Updating my CV

[VectraMan]

Why am I so useless at this? I stared at it for a couple of hours yesterday; managed to make a bit more progress today, but I'm still struggling to get it done. I spent 18 months in my previous permie job, but all I can think of to describe it is two brief paragraphs. I must have done more than that.

It's bugging me that my CV is über technical. I'm suddenly wondering if I should put in more BS about personal achievements and being a motivated self-starting team player who works on his own initiative, but it always seems to me that people that write that sort of thing are only trying to cover up for their lack of ability and a list of skills and successful projects is far more beneficial.

I have a Job Centre interview later, for which I have to bring my CV. So it's going to be interesting to see what they make of a load of stuff about boost thread synchronisation and template metaprogramming.

As you can see, I've even resorted to posting here to avoid working on it.

[mudskipper]

Lift sentences/paragraphs/phrases from other people's on linked in. That's what it's for.

[northernladuk]

Just put any old crap in for the job centre and then just update the CV when you are applying for gigs. Doing a generic one is just a waste of time. You are going to have to tailor it to the job you will be applying for next and the the description will tell you exactly what skills you need to highlight so fleshing out the last gig will be easy.

Don't sweat it.

[EstherA4C]

With CVs being held electronically these days I wonder whether recruiters / HR / clients search for the key words (i.e. skills / qualifications) and then read the CV for personality?

Back when I started in recruitment (90s ) I started with the neatness of handwriting on the CV but that's before computers were invented

[northernladuk]

With CVs being held electronically these days I wonder whether recruiters / HR / clients search for the key words (i.e. skills / qualifications) and then read the CV for personality?

Back when I started in recruitment (90s ) I started with the neatness of handwriting on the CV but that's before computers were invented

Thanks for that granddad.

[VectraMan]

With CVs being held electronically these days I wonder whether recruiters / HR / clients search for the key words (i.e. skills / qualifications) and then read the CV for personality?

Indeed. I still get emails for "Junior PHP developer", I suspect because one version of my CV from about 5 years ago I mentioned that I had basic knowledge of PHP in an attempt to appear more well rounded, and so have been stuck on somebody's database under PHP ever since. It's making me consider carefully what I want to put; I've done a lot of Javascript recently, but I don't want to put that on my CV or agents will forever be emailing me about £18K junior HTML "developer" positions.

Obviously I'm not stressing the Job Centre thing. I have other roles to apply for, which is why I'm suddenly in need of getting on with it.

[Mich the Tester]

Thanks for that granddad.

Is someone called 'Esther' likely to be a granddad?

[SimonMac]

Thanks for that grandma.

FTFY

[tranceporter]

Indeed. I still get emails for "Junior PHP developer", I suspect because one version of my CV from about 5 years ago I mentioned that I had basic knowledge of PHP in an attempt to appear more well rounded, and so have been stuck on somebody's database under PHP ever since. It's making me consider carefully what I want to put; I've done a lot of Javascript recently, but I don't want to put that on my CV or agents will forever be emailing me about £18K junior HTML "developer" positions.

Obviously I'm not stressing the Job Centre thing. I have other roles to apply for, which is why I'm suddenly in need of getting on with it.

If you know any fellow contractors who you get on with, ask them to have a look at your CV and come up with suggestions. Some of the blokes I worked in my previous gig had some real nice tips. Result, a decent CV that does not get chucked in the bin (I know this because I have got compliments about my CV for pimps and clients).

[MyUserName]

If you know any fellow contractors who you get on with, ask them to have a look at your CV and come up with suggestions. Some of the blokes I worked in my previous gig had some real nice tips. Result, a decent CV that does not get chucked in the bin (I know this because I have got compliments about my CV for pimps and clients).

What were these tips?