CV format

[BolshieBastard]

OK I know dodgey said he'd look at people's cv if they weren't getting interviews. I still think a lot depends on who is looking at your cv though as to whether you get an interview or not.

Obviously its the content that gets an interview but, this can \ could be improved by presentation.

I've had a number of agents say my layout is good. Despite that I've been speaking to 2 agents this morning and one said they liked the layout and content while the other said it probably had too much info in it.

I find the latter comment very frustrating considering I've been contracting since 1997. What's even more frustrating is the job spec this agent sent me for a financial job is closely typed with no subject or sub paragragh separation. The job spec has 53 bullet points!

TBH, I cant be arsed 'tailoring' my cv to 'draw out' my skills against that lot. Then on a separate cover sheet, put 4 or 5 bullet points where my skills match those of the job!

It would just be a lottery.

Anyhooooooo, what do the panel think is the best presentation of a cv?

Mine is set out with;

Page 1 Contact details

Profile, 8 bullet point single sentences.

Skills, 12 bullet point single sentences.

Experience, 7 bullet point 2 or 3 sentences each.

Page 2 Job description, Detailed description of mutliple projects with same client over the last 3.25 years.

This covers 2\3rds of page 2. The remaining third is split between the other two roles I had for the 9 months before that.

Page 3 is single sentence job description, from \ to, training history.

Apart from giving up, suggestions!?

[SueEllen]

Remember you can't please everyone all the time.

[BolshieBastard]

Remember you can't please everyone all the time.

I know, I know. And 53 items on the job spec. Even then some have 2 or 3 elements to them!

This is one section

Use knowledge of Banking & Savings systems processes and project to formulate, evaluate, develop and implement changes which reflects the needs of the business and or customers using own initiative or as directed by Ops Recs Project Manager
• Works with business and IT to ensure that Ops Recs solutions fully meet business requirements and add value, where possible
• Aims to minimise the impact on BAU of any changes that are implemented
• Maintain customer and colleague advocacy through the robustness of testing
• Leads & manages to the achievement and maintenance of good working relationships with key stakeholders
• Leads the engagement of people who are required to support the project, including business / IT representatives
• Supports personal development by making the most of opportunities, providing and seeking feedback
• Provides direction & leadership as well as support and coaching of Ops Recs Testers to help with their development and provide feedback on their performance to the Ops Recs Project Manager

[MaryPoppins]

I've always stuck to the same format. Co name and contact details at the top, taking up as little space as poss.

A profile across the top, with experience underneath. The last 2 or 3 roles has a bullet breakdown of what the role involved, with previous roles summarised by the programme name and description.

A short summary of skillset at the bottom.

Seems to work well for me.

[norrahe]

Name and contact details at top, followed by profile, bullet poined skillset summary, achievements, then summary of each contract.

Seems to work well for me, all people seem to do is read the first page.

[Jeebo72]

It's a well known fact that no one, ever, reads beyonds the first 5 lines of any cv. Therefore summarise everything in these first 5 lines. After all when you do a google search, do you ever look beyond the first 5 lines? No. So it's fact.

[Moscow Mule]

Page 1

Name & Contacts at top - in big ish font.
Paragraph of who I am, summing up what I do.
List of key skills (6 or 7 max - easily tailorable if required)
Details of last engagement / role in reasonable detail

Page 2
Employment history - most recent get 4 bullets on outcomes for business / achievements, oldest gets 1.

Page 3
Education & references

(refs just say, "available on request" & a link to my linked in with some actual, real world recommendations) .

Don't normally send page 3 unless role requires a graduate (unusual to have it mentioned these days).

[rz6bm7]

ent while the other said it probably had too much info in it.

I find the latter comment very frustrating considering I've been contracting since 1997. What's even more frustrating is the job spec this agent sent me for a financial job is closely typed with no subject or sub paragragh separation. The job spec has 53 bullet points!
?

You really can't win here - you have two hurdles to jump through one is getting the agent to put you forward and the second is with the client, there may be '53' bullet points on the spec but you know full well there are 40+ points that are a client's wish list then there are essential skills that they actually care about;
Hopefully your CV already works for the agency though really you just need to pitch yourself strongly to the pimp and make sure your CV works for the client-I think it's always worth take time to make sure your CV is going to be agreable to a role though normally with contract roles you know about what the client is looking for than the agent your talking to..

[Fred Bloggs]

For every application, I usually make tweaks to the "key skills" bit near the top of my CV and I alter a few of the bullet points in past career section to show relevant buzz words that the client needs in the last 3 or 4 gigs. Works for me.

[northernrampage]

okay... for my CV I just had it in chronological format, the jobs and what I did in each listed. I had a very short para at top about my experience.

Despite a huge gap in work, I was still getting calls for interviews. I think it's because my last role was for a company that used to be well thought of, and I had a fair bit of experience in jobs I was going for.

Now, I've started contracting but the role/company not as good (in the jobs I generally go for), not getting as much calls. Which confused me as I had an 18mth gap and got agents ringing at times anyway. I'm thinking it's because people just look at the top, then move on.

Reckon I should completely re-jig and put a skills section at top then list jobs (and a line for my time-off?).

I was kind of thinking I'll then get calls where people don't realise I've had time off so it may be cheating..but perhaps if I get them on the phone it may not matter if skills are in their mind.