Reply to: CV length

[SueEllen]

A Europass CV?? The one where the template has space for a photo, asks for your sex and has a section for languages?

Even the Europass template has the qualifications below the work experience so BM can't be using it.

I've never had to include a photo with a CV. I will have to hunt to see what fecking template I was made to edit.

[northernladuk]

Some clients ask for them.

A Europass CV?? The one where the template has space for a photo, asks for your sex and has a section for languages?

Even the Europass template has the qualifications below the work experience so BM can't be using it.

[SueEllen]

Why would a UK contractor be using one of those? I'm more of the thinking he's just plodded a long with his CV until it's turned in to this monster and has been too precious about it to be told otherwise.

Some clients ask for them.

I've had to change my CV in the past to put more detail in my old roles. The end length was about 12-13 pages.

The reason I had to do that was because the roles involved working alongside people with loads of academic qualifications. The most annoying thing on two occasions it was just an exercise to satisfy the client who had already given me the role as they needed to make their interview process look "fair".

The issue with having long CVs is they are generally full of repetition especially if the person's mother tongue isn't English and the earlier stuff isn't relevant.

[missinggreenfields]

I had a 2-pager that I really liked. It was clear and concise.

Most agencies wanted a longer one as they wanted to see more detail about recent (up to 5 years) roles.
So I have a 4 pager that they seem to like. I think they're idiots, but they control the applicants

I could get mine down to two pages if they only wanted 5 years of roles.

2013 to date - current client
2011 to 2013 - previous client

Simple

[Lance]

I had a 2-pager that I really liked. It was clear and concise.

Most agencies wanted a longer one as they wanted to see more detail about recent (up to 5 years) roles.
So I have a 4 pager that they seem to like. I think they're idiots, but they control the applicants

[northernladuk]

I bet you use the Europass CV format.

Forget that crap, the 1st page it's only for personal details (including not necessary details), in addition, at the end the CV will be a boring "testament".

The person who invented it didn't know what he was doing.

Why would a UK contractor be using one of those? I'm more of the thinking he's just plodded a long with his CV until it's turned in to this monster and has been too precious about it to be told otherwise.

[Bee]

Mine is 4-5 pages.

1st Page - Personal details and IT Quals
2nd/3rd page - last 3 gigs in relevant detail inc projects.
4th/5th page - All contract gigs for last 14 yrs including first permie gig.
bottom half of 5th page - Skillsets and technologies covered

I bet you use the Europass CV format.

Forget that crap, the 1st page it's only for personal details (including not necessary details), in addition, at the end the CV will be a boring "testament".

The person who invented it didn't know what he was doing.

[Boney M]

You don't have your address on the first page do you?

Nope. What I wrote above is a rough guide, it isnt two whole pages of last 3 gigs but it goes over to the third. Take your point on skills before quals.

[I just need to test it]

Several years ago my CV had grown to nine pages. Now it's four (admittedly crammed) pages. So i am at least trying.

I've only tailored my CV for specific roles a couple of times (for roles I have really really wanted), but generally I fire the same four pages across regardless of the job spec. Three months without a contract would probably shake me up enough to put more effort into taking NLUK's advice to tailor it each time, though I'd be terrified of omitting something that might have swung the recruiter's decision in my favour.

Quite often an agent will request a cover letter exploding a specific area of my experience. I assume (never taken the trouble to find out) the client will have requested this / the agent has deemed it his best way of making a sale rather than because my CV is poor in general.

[WTFH]

CV length

Yes - it's just after my place of birth

Is that before or after your first pet, mother's maiden name and your bank details?

If so, can you send me your CV, I have a role you might be perfect for...

[missinggreenfields]

You don't have your address on the first page do you?

Yes - it's just after my place of birth

[northernladuk]

You don't have your address on the first page do you?

[northernladuk]

Mine is 4-5 pages.

1st Page - Personal details and IT Quals
2nd/3rd page - last 3 gigs in relevant detail inc projects.
4th/5th page - All contract gigs for last 14 yrs including first permie gig.
bottom half of 5th page - Skillsets and technologies covered

Blimey. That doesn't sound right at all. A whole page before you even get to the skills they are looking for? That sounds excessive. Qualifications should be a lot further down than your demonstrable skills surely? Even stick them at the end. Your skills are much more important.

2 pages just for three gigs? Is all of that really directly related to the gig you are applying for? That's probably twice the length of the actual job spec. And 2 pages of work going back 14 years? Surely that can be cut down. The client won't be remotely interested what you did 14 years ago even if it's still relevant?

I'd say you can shave at least a page of that and actually end up with a better CV?

There is plenty of stuff out there about CVs but I like this one and there is a poll to kind of gauge other people's opinions in one of the links.

https://mcalpineconsulting.wordpress...riculum-vitae/

I'd definitely suggest the webinar as well.

[Boney M]

Mine is 4-5 pages.

1st Page - Personal details and IT Quals
2nd/3rd page - last 3 gigs in relevant detail inc projects.
4th/5th page - All contract gigs for last 14 yrs including first permie gig.
bottom half of 5th page - Skillsets and technologies covered

[TanyaWWW]

Be Succinct

As someone who's had to trawl through many CVs for both BAs and Tech I definitely vote 2-4 pages. For BAs I am incredibly fussy - for a line of work where doco and comms is a major deliverable, if you have typos or waffle on, I'm going to reject you. For tech the format differs, and tables with your skills listed and confidence level is fine.

I attended the CV webinar last night and agreed with pretty much everything - except I think LinkedIn has overtaken CVs, at least for London. With that in mind, I do think your CV should be similar to LinkedIn albeit a version customised to the role you're applying for (if you can be bothered)

Think how much money and research would go into making sure LinkedIn has an effective format - add to that that it's a format recruiters are familiar with. I get my mates to proof my CVs - ones in the same industry. If you're Nelly No Mates, just cruise LinkedIn for popular profiles and copy them - the art of originality is in concealing the source

I have had agents tell me my CV is too brief given the seniority of the role I'm going for - people want more detail. I kind of see their point, however I also know how little time hiring managers have to read through CVs, so brevity is key