Length of CVs

[Aman]

I have also found that the majority of contractors who I leave a message with or send an email to never call me back. initially frustrated at this and knowing how you guys feel about agents I now just happily assume that if they were available then they would call me back

Are you specific in your e-mail or voice mail message?

I find that the majority of agents who e-mail me saying they have tried to contact me by telephone (they haven't) and could I therefore telephone them back about a role they are handling, aren't actually handling a role. They are on a fishing exercise and want to transfer the cost to the contractors. On calling back they generally want to go through a lengthy script which includes asking for two references.


If an e-mail doesn't have the role and location included how the hell would I know if I am interested? I'm not wasting fifteen minutes on the telephone, my telephone bill is high enough calling about actual vacancies.

If an agent e-mails me about a specific role in a specific place, sure I'll telephone them. If the role is genuine it never comes to that - the agent is hungry enough for the sale and will actually telephone suitable candidates, not just claim to have done so to transfer cost.

[Aman]

Mine is 3 pages (covering 24 years) and an appendix with equipment and software.

Though I've had excellent feedback on it, I'm never happy with it and, frankly, I'm sick of the sight of it.

[Tingles]

last 11 years, 3 pages.


T

[pmeswani]

Is My CV good enough?

I probably need to get my CV reviewed by someone at some point. Am on the bench waiting for the next opportunity to arise.

[MrMark]

Never gone above 4 pages but now reduced to 3, I think thats plenty. I now start my CV with a summary detailing the commonality of what I do on all/most contracts - and the detail of each contract only extends what made that contract unique. It's an object-orientated CV.

Seems a good approach.

[TykeMerc]

I'm very careful that mine doesn't go past 3 pages and all the really relevant stuff is on page 1 with support on page 2 and brief data on page 3.
It's a challenge sometimes, but I'm fairly brutal with cutting down on the info for old roles.

[Scrag Meister]

Back in 2007 when I first started contracting, I had a 4 page CV and wasn't getting any interviews, very frustrating.

I butchered it down to 2 pages, and the interviews started in earnest, had 3 offers on the table in about 2.5 weeks.

Never looked back, butcher it now. Trying hard to keep it on 2 pages.

Personal and Skills Summary page 1
Last 2 roles more detail than the 2 liners for other previous roles on page 2, along with 2 liner on other interests and references ("Available on request")

[mavster07]

I think the length of CV has a lot to do with the type of role you are going for. If you have a very senior role in a major blue chip organisation (e.g. Bank) then they will want to see 'quality experience' and 'achievements' in your work history. If you've done 10-20 years of work, its very hard to do that in 2-3 pages and tell the right story. You're better off having a 7-8 page CV with the first 2 pages being your skills summary and the client can then go as far back as they want to to find the relevant experience.

[d000hg]

For ages I kept it to 1 page... though it was squashed. Now it's two pages and I prefer to keep it that way.

edit: oh, wait it's 4 pages. I forgot I re-did it a while ago . I reluctantly added a "personal statement" paragraph right at the top where I preferred previously to just start with a bullet-list of key skills.

Statement
Table of key skills
Roughly chronological list of contract work
Older stuff (permie companies & education)

[DodgyAgent]

Are you specific in your e-mail or voice mail message?

I find that the majority of agents who e-mail me saying they have tried to contact me by telephone (they haven't) and could I therefore telephone them back about a role they are handling, aren't actually handling a role. They are on a fishing exercise and want to transfer the cost to the contractors. On calling back they generally want to go through a lengthy script which includes asking for two references.


If an e-mail doesn't have the role and location included how the hell would I know if I am interested? I'm not wasting fifteen minutes on the telephone, my telephone bill is high enough calling about actual vacancies.

If an agent e-mails me about a specific role in a specific place, sure I'll telephone them. If the role is genuine it never comes to that - the agent is hungry enough for the sale and will actually telephone suitable candidates, not just claim to have done so to transfer cost.

I do not do fishing. I will be specific on messages and emails that I have something I wish to talk about. If I want leads for other contract vacancies I simply ring up the contractor and ask directly