help with CV and COVER letter

pingu

hi
its looking more likely that i will be losing my job soon (hoping i wont but not looking good)

i have not written a CV or COVER letter for about 10 years

can anyone Please tell me where to get help with the above online or in person

many thanks

brightonman123

jobclub says most cv's dont get read pst 1/2 way down the first page-
you need to grab viewers ATTENTION!

Best to start with a paragraph outling general experience, and any special skills - tailor this bit to whatever job you go for.

If several jobs, start with the latest and work backwards:
Job Title, Company name, location,... (start/end dates debatable,,)
with about 1" tab in, do line by line highlights of duties and responsibilities.

repeat for each job, and then do a summary of qualifications- reverse date order seems to be best, as per the job formats.. though some jobs may suit quals being near the start?

end with a short bit about outside interests (show then you have a life, even if it is MSE!)

covering letter should be addressed to the person who is hiring, or addressed to the Personnel Manager etc.. give them every reason to look over your cv in more detail, and get you to an interview!

PS_ ALWAYS, ALWAYS, do a spellcheck!

Liz_the_Whizz

Hi pingu,

To comment from a recruiter point of view, the reason most CVs don't get read is because people tend to panic especially in a recession and apply for jobs where they simply don't meet the job/person spec.

The important thing is to target your applications. Only apply for jobs where you stand a chance of getting shortlisted (ie you meet the essentials of the person spec).

Tailor your covering letter to highlight your USPs (unique selling points) for each job - eg particular combinations of skills or experience, personal attributes.

Also tweak your CV to emphasise or de-emphasise things according to what you think is wanted and any feedback you get. Make sure it looks professional.

Some public sector organisations request a completed application form rather than CV - make sure you follow instructions, don't simply send a CV and hope for the best.

There is a nice website at the University of Kent which help with CV styles, and CV dos and don'ts. It's aimed at graduates but the principles remain the same:

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv.htm

It's also not a bad idea to register with a temp agency - they can help with getting a foot in the door but are often useful in helping you think about your employability in terms of strengths, target areas etc.

Good luck!

SomeBozo

jobclub says most cv's dont get read pst 1/2 way down the first page-
you need to grab viewers ATTENTION!

I hope this is not the case! Most of the good stuff is after the first 1/2 page! I seem to remember the first 1/2 page is simply demographic info, ie name, contact details and address.

What interesting is your quals, experience and outlook on life!

I employ 62 staff and help other companies employ 3000+ staff a year, so I hope my opinion is worth something!

Bozo

Liz_the_Whizz

The "sweet spot" in a CV is apparently 1/3 of the way down Page 1.

This is the place to make an impact on the reader with your skills summary/personal statement.

Most CVs these days drop personal details to a bare minimum, with a one liner for contact details - get onto the good stuff as soon as you can.