short period of time.

Outside of the work environment I am once more drawn to computers as a source of entertainment; I have taken part in online games including Eve: Online that has seen me take upon a role of industry organiser responsible for up to 50 other players. In addition I enjoy reading books from a wide variety of genres including both classical literature and fantasy novels, though I will pick up and read just about any book I can get my hands on. I also enjoy a reasonably active social life, often going out for meals with friends or taking trips to new places. "

[Nick]

Originally Posted by ajbrun

Why?

If that information cannot be used for selection purposes anyway, then why have it on at all? If everyone leaves it off, then there's no possibility for using it for discriminatory purposes? I was always told to leave it off for that very reason.

Ok, some jobs, by they're nature exclude certain genders, nationalities. religions, physical abilities and even personal ideologies. To exclude applicants from the selection process based on these is not discrimination. (and in any case, someone applying for a job whilst limited by one of the above hasn;t done their homework and is wasting the selector's time, hardly endearing...)

For example, how about a female applicant trying for a job in the men's area of a swimming baths? Ain't gonna happen, is it? Or a vegan cook applying for a job in a normal restaurant where he refuses to taste anything non-vegan and insists on not touching the meat or fish he's expected to cook? (This one happened to me). Or a devout Muslim pot-washer who insisted on praying at the most inopportune times (this was a discrimination test case won by the defending restaurant).

The point is, discrimination has to be proved and it's pretty much along the lines that an unsuccessful applicant can prove that they were equally or better suited to the role than the successful applicant and the only difference between them is race, colour, sex, age, religious beliefs or physical ability that have no relation to the tasks in the job description.

It's a bit like someone with dyslexia applying for a job as a writer, a blind man wanting to become an airline pilot or a paraplegic wanting to be a roofer... it's not discrimination, it's exclusion based on an inherent inability to do the job.

Now a CV is the first impression you make with an employer and it has to be a good one, so you really do need to tell me as much about you as you can as I'll be building mental picture of you as I read your CV. If I've no idea what sex or how old you are, you get shifted onto the 'maybe' pile. Given that competition for jobs is fierce, starting off as a maybe because you haven't told me enough about you isn't a good start... not when there's 30 other CVs with all that info on there.

[Butuz]

Hey nick I'm working on my CV at the moment been in my current job 6 years so I am a bit rusty! Can I send it to you so you can have a looksy?

Cheers

Butuz

[Nick]

Sure dude, you know my addy.

[Cozwin]

Originally Posted by Nick

Sure dude, you know my addy.

nick got to say hands down to you on that last bit of help, i know that once ive finished college i may be going into a job and tbh i think thats some of the best advice ive seen in a long time.