CV Tips

[SueEllen]

So much bull about cv's. Mines 7 pages long. Only once did an agent tell me to cut it down to 2 (or 3 max). I said no. So they didn't put me forward. Got the job via another agent.

That's probably because the agent cut it down for you.

Some agents like to do editing.

Unfortunately some of them are so thick that their editing ends up like gibberish.

Luckily lots of HR staff are also thick and if you manage to get on with the interviewer it's another thing to bond on.

 

[farout117]

managed to get mine down to 5 pages over the weekend. I still think its quite long, but cannot seem to get it shorter

 

[EternalOptimist]

managed to get mine down to 5 pages over the weekend. I still think its quite long, but cannot seem to get it shorter

10 pages for 22 contracts, thats half a page per gig. you are bonkers

anything more than a few years ago should be a single line, unless it was high earning splendid stuff
its the client name that matters most

 

[Spacecadet]

10 pages for 22 contracts, thats half a page per gig. you are bonkers

anything more than a few years ago should be a single line, unless it was high earning splendid stuff
its the client name that matters most

<Pedant>
It is a CV.. if you start cutting things out to trim it down then it becomes a Résumé
</Pedant>

 

[EternalOptimist]

<Pedant>
It is a CV.. if you start cutting things out to trim it down then it becomes a Résumé
</Pedant>

and if you puff it up and include that nice feedback you got in 1989 from the assistant project managers second in command, it becomes a stream of consciousness ball and chain.

 

[farout117]

10 pages for 22 contracts, thats half a page per gig. you are bonkers

anything more than a few years ago should be a single line, unless it was high earning splendid stuff
its the client name that matters most

Actually that was an example, but yeah I had half a page for some contracts. Realized it was too much, now its shorter but still want to cut more, its not exactly the final version. So you're saying anything before 2009 should be a 1 liner?

 

[EternalOptimist]

Actually that was an example, but yeah I had half a page for some contracts. Realized it was too much, now its shorter but still want to cut more, its not exactly the final version. So you're saying anything before 2009 should be a 1 liner?

in my opinion. Unless its a staggeringly wonderful tech, or project or client or achievement.

e.g. I did a gig once in Singapore, so it gets two lines.

The rationale is that it defuses one of the age old questions 'Will you be ok working down in London?'

answer - 'I'll work anywhere - even Singapore, see page 3. Even though it was a bugger getting home for lunch. ha hah.'

 

[psychocandy]

Actually this is quite interesting. I have more than 11 years experience and the first years were like Mainframe, COBOL, DB2 etc. I have also worked on a lot of contracts in the years, so my CV is like 10 pages long, which some agents might say is too long. Do you guys list all the project from when you started out, or lets say just the last 5 years to keep the CV more concise?

10 pages seriously!

 

[psychocandy]

What's really sad though, is this agent didn't realise he'd set the language default to Welsh, so it was all badly spelt.

Dwi ddim yn siarad cymraeg...

 

[Jeebo72]

That's probably because the agent cut it down for you.

Some agents like to do editing.

Unfortunately some of them are so thick that their editing ends up like gibberish.

Luckily lots of HR staff are also thick and if you manage to get on with the interviewer it's another thing to bond on.

99% of the time, the interviewer has my CV in front of them, so I can see it. I've never seen it any different to what I send in. Except the contact details at the top is removed. The 2 page cv is bull. I have too much experience and info to put across. But then I always get a lot of work, so what do I know over a "CV expert" who is charging for their work.