Employers: What do you look for on a CV?

marybelle01

Two4Tuesday wrote: »

Yes, I lied on my CV but the lie was only to cover up a small but serious period of illness.

I don't think lying about a two year period (which is what you said you did - 2009-2011) is a "small" period of illness.

Two4Tuesday

marybelle01 wrote: »

I don't think lying about a two year period (which is what you said you did - 2009-2011) is a "small" period of illness.

I consider it small compared with the other 19 years of employment I have had, but this is getting away from the point that for some jobs it doesn't hurt to have a longer CV. I would agree however, that the first half page is where you should really 'sell yourself'.

DKLS

Clear and concise cv with relevant info, anything over two pages will be binned regardless of whether it's a 20k or 50k role.
If its a creative role I would expect to see a link to a portfolio site, if you don't have one don't apply for a creative role.
Also I don't want to know about any hobbies or interests unless they are relevant to the role.
The number of CVs I see that state they enjoy, reading, travelling and socialising is getting tiresome.

dizzyrascal

JethroUK wrote: »

Well he got the job - which means it's exactly the sort of advice this thread is looking for

You have just dug yourself into "TWO PAGE CV ONLY" hole - my advice is to stop digging

Just wanted to point out that lying on your CV, if discovered, is usually followed by being sacked and you have no defence.

I would also think that if a person is prepared to lie about one area on their CV then they might equally lie about other areas, or even the whole CV.

In this competitive environment I would think that the best advice would be to keep to the truth. Especially as it is now the case that you can be sacked for any reason during the first two years of employment.

Also, in most cases, if you make a claim to something on your CV, it is fairly simple to check it out. Often instantly.

gibson123

This thread just shows that there is no "right" CV, the right CV is the one that relates most closely to the skills required of the job.

Your CV should therefore should reflect YOU, your skills, attributes, personality. No point in lying on a CV and then finding yourself in a job you hate because you either can't do it or do not fit with the team.

Also I do like to see hobbies and other interests in a CV, I want well rounded people in my team with outside interests and the ability to get on with people whether in a team or other situation.

JethroUK

dizzyrascal wrote: »

Just wanted to point out that lying on your CV,....

old news - again you just want to side-step the 2 page CV you insist on - which actually what being discussed here - so just to drag this back on topic

high profile jobs needs a high profile CV which will take more than 2 pages

marybelle01

JethroUK wrote: »

old news - again you just want to side-step the 2 page CV you insist on - which actually what being discussed here - so just to drag this back on topic

high profile jobs needs a high profile CV which will take more than 2 pages

I agree entirely that there is no two page rule and that the length (mine is 3.5 sides) depends on the skills and experience being looked for and the role. Since I walk into work whenever I want it I have to assume that 3.5 pages is fine with the clients.

But I do not agree that whether or not your CV is a fiction or not is off topic. The question was what do employers (and presumably recruiters) want to see on a CV, and I would say that as a manager who recruits staff I want to see the truth. And I am seeing an increasing number of employers who, when faced with "I was a contractor / self-employed for XX period)" are asking for evidence - as my current employers have done. Client lists, tax returns or whatever. And these are checked. No evidence, no job. And frankly, based on some of the stuff I have read on here, I don't blame them.

And I also think that it is responsible, as others have done, to point out that a "small" lie on ones CV, such as claiming to have been employed for a two year period when one was not employed at all, can result in dismissal if found out, no matter how many years you have under your belt. I don't think it is at all irrelevant to the topic to point out that employers do not like CV's that are fictional.

an9i77

I work in hr and what puts me off (this goes for interviews too) is when people tell me how wonderful they are but it is not backed up with any evidence. It's dead easy to say you are highly motivated, conscientious, reliable etc. So what. everyone can say that. What I want is for you to SHOW me. So give me examples of what you've actually acheived, what you've been responsible for. That will mean a lot more. And possibly even get you an interview.

SueC_2

DKLS wrote: »

Also I don't want to know about any hobbies or interests unless they are relevant to the role.
The number of CVs I see that state they enjoy, reading, travelling and socialising is getting tiresome.

I couldn't agree more.

I don't think I have ever seen hobbies/interests listed that have turned a 'not interested' reaction into an 'interested' reaction. I have however seen countless examples that have made me think "Why are you telling me this / wasting valuable space on this page that you should be using to sell yourself to me"?

heretolearn_2

Turn-ons:
being able to express yourself well; using clear, concise accurate language to convey information about yourself without waffle and repetition.
Correct spelling and grammar.
The right balance of information: more about recent experience/qualifications and what is really relevant to the post, and less space given to older/less relevant stuff. While I don't mind longer CVs, I am put off if people feel the need to tell me their entire 30 year work history right down to 'making tea and filing' when they were 16 years old.
Being creative - without lying - to convince me you are right for the role. That might mean elaborating on details of voluntary work/work experience/experience gained outside of work.

All of these things are surprisingly rare and they are what lift a CV out of the pile of umpteen very similar people, for me. It shows me that you have taken care over your application and that you are genuinely interested in the job, that I can trust you to pay attention to detail, that you are able to plan what you do and communicate well, and engage your brain in what you are doing.

Turn - offs
Not doing the above.
Having a personal statement that works against what we want. For example 'I am looking to work part-time in a retail role' when we've advertised a full-time job in an office.
Qualifications we've never heard of and can't find through googling, but that they try to pretend are just as good as the standard qualifications we've asked for.
Lack of information - I think the 2 page CV is a bit to blame for this. A 2 page CV full of meaty stuff is ok, but so many I look at just give you no feel at all for the person and what they can do. Space wasted giving addresses of references/employers/colleges and just a job title/course title but nothing on what they actually DID there.
Yet again as it's so important but so common - bad spelling, bad grammar, being unable to write a decent sentence or organise their thoughts and information, or use of text speech.