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A little advice can go a long way.

Sycrid
Sycrid Posts: 17 Forumite
in Employment, jobseeking & training
Hello,

This is a message to anyone who can help, offer advice or provide insights, and if you can I strongly appreciate it. With this said, a little basic background, I'm 25, I'm English, I've lived in England, Germany and Canada, and I'm really struggling to get into a job that takes me out of a call centre in the UK. I need some advice on my C.V. as I am so desperate to get a career that I'm doing 3 jobs at once at the moment to try and claw in experience that can give me a new direction, and I know I have the education for something better than answering a phone.

Here's my C.v. If people can tell me what lines of work I should apply for, or if they have any major concerns over my C.V. (I've taken out employer names, and I've removed my personal details for security reasons). I just need some insights...PM me, if they're too harsh or post them in reply.

"[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Profile:[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I'm twice trained by SageUK in the payroll industry, with payroll qualifications, and a determination to succeed. I have an extensive education and from this I've been presented with the opportunities to gain experiences within excellent industries of both Finance and IT, that I believe would be brilliant assets to your company. The reason I'm looking for work is so that I can further extend my experiences in payroll or IT, as my long term target is to become a payroll or IT manager. I believe I'm capable of doing this, so much so, I'm wanting to leave my current jobs and focus entirely on a single job and career.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Employment History:[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Company:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] ([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]February 2012 – Date, Newcastle Upon Tyne[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif])[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Position:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Payroll Support Adviser [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Externally located at (location) working within the head quarters of a leading payroll software developer)[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I've been dealing with payroll and technical support inquiries for Sage Instant Payroll and Sage 50 Payroll[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I've been trained 2 years running for handling payroll year end issues, and real time information (RTI)[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I provide support on all aspects of payroll legislation covering anything from statutory payments through to student loans, to tax and national insurance. [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Won employee of the period in April 2012[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Company:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] ([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]September[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] 2012 – Date, Newcastle Upon Tyne[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif])[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Position:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]IT Administrator[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Cover the IT Management whilst they're on annual leave. Dealing with, data import/export/formatting/reporting. [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Day to day troubleshooting of systems. [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Active directory experience, system building, php scripting. [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]SQL querying data for reports and import of call centre data. [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Clear communication with all of management, to solve their problems and assist in their daily routines. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Company:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] ([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]October[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] 2012 – Date, Gateshead[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif])[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Position:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Cashier/Assistant Manager/Security[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Assist people with their shopping, running everything through the till. [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Closing the shop at 11pm, and opening at 7am (Key holder)[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Act as security when ever required. (Monitor security footage, handling irate customers, drunk customers). [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Handling of cash, and depositing finance into the banks on a weekly basis. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Company: [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif](May 2010 – Dec 2011, Jasper, Alberta Canada)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Position:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] Breakfast & Dinner Waiter[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Offered excellent service within a world class restaurant in the middle of the Rockie mountains. [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Handled my own cash flow, and ran all orders through logging systems. [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Negotiated with chefs on orders[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Cleaned entire restaurant, and prepared for the next service. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Company: [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif](May 2010 – Dec 2011, Jasper, Alberta, Canada)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Position: [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Maintenance Worker[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Assisting the supervisor of maintenance, taking responsibility when supervisor on leave.[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Problem solving, preventing future issues, grounds work, [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Maintaining chemical levels and cleanliness in swimming pools.[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Monitoring boilers, moving luggage and furniture. [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Logging all maintenance issues. [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Dealt with customer inquiries and assisted front desk staff whenever required. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Company:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif](May 2011 – September 2011 Jasper, Canada)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Position: [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Freelance Photographer[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Assigned weekly tasks.[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Photographing subjects including sports, landscapes, wildlife, and events. [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Newspaper is circulated to over 2million people across the summer throughout the Canadian Rockies.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Company:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] ([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]November 2007 – May 2010[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] Gateshead)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Position:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Technical Support Agent[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Handling billing/account/general inquiries for an online game (Secondlife) [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Solved technical problems, software and hardware issues. [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Worked with phone calls, emails and live chat. [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Monitored a live database of financial transactions, investigating and holding accounts for in-game fraud. [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Monitored staff when no supervisors on shift. [/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Won second place employee of the month during this employment. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Company:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif](June 2009 [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Pforzheim[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif], [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Germany[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif])[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Position: [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Website Development Assistant[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Assisted with website developments[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Trained their apprentice how to use industry level cameras[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Developed photography and graphics for website publications. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Company:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif](January 2006 – May 2006 [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]North Shields, UK[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]) [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Position: [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Warehouse Assistant[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Replenished warehouse in preparation for customers[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Assisted customers with inquiries[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Unloaded trucks and stock into warehouse[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Education[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Sage Payroll certification [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif](January 2013)[/FONT]SageUK Headquarters[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Passed the official qualification offered by SageUK based on payroll, legislation and software for the UK. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Sage 50 Payroll [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif](Nov/Dec 2012) [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]SageUK Headquarters [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif](Nov/Dec 2012) [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Tax, National Insurance, Statutory Payments (SSP, SMP, SAP, SPP), Holiday Pay, Pensions, P-documents (P45, P46, P11, P32), Redundancies, Bonuses, Directors NI,[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Sage Instant Payroll [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Feb/Mar 2012) [/FONT]SageUK Headquarters

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Tax, National Insurance, Statutory Payments (SSP, SMP, SAP, SPP), Holiday Pay, Pensions, P-documents (P45, P46, P11, P32), Redundancies, Bonuses, Directors NI, [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Leeds Metropolitan University/Newcastle College[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
BSc (Hons) Applied Computing for Business (September 2008 – June 2009) [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Grade: 2:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]1
S[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]tudied[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]: Change Management, Applications Development (ASP, Oracle) IT Consultancy, Advanced Databases [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Dissertation[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]: XXS Attacks (Cross site scripting)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Leeds Metropolitan University/Newcastle College[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Studied[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]:[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]FdSc Business Information Systems (September 2006 – June 2007) [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Grade: 2:2[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Training and Development, E-marketing, Website fundamentals (PHP, CSS, HTML, MySQL), Database development, Finance, [/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Newcastle College[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]European Computer Drivers Licence ([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Level 1: [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]December 2007, [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Level 2: [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]March 2008)[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Studied[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]: Microsoft Access, Word, Excel & Power Point.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Newcastle College[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]BTEC National Award for IT Practitioners [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]September 2005- June2006) [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Merit[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Whitley Bay High School
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Studied[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]: Finance & Business Organisation, ICT Systems Analysis & Design, Website Fundamentals. [/FONT]
A/S Level (September 2004 - June 2005)
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
Whitley Bay High School[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Business (Pass), Economics (Pass) & IT (Pass)[/FONT]

GCSEs (September 2003 - June 2004[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Math([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]C[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]), English([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]C,C[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]), Science([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]C,C[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]), Business Studies([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]C[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]), German([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]D[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]), Electronics([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]D[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif])[/FONT]"


Any feedback on the above would be greatly appreciated. The reasons I ask are because I'm getting no interviews, and no calls. Along with this I've even tried walking into multilple (6) recruitment agencies, and asking for advice all but one shoved me out the door, because they said we can't help you, you must apply online... this made me baffled as to how I increase my odds at improving my career when I apply and they just dismiss the email.


Thanks guys/girls for any advice.
«1

Comments

  • theoretica
    theoretica Posts: 12,691 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    My first thought is you need to focus your CV more - write one for payroll and one for IT and pare it so it is really clear and easy to read. More comments below.
    Sycrid wrote: »
    "[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Profile:[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I'm twice [is the training the most important thing for an employer? and why twice - could be misread as you needed training twice as you forgot the first lot!] trained by SageUK in the payroll industry, with payroll qualifications, and a determination to succeed. I have an extensive education [so do many people, what is most special about you?] and from this I've been presented with SIZE=2]don't give the impression these were just handed to you[SIZE=2[/SIZE] the opportunities to gain experiences within excellent industries of both Finance and IT, that I believe would be brilliant assets to your company. [/SIZE][/FONT][STRIKE]The reason I'm looking for work is so that I can [/STRIKE]I am keen to [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]further extend my experiences in payroll or IT [write one IT cv and one payroll cv unless a company can offer both in one job!], as my long term target is to become a payroll or IT manager. I [/FONT][STRIKE]believe I'm capable of doing this, so much so, I'm wanting[/STRIKE] wish[FONT=Arial, sans-serif] to leave my current jobs and focus entirely on a single job and career.
    [/FONT]
    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
    [/FONT]

    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Employment History:[/FONT]
    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Company:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] ([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]February 2012 – Date, Newcastle Upon Tyne[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif])[/FONT]
    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Position:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Payroll Support Adviser [/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Externally located at (location) working within the head quarters of a leading payroll software developer)[/FONT]
    • [STRIKE]I've been dealing with [/STRIKE][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]payroll and technical support inquiries for Sage Instant Payroll and Sage 50 Payroll[/FONT]
    • [STRIKE]I've been trained 2 years running for[/STRIKE][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] handling payroll year end issues, and real time information (RTI)[/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I provide support on all aspects of payroll legislation covering anything from statutory payments through to student loans, to tax and national insurance. [/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Won employee of the period [year, month, hour?] in April 2012[/FONT]

    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Company:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] ([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]September[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] 2012 – Date, Newcastle Upon Tyne[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif])[/FONT]
    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Position:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]IT Administrator[/FONT] [put first for IT jobs]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Cover the IT Management whilst they're on annual leave. Dealing with, data import/export/formatting/reporting. [/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Day to day troubleshooting of systems. [/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Active directory experience, system building, php scripting. [/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]SQL querying data for reports and import of call centre data. [/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Clear communication with all of management, to solve their problems and assist in their daily routines. [/FONT]

    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Company:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] ([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]October[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] 2012 – Date, Gateshead[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif])[/FONT]
    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Position:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Cashier/Assistant Manager/Security[/FONT] [how can you make this more relevant to what you are applying for?]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Assist people with their shopping, running everything through the till. [/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Closing the shop at 11pm, and opening at 7am (Key holder)[/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Act as security when ever required. (Monitor security footage, handling irate customers, drunk customers). [/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Handling of cash, and depositing finance into the banks on a weekly basis. [/FONT]

    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Company: [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif](May 2010 – Dec 2011, Jasper, Alberta Canada)[/FONT]
    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Position:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] Breakfast & Dinner Waiter[/FONT] [how can you make this more relevant to what you are applying for?]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Offered excellent service within a world class restaurant in the middle of the Rockie mountains.[very pretty, but will it make you more attractive to employers?]
      [/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Handled my own cash flow, and ran all orders through logging systems. [/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Negotiated with chefs on orders[/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Cleaned entire restaurant, and prepared for the next service. [/FONT]

    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Company: [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif](May 2010 – Dec 2011, Jasper, Alberta, Canada)[/FONT]
    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Position: [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Maintenance Worker[/FONT] [how can you make this more relevant to what you are applying for?]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Assisting the supervisor of maintenance, taking responsibility when supervisor on leave.[/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Problem solving, preventing future issues, grounds work, [/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Maintaining chemical levels and cleanliness in swimming pools.[/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Monitoring boilers, moving luggage and furniture. [/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Logging all maintenance issues. [/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Dealt with customer inquiries and assisted front desk staff whenever required. [/FONT]

    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Company:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif](May 2011 – September 2011 Jasper, Canada)[/FONT]
    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Position: [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Freelance Photographer[/FONT] [how can you make this more relevant to what you are applying for?]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Assigned weekly tasks.[/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Photographing subjects including sports, landscapes, wildlife, and events. [/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Newspaper is circulated to over 2million people across the summer throughout the Canadian Rockies.[/FONT]

    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Company:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] ([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]November 2007 – May 2010[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] Gateshead)[/FONT]
    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Position:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Technical Support Agent[/FONT] [relevant for IT jobs]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Handling billing/account/general inquiries for an online game (Secondlife) [/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Solved technical problems, software and hardware issues. [/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Worked with phone calls, emails and live chat. [/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Monitored a live database of financial transactions, investigating and holding accounts for in-game fraud. [/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Monitored staff when no supervisors on shift. [/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Won second place employee of the month during this employment. [/FONT]

    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Company:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif](June 2009 [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Pforzheim[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif], [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Germany[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif])[/FONT]
    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Position: [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Website Development Assistant[/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Assisted with website developments[/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Trained their apprentice how to use industry level cameras[/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Developed photography and graphics for website publications. [/FONT]

    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Company:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif](January 2006 – May 2006 [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]North Shields, UK[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]) [/FONT]
    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Position: [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Warehouse Assistant[/FONT] [how can you make this more relevant to what you are applying for?]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Replenished warehouse in preparation for customers[/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Assisted customers with inquiries[/FONT]
    • [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Unloaded trucks and stock into warehouse[/FONT]
    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Education[/FONT]
    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Sage Payroll certification [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif](January 2013)[/FONT]SageUK Headquarters[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
    [/FONT]
    Passed [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]the official qualification offered by SageUK based on payroll, legislation and software for the UK. [/FONT]

    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Sage 50 Payroll [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif](Nov/Dec 2012) [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]SageUK Headquarters [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif](Nov/Dec 2012) [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Tax, National Insurance, Statutory Payments (SSP, SMP, SAP, SPP), Holiday Pay, Pensions, P-documents (P45, P46, P11, P32), Redundancies, Bonuses, Directors NI,[/FONT]

    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Sage Instant Payroll [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Feb/Mar 2012) [/FONT]SageUK Headquarters

    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Tax, National Insurance, Statutory Payments (SSP, SMP, SAP, SPP), Holiday Pay, Pensions, P-documents (P45, P46, P11, P32), Redundancies, Bonuses, Directors NI, [/FONT]     [reformat with less repetition]

    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Leeds Metropolitan University/Newcastle College[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
    BSc (Hons) Applied Computing for Business (September 2008 – June 2009)     [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Grade: 2:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]1
    S    [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]tudied[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]: Change Management, Applications Development (ASP, Oracle) IT Consultancy, Advanced Databases [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Dissertation[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]: XXS Attacks (Cross site scripting)[/FONT]
    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Leeds Metropolitan University/Newcastle College[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Studied[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]:[/FONT]
    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]FdSc Business Information Systems (September 2006 – June 2007) [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Grade: 2:2[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
    [/FONT]
    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Training and Development, E-marketing, Website fundamentals (PHP, CSS, HTML, MySQL), Database development, Finance, [/FONT]


    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Newcastle College[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]European Computer Drivers Licence ([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Level 1: [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]December 2007, [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Level 2: [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]March 2008)[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Studied[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]: Microsoft Access, Word, Excel & Power Point.[/FONT]

    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Newcastle College[/FONT]
    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]BTEC National Award for IT Practitioners [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]September 2005- June2006) [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Merit[/FONT]

    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Whitley Bay High School
    [/FONT]
    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Studied[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]: Finance & Business Organisation, ICT Systems Analysis & Design, Website Fundamentals. [/FONT]
    A/S Level (September 2004 - June 2005)
    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
    Whitley Bay High School    [/FONT]     [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Business (Pass), Economics (Pass) & IT (Pass) [are AS levels pass/ fail? looks odd to me][/FONT]

    GCSEs (September 2003 - June 2004[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
    [/FONT]
    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Math([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]C[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]), English([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]C,C[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]), Science([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]C,C[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]), Business Studies([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]C[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]), German([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]D[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]), Electronics([/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]D[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif])[/FONT]"
    But a banker, engaged at enormous expense,
    Had the whole of their cash in his care.
    Lewis Carroll
  • kiddy_guy
    kiddy_guy Posts: 987 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts
    Right...where to start...

    Your profile is virtually a covering letter. I'd be wanting you to sell yourself in this bit, rather than you giving me your life story. Don't tell me why you want to move jobs, tell me why I should hire you. An employer isn't really going to care why you want to move jobs, and even if they do, this info should either be in the covering letter or at interview. Count the number of "I"'s in this section and you'll realise that you're that your talking about what you want, not what you can offer.

    Employment history - get rid of the "I'"s again. Talk in passive grammar, such as "Achieved a 50% reduction in costs" rather than "I achieved a 50% reduction..." etc... Also talk about not what you do in terms of tasks, but what you've achieved. For example

    "I've been dealing with payroll and technical support inquiries for Sage Instant Payroll and Sage 50 Payroll" could be this:

    " Management responsibility for delivering problem resolution to all internal Payroll and technical issues "

    or "Handling of cash, and depositing finance into the banks on a weekly basis."

    You're responsible for £000's of pounds and you're telling me that it's basically the same job as changing the till roll. You're looking after 000's of £. Repeat that 5 times to yourself and think how important that is and how much trust/responsibility that entails. Then re-write all of these points making it sound like you're looking after the crown jewels rather than making the tea.

    I think you get the idea. Your CV is very much I started at A and went straight to Z. Flesh it out with the B, C, D, E etc...

    Also you're doing a job. You must have achievements - why not list some. Cost saving, rationalising processes, improving processes etc...

    In short jazz the thing up. You're better than your CV, but your CV is killing your chances

    One final thing: - Payroll OR I.T?

    Sounds like you'll take whatever you can get - desperation. One CV for Payroll, one for IT solves that. If I was interested in hiring a Payroll specialist I'd at least want one that actually knew that they wanted to do that rather than one who wasn't quite sure whether they wanted to work in Payroll or IT. Create 2 CV's and tailor them for the job you want.

    Do that all and come back - happy to help, though I'm sorry it sounds a bit harsh. Tough love needed
  • AP007
    AP007 Posts: 7,109 Forumite
    9 jobs in 6 years? No staying power? I know you said you moved round the world etc

    a lot of different roles too
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  • claire16c
    claire16c Posts: 7,074 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    I agree with the above posts so just a couple of things to add.

    Your education bit seems odd. You've listed that you did AS levels but you've put pass instead of a grade and listed out 6 different subjects with only 3 sounding like AS level subjects on two lines? Very confusing.

    Also it says you were at uni from 08-09. A degree takes 3 years? Did you actually finish it? And how are you in Leeds and Newcastle at the same time? Or was it one of those things where a uni certificates the degree for a smaller college? If so I would just make it clearer it was a full degree as I'd be looking and wondering if you actually finished it.

    You seem to have good experience it just needs the payroll & computer stuff being seperated a bit for relevant jobs. And id leave off the waiter job as you had another job at that time anyway. Unless of course you're applying for a job in a restaurant! :)
  • Dovah_diva
    Dovah_diva Posts: 539 Forumite
    edited 18 May 2013 at 7:03AM
    Lose the crappy 'determination to succeed'. That is such a cliche and says absolutely nothing. You job history is scary - why so many jobs in a short time? Lose the 5 month warehouse job. There is no end date for the Germany job. You need to reformat the whole CV, it is horrible to read. Did you achieve nothing at any of the jobs? For example, in my current role, I've been able to state that we have beaten our previous collection rates and are now the top income team in the UK for this particular business (written in a much better way, of course). Although it was a team effort it demonstrates that I can achieve realistic targets.
  • theoretica
    theoretica Posts: 12,691 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Rereading your job history it looks like you worked part time during your degre, mainly in technical support, went travelling to Canada for 18 months or so and took various jobs to break even and have recently returned to the UK. Put like that the number of jobs you have had looks more reasonable.
    But a banker, engaged at enormous expense,
    Had the whole of their cash in his care.
    Lewis Carroll
  • Sycrid
    Sycrid Posts: 17 Forumite
    Thanks guys, there's some brilliant feedback in there. I never expected any of it, nor for it to be a good as you've given.

    Clear up a few points....
    Degree was studied at newcastle, but the issuing authority was Leeds, and I did finish with an honours (2:1).

    AS levels, well I pretty much failed them, I got E's in all but Computing. I questioned whether including AS levels, but then most would say how did you go from having no A levels to Uni. - Not sure what to do with this, explain or refrain from the C.V.

    I have done a lot of work, usually I've almost always done more than one job at a time. As you've all correctly assessed, I'm desperate, but not for a job. For a career.

    Splitting the IT and Payroll seems like a wise idea. I tried it once, but then felt like I didn't have enough on my C.v. for the IT. Still it's more decisive, so it'll be done.

    Germany was for only 2 months.
    thinking about this, if I'm having to explain myself. Then my C.V. sucks, I may very well be better off starting again. ----

    Thanks guys.
  • Daedalus
    Daedalus Posts: 4,253 Forumite
    You are trying too hard, and it is making it too overcrowded. You need to hit competency markers, that can be as simple as

    "Extensive knowledge of SAGE"

    All you need, yet you have SAGE written 10 times.

    Drop all grades, keep the 2.1, but the rest just put the subject.
  • Dovah_diva
    Dovah_diva Posts: 539 Forumite
    I wish I could show you my CV - it is laid out really clearly and I've spent years honing it. Not got it on my Mac though, it is on my work computer.
  • getmore4less
    getmore4less Posts: 46,882 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper I've helped Parliament
    edited 18 May 2013 at 12:19PM
    When I started reading this stood out.

    [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I'm twice trained by SageUK in the payroll industry, with payroll qualifications, and a determination to succeed. I have an extensive education and from this I've been presented with the opportunities to gain experiences within excellent industries of both Finance and IT, that I believe would be brilliant assets to your company. The reason I'm looking for work is so that I can further extend my experiences in payroll or IT, as my long term target is to become a payroll or IT manager. I believe I'm capable of doing this, so much so, I'm wanting to leave my current jobs and focus entirely on a single job and career.[/FONT]

    As a previous recruiter I don't like this sort of uncertainty, even though at this sort of age/level many will still be uncertain which direction they will end up going I prefer either a clear goal or a more general get more experience

    As others have said you need to target the CV to the jobs

    For career payroll emphasise the payroll aspects particularly those that are good experience for the next step.

    For career IT focus more on the general aspects and as much as posible to ballance out the payroll focus so far.

    Not my area so a bit of speculation
    I suspect that many IT departments have nothing to do with payroll other than the IT for the underlying platform.

    Similarly payroll probably have little to do with general IT and the focus is more towards the applications and the legislation.

    Now may be a time to consider if you want to be part of the payroll software industry, or part of the user base.


    I also think you nprobably eed to focus on the next step and look at managment as the longer term goal

    You may have removed the detail but are the payroll and IT roll at the same place if they are I would just combine them into one line item and focus depending on target job.

    The other thing that will come up is why are there no career opportunities at the current workplace.
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