How do you structure your CV?

[beaker]

For all you Ltd types - in your work history do you:
a) List each client you worked for and position eg. Programme Manager, HSBC
b) Group them all under Managing Director, Your Co ltd then list individual clients, and jobs done eg. provided mangement of a £x project, developed some application etc.

Just interested!

Thanks!

[BlasterBates]

Normally you list in terms of projects eg:
Manufacturer Food

Development of hamburger recipe management system in Quick Basic.

If you have a lot then group older projects together maybe.

[BrowneIssue]

One of the things that seems to take ages to realise is that:

a) some clients like CVs that look like permie CVs otherwise they get confused.

b) some clients like CVs that come across as hard-hitting consultants problem-fixers, sorter-outers because that is what they are looking to hire.

c) some clients expect CVs to show achievements and results because that is what they are buying.

d) some clients want a one-page CV with one line per role because they are so busy and so organised they like similarly organised people around them.

e) some clients want a bound, 20-page dissertation of what you can do for them and the evidence to prove it to make them feel comfortable.

f) there might even be one or two clients that actually like the generic CVs produced by the CV writing service companies, but they are mad.

g) some people say "you're in business - since when do businesses do CVs?".

A CV is a marketing brochure, the purpose of which is to convince the client they should interview you. One of the above is the correct format for the client ... but which one? You won't know until you meet the client. (But you won't meet the client unless they like your CV. Yes, the process demonstrates Catch-22 attributes.)

Any two people random people will, on average, fight to the death to say CV type 4 is right versus CV type 7. If you ask 20 different people, you will get 30 to 40 different opinions. Every book on the subject has a different opinion.

Just use whatever YOU think sells you best into the market segment you are wanting to sell yourself into.

[Sockpuppet]

Send a brain dump of info to the agent and let them sort it out. make them earn the pay they get.

[KathyWoolfe]

I was advised that the best way is to have several versions of my C.V. all in different formats. This is fine if you're sending your C.V. direct to the client but if you're sending C.V.'s to agents then just a basic C.V. would be suitable as they tend to re-format them their own way for selling you to their clients.

[KevinT77]

Send a brain dump of info to the agent and let them sort it out. make them earn the pay they get.

This could be a risky tactic as it is you that actually has to get the job?