Writing a CV: content and style

Welsh_Totster

Thanks again people! As it happens Im not a fully qualified first aider but I have been on an emergency first aid course, as I am a travelling officer and it covered me to deal with injuries whilst travelling and included the basics, cpr and such stuff. Would that be worth adding to the CV too? Id never really thought of that! Im also currently in the middle of doing an A level (in photography as it interests me) so would I add that too as ongoing?

LittleVoice

Welsh_Totster wrote: »

Thanks again people! As it happens Im not a fully qualified first aider but I have been on an emergency first aid course, as I am a travelling officer and it covered me to deal with injuries whilst travelling and included the basics, cpr and such stuff. Would that be worth adding to the CV too? Id never really thought of that! Im also currently in the middle of doing an A level (in photography as it interests me) so would I add that too as ongoing?

It really depends on the job you are going for and how much you already have on your CV.

If there is space at the end of your CV to include hobbies, then you could include the serious photography interest there.

Only include emergency first aid if there really seems a need for it.

The most important thing is to show your skills as they relate to the job for which you are applying. That's why, unless they are actually relevant, I would forsake having a hobbies/interests section in preference to getting job skills explained - it is those skills which will get you the interview.

Welsh_Totster

Thanks for the advice Little Voice!

stokelady1

Sammyantha wrote: »

Keep it 2 pages or under, and always include a cover letter.

Good luck

Agh can't believe this myth is still doing the rounds! I wok in recuitment and so many people still believe this is the case that ae applying for work. I presume it was to do with when applications were mainly done manually rather than electronically. As long as you are consise and don't waffle use as many pages as you need to!! If someone has 20 years experience and has worked for a dozen different companies in that time that would give you very little space once you have included your academic / professional qualifications, contact info etc which is not going to help showcase your skills well!!
It just has to be appropriate to your background ie if you have only been in one area of the civil service doing the same job for the past 20 years then yes 2 pages should be fine. A good recuiter will advise you on anything that might need to be taken out before passing you CV on if you are using agencies anyway
Keep in mind that most people hiring will have lots of applications and little time to review them so make sure any 'essential' skills in an advert are clearly shown on your CV not the covering letter as most of them will not get read unless your CV is good enough to get you shortlisted in the first place

Hope that helps

good luck:D

stokelady1

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Whether you write a skills based CV or a chronological CV, you should put your education before your employment.

In addition, OP, don't think of writing just one CV which you send everywhere. You need to tailor it to individual jobs or, at least, to different employment areas. This is far easier to do with a skills based CV as you can choose and emphasise the skills that are relevant for each specific job.

I'd agree with Sammyantha here, in the current market showing relevant work experience prominantly is far more important than prior education, particularly when the OP has been working for a long time and presumably out of full time education. The only exception would be RELEVANT professional qualifications which I would try and work into the opening paragraph ie 'A NVQ BRAINSURGERY QUALIFIED SPECIALIST ' ETC :-)

Jeff_Bridges_hair

stokelady1 wrote: »

Agh can't believe this myth is still doing the rounds! I wok in recuitment and so many people still believe this is the case that ae applying for work. I presume it was to do with when applications were mainly done manually rather than electronically. As long as you are consise and don't waffle use as many pages as you need to!! If someone has 20 years experience and has worked for a dozen different companies in that time that would give you very little space once you have included your academic / professional qualifications, contact info etc which is not going to help showcase your skills well!!
It just has to be appropriate to your background ie if you have only been in one area of the civil service doing the same job for the past 20 years then yes 2 pages should be fine. A good recuiter will advise you on anything that might need to be taken out before passing you CV on if you are using agencies anyway
Keep in mind that most people hiring will have lots of applications and little time to review them so make sure any 'essential' skills in an advert are clearly shown on your CV not the covering letter as most of them will not get read unless your CV is good enough to get you shortlisted in the first place

Hope that helps

good luck:D

See i dont agree. I dont want to read through 4 pages of what someone done way back in 1978. I want to know what they have been doing of late. And ill generally ignore any that are more then 2 maybe 3 pages long because its boring.

stokelady1

hence 'consise and don't waffle'!! there is the option of putting 'details of roles prior to 2000 available on request' etc if they are not relevant or just bullet pointing them . Just don't want the OP not including relevant info for fear of doing too many pages. You're right that it shouldn't be boring or need to contain everything from leaving school in great detail, I'm not advocating 15 pages for everyone but at the same time i've NEVER had a good candidate rejected by any company (I only work with Blue Chip level clients) on length of CV whilst i've rejected lots of people who have omitted key skills just so that it met the magic '2 pages'.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

See if they are not putting in their key skills then that's their own fault.. Id rather more of that and less of work history if im honest.As an employer with out any HR people who help me with the reading of CVs when we go through the recruitment process I dont want to be swamped with long CVs.

Personal preference of course

Welsh_Totster

Thanks everyone for the additional info, I'm taking everything on board!

davehills

stokelady1 wrote: »

Agh can't believe this myth is still doing the rounds! I wok in recuitment and so many people still believe this is the case that ae applying for work. I presume it was to do with when applications were mainly done manually rather than electronically. As long as you are consise and don't waffle use as many pages as you need to!!

Or do it on two pages of A3!