Author Topic: CV... help / idea websites?  (Read 1448 times)

CV... help / idea websites?
Reply #15 on: February 14, 2007, 02:12:45 AM
Aye its not necessarily about a bad reference but its about bad karma in the office should you fail to get the new job for any reason, your stuck in an office or workplace where youve just managed to maybe annoy your management and workmates.

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  • Offline Leon

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CV... help / idea websites?
Reply #16 on: February 14, 2007, 04:13:28 AM
Ok I went to the pub for several hours after posting and already its 2 pages of arguments :P

Thanks for all the tips but it seems everyone is arguing over points which may or may not be true so ah well might aswell straighten things out...

I spent the last 2 years doing IT support (mainly 2nd line) for NMSI (national museums of science & industry... based at the science museum London) with lots of Mac support (design, M$ office & AD intergration project lead) and PC support (M$ 2000 & 2003 aswell as lots of random crap, including Tor and uniware till systems) - My education isnt great so wouldnt like to put it top (A - B in all my GCSEs but didnt do collage... started but wasnt my thing)

2 Years pro IT in London is what my main selling point is... apart from that I have 6 months web design, I also have 1 year working in retail (at gamestation with rivkid where I was put in charge a few times and definatly knew the back office and eod stuff)

edit: I also the only support for Duality (e-mail and cal on the move using windows based iPAQs and then took the lead in rolling out Microsoft Mobile Messaging (part of Exchange 2003) on all our iPAQ based solutions.

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  • Offline BigSoy

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Re:CV... help / idea websites?
Reply #17 on: February 14, 2007, 07:40:36 AM
Stick your name on top instead of Curriculum Vitae.

"Within your 'purview'? Where do you think you are, some f**king regency costume drama? This is a government department, not some f**king Jane f**king Austen novel!"

  • Offline mrt

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Re:CV... help / idea websites?
Reply #18 on: February 14, 2007, 08:39:34 AM
TBH I totally agree with Dave and M3ta7h3ad on a number of points.  

Its all very well saying you work/review cvs but tbh, I have had such crap advice over the years from so called experts.  I have been working in IT for over 14 years now.

My suggestions (totally at your choice to use them!)

1. Adapt CV for the job - dont use a generic one!!  Shows you have putt effort into applying for the position - an employer can spot this.   Read the job spec you are applying for a totally mould your cv around it!!!
2. Ideally, have your name at top (no real need for CV or Curriculum Vitae).  
3. Space is a factor .. no more than 2 pages, so dont include marital status, driving license etc, unless relevant
4. New to IT, well put qualifications at top, if you are old skool in IT put them at the end and focus on job history.  I dont even put grades on mine, simply (eg. GCSEs 10 A-Cs (inc. English and Maths) and 3 A Levels (Maths, English, Art)).  Leaves you space to focus on other great things about yourself.  
5. Leave out personal interests, an employer can ask you that at an interview - space is very valuable use it wisely!
6. References - who cares at this stage, an employer does not, the HR company will ask for them as appropriate.  References are the sort of thing that in a lot of cases are just mandatory but do not mean a great deal.  We can all fudge one if required.
7. As far as your job history is concerned, keep it focused primarily on worthy points and achievements.  Dont rattle on, much easier to bullet point as an employer can just summarise in an interview.  Projects you have managed, projects you have been responsible for, things that made a big difference to the company etc. etc.
8.  Dont do that thing where you list every software package/technology under the sun, an employer does not need to know you are savyy in winzip.  Focus on industry standard ones and technologies that will/could well be relevant.  Again, cvs change depending on the job you are applying for.
9.  Put a summary at the top - keep it to about 4/5 lines.  Spend time getting this right.  
10.  Once your cv is complete, get a professional person who has a very good standard of english to proof it.  Correct it.  Then do it again.  Repeat process with someone else.  

Best of luck!

Re:CV... help / idea websites?
Reply #19 on: February 14, 2007, 08:52:26 AM
Quote from: mrt
TBH I totally agree with Dave on a number of his points.  

Its all very well saying you work/review cvs but tbh, I have had such crap advice over the years from so called experts.  I have been working in IT for over 14 years now.

My suggestions (totally at your choice to use them!)

1. Adapt CV for the job - dont use a generic one!!  Shows you have putt effort into applying for the position - an employer can spot this.   Read the job spec you are applying for a totally mould your cv around it!!!
2. Ideally, have your name at top (no real need for CV or Curriculum Vitae).  
3. Space is a factor .. no more than 2 pages, so dont include marital status, driving license etc, unless relevant
4. New to IT, well put qualifications at top, if you are old skool in IT put them at the end and focus on job history.  I dont even put grades on mine, simply (eg. GCSEs 10 A-Cs (inc. English and Maths) and 3 A Levels (Maths, English, Art)).  Leaves you space to focus on other great things about yourself.  
5. Leave out personal interests, an employer can ask you that at an interview - space is very valuable use it wisely!
6. References - who cares at this stage, an employer does not, the HR company will ask for them as appropriate.  References are the sort of thing that in a lot of cases are just mandatory but do not mean a great deal.  We can all fudge one if required.
7. As far as your job history is concerned, keep it focused primarily on worthy points and achievements.  Dont rattle on, much easier to bullet point as an employer can just summarise in an interview.  Projects you have managed, projects you have been responsible for, things that made a big difference to the company etc. etc.
8.  Dont do that thing where you list every software package/technology under the sun, an employer does not need to know you are savyy in winzip.  Focus on industry standard ones and technologies that will/could well be relevant.  Again, cvs change depending on the job you are applying for.
9.  Put a summary at the top - keep it to about 4/5 lines.  Spend time getting this right.  
10.  Once your cv is complete, get a professional person who has a very good standard of english to proof it.  Correct it.  Then do it again.  Repeat process with someone else.  

Best of luck!


Seems theyve given you sound advice considering your points echo mine quite well. :) Oh and btw... im nowhere near an expert. I just use resources that I have to hand to review CVs, and a big dictionary + spellchecker to check up on spelling mistakes.

Dont even want to do the job, but it beats sitting around on my arse waiting for people to call the office with a technical query (im a support tutor) for their course.

  • Offline mrt

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Re:CV... help / idea websites?
Reply #20 on: February 14, 2007, 09:03:52 AM
M3ta7h3ad - indeed very sound advice!  The expert comment was not primarily directed at you.  I used a couple of professional proofing companies in the past which did not do the greatest of jobs!  

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