CV assistance

Lexxi

I'm trying to see if anyone can help me with my CV or point me in the right direction.

I had help writing it when I was on a work based training programme and have just added to it since then, it has become a bit more like a story than an at a glance outline of skills.

It desperately needs an update.

I have found some templates of how I want to set it out that allow me to keep some of the wordiness, as I can't seem to condense it to bullet points. However, I'm now having a problem with my skills, I work well in a team and seem to be focussing on what the team did and were capable of rather than my skills.

I hired the team, I trained them, I set high standards and made sure they worked to them, I led by example. I just can't seem to convey that in my CV.
I'm not the kind of person to blow my own trumpet, I get on with my job and what is needed of me, I'll assist wherever necessary.

I just need it to sound a bit stronger and more 'I' and 'me' without so much 'us' and 'we'

Can anyone offer any advice?

Dunroamin

Are you using a skills based format rather than a chronological?

denla

First you say you worked in a team, then you hired them, and then you led them... I can't tell whether you meant you were an employer, HR manager or whatever.

Lexxi

Yes, I'm trying to do a skills based one. I did a chronological one, it just became a huge list.

I was a manager responsible for a team of people, most places I was able to hire my own, some there were staff already there.

cashbackproblems

In my last role i used to help my manager filter our CV's from agencies and the hardest ones to read were those with a poor layout, a massive personal statement and long winded sentences.

HR/Managers will spend 30secs at most skimming your CV so your key work experiences/skills need to stand out and not be bogged down in a big essay, i like this kind of layout http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cv1.htm

Lexxi

I can't get that 'at a glance' thing down. I feel the need to expain myself or use sentances instead of points to be clear on what I can do.
When I first started working it was work based training with the local authority, I didn't need to apply for that I just got placed. When I was applying for jobs they were the local authority applications so maybe that's why I feel the need to expand on points, due to the way they assess. I didn't need a CV until about 6 years after starting work and had only applied for jobs that had an application prior to this
I know how many CVs I have recieved when advertising positions and how long it takes to read just one that isn't wordy.
It is a work in progress and I am going to google <industry> CVs later to see if there are any specific tips, thanks for the link

cashbackproblems

Lexxi wrote: »

I can't get that 'at a glance' thing down. I feel the need to expain myself or use sentances instead of points to be clear on what I can do.
When I first started working it was work based training with the local authority, I didn't need to apply for that I just got placed. When I was applying for jobs they were the local authority applications so maybe that's why I feel the need to expand on points, due to the way they assess. I didn't need a CV until about 6 years after starting work and had only applied for jobs that had an application prior to this
I know how many CVs I have recieved when advertising positions and how long it takes to read just one that isn't wordy.
It is a work in progress and I am going to google <industry> CVs later to see if there are any specific tips, thanks for the link

The cv i provided doesnt give any real details about duties carried out in each role which IS essential, maybe 3/4 short bullet points per job and any clear achievement e.g. " project assisting sales manager with the creation of new client booking form which increased sales by 50% in 3 months" and more if its your only job.

Its just the layout which i think is good. Also try and keep it under 2 pages and no need to include references in there.

Lexxi

The way I have set it out is to pick 5 important, relevant key skills and show how I meet those, now I'm trying to cut it down and make it a bit punchier.
Then go on to detail my work experience and write 2-3 sentances about each position.

For me to do a chronological cv I wouldn't be able to cover my duties in 3-4 bullet points which is why I thought this way might be better.
I have got the layout sorted and with the skills based I have been able to keep it under 2 pages.