Reduce size of CV but keep knowledge/achievements?

chaotic_j

Hi,

I'm looking for some advice on my CV, I think it is too long and I need to reduce the size whilst keeping my knowledge/achievements.

It currently runs to 4.5 pages of A4.

I work in a role with an unusual combination of skills: sales/marketing/IT-technical I think recruiters see my CV as being great but maybe those high up in a company or non-techies could find it a turn off.

The first page has all my personal details, memberships and LinkedIn profile link etc. small 'profile' section, larger 'key skills and competencies' section i.e. software I'm familiar with, skills I've got.

On a bit of page 1, all of pages 2 & 3 and most of page 4 I've got my employment history from most to least recent. First two jobs were for the 2011 Census 3/2 months each.

I then had other jobs in my current field, company 2 - 3 months, company 3 (3 roles) 1 year / 1 year / 8 months, company 4 - 1 year 1 month, company 5 - 6 months then back to company 4 where I currently am and have been for 1 year 7 months

I've also been self employed for 13 years in my current field so that's listed too.

Each job role is listed to show progression with some text about what I did, a big list of relevant achievements and then the outcome i.e. promoted, received external job offer etc.

The final bit which is about 1/2 a page lists my education and training, most recent training first, then education with most recent first. I have listed all qualifications in my field, online conferences / live conferences attended etc.

Looking for ideas how I can make this more effective yet still impressive. It also all looks rather drab and clinical, not very interesting to read - no colour etc.

Finally, my LinkedIn profile pretty much mirrors my CV.. thoughts/opinions?

Many thanks,
chaotic_j

NewShadow

See...now... if you're tailoring your CV for the role and company you're applying to then it's very unlikely that your 'range of experience' will be relevant.

Give a brief account of your employment history to demonstrate no significant gaps to explain, focus on the skills you want to emphasise for that particular application and leave off anything that isn't relevant.

Putting everything on there won't impress recruiters - it'll give the impression you don't understand the requirements of the job and/or couldn't be bothered to customise your CV.

2 pages - then you've still got something to talk about at interview :cool:

Just read the OP again - sales and marketing background...

Kim_kim

Honestly 2 pages and no extras about your hobbies!

fiisch

I think I'm in a similar boat in that I have a number of jobs over a short period as I'm a contractor, but you really must not have a CV over 2 pages. Period!

Anything >5 years old can be condensed into one liner/summary - there's no use having reams of detail about a job you did 5+ years ago as likely it's no longer relevant. Similarly, education - unfortunately, it's not a requirement to list every grade, and a summary is fine (e.g.: 4 A-levels, AABB etc...).

theoretica

Remember that it is your job in writing the CV to make everything as easy for the recruiting managers as possible. Put the bits you think they most want to know clearly and without wading through other stuff - and really they don't want to know more than 2 pages worth! If there is any repetition cut it (and there probably is with all those jobs and the bit about them, and the key skills and competencies). I would move some of the key skills and profile to the covering letter. Every conference attended? Maybe if you were the invited keynote speaker, but otherwise summarise.

Kynthia

A cv isn't a detailed history of your entire career. It's supposed to be a 2 page document that shows an employer you are worth interviewing. Therefore it should be customised for each role you apply for, meaning every job that isn't relevant is a one-liner and you can possibly leave off jour job history from more than 10 or 15 years ago unless it's relevant to the role you're applying for. You don't need to detail everything you did in your relevant jobs, just the highlights, as they can find out the rest in the interview. Keep it to the 5-8 most impressive things. Plus do you really think listing every confetence you've attended is the difference between you getting an interview and not?

Nowadays you don't list personal details like your age or marital status, you don't put referees on or even mention them, you dont put hobbies unless they are relevant or impressive and will make you stand out. Space is at a premium. Keep tgis 5 page detailed version as a template that you reduce each time you customise it for a specific role.

chaotic_j

Thanks guys, some really valid points here.. I've a tendency to sometimes write in 50 words what can be said in 5.. I'm trying to get better

I can see, if I left quite a lot off, I'd have loads to talk about.. but I am passionate about my field so I don't tend to struggle. I sometimes forget stuff though..

My A-Levels and GCSE's I've just got the grades and where I studied them - not what grade is for what.. this takes up just 2 lines. I've got nothing about hobbies, I used to but I don't think it's relevant.

My oldest job listed is from 6 years ago, anything before that isn't relevant so I've left it out i.e. summer jobs, casual jobs.. when I worked in a factory soldering circuit boards..

I'll massively reduce the conferences etc. I put it all in to show I keep up to date on relevant topics / broadening horizons and all that..

In terms of personal details, I've got on there address, landline, mobile, email, sex, dob, marital status, nationality, driving license status, whether I'm prepared to relocate, professional memberships and my LinkedIn profile link.. the last part of the CV just says "Employment, academic and/or character references are available upon request" is it best to just remove this entirely as if they want references they'll ask for them..

Whilst I know it is always best to have a CV tailored to the role.. I do find it a chore.. so yes in that respect I am a bit lazy but then you have to contend with - positions that don't state the salary or have it listed as 'competitive', those that don't actually exist or, as I've experienced more than once.. gruelling 2 hour interviews that go REALLY well, but days later nothing further i.e. a free consultation!

Thanks so much!

Energize

Good lord, get rid of sex, dob, marital status and nationality asap! Not only is that stuff completely irrelevant but there are all kinds of discrimination concerns.

gettingready

chaotic_j wrote: »

T



I'll massively reduce the conferences etc. I put it all in to show I keep up to date on relevant topics / broadening horizons and all that..

In terms of personal details, I've got on there address, landline, mobile, email, sex, dob, marital status, nationality, driving license status, whether I'm prepared to relocate, professional memberships and my LinkedIn profile link..

Oh dear - cut all of that off

Sanne

I agree with what was previously said - tailor your CV. If I'm recruiting for a specific role and get a CV with all sorts of stuff I often wonder what it is that person wants to do.

I have extensive technical knowledge but cut most off the related achievements out when I applied for Project management roles. They actually turned out to be useful for my current role but this all came out in the interview (call it extra-added value for the business, they could do with someone with such a background but weren't looking for it specifically). So, if required, you'll have a chance to talk about them when you interview.

So... tailor it to the role you are applying for and, particularly, tailor your achievements. if you want to mention conferences, put it into one line ("I attend all relevant industry conferences, such as xy, to keep my knowledge up to date").

Some recruiters don't mind long CVs (in jobs where they only get very few) - I always used to disagree there with the person recruiting with me who didn't see anything wrong in five or six page CVs whereas my stance was that they normally contain lots of irrelevant stuff, the applicant obviously doesn't know how to write a good, concise CV (and they were expected to produce a lot of written work in the job) and I'd lose interest after one page of blurb.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

chaotic_j wrote: »

I've a tendency to sometimes write in 50 words what can be said in 5.

From my experience of corporate business, just put that in your CV and no more. They will hire you like a shot.