Creating a CV

3plus1

Based on the information you've provided, the above is the best I can do for you.:) Hopefully you can get a second opinion from some other MSErs.:D

tawnyowls

The newest way of doing a CV (which many recruitment agencies now recommend) is to have the first page devoted to your personal details and your 'transferable skills' (and a personal statement, if you want). Basically, employers are usually looking for the following: Communication (both oral and written), Organisation, Adaptability, Initiative/Teamwork (sometimes both together) and these days, Computer literacy. It's not enough just to say you have them, you have to give examples to prove you have them, so for instance:
"Adaptability
In the last 3 years, my present situation has undergone significant change, and consequently, my job description has changed also. I have been required to learn X, Y and Z"
(which obviously you will have chosen to reflect the likely skills needed for the job you're going for)

Then, the second page is your career history, in reverse chronological order, and the third page is recent courses, educational history, interests etc. Forget anything you might have been told about squeezing everything onto 2 pages; people would rather read 3 pages in a decent-sized font than 2 pages in tiny type. As said above, bullet points are good, and I probably wouldn't bother going back before A-levels (and possibly not that far); your GCSEs are 16 years old now, so well out of date - if you've done any courses (in work or outside) that could be deemed at all relevant, you'd be better off using that space for those.

Are you actually in a job at the moment? - not very clear from the CV. If not, have you considered temping? There are lots of agencies these days covering all sorts of temp employment, not just the traditional office work, and as up to 70% of job opportunities are never advertised, it's a great way to get your foot in the door.

zoezoe_3

"I believe I have the knowledge and experience to excel at work"

LOL !!! *at work* what does this mean ?? What work - any work ??

TBH the CV is a bit rubbish, fuzzy and a bit desperate.

"Excellent communication skills – both verbal and written"

Yet the CV is riddled with mistakes. Try not to make this claim and then go on to proove it is false.

Since your IT skills are most likely to be what gets you the job why dont you have a section called IT SKILLS. In it list all the software and technology that you are familier with...

Can you write code - if so add it to the CV.

Why did you get a HNC and then go on to work as a bus driver ??? Your IT skills are probably a bit out of date now...

Zoe

Three_Dancing_Dragons

Each CV should be tweaked to best fit the position you are applying for. Sending out a general one 'on spec' is a waste of time.

ShaunJUK

ok, I now have

Shaun Jackson
D.O.B
Address
Phone:
Mobile:

Personal Profile

I am both hard working and dedicated. I am reliable, trustworthy and loyal. I am committed to giving my all too any task given. I work hard to achieve job satisfaction. Organisation and communication skills being two of my main strengths. I enjoy working with people from all walks of life.
With over 10 years in a front-line customer service environment, a proven track record as a team player, and excellent self-taught IT skills, I know given the opportunity I know I could be an asset to your working team.


Key Skills
· Excellent communication skills – both verbal and written.
· Planning workload to meet deadlines.
· Accurate with the ability to work unsupervised and as part of a flexible team.
· Excellent ICT skills.

Employment History

Lincolnshire RoadCar
PSV Driver
2001 to 2006

Driving single and double deck buses on service and school routes'
Handle money and perform end-of-day cashing up duties.
Organise staff social events and fund-raising activities.

Pleasure Island Family Theme Park
Ride Operative
1996 to 2001

Trained new staff in important Health & Safety procedures.
Maintained rides.
Organised team-building initiatives.

Grimsby and Cleethorpes YMCA
Activities Assistant – Part Time and Voluntary
1994 to 1998

Organised out of school activities and excursions for children aged 4 to 16.
Provided support to the Activities and Programmes Manager and assisted extensively in successful events such as Cross Country Championships, Sportshall Athletics and entries into the Cleethorpes Carnival Parade.

Education

University Of Lincolnshire and Humberside
1999 to 2001

Modules in HND Computing.

Grimsby College
1996 to 1999

A-level Computing (E) and GSCE English Language (C).

Wintringham School
1991 to 1996

Eight GCSEs including Mathematics (B), English Literature (C) and Science Dual Award (C C).

Interests and Activities

I have been a member of the Westlands Sports and Social Club for 9 years and involve myself with as much as I can, I am responsible for the installation and upkeep of their audio and visual equipment and also of the clubs website (http://www.westlandsclub.co.uk). I arrange various events throughout the year including disco's, singers, quizzes, race nights and most recently a coach trip to Market Rasen Races.

zoezoe_3

ShaunJUK wrote:

I am both hard working and dedicated. I am reliable, trustworthy and loyal. I am committed to giving my all too any task given. I work hard to achieve job satisfaction. Organisation and communication skills being two of my main strengths. I enjoy working with people from all walks of life.
With over 10 years in a front-line customer service environment, a proven track record as a team player, and excellent self-taught IT skills, I know given the opportunity I know I could be an asset to your working team.

This is just rot. why is the last paragraph all one sentance ???

bristol_pilot

Your CV is nonsense, in particular your profile is a worthless self-evaluation containing only one fact (that you have 10 years experience). Similarly the rest of it is just you asserting how good you are without giving any examples or quantification. Excellent communication skills - anyone can say that, but what did you DO to demonstrate these - write reports? how many?, what was the £value of the project? give presentations? who to - your workmates or an international conference? what benefit did this communication bring to the organisation? did it win new business? how much? Ditto for the rest of your skills. Make it easy for the potential employer to see how your skills will benefit them: at the moment you leave it to the employer to work it out.

I agree that CVs can be 3 pages, but that's not ideal for someone with this level of experience - 2 pages is enough if all irrelevant material is removed. Only put in hobbies and interests if of direct relevance to the job. Remember that what you believe to be a positive could be seen as negative by an unsympathetic reader - e.g. works as a DJ = up late every night so will be late in most mornings. Beware of putting too much about internet skills - could give the impression you will spend a lot of time at work surfing the web.

Tailor each CV to the job - don't send out a general CV for a specific job. Use the Microsoft templates only if you want your CV to look like everyone else's (you don't).

Try and get hold of a copy of "The Perfect CV" by Tom Jackson.

Good luck!

3plus1

I've suggested taking out key skills twice, but you seem very keen to keep them in your CV! The problem is, as said before by others, your key skills are just words. No proof. You know you have these skills, but if you can't back them up with proven experience, you're just using up space unnecessarily.

If you must have a personal profile, keep it short. One sentence, two tops.

Adjectives like "hard-working" and "reliable" are good to use, but in an interview situation not on your CV, and backed up with a short example taken from your work experience, to demonstrate you have this quality.

Keep in the Duel Science GSCE grade if you want, but I don't think you're adding anything special there. Employers generally only care if you passed English and Maths, the Science GSCE isn't going to be relevant to most jobs. If you got a double A, it would be worth mentioning it, but for a double C, you don't need to highlight it.

My gut reaction to your CV is that you think it would look more impressive if it was longer, and you're trying to bulk it out with words you think sound good. That's not the case at all in reality. Keep your CV concise, to two pages tops (even just one page can work!) and emphasis your best experiences and qualifications. That's what employers are looking for.

skintio

I had help with my c.v through the job centre, They sent me to a place called wtps, A traing company that helped people to get there clait, and accountancy courses etc and things like that, and also did interviewing technique training, Alot off people who went there werent coming through the job centre so you wouldnt have to go through them.. They had experts there to help you get a great c.v and knew how to word things properly, and explain if you had been out off work in a better way etc.
I expect theres training places in your area like this, try the yellow pages or just give the job centre a ring..

Hth ..

ShaunJUK

3plus1 wrote:

I've suggested taking out key skills twice, but you seem very keen to keep them in your CV! The problem is, as said before by others, your key skills are just words. No proof. You know you have these skills, but if you can't back them up with proven experience, you're just using up space unnecessarily.

If you must have a personal profile, keep it short. One sentence, two tops.

Adjectives like "hard-working" and "reliable" are good to use, but in an interview situation not on your CV, and backed up with a short example taken from your work experience, to demonstrate you have this quality.

Keep in the Duel Science GSCE grade if you want, but I don't think you're adding anything special there. Employers generally only care if you passed English and Maths, the Science GSCE isn't going to be relevant to most jobs. If you got a double A, it would be worth mentioning it, but for a double C, you don't need to highlight it.

My gut reaction to your CV is that you think it would look more impressive if it was longer, and you're trying to bulk it out with words you think sound good. That's not the case at all in reality. Keep your CV concise, to two pages tops (even just one page can work!) and emphasis your best experiences and qualifications. That's what employers are looking for.

I have dropped the key skills and changed my personal profile it looks like this.

Personal Profile

Energetic, open minded and resourceful. I'm optimistic, have a good sense of humour and get on easily with people of all ages. With over 10 years in a front-line customer service environment, a proven track record as a team player, and excellent self-taught IT skills, I know given the opportunity I could be a hard working and reliable asset to your working team.


Employment History

or view it here http://www.b3ta.cr3ation.co.uk/data/doc/cv2.doc