CV Advice/Tips

Ok ill start with why im asking.

I am a 17 year old student currently working in my first part time job. I am looking to leave due to only paying minimum wage and seeing many other same age and younger getting more wage then me.

I have a CV which i thought to be very decent but yet even though i have handed out about 30 odd cvs i have had no replies or interviews even though i now have experiance which most employers love.

So basically i want some one or some people who have quite abit of experiance in writing cvs and could look at mine and offer critisism and help with what to improve/change.

Reply and i will pm with my CV

Thanks All.

what type of experince? are handing out cv's at retail outlets? or agencies like reed and adecco?

Reed is a good suggestion, also try posting it on Monster, I'm looking for work right now and I've had far more response from there than I've ever had elsewhere.

From working in GAME for a while, most CV's that are handed in are generally just "filed" away and are never seen again (we kept them, but most people were basically unemployable, and why would you hire someone that you know has just been plastering their CV everywhere). If you're applying for a job, you need to know when to apply - you will only stand a chance if you hand in your application when there are vacancies free.

Something i like to do if i'm handing in a CV is always attach a personalised covering letter. So, for instance if you applied to a PC shop instead of just handing in a dull CV with just "i like computers" you can state that you've built/upgraded many in your spare time and thus would be able to give good responses to customer queries (bad example, but you get the gist). Quite a lot of managers, especially in non chain stores, will appreciate you taking the effort to appear as if you're only applying to them.

Job agencies are also a pretty good way of doing things, i've never used one personally, but i know people who have and are generally favourable when speaking about them. One of the better agencies in Swindon is a company called Pertemps, who basically have you give them your credentials and then they contact you with temp jobs every now and again (flexible around you) - they're good for short, way above minimum wage jobs but nothing serious. Agencies will also generally give you a bit of advice on what to do with your CV too.

As to presentation, spelling and grammar are probably the most important aspects - along with presentation. A poorly presented CV looks tacky - i mean we had them handed in where people still had "NAME HERE:" where they were supposed to paste over it. Poor spelling also doesn't go down well, especially in this age of spell checking where all it takes is a right click. Keep it simple, keep it neat.

Experience is a bit of a mixed one i think, employers will look on it favourably depending on what it is. So, retail experience would be helpful if you were trying to get a sales assistant type job, but not for hardcore data entry and vice versa. When you put this on your CV, try and make it applicable to the job you're applying for.

I'm 18, and when i got the job at GAME it was luck - pure and simple - my mum saw the ad in the paper, i filled in an application form, and that was it. They called a week later, interviewed and was in. 90% of it is good timing - as i said before - no use applying just everywhere, it's a waste of paper. Apply to the places which have vacancy notices, and instead of just handing in your paperwork, ask them if there's a dedicated application form to fill in.

I'd be happy to have a look at your CV (nothing happening until uni, so i've got the time) :)

Though primarily, the question is what sort of job do you want? Just something that pays well? Most retail work is fairly badly paid - you can expect a minimum of about £5 an hour for someone your age (although i believe ASDA pays pretty well). The easiest job you should be able to get is just basic data entry - boring, but occasionally pretty well paid. Admin jobs are aplenty at any rate.

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Originally Posted by Whiternoise

Experience is a bit of a mixed one i think, employers will look on it favourably depending on what it is. So, retail experience would be helpful if you were trying to get a sales assistant type job, but not for hardcore data entry and vice versa. When you put this on your CV, try and make it applicable to the job you're applying for.

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Agreed, this is a bugbear of mine - Putting things like "I worked at Tesco as a shop assistant between June 2002 and July 2005" is totally irrelevant when you're looking for work for anything other than your first "proper" full time job after Sixth form/Uni/whatever. I've removed it from my CV, because if/when I change jobs, it'll almost certainly be another IT role, and they really don't care about the fact I worked at Waitrose stacking shelves 3 years ago :)

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Originally Posted by Howard

Agreed, this is a bugbear of mine - Putting things like "I worked at Tesco as a shop assistant between June 2002 and July 2005" is totally irrelevant when you're looking for work for anything other than your first "proper" full time job after Sixth form/Uni/whatever. I've removed it from my CV, because if/when I change jobs, it'll almost certainly be another IT role, and they really don't care about the fact I worked at Waitrose stacking shelves 3 years ago :)

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So that it can fit on one page, i don't even list my GCSEs.

There is a hudge Technical Skills bullet list, then each one of them gets breifly justified below.

All you need to do is make it sound like your not bull****ting, and that you sonud good, not prove beyound all reasonable doubt, that happens at interview.

try this. It has free example resumes and CV writing tips. It's a bit of a jungle to navigate, but there are good tips and examples.

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Originally Posted by TheAnimus

So that it can fit on one page, i don't even list my GCSEs.

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Same, I just say "x GCSEs at grade X or higher, including English and Maths" or similar

I hope your spelling in your CV is better than in your post but in all truth at your age experience is often not what employers are looking for as they know that you will probably have little of it. On a good note your CV would expected to be plain and non confusing which again makes it a lot easier for you to get right.

If you have not heard from any of your applications it could be for many reasons such as the position has been taken or they have received too many applicants already, of course it depends on the type of jobs you are applying for.

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Originally Posted by Paulm@scan

I hope your spelling in your CV is better than in your post but in all truth at your age experience is often not what employers are looking for as they know that you will probably have little of it. On a good note your CV would expected to be plain and non confusing which again makes it a lot easier for you to get right.

If you have not heard from any of your applications it could be for many reasons such as the position has been taken or they have received too many applicants already, of course it depends on the type of jobs you are applying for.

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/sigh why must people always be nasty... my cv has been checked a few times and spelling is fine.
Also i posted my first post at like 3 in morning while half asleep.

Anyway to answer above people i have been applying to shops not agencies etc.

on a side note i have uploaded it here:

http://www.2shared.com/file/3911824/...8_Corwin_.html

only look if you are actually going to help not just to take the piss etc.

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Originally Posted by Howard

Same, I just say "x GCSEs at grade X or higher, including English and Maths" or similar

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don't even do that any more.... (but then again i have only 5)

Next time i apply for a job (now 26months out of uni) i'll probably neglect my a-levels, they are hardly important.

It looks pretty good, there are some things that might help...

1. Your address causes a lot of white-space before your name and "South Yorkshire" is fairly redundant as Sheffield is well known and I assume you're applying in that area if you're still at school. It might look better all in a long single line under your name, or reduced to 3 lines (tel, email, address) centered at the bottom. They are more interested in finding out about you first, if they want to contact you they'll look for the address after.

2. Your GCSEs take up a lot of space. You might be better off trying to condense them and adding a very clear "Skills" section in the space. As you're starting out it may be an idea to add length-of-use to your skills too, to clarify experience beyond your job history. e.g. "Photoshop - 3 Years".

3. Maybe just me but is Marital Status helpful? I'm actually asking people in general as I have never used it myself. Driver's license, and stated if clean will help but at 17 I guess you may not have one yet.

1. doesnt mention any of your skills gained from the JD sports job.
2. condense the GCSE's (as already mentioned)
3. Do you do anything else as a hobby? volunteer? any other achievements?

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Originally Posted by TheAnimus

So that it can fit on one page, i don't even list my GCSEs.

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Yep, my CV only has A Levels on now, and as Howard says, x GCSE's at x level, etc.

No doubt when i get my degree the A levels will come off too - not much point saying you've got maths/physics a levels if you put down that you have a physics degree :)

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Originally Posted by Cozwin

http://www.2shared.com/file/3911824/...8_Corwin_.html

only look if you are actually going to help not just to take the piss etc.

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If you were applying to shops, then why expand on the admin side? You would do better to put more into stuff like customer service when working for JD. Take out the tech stuff from your work experience unless it's absolutely relevant (you can always slip an extra line into your interests box saying something like "After my work experience i am also relatively proficient in Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Access"), that way you can expand on the stuff the managers will be looking for.

Layout is pretty good, you could perhaps sort out your name so that it's in line with the address to save space, but that's just me being a pedant - you could add a few more lines in that way.

thanks chicken and tiger ill have another pop at updating it tonight and ive thanked you both :)

ok here s what ive got now.

http://www.2shared.com/file/3914781/...8_Corwin_.html

Cozwin: If you want an extra pair of eyes to have a look I would be more than happy to give it a read :) I cant seem to access your link (im working off my datacard and its being a bit picky atm!) P.M it too me?

i dont seem to be able to attach in anyway on forums what upload sites can you use? and ill post it there

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Originally Posted by Cozwin

i dont seem to be able to attach in anyway on forums what upload sites can you use? and ill post it there

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Check your P.M's :)

maybe its just me but i dont see a attach item on pms

MY very brief input from what I have found works

You should probably explain what a LAN is (and use LAN not Lan)

I would also as opposed to numbering, bullet point (shows that way for me on wordpad, havent installed office yet on a new install)

From what I did on mine for work skills I seperated them into individual and team based roles/skills and wrote a few sentences on each to explain what I did, how I did it etc, I find a bullet pointed list can leave a lot to the imagination and not in a very good way from reading CVs (may get it some more, apparently I can interview some people for work experience even though I am an intern lol)

It entirely depends on the jobs you go for as to how I would word this:

Serving customers. -
Worked in a public facing role assisting customers, or you sat on your arse at a till scanning things through. Can take it either way IMO

Running a stockroom with up to 3 other stockroom staff. -
worked effectively as part of a team regarding stock allocation and distribution

Replenishing stock. - add this in to the stockroom stuff and it becomes:
worked effectively individualy (sp?) and as part of a team regarding stock allocation and distribution

Customer support. - problem solving is good, possibly add in what you did within that (returns?)

Store maintanence. - maintaining what exactly? if it was stock then don't repeat it, incorporate it -
worked effectively individualy (sp?) and as part of a team regarding stock allocation, distribution and maintaining the operation of the store to a high standard. (add in if you had any reviews or mystery shops that proved this, such as "...to a high standard as shown by my mystery shop records")

Reporting to supervisor and manager every shift. - That isn't a skill worded like that, it is knowing your place in a company

Place of birth isn't necessary

Condense the GCSEs, as I suggested above. Mention the important ones like English and Maths.

At the moment, the Interests and Activities heading sits at the bottom of the first page, on it's own, but that'll get fixed when you condense the other stuff ;)

What sort of jobs are you looking to apply for?


Oh and if you're sending the CV/covering letter electronically, use PDF, or RTF

I think with the info you've got on there, you can consolidate it onto one page. Nationality, DoB and place of birth are not necessary.

Also the personal information text box was hiding the 'information' word.

You should work on writing a paragraph - personal profile.

I'll send you a file via your googlemail on the CV.
It's what we use at work.

ok will have another go and thanks

ok here is new draft

Compressed gcse's.
Changed JD Job Skills
Added Personal Profile

http://www.2shared.com/file/3916985/...__draft_2.html

Quote:

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A hardworking, and a highly motivated Sales Assistant with a wide background in the use of information technology. With the ability to pick up ideas quickly and approach problems logically. Experience in working with the public and within a team has taught the value of tact and diplomacy as well as excellent communication skills. Calm under pressure and with the proven ability to be reliable in a busy situatuion

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Few changes that i think makes it read better:

Quote:

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I am a hard working, highly motivated individual with the ability to pick up new ideas quickly and approach problems logically and efficiently. Experience in working with the public and within a team has taught the value of tact and diplomacy as well as excellent communication skills. I am calm under pressure have proven my ability to be reliable in busy situations. Through past work experience i have also gained proficiency in a wide range of information technologies.

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I think you can leave out the sales assistant bit, unless it's actually what you're doing now - but even then i think you can probably give it a miss - it'll be obvious what you're doing from your "experience" bit.

If you want to add a bit more, you can consolidate your interests bit as follows:

Quote:

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My greatest interest is modern history. Since starting to study the subject in 2002, I have spent my time trying to learn as much on the subject as I can as I find it very interesting. I believe history to be my main subject I do well in and I aim to do a degree in modern history in the future. To complement this, I also enjoy reading and keeping up with current affairs.

I am also interested in gaming and I play a wide range of video games. This has helped to contribute to my skills of working as a team.

While working at JD Sports I have began to work on my skills as working as a team and keeping myself on target. I enjoy working because it gives me challenges and experience.

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Very slight change, but i think it fits well.

ok thanks white noise have made those changes and agree looks alot better that way thanks.

Hi,

There is loads of advice online. This jobsite has career advice articles in their career centre bit which I have used in the past.

TipTopJob.com

Cheers
Hutch