CV or Placement Application

MercilessKiller

Hi all. Just a post about finding a placement for next year in the computing field!

I have a placement application which was an official uni template which I filled out.. 4 pages (3 full).. includes all technical skillls, education and work history, personal interests and aims adn referees.

I also have a CV.. though this isn't as thorough!

I've always been told to keep my CV as short as possible in terms of pages but with as much info on! However I literally can't cut either one down to less than 3 full pages due to the amount of jobs and education I've had so far...

Is it something I need to worry about?

Finally when applying for 1 year placements is it best to apply for normal full time jobs but just give them a cover later stating the situation as I find it hard to find a professional placement!

I got to the telephone interview (stage 4) at Exxonmobil but didn't make it further... so not sure where to go from here!

Thanks

(In specific its Network Computing BSc and mainly working with CISCO Routers and Switches)

Ian85

I'd try and keep your CV to 2 pages max. Maybe take out some of the older/irrelevent jobs (if you have any). You could even put some of the things on your CV on a covering letter that you send off, and take them out of your CV.

I'd try and apply for placements rather than proper jobs if you can. What I'd do is get the yellow pages out and send some prospective letters enquiring about jobs for a year or placements (on the off chance) - worst thing they can say is no. Try the uni careers if you haven't already.

MercilessKiller

With the prospective letters would you leave the cv out at this point and only give them one if requested?

The thing that takes up the most space is the technical skills list (half a page+) as well as things like GCSE education!

For a computing job I suppose the skills list is essential and with this I find it hard to shorten things down! Even with tables, when including what the jobs exactly were and what skills i posses its still 3 pages

Will take out the yellow pages tomorrow then and give it a try! Thanks very much.

I don't want to annoy anyone but if someones kind enough to take a look and advise i can send :$

Thanks

3plus1

Upload your CV somewhere, PM me the link, and I'll look over it and give you my opinion, if you like. Used to work for a company of systems engineers, so might be able to suggest areas you can cut out.

MercilessKiller

much much much appreciated Pm'd you!

3plus1

Have sent you a PM back with advice. Basically, if you change your formatting and take out all of the unnecessary information you've included, it will fit on two pages (you should increase the font by the way, I forget to mention, 11pt minimum for Times New Roman), and you will sound much better.

You do have the skills and experience to get a decent placement, but I can understand why recruiters aren't falling in love with your existing CV. A few tweaks, and you'll be a whole new man, who's much more employable!

MercilessKiller

Loving the advice thank you very much

Right then time to whip out the yellow pages.. hmm where should I go?

oooh another question then while I'm here and thats accomedation while i'm on my placement! I'll be with my girlfriend who isn't a student.

Whats the best thing to do. Rent student accomedation? Rent normal? Thanks (this may be irrellevant seeing as i still dont knwo what im doing)

3plus1

It depends on your area, but where I am, so-called "student landlords" only rent to students. You might have problems finding a landlord willing to rent to your non-student other half? Council tax comes into play as well.

There's no harm doing a bit of research into the rental market in the areas where you're applying for your placement, just remember it's too early to sign a contract!

retepetsir

I'm currently on an engineering placement year with my university, working for Thales.

Right, cut down your application/cv to 2 pages max. Employers quite often cant be bothered to read any more.

Make sure you print out your CV on decent, thick quality paper, and send it off in a full A4 sized envelope, it makes things look much more presentable.

Try and apply for an actual placement scheme, there are loads of companies that offer them, you just need to look around. Oh, and get applying NOW. I starting applying in October (last year) by which time many jobs had been taken by around November!

Many companies now have online application forms, and quite often online tests, before you progress to the interview/assessment day, so be prepared for this!!!

https://www.yini.org.uk is an excellent placements website, they are a company that will help source you a placement firm, just by you giving them one main application form. Don't just rely on them though, try Microsoft, IBM, etc, etc, there are loads of computing companies around.

You dont want GCSE's shown in full, just literally put '10 GCSE's grades A to C'' and highlight the good subjects such as maths/english. They dont really care about them tbh. A level and university 1st year results/predicted 2nd year results are much more useful.

Oh, and with regards to student placements, Google is your friend.

Best of all, good luck! It'll be worth it.

I started with Thales back in August, and so far its been great meeting new people and being given real-life challenges. Hard work, but also very rewarding.

Ian85

MercilessKiller wrote:

With the prospective letters would you leave the cv out at this point and only give them one if requested?
Thanks

Nah, on your letter write something like I've attached my CV for your consideration.

freelancemermaid

https://www.prospects.ac.uk has very good advice on CV writing, applications, etc.

some advice i've been given is: leave out jobs that were over 10 years ago; people with extensive experience can go over the two-page "rule"; use bullet points for brevity