Contractor CV

[billybiro]

Why do you have a CV? You have no legal obligation whatsoever to provide one to a potential client in a B2B relationship.

Yes, very amusing Greg.

I know what you're trying to say with your smart alec remark, but my CV contains very little in the way of personal information other than my name, email address and contact telephone number (and both email and phone are business, not personal, ones). It certainly doesn't contain the kind of information that my passport or bank statements contain. So, yes, whilst there's no legal obligation to provide one, I also don't mind providing one since the level of detailed, personal information I'm expected to share on my CV is very limited.

Happy now?

[Old Greg]

Yes, very amusing Greg.

I know what you're trying to say with your smart alec remark, but my CV contains very little in the way of personal information other than my name, email address and contact telephone number (and both email and phone are business, not personal, ones). It certainly doesn't contain the kind of information that my passport or bank statements contain. So, yes, whilst there's no legal obligation to provide one, I also don't mind providing one since the level of detailed, personal information I'm expected to share on my CV is very limited.

Happy now?

Shouldn't you just point potential clients to your corporate website or other marketing materials? Or do you prefer to just jump when a potential client demands a CV?

[whirlpool]

Shouldn't you just point potential clients to your corporate website or other marketing materials? Or do you prefer to just jump when a potential client demands a CV?

I would think that it would be nearly impossible to get a job without a CV. I have never tried it and wouldn't know where to start if i did.

[Old Greg]

I would think that it would be nearly impossible to get a job without a CV. I have never tried it and wouldn't know where to start if i did.

Billy doesn't do 'jobs'.

[whirlpool]

Billy doesn't do 'jobs'.

Definition of "Job" from Google Dictionary:

job1
dʒɒb/Submit
noun
1.
a paid position of regular employment.
"the scheme could create 200 jobs"
synonyms: position of employment, position, post, situation, place, appointment, posting, placement, day job; More
2.
a task or piece of work, especially one that is paid.
"she wants to be left alone to get on with the job"
synonyms: task, piece of work, assignment, project; More
verb
1.
do casual or occasional work.
"a jobbing builder"
2.
buy and sell (stocks) as a broker-dealer, especially on a small scale.
"his game plan is to buy in then job the shares on at a profit"

[Old Greg]

Definition of "Job" from Google Dictionary:

job1
dʒɒb/Submit
noun
1.
a paid position of regular employment.
"the scheme could create 200 jobs"
synonyms: position of employment, position, post, situation, place, appointment, posting, placement, day job; More
2.
a task or piece of work, especially one that is paid.
"she wants to be left alone to get on with the job"
synonyms: task, piece of work, assignment, project; More
verb
1.
do casual or occasional work.
"a jobbing builder"
2.
buy and sell (stocks) as a broker-dealer, especially on a small scale.
"his game plan is to buy in then job the shares on at a profit"

Don't shoot the messenger.

[rogerthedodger]

I think the first page has to sell you on its own. A lot of recruiters will only spend about 15 seconds on a first reading of a CV and only read the first page. If the CV fails the first page 15 second test, it won't go any further.

I've been an independent for 25 years and over 70 clients but my CV is normally only 2 pages excluding an appendix (mentioned below), basically a 'cut the crap' approach:

Name (with 'letters of qualifications') plus mobile, email and LI URL but not geographical address.

Opening professional summary with key highlights i.e. what I do and 'generic achievements', industry sectors etc.

Career section:
I make it clear that my job is running my own business with about 5 or 6 recent, relevant projects with achievements.
Refer to an appendix with all projects listed as one-liners.
Previous perm positions presented as one-liners. 25+ years ago so who cares?

Training: A list of one liners.

Qualificatons: A list of one liners.

- and that's it. Seems to work swimmingly on the whole.

I don't bother stating hobbies etc, it's a B2B relationship so not relevant.

I think the CV and Interview Advisers method has some merit but personally I think the STAR approach is too much detail. I prefer one or two lines about the company then bulleted responsibilities and achievements only i.e. only the 'R' but without the 'S', 'T' and 'A'.

I don't put full dates on projects and perm jobs. I was taught to state years only but not months. I guess it's a judgement call but I tend to think that including months makes it look a bit messy.

That's my experience but each to his own I guess.

[HugeWhale]

I've tried lots of formats over the years. Right now it's seven pages, however page 1 solely contains:

Name, mobile, email
Bullet points of key skills
Bullet points of recent assignments with dates e.g. Project Manager, HBOS, Jan 2015 - May 2016
Nothing else.

From page 2 I break down the assignments and mention key successes etc but page 1 is really concise.

The only changes I usually make are to tailor the key skills on page 1 and shuffle the order.
Is this best? Don't know. However it seems to strike the right balance between a fully tailored CV (which can take several hours) and the need to get as many applications in as possible.

[northernladuk]

I've tried lots of formats over the years. Right now it's seven pages, however page 1 solely contains:

Name, mobile, email
Bullet points of key skills
Bullet points of recent assignments with dates e.g. Project Manager, HBOS, Jan 2015 - May 2016
Nothing else.

From page 2 I break down the assignments and mention key successes etc but page 1 is really concise.

The only changes I usually make are to tailor the key skills on page 1 and shuffle the order.
Is this best? Don't know. However it seems to strike the right balance between a fully tailored CV (which can take several hours) and the need to get as many applications in as possible.

Depends if it works for you and you are getting end to end gigs that you want to do.

But.. I'm not keen on that approach. You are making the agent work. He has to look through page 1 and then flick to 2 to get the detail. He's looking to match his role up against your CV with as little work as possible. With no detail on page 1 he's having to go to page 2.. or more to see if your activities match his role profile to a tee. Any work beyond scanning the first page is putting you down the pecking order IMO. If you've not got him ready to sign you up by the end of the first page you're pretty much done and I can't see how list of role titles gives them that.

I don't think a fully tailored CV should take a few hours. It should just be a matter of re-doing a couple of bullet points in the last 3 roles to emphasise the skills the gig you are going for wants. If you matched perfectly with little effort I don't think you need to be applying as much as possible. If you target and nail a few you don't need the scatter gun approach.

I'd question whether you really are an absolute match for masses of gigs so how many of them are you wasting your time applying for anyway. Even if it does take an hour or two to nail one isn't that worth the potential of a couple of 100k of income?

I'm strongly of the opinion the 7 pager is hurting you as well. Every time a CV of 5 or more pages comes in it generates more mirth than serious consideration in my experience. Who has time to read 7 pages of CV when the 2-3 pager in front has nailed the requirements....

It's quite a different approach to what I've seen I'd suggest try going to one of the webinars that CUK holds from time to time and get another opinion. There has been quite a bit of positive feedback from them from what I can see.

But as I say, if it works then stick to it.

[thisisit]

I have a table on the front page of my CV with a list of key skills, both technical and business and the number of years' experience.

This seems to go down well in interviews and as someone who has reviewed my fair share of CVs it acts as a quick way to ascertain whether a candidate has the relevant experience.