A little advice can go a long way.

Jobseeeker

do you tailor your cv to the job your applying for?

eg if you are applying for payroll job do not say i want a career in either payroll or IT, that doesnt look good.

sammyjammy

I don't really have any advice other than target for the job you are sending it in for but I am amazed on a daily basis as to how much time and effort people put into giving advice to strangers on the intranet, this country of ours isn't all bad

dancingfairy

The one thing I really don't like is all the mixed tenses, for example Assist, handling and offered. I think it should all be past tense? Also get rid of the I's.
Don't like the first profile bit at all, sorry. Far too waffly.

Also your education seems to take up so much space and is awfully formatted.


Is it worth condensing the travelling part and putting it under a heading such as May 11- Dec 12 various temporary jobs whilst travelling exstensively across Canada? you could put a bit about what skills you learnt whilst away?

I think you can get a much better cv done.
Best of Luck
df

dancingfairy

Sycrid wrote: »

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] I have experience of working in Payroll and am qualified in Sage Payroll, Sage Line 50 and Sage Instant Payroll. I'm looking to further my experience and progress in my career, with a view to eventually progressing to payroll manager.


[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]Currently working within the head quarters of a leading payroll software developer[/FONT]
• [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Dealt with payroll and technical support inquiries for Sage Instant Payroll and Sage 50 Payroll[/FONT]
• [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Trained in payroll year end issues, and real time information (RTI)[/FONT]
• [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Provided 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]Provided excellent customer service [/FONT]
• [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Key holder - opened and closed shop[/FONT]
• [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Handled cash, and depositing finance into the banks on a weekly basis. [/FONT]
• [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Acted as security when required, for example Monitoring security footage, handling irate customers, drunk customers etc. [/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]Assisted 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]Maintainedchemical levels and cleanliness in swimming pools.[/FONT]
• [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Monitored boilers, moving luggage and furniture. [/FONT]
• [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Loggedall 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 for a newspaper with a circulation of over 2million. [/FONT]

• [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Handled weekly assignments [/FONT]
• [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Photographed subjects including sports, landscapes, wildlife, and events. [/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]Handled 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]Oversaw? 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]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Sage 50 Payroll [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif](Nov/Dec 2012) [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Sage Instant Payroll [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Feb/Mar 2012) [/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 [/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]Newcastle College[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]European Computer Drivers Licence (2007/2008)[/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]Finance & Business Organisation, ICT Systems Analysis & Design, Website Fundamentals. Are these A/S Levels? [/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]
6 GCSEs (September 2003 - June 2004) Grades C/D including English and Maths.




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.

Have made a start on it for you. You'll need to do a bit more work on it to sharpen it up and make it a bit more dynamic but hopefully it'll give you a few ideas.
df

Almo

Sycrid wrote: »

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]

There are a few things phrased slightly unusually, particularly in your profile. Is English your native language? It might be worth getting someone to read over your covering letters as well in case they pick anything out which doesn't read well. I know you've said you're English and I hope that doesn't sound offensive.

heretolearn_2

Agree with the above.

My first thought was that English is not your first language - sorry but your phrasing and grammar is all a bit odd, and you use rather strange plurals all the time 'experiences' being the most noticeable and 'twice trained' sounding really odd. The inconsistent tenses and style in the work experience details look poor. If there is an influence by another language then that could explain it. You need to get someone who is good at English to go through and proof read it for you.

Create separate IT and payroll CVs. It's not going to work as it is. Any IT employer is going to think you are a payroll person, any payroll employer is going to think you want to leave that career for IT. I'd leave off the cashier job altogether, it isn't relevant to either industry, and then just include the one current job that is relevant. Having three is just confusing and makes you sound a bit desperate - as if you do a few hours here and there doing bits and pieces.

Clarify education - are your dates correct? You seem to have done your GCSEs in one year instead of the usual two. Likewise a degree in two years instead of three. If you failed your AS Levels, leave them off. And the GCSEs I'd only put on if they are C grade or over. No one cares which school you went to, just list those qualifications.

Languages - list which ones you speak and to what level.

Group all your part-time travel/studenty low level jobs together as suggested above and put in something about your travel and what skills that may have given you that an employer would be interested in.

Profile needs serious work. Employers don't care what you want and why. They want to know why you are the best person for the job - but in an non-arrogant way. I'd never say something like 'I'd be an asset' as without knowing anything about the firm/job, who am I to judge that. That's for them to decide after reading my CV.

National_Careers_Service

There are loads of really good points here – it’s really interesting to read advice from different angles. Overall though, the general consensus appears to be that you have good experience and skills and it would be a good idea for you to create a greater focus and clarity in your CV. Hopefully this will help employers quickly get to grips with your motivations and what you have to offer for the specific role you’re going for.

anamenottaken

Check the actual words used for your ECDL certification. You haven't spelled it out correctly. In fact just putting "ECDL" rather than the full words should be fine for anyone who is interested in whether you have it.

Though it is OK to use contractions (like "I'm" and "I've") when writing informally, job applications are generally more formal so don't use. Spell out in full in the covering letter and you'll save space in the CV by omitting.