Please critique my CV

okeymama

Before I had children I was responsible for recruitment for a large care management company. Sorry if it sounds really blunt but most prospective employers first of all skim through CV's then go back later for a proper look.
I think you have too much info on there. Imagine someone had asked you to sum yourself up in 5 words, what would you say ?
I think that you coud combine your profile and key skills and bullet-point them.
Also, your duties are a very long list. I appreciate that jobs are often complex and include lots of different things but again, I think you shorten it a bit and try to stick to the most valiant points.
Of course, this is all just my opinion and your CV has to reflect you personally. Just remember people have a very short attention span and you want to grab their attention within the first few lines.

GOOD LUCK !!!

G x

DCFC79

So if my interests and hobbies dont actually relate to the job then should i not include any on the application form

WPN

DCFC79 wrote: »

So if my interests and hobbies dont actually relate to the job then should i not include any on the application form

...or CV??

DCFC79

WPN wrote: »

...or CV??

im specifically asking about application forms but yes ive gathered cvs as well from the thread,

in the past ive put non related interests and hobbies on application form and cv and no 1 said anything bad about it infact 1 interview i had the guy asked me if i had seen avatar as i had put on the form i went to the cinema

Lokolo

DCFC79 wrote: »

im specifically asking about application forms but yes ive gathered cvs as well from the thread,

in the past ive put non related interests and hobbies on application form and cv and no 1 said anything bad about it infact 1 interview i had the guy asked me if i had seen avatar as i had put on the form i went to the cinema

I have put reading books etc. on mine, the only thing I recommend about interests is to put any relevant ones first.

So if I am going to a job with computers I would go in order of; Playing Computer Games, Reading Books rather than Reading Books, Playing Computer Games.

LittleVoice

DCFC79 wrote: »

So if my interests and hobbies dont actually relate to the job then should i not include any on the application form

If an application form has a specific space for you to note your interests/hobbies, then use it whether or not they seem to have direct relevance to the job. It shows you have not ignored the request for the data and it may be a topic of conversation for an ice-breaker.

For a CV, use the space available to you to sell yourself to get an interview for the job. That means that, if the hobbies/interests are not job relevant you are better to use the space for another career achievement.

everlastingspirit

A fair few people have made plenty a point about the content and layout which i agree with.

However to briefly answer you final question - i personally would put something about 'Interests' at the bottom of the CV, but keep it short and sweet and i agree - avoid the terms socialising. Ultimately its worth putting, especially if you have something you enjoy that stands out - example; ...and i have a real passion for 20th century surrealist art. For most employers they will probably get to that bit and skim read it and chances are if the rest was ok, what you put there wont change that. But you never know and if the person reading it has the same interest it might just have swayed a not so sucessful start!

Of course if you are into something a bit odd its probably best to leave it off - example "... and my wife and i are avid swingers". Although this may too get you the job but not for reasons you might have cared for!

Best of luck
Ben

note: also make sure you update and social networking profiles to private or acceptable should your future employer decide to snoop a look!

DCFC79

Lokolo wrote: »

I have put reading books etc. on mine, the only thing I recommend about interests is to put any relevant ones first.

So if I am going to a job with computers I would go in order of; Playing Computer Games, Reading Books rather than Reading Books, Playing Computer Games.

yes i understand,

Naf

everlastingspirit wrote: »

note: also make sure you update and social networking profiles to private or acceptable should your future employer decide to snoop a look!

A friend of mine simply switched his name round: e.g. (and this is not actually his) James Franks becomes Frank James.

sparx_2

Can I add something? If you are printing a CV, please make sure you use decent White paper, the page is aligned properly, and it doesn't come out stripy or wonky. I reject many CV's on that basis alone, after all if you can't be bothered when you're making a first impression I'm not even giving you an opportunity to make a second! And don't try and cram it all in to one or two pages, space well and if you need to use more than two pages you've written too much! Also use a font that is easy to read, it may well be that the person reading it has a problem with their eyesight so you will be discarded quite quickly especially if a lot of people are applying for the same job. On the other side my manager used to put any CV's that were stapled in the bin... Good luck!