Reply to: CV Tips

[bobspud]

Quite amusing, but the reason we send CVs in Word format is because the agents complain when we send in PDF - because they can't edit PDF.

I propose we find Dominic Connor, and all send him our CVs, printed on blue paper...

Thought the article was very good.

Although if you want to send him a blue CV you might wish to start here

https://plus.google.com/114662505185420090873/posts

[Doggy Styles]

I edit down older stuff in order to stick to four pages. The last page and a half are virtually all one-liners now.

Including my 25-yard swimming certificate.

And my electronics apprenticeship, which strangely got me a gig 20 years later.

[OwlHoot]

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?

Me too, but I have a conveyor belt system whereby the oldest gigs drop off the end into obvlivion, and the CV ends with a cliffhanger "Earlier details available on request ..".

Curiously no pimp has yet asked to see any of the gripping previous episodes.

[TheFaQQer]

WHS - although sometimes there is a standard agency header added to the top as well.

Yep - the only changes to mine I've seen have been to remove the phone number and email address from the header, and stick a standard front sheet on it.

[EternalOptimist]

Oh and don't wear a red tie. Another bit of advice worth the £60 fee. If you have to rely on this bull you prob look so desperate you aint ever getting a job.

red tie ?

I can remember the times I wish I had a revolving bow tie with a flashing bulb, a stick-on red nose and a pair of size 24 clowns shoes
for the times when the agent has sent me to a joke interview. bastids

[Spacecadet]

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.

WHS - although sometimes there is a standard agency header added to the top as well.

[Jeebo72]

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.

Oh and don't wear a red tie. Another bit of advice worth the £60 fee. If you have to rely on this bull you prob look so desperate you aint ever getting a job.

[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.

[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...

[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!

[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.'

[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]

<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.

[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]

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