AIBU to ask about CV's?

[user1471458350]

Hello everyone, this is my first time posting here so I'm not sure if this is the right topic or not but hopefully someone can help me :)

I obviously know about the basic things such as what to include and the order that the information should be, but I'd like to know what little things employers look for that the average person may not notice.

Thank you!

Not just the positions you held but actual practical achievements obtained while in each job.

Correct spelling. Correct grammer. Tailored to the job advert. Sensible font.

Grammar! Arf!

Numbers- £ value of project/ number of people managed etc

Months started / left previous jobs - eg March 2010 to July 2013. I work in recruitment, and a surprising number of people just put the year which makes salary calculations based on relevant experience difficult and wastes my time having to go back and ask for clarification.

I didn't expect this many replies!

Deffo to having correct spelling and grammar but I didn't even think about including the exact months to calculate salaries!

How much information is too much information when listing personal achievements or what you did in that job role as sometimes I think I haven't included enough information whereas other times I feel like I've included too much

Create a master cv which lists everything you have achieved- then edit it for each role with the focus o relevant achievements/ responsibilities

Ooooh!! That's a great idea - have a star (I don't know if I've used it right but you're worthy in my eyes)

What were you responsible for and what did you achieve. Not so fussed about months in different roles once the employment history is a couple of years ago.

I would edit a CV to fit each particular job, so changing the information/achievements included to highlight the more pertinent aspects to fit the job spec provided. I'd also keep the description of the role as brief as possible, otherwise it just reads as a job specification in itself and focus on your personal achievements - I prefer this to be bullet pointed as well.

I personally really do not like the profiles/statements often featured at the top of the CV. They almost always read as carbon copies of one another: "I am an enthusiastic, diligent and experienced whatever, looking for a position that's not as shit as my last one".

Good luck on your job search!

No more than two pages, and unless you are after modelling work - no picture

Probably obvious ones but triple check your SPAG and check your dates. Don't use the email address you set up as a teenager

Yy to the master cv edited to each job.

Oh and apologies for the double post. It is CVs (plural) not CV's (possessive). You don't want to be chucked out by an apostrophe pedant!

I was going to put no apostrophe in the first place but then doubted myself smh well at least it's something I can mention for weaknesses lol

Now I think I know the question to this but how do employers feel about CVs that have been made on CV making websites, not the flashy ones or ones where it's really obvious, just the normal black and white ones

Thank you for the luck hingedspeculum

Hmm...That's interesting, I'm sure I was taught to add an apostrophe for a plural acronym, but the Oxford dictionary now says not to do it.
Sorry to totally derail your thread op!

Thank you for the star![ grin]

Not a cv related one but make sure any social media you have is locked down and/or delete any "unsavoury" posts.

I turned someone down for an interview the other day partly on their cv but also because once I had done a quick Facebook search noted that they were what we term a "Monday clubber" i.e. Out all weekend off sick on a Monday. Posts like "great weekend guys!!!! Can't be assed to go in today!"

No coloured ink or coloured paper

Be consistent with formatting (don't change font style/size half way through)

Don't include irrelevant information (why is everyone so keen to mention that they have a driving license? does telling me your hobby is 'reading' really add anything?)

I work in recruitment. Most agencies and recruiters use software to read your cv and then narrow down their searches based on what your skills are. You will most likely be asked to email or upload your cv online. So with this in mind you need to ensure your cv is readable by these software systems otherwise you'll never be returned in their searches. So make sure:
You save it as a word or rich text document. Never use PDF.
Use a normal font, such as Ariel
Do not add images
Do not enter anything in a header or footer, such as page numbers.
Do not use tables of any kind.
Do not use Microsoft word cv templates. In fact best avoid any online templates as these look fancy but can rarely be read correctly by many softwares.
It's best to have name and contact info first, followed by work experience. Date each job, then each job title and put a description of your role. Include any important key words as much as you can.somethingvlike this:

Jan 2002 - Dec 2003
Line Manager, Marks and Spencer
Detailed description of role here.

Follow this with education history. Layout as above.
Follow by reference info.

This will ensure your cv has the optimum chance of being read correctly by software and you being returned in all relevant searches to match your skills.

Good luck in your search!

Oh and avoid long paragraphs of qualities and skills, put all your skills etc in your descriptions of your job roles.

To be finicky, I'd sent a word doc and a PDF if possible. Just in case the formatting gets completely buggered in the word doc due to the agency having PCs that run on Windows 95! (And I left in 2010!)

I wouldn't bother with the years. (unless its your first job and you've never taken time out to bring up a family).

I would just put 'PA to CEO for 7 years' that way if you've been out of the market a while and they cant work out you're 45 you will do better than if you say "I worked as PA to CEO from Jan 1999 - Dec 2006".

Despite all the laws and rules in place to prevent ageism/sexism etc its still rife and removing any chance whatsoever of them being able to discriminate against you on reading your CV gives you the best chance. I received far more interviews without the dates on my CV than with. Just do another CV with the dates on to hand in to them upon interview.

I always used parchment/velum coloured paper rather than white. Its generally thicker paper with a watermark giving a more professional finish than just white.

Lots of jobs won't just be based aroud your CV so make sure that you put effort into the covering letter/personal statement if requested, where I work you would need to ensure you have covered within that the elements of the personal spec for the job... including bits such as having a driving licence and being able to work weekends etc if they were referenced on the spec.

Be on the appropriate professional media for your sector and make sure your profile is up to date and supports what you have put in your CV.

Avoid use of terms or acronyms which may be specific to one organisation. The first filter of CVs may be done by a non specialist.

I don't ever want more than a page. I could forgive 2 for someone nearing the end of their career and applying for a senior role but on the whole I want bullet points.

A CV doesn't get you a job. It gets you an interview and provides talking points in the interview.

I look for people to remove irrelevant info. When you have a Masters, decades in a profession etc then I don't care about your A levels. If you have managed a team of 50 staff and large projects then junior roles are unimportant.

Qualifications / education

Key skills

Role, responsibilities, time worked. No more than 5 'responsibility' bullet points per job.

Thick paper, Helvetica (king of fonts), 12pt. Switch to Cambria for PDF versions.