Serious Help Needed With CV

paddyrg

During my time at college I was able to effectively multitask between my studies, my job as a professional poker player and my extra curricular activities, exhibiting my ability to systematize, work well under pressure, keep motivated and constantly work hard.

It does read as if you're trying to be buzzwordy as opposed to communicate concisely. And buzzwordy corporatespeak reads as 'blah blah blah' to be honest, to me at least.

moneypenny2k

I'm a teacher specialising in Careers Education, I've had a first play with this and here are my suggestions... The blue bits need to be updated by you.
The skills will need to be changed in order depending on what the job asks for. You may need to add or subtract various skills. Try and match what the person spec tells you that they want.

Remember you'll be asked to justify what you say in your cv. Think up non poker playing explanations ready for interview.

Name: XXXXX
Home Phone: XXXXX XXXXXX Mobile: XXXXXXXXXX
Email: [EMAIL="XXXXXXX@gmail.com"]XXXXXXX@gmail.com[/EMAIL]
Nationality: British

Profile
A well traveled individual who is eager and highly motivated to pursue a career working with an established company in the ??? field.

Skills

• Excellent problem solving skills leading me to make sound logical decisions.
• Excellent social skills. The extensive traveling I have done has given me and the ability to interact with people from all walks of life.
• Multitasking
• Work well under pressure,
• I enjoy both working on my own and as part of a team.
• Dependable,
• Trustworthy,
• Excellent communication skills both written and oral
• Hardworking
• Computing. Able to use a computer proficiently and touch type seventy words per minute.
• Digital Audio Workstations. I have completed my ProTools 101 exam.
• Recording Studio. I have knowledge of how a recording studio is run and I can navigate and work within one, or with similar technology, effectively.
• Driving. Full UK driving license.

Education
2007-2010 The Adam Smith College
Higher National Diploma (HND) Audio and Sound Production
Secondary Education
Highers 2007
Classical Studies A
English C
Standard Grades 2005
7 Standard Grade passes

Work History
??? 2009 - April 2011 I suggest you put something in here about travel and work done around study but not the poker playing

May 2007- which month?2009
Professional Card Magician
Whilst at College I worked as a professional magician using the following skills

• Dealt with finances and accounts
• Sourced clients and bookings (organisational skills)
• Built rapport with clients and attendees at the weddings, parties and other social gatherings which I was employed to entertain.
• Excellent networking skills

Interests

Writing. (explain what kind)
Sports. including Karate (brown belt) & I am a Certified Scuba Diver.

References
Excellent references available upon request.

Wyndham

Another vote here for leaving out the poker playing. You started at 14, which is illegal, and then talking about it being affected by US Government legislation makes it sound even more dodgy (I don't know why they did it, and don't actually really care, but you were inolved in something a government thought was wrong and that sends the wrong message to an employer.

And the enjoying life paragraph is something else I'd leave out. Employers are looking for people who will work hard, do the job, fit in with the team etc. and it doesn't matter what you do outside of work - but the way you've phrased it makes me think that work will be second for you While I personally think that's a healthy attitude, many employers won't.

I think moneypenny2k has done a good job for you, and would advise you to follow their advice!

Yorkie1

Can I simply suggest that you ensure you spellcheck it with a UK spellchecker before sending it? Your intial post had the American spellings e.g. traveling, systematize (in fact I have absolutely no idea what that means, but -ize is US not UK).

cannycat

Hi,

Good luck to the poster, there is some excellent advice already on here for you, particularly about leaving off your poker playing and some of the 'life' statements. At the moment, many employers are consistently getting dozens if not hundreds of applicants for basic admin jobs.

The 70wpm keyboard speed actually seems pretty respectable to me and as a practical skill I'd be inclined to leave it in, but as another poster has said, until you know what job you're going to apply for, you can't really tailor your cv properly. Start with a basic cv, and have several different ones ready for other types of jobs. Also, you are likely to find that for many jobs with larger employers you will have to complete an application form rather than a cv, as these are easier for HR/managers to compare. If you find yourself filling in application forms, make sure you relate your experience to the job description/person spec as far as you can, but don't waffle.

You've obviously gained good sales and interpersonal/communication skills from all that travelling and from working as a self-employed magician/entertainer; you're evidently what used to be called a 'self-starter', and extremely adaptable.

And LovelyJoolz - I've been a line manager in an administrative environment for over ten years and many of my friends are touch typists/PAs/medical secretaries. I touch type myself and a huge proportion of both my day and evening jobs involves keyboarding, and I have never come across anyone who can touch type consistently and accurately at 120 wpm. Even for a very fast typist, 85-95 wpm is about as quick as human fingers can move unless you want a serious case of RSI. Wow, you must have met some bionic secretaries in your time - what industry do you work in?

denla

Average professional typist types at 40wpm, fast ones at 60wpm. 70-90wpm is extremely fast, and outside of 90wpm is !!!!!!!!. If you claim you can type 120wpm I won't believe you unless you attend a recognised typing exam under strict exam conditions, and requires you to type consistently and accurately like that for 5hrs non-stop.

CoffeeSpoons

Thanks a lot for all the really good feedback and help. I'll post a revised version soon so it can get flamed once again

Thanks very much moneypenny2k, I'm using that layout you gave me and keeping it simple. Only problem I'm having is this part:

Work History
??? 2009 - April 2011 I suggest you put something in here about travel and work done around study but not the poker playing

Do you mean what kind of work I did during college to aid my studies or what kind of work I did out of college? Because at college I played poker too.

Yeah, very familiar with that thread koloko :beer: I'm actually looking to get back into poker again while looking for work, haven't played in such a long time but I've got myself a really good coach who will hopefully set me back on the right path again and I won't need to worry about a CV. Good luck with the poker yourself, what stakes do you play?

moneypenny2k

CoffeeSpoons wrote: »

Thanks a lot for all the really good feedback and help. I'll post a revised version soon so it can get flamed once again

Thanks very much moneypenny2k, I'm using that layout you gave me and keeping it simple. Only problem I'm having is this part:



Do you mean what kind of work I did during college to aid my studies or what kind of work I did out of college? Because at college I played poker too.

What I mean is that you need to make it look as if you did something that the potential employers will regard as positive during those times.

Employers don't like gaps in CVs, you could have been on holiday at Her Majesty's pleasure during that time if you see what I mean :rotfl: If you didn't do any 'proper' jobs during that time I suggest you put in something brief about travel, gap year, that kind of thing just to explain why you weren't a wage slave. HTH

CoffeeSpoons

Hi again. Still working on the CV, but it's getting better. I'm curious whether or not any of you would advise putting on my CV that I'm about to become a part of the TA (I'm at the last stage of the application process) and I'm about to undertake an Open University course?

moneypenny2k

CoffeeSpoons wrote: »

Hi again. Still working on the CV, but it's getting better. I'm curious whether or not any of you would advise putting on my CV that I'm about to become a part of the TA (I'm at the last stage of the application process) and I'm about to undertake an Open University course?

I'd say yes, but make sure you make it clear where you are in the process. Also make sure you cite which course it is that you're undertaking with the OU

Glad to hear that the CV is getting there.