Reply to: Do agents prefer 1 page CVs?

[MrMarkyMark]

That's funny.

I would have replied to the agent "So you want me to copy MrMarkyMarky's CV?" Showing that s/he has really screwed up as you were identifiable.

We did laugh about it, but I left it be in the end.
He recognised it was me, as we had worked together a couple of times in the past!

[heyya99]

mm, I think I have noticed a few less calls after I reduced 1 but as i've said before, who knows why that is. The market is hardly hot. I think i'll revert to my 2 pager.

[SueEllen]

Exactly the same for me, as you very well know.

Obviously, we have both worked with the same product for ages , I think that makes a difference here.

As I said mine is very long, but funnily enough it was sent to a contractor friend of mine, by an agent, to show what his should look like.
They removed the personal details, but still a bloody cheek, if you ask me!

That's funny.

I would have replied to the agent "So you want me to copy MrMarkyMarky's CV?" Showing that s/he has really screwed up as you were identifiable.

[MrMarkyMark]

I've been doing a similar thing for 20 years, so while the older stuff is out-dated version wise, it shows that I've got more to offer in terms of experience of actually doing what is required.

Exactly the same for me, as you very well know.

Obviously, we have both worked with the same product for ages , I think that makes a difference here.

As I said mine is very long, but funnily enough it was sent to a contractor friend of mine, by an agent, to show what his should look like.
They removed the personal details, but still a bloody cheek, if you ask me!

[LondonManc]

I've been doing a similar thing for 20 years, so while the older stuff is out-dated version wise, it shows that I've got more to offer in terms of experience of actually doing what is required.

[cojak]

I have re-written my CV, chopping it from 2 pages to 1. It covers 10 years and 5 companies. The last 2 clients get the most detail.

Considering I've heard agents and/or hiring managers spend about 7 seconds on a CV scan, I thought there's no point in having a second page.

Is it too brief? Does it make me look inexperienced (even though gigs are dated, does anyone notice this on a 7 seconds scan?)

Try it and see. If you don't get agents calling you back it's too short.

[SueEllen]

I should add you are writing your CV to get the agent's then HR's eyes.

Once you get passed them your CV must have sufficient information to make the technical bods who will interview you happy to do so.

So you need to ensure it has sufficient buzz words for the first two, and then sufficient role descriptions for the interviewer.

[SueEllen]

Do you think page 3 is ever looked at? I'd be surprise it does. Gigs on page 3 must have been done years back, and might be less relevant?

Gigs on bottom third of page 2 and top part of page three are one liners. The bottom half of page three is filled with my numerous relevant qualifications.

[SueEllen]

You ever heard of the word 'coincidence'?

It was a few years ago and I did ask a couple of agents their views.

One issue with short technology CVs is you don't look experienced. However if your CV is very long you look old. Either way they will pass over you.

[heyya99]

Errrrrmmm given SEs post above it must be

You ever heard of the word 'coincidence'?

[MrMarkyMark]

Do you think page 3 is ever looked at? I'd be surprise it does. Gigs on page 3 must have been done years back, and might be less relevant?

Errrrrmmm given SEs post above it must be

[northernladuk]

Mine is two but must admit I'm starting to give very brief overviews of gigs from only a few years ago that is totally relevant so will probably have to switch to three shortly. Might be just getting precious and it will never get looked at so will have a re-think next time I apply.

IMO the actual length up to a point doesn't really matter. It's how it's presented and the detail. A one pager won't have enough detail and a 5 page plus could have too much wooly guff. Content is wrong regardless of length.

If you've done four 3 month gigs that gonna be at least 2 pages and only cover a year. OP is making far too many generalisations without thinking about it.

[heyya99]

It really depends what you do.

Keep it to 3 pages putting the most relevant information e.g. contact details (email, mobile), skills, last two roles in the first page. Put your other roles on the second page. On the last page put any relevant qualifications.

I personally found when I cut my CV down to 2 pages I got no calls. I upped it to 3 pages and got tonnes of calls.

Do you think page 3 is ever looked at? I'd be surprise it does. Gigs on page 3 must have been done years back, and might be less relevant?

[MrMarkyMark]

Mines fairly long 5 pager and I have always been advised to leave it as is.

YMMV.

[northernladuk]

1 page??? Can't see that working in your favour TBH.

Yes they do only scan it and probably in most cases don't get to page two but that is because there is enough detail on that first page to give them what they need. To get it on one page id imagine you've had to water it down to the point all the detail they are looking for is missing.

The trick is getting enough information in a format they can't filter it very quickly, not just chopping it all out.