Reply to: CVs - an optimal approach...

[shic]

looked at what different agencies had to offer combined with method of approach, end result, etc
cost appr 250.00 pound back then but got a good chap who called me back and really went into alot of detail extracting info from me that was not on the CV ( i was trying to keep it short); he managed to get it to 3 pages and i did get gig shortly after.
agency was Fuller CV, don't know if they are still as good
http://www.thefullercv.com/

Thanks! I'll certainly look into them... they currently say that their prices are in the range £159.00 - £980.00... If they could establish a document that satisfies me, I'd be happy to pay £250. Part of the problem is that I'm looking to use the CV to "go fishing" - so I don't have a specific post to which it can be targeted... at least not at this stage.

I'm currently at ~2.5 pages - though the only consistent criticism I've elicited from trusted people is that it is too dense. I've an extra year's worth of stuff to add... and I've spent many hours removing dead-wood... but frequently find I either loose depth or suffer by appearing overly detailed. The happy medium is tricky.

[EternalOptimist]

Denny is that you ??

give her time, she'll be back as dunny

[SandyDown]

It's NOT a CV - it's a promotional guide to the services your company offers!

Denny

Denny is that you ??

[donny]

It's NOT a CV - it's a promotional guide to the services your company offers!

Denny

[Bob Dalek]

I see what you mean. I might have written <shoot, I've used too many I's already>: "This resulted in faster execution times, allowing the Shared Pool to be resized"

'This' and 'allowing', being present tense and hence leaving one open to a nasty case of switching tense. I may be inadvertently switching tense quite a bit, so yeah it might be something to be wary of.

Best way: write it in any old tense mix. Then review and correct. Leave it a day or two, then review and fix. I review my CV once a month, at the least. Always have it ready to use and up to date. Fiddling with one's CV when a job goes pop! is not "a good thing".

[malvolio]

To summarise, based on my own CV and what I look for in others'...

1. What do you do
2. What have you achieved
3. Who did you do it for and when
4. What else have you done
5. How can I contact you.

It helps greatly of (1) above directly relates to the job in question; that way it gets past not only the agent but also the Human Remains drone who will be filtering the applicants.

Only other parameters are a) precise and accurate grammar and spelling, b) nothing over five years ago has much relevance c) use Word, 11 point Arial and d) stop at three pages or I stop reading.

HTH

[TimberWolf]

"Investigated and fixed poorly performing SQL by analyzing Wait Events and the Shared Pool. Discovered non-reusable SQL that had led to Library Cache Latch contention. Rewrote the offending SQL to use bind variables. Resulted in faster execution times, allowed the Shared Pool to be resized, thus freeing-up server memory and reduced CPU utilization."

Basically, punchy, past tense and no him, he, I, we, etc.

I see what you mean. I might have written <shoot, I've used too many I's already>: "This resulted in faster execution times, allowing the Shared Pool to be resized"

'This' and 'allowing', being present tense and hence leaving one open to a nasty case of switching tense. I may be inadvertently switching tense quite a bit, so yeah it might be something to be wary of.

[Bob Dalek]

Hmm, interesting tips. How do you go about not using 'I' in a CV? Mine is probably littered with them.

"Investigated and fixed poorly performing SQL by analyzing Wait Events and the Shared Pool. Discovered non-reusable SQL that had led to Library Cache Latch contention. Rewrote the offending SQL to use bind variables. Resulted in faster execution times, allowed the Shared Pool to be resized, thus freeing-up server memory and reduced CPU utilization."

Basically, punchy, past tense and no him, he, I, we, etc.

[TimberWolf]

Here's what you need on your CV:
Name at the top. (Never put "CV" or "Resume" on your CV - it's just crap to do so).
Sexy & snappy description (profile) of what you do and why you are a god.
Examples of how you have saved planet Earth on a few occasions.
Work history. Bullet points of Problem & how you fixed it. Include any meaningful pats on the back you received. Use the past tense, and stick to it. Don't use "I", and NEVER, EVER "we". Play the Team-Spirited-Yet-Capable-Of-Working-On-Own-Initiative card.
Qualifications, if relevant.
Do not mention your bronze swimming badge award - always looks a bit silly.

Hmm, interesting tips. How do you go about not using 'I' in a CV? Mine is probably littered with them.

[Bob Dalek]

Yes, but threatening to exterminate them if you don't get the gig doesn't really work for me

It can help close a deal!

[DaveB]

I think you'll find that, in fact, pimps and Clients like my approach much better. I win.

Yes, but threatening to exterminate them if you don't get the gig doesn't really work for me

[Bob Dalek]

3 pages max. No-one wants to read the equivalent of war and peace, no matter how much of an IT god you may be.

Top of 1st page 3 line summary of who I am and what I do.

Bullet pointed list of skills and experience with key words and qualifications ( not academic )

Availability.

The rest is a career history, most recent 1st.

Dates - Title/Role - Client - Location.
Details.

No more than 3 paragraphs for the most recent.

Write less for older clients. Anything over 3 years ago gets a couple of lines at most.

Keep sentances short and use bulleted lists to convey achivements etc where possible.

Finish with contact details.

Every time you change gigs, edit the previous clients entry down before you add new latest one.

I've had numerous positive commments on this format from pimps and clients alike.

I think you'll find that, in fact, pimps and Clients like my approach much better. I win.

[DaveB]

3 pages max. No-one wants to read the equivalent of war and peace, no matter how much of an IT god you may be.

Top of 1st page 3 line summary of who I am and what I do.

Bullet pointed list of skills and experience with key words and qualifications ( not academic )

Availability.

The rest is a career history, most recent 1st.

Dates - Title/Role - Client - Location.
Details.

No more than 3 paragraphs for the most recent.

Write less for older clients. Anything over 3 years ago gets a couple of lines at most.

Keep sentances short and use bulleted lists to convey achivements etc where possible.

Finish with contact details.

Every time you change gigs, edit the previous clients entry down before you add new latest one.

I've had numerous positive commments on this format from pimps and clients alike.

[chef]

Page 1

Company Logo
Name
Contact Details
Profile - 1 paragraph summarising why im good at what i do and how i work
Expertise - 10 bullet points summarising impressive parts of my career
Skill Set - 8 bullet points summarising my main skill set

Page 2

Career History
last 5 yrs only following the pattern
month - yr contract job title company
bulleted summary of why i was there (max 3 bullets)

Education / Training- relevant courses taken & degree


thats it, page 1 for lazy agents, page 2 for possible clients to show ive worked for reputable clients previously, its never failed so far

[Bob Dalek]

Thank you, all, for your comments - and, of course, for correcting my typos in my post. I do not consider my CV awful, but I am interested to make the most out of it.

It seems that consensus here is that CVs should be entirely individual - though I've received extremely varied opinions from different quarters. I've already read numerous articles detailing general advice - though I am not entirely happy at the tendency of such approaches to pigeon-hole people in unnecessarily limiting ways. I am also aware that I could write many honest CVs that convey entirely different emphasis... I would argue that key to effective communication is understanding the counter party expectations... and, in this regard, I doubt that "one-size fits all".

I remain interested in the idea of obtaining an independent professional opinion - but, so far, I am still at a loss as to whose opinion may be worthwhile and trustworthy.

Here's what you need on your CV:
Name at the top. (Never put "CV" or "Resume" on your CV - it's just crap to do so).
Sexy & snappy description (profile) of what you do and why you are a god.
Examples of how you have saved planet Earth on a few occasions.
Work history. Bullet points of Problem & how you fixed it. Include any meaningful pats on the back you received. Use the past tense, and stick to it. Don't use "I", and NEVER, EVER "we". Play the Team-Spirited-Yet-Capable-Of-Working-On-Own-Initiative card.
Qualifications, if relevant.
Do not mention your bronze swimming badge award - always looks a bit silly.