Critique my CV

[Lee_M]

Use a themed document using a picturesque scene as a watermark on the paper.

please dont do that.

I'm in a different industry but have reviewed thousands of CVs (quite literally), if it's out of the ordinary in any way it would actually go in the bin more quickly.

If you review a lot of CV's you get very harsh about them:

If they aren't clear in anyway they go in the bin
If there are spelling mistakes they go in the bin
If you say "could of" instead of "could have" they go in the bin
If the grammar is poor they go in the bin.

Be positive, but be honest
Be clear and precise
Proof read, then proof read again, then do it again
Make sure there are no gaps - you will be found out

and good luck, its a harsh world so be clear what you have done, what you want to do, and why they should employ you and not the other guy/girl

 

[Gromit]

Thank you all have taken my personal information off the CV. I'm going to have a rewrite of it Including: ("I am a gradate BSc (Hons) Degree in Applied Horticulture) That was me trying to rewrite it and not quite finishing it after taking personal details off it.

There is nothing showing my bum on the internet, I don't like that sort of behaviour and would be really devastated if my nieces and nephew found anything like that about me so I'm always careful.

I have 18 NCFE certificates that are equivalent to NVQ's I'm just worried that if I put all those on plus the bad results I got for my GCSE, (C, D, and the rest E's) that the document will be too big and my GCSE results will make an employer not want to offer me a job.

Writing a CV is not as easy as I thought it would be.

 

[marinyork]

I agree about "passionate" - I just couldn't think of a more appropriate word in a hurry so I tried to hide it in exclamation marks!

I just meant something she had clearly written herself, briefly explaining her obvious love for horticulture - otherwise it's rather a dry document for me.

Fair enough, but I'm intrigued by this idea, how on earth would you write a piece that conveyed what you want and actually on average didn't offend one of the different personality types? I don't think it's possible to a certain extent. It's always going to be 'dry' to some extent.

 

[marinyork]

I have 18 NCFE certificates that are equivalent to NVQ's I'm just worried that if I put all those on plus the bad results I got for my GCSE, (C, D, and the rest E's) that the document will be too big and my GCSE results will make an employer not want to offer me a job.

Wouldn't worry about that, think there's already far too much about education in there and too near the top (I'd put it at the bottom as many CVs do).

I'd concentrate on beefing up the skills/computers/leadership stuff. For someone who's done so much work experience it sounds a bit on the light side and there must be more you can write there whilst still keeping it short-ish.

Not that I know very much, used to get many interviews and an appalling interview record. So all the very best out there, it's very tough right now.

 

[Lee_M]

You have an Honours Degree, you dont need to mention your GCSEs

Seriously, don't bother, A levels or equivalent at most is as far as you need to go

For what you are applying for your degree plus vocational qualifications around the subject are more important.

 

[Gromit]

You have an Honours Degree, you dont need to mention your GCSEs

Seriously, don't bother, A levels or equivalent at most is as far as you need to go

For what you are applying for your degree plus vocational qualifications around the subject are more important.

Cool thank you that's what I was told.

 

[mangaman]

Fair enough, but I'm intrigued by this idea, how on earth would you write a piece that conveyed what you want and actually on average didn't offend one of the different personality types? I don't think it's possible to a certain extent. It's always going to be 'dry' to some extent.

True

I was the thinking of the demographic of the potential employer.

As a horticulturalist, they may (and I'm stereotyping madly) be more informal and less used to interviewing large numbers of people than, say accountancy firms.

They are also more likely to have gone into the profession because of a profound interest and love of plants. I think they would respond well to a short exposition from gromit expressing a similar interest and how she developed it.

It may not help, and the bulk of any CV is boring but necessary...

 

[marinyork]

True

I was the thinking of the demographic of the potential employer.

As a horticulturalist, they may (and I'm stereotyping madly) be more informal and less used to interviewing large numbers of people than, say accountancy firms.

Take your point and I used to think like that, but having applied for jobs in quite a few different sectors out of desperation (and got interviews in them) I think 'modern' interview and application processes have crept up on a lot more things than people think. Even the old jobcentre and various new deal things don't think that's the case any more. Not that either of those things means anyone should listen to what I have to say on the matter.

My other point being that a fair bit of what people put down on the CV/application form is going to be what they'll be hoping to mention at interview. At an interview you're probably going to have more than one person and the chances of them all being strong red, red, red is pretty slim.

They are also more likely to have gone into the profession because of a profound interest and love of plants. I think they would respond well to a short exposition from gromit expressing a similar interest and how she developed it.

If the education was cut down and skills beefed up, I agree. Also I don't think it does any harm in the sense that it's something that you've already got written down and helps you focus your thoughts.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

You forgot to mention that job you had in the Polo Mint factory where you operated the machine which makes the holes!

 

[compo]

I have been out of the job market for some years. Is it still customary to include a covering letter with the CV if you are offering the CV on spec rather than in response to a specific advertisement? If your CV is a bit formal you can add a little flesh in a covering letter. I used to print my CV and handwrite my covering letter and once got a job on the strength of my letter. The employer commented that it was rare to find someone who could handwrite a decent letter.

 

[Gromit]

I have been out of the job market for some years. Is it still customary to include a covering letter with the CV if you are offering the CV on spec rather than in response to a specific advertisement? If your CV is a bit formal you can add a little flesh in a covering letter. I used to print my CV and handwrite my covering letter and once got a job on the strength of my letter. The employer commented that it was rare to find someone who could handwrite a decent letter.

I was told by college that your CV should just contain the basic facts and your covering letter was there to add flesh to the bones of the CV. So your not wrong. I applied for a job with the RHS where I had to hand write a letter, I found it very stressful as I kept messing it up and starting again. I must have got through loads of paper that day. I worked out what I was going to say and had it typed up and printed out to stop me making mistakes, that didn't work.

 

[compo]

I think CV's to so often be a complete waste of time.

You apply for a job, send of your CV carefully edited to show your strengths for the role and the employer sends you an application form which requires you to repeat most of what is on your CV.

When I landed my first job as a TV Engineer the employer sat me down in front of a broken TV and said mend it. I did, and got the job there and then. He wasn't interested in my qualifications, only if I could do the job. The two don't always go together!

 

[marinyork]

When I landed my first job as a TV Engineer the employer sat me down in front of a broken TV and said mend it. I did, and got the job there and then. He wasn't interested in my qualifications, only if I could do the job. The two don't always go together!

Didn't even get my current job through an application form or interview. Bit ironic with how many interviews I went through. Also the cleaning interview I had at the same time (and was offered) was very modern multi-stage process with 'competencies' and a 'group activity'.

 

[Trail Child]

Are you wanting to stay in the UK?

 

[e-rider]

turn spell check on first of all - spelling mistake in first line I think - you don't really mean gradate do you?
Hobbies and all that stuff shouldn't be included really - soemthing you can mention at the interview if you must
Referees names and contact details should be included (two)
the layout needs some work