To ask for the worst CV's you've ever seen?!

[Isitgiroday]

About to pimp my CV prior to a career change after almost a decade in the same industry - looking for tips and hints of what to avoid!

Seen a few (work in HR). Please no photos - they are the biggest cringe and general joke (seem big in some other counties though, so appear on my desk pretty regularly). Unless asked for - some industries do ask for them. No spelling mistakes, particularly if a skill is your attention to detale.... Not fancy fonts, or coloured text. Personally I don’t like a section on Interests - waste of time. I couldn’t care less what you like doing in your spare time, I just want to know if you can do the job.

Six pages.

Explain any gaps! We once had an application from a man who had an unexplained 15 year career gap- the same length as a life sentence 🤔

i saw an application once where it said the applicant was 'looking for a nice little job to wind down into retirement'.

It was for a commercial conveyancing senior solicitor. The applicant was not a solicitor.

@Purplecatshopaholic

Seen a few (work in HR). Please no photos - they are the biggest cringe and general joke (seem big in some other counties though, so appear on my desk pretty regularly). Unless asked for - some industries do ask for them. No spelling mistakes, particularly if a skill is your attention to detale.... Not fancy fonts, or coloured text. Personally I don’t like a section on Interests - waste of time. I couldn’t care less what you like doing in your spare time, I just want to know if you can do the job.

Well that's ironic.

Check the basics every time! I've seen so many cover letters that explain how excited they are to be applying for a role at [completely different company name]. Bonus points if they describe themselves as "detail-focussed" in the same letter!

Best not to say you once risk assed a hotel, which I've seen...

Wasn’t it done on purpose @boredinthouse? I assumed it was a joke.

Also following as I’m in the same boat. Had to all over again as lost my CV and have been scratching my head trying to remember all my Higher subjects!

Had to start all over again

A candidate applying for an experienced role paying 90k, who provided about 6 bullet points on their experience and those 6 weren't good.im a fan of a short CV but there was just nothing on it.

Check spelling. Don't tell me you like to cook/read etc I don't care. Be concise, I need enough information to know you are suitable for the position, no more. No comic sans font. Don't tell me your personality is "bubbly". Not sure what the worst I've seen was. Maybe the American that highlighted very tenuous Irish heritage (great great grandfather's mothers uncles sister type thing) as a reason he would fit in our team. Our team is based in Ireland. But none of us are Irish. A little research goes a long way.

I used to recruit administrative staff at my old job and have seen quite a lot of CVs. The best advice is for them to be clear, concise and well presented. Only a couple of pages ideally, with tight bullet points. Anything else you want to emphasise or elaborate on can normally be added into the cover letter.

Yes agree with above, no photos. I know it's the done thing in a lot of other countries but not in the UK.

Also no wacky fonts or colours (unless perhaps it's for a design job, but even then it needs to be done very well!).

We also once had a stay at home parent who hadn't worked for a few years and so listed things they did at home like duties at a job e.g. 'manages all bills/mortgage and pays on time', 'co-ordinate complex schedules for children', 'created and manage a cleaning rota to keep household in shape'. I know it was an attempt to be creative but it wasn't necessary and felt misguided, just a note about the fact they'd been raising their children for the last few years to explain the gap would've been absolutely fine.

But the worst was a pretty well written CV and cover letter of a graduate who had applied for one of the entry level roles. At the end of a cover letter read this note:

'Here you go, hope this helps. Remember to tailor it slightly for different roles and don't forget me and your dad can always proofread if needed. And don't forget to take this bit out!! Love you, Mum xxx'

Not ideal!

So many have SPAG errors. If you're not completely certain about how to use an apostrophe then ask someone to check it for you. Worst I ever saw was one where "I" was used about 30 times in the person's description of their history and abilities but not once capitalised.

Agree no photo.

Keep it short , I dont need to know your life history ,
I had a chap applying for a part time cleaning job that gave me all of his work history for the past 30 something years and his school education ( not collage or uni just school )
Only explain what you did in your pervious job if it is relevant to the job you are applying for .
Get someone else to read it through and listen to there thoughts on it .
Dont inc your photo , age , kids / DH ,
If you do want to / are asked to include interest outside work be honest , I had some saying things like scuba diving, horse riding , etc but when I have asked them it is obvious they have no knowledge of the interests.
Keep interest brief , if you like knitting I dont need to know whos jumper you made last

I once had someone who had written why she had left her previous jobs, including didn't like travelling, didn't like the hours and my favourite - doesn't like having targets to meet!

Someone with very limited experience, in their profile saying they looked forward to being able to 'lead the company to an increase in profits' (multi billion dollar international organisation)

@Sparklesocks

I used to recruit administrative staff at my old job and have seen quite a lot of CVs. The best advice is for them to be clear, concise and well presented. Only a couple of pages ideally, with tight bullet points. Anything else you want to emphasise or elaborate on can normally be added into the cover letter.

Yes agree with above, no photos. I know it's the done thing in a lot of other countries but not in the UK.

Also no wacky fonts or colours (unless perhaps it's for a design job, but even then it needs to be done very well!).

We also once had a stay at home parent who hadn't worked for a few years and so listed things they did at home like duties at a job e.g. 'manages all bills/mortgage and pays on time', 'co-ordinate complex schedules for children', 'created and manage a cleaning rota to keep household in shape'. I know it was an attempt to be creative but it wasn't necessary and felt misguided, just a note about the fact they'd been raising their children for the last few years to explain the gap would've been absolutely fine.

But the worst was a pretty well written CV and cover letter of a graduate who had applied for one of the entry level roles. At the end of a cover letter read this note:

'Here you go, hope this helps. Remember to tailor it slightly for different roles and don't forget me and your dad can always proofread if needed. And don't forget to take this bit out!! Love you, Mum xxx'

Not ideal!

On the stay at home parent listing their skills- I can recall when this sort of thing used to be advised by careers advisors. of people who were returning to work after extended home duties.

Think 'CEO of the home' sort of stuff.

I once saw one (shortlisting for p/t retail position) where a school leaver had compensated for their inevitable lack of experience by formally outlining how they cared for their guinea pigs (Managing nutritional needs, maintaining hygiene and Health & Safety etc etc) It took up a sheet of A4. Sadly they didn't attend the interview as they got a job in another shop.

Was sent a LinkedIn profile once, looked very promising until I got to the bit about her aspirations being a good wife, mum and DIL. Lovely, but totally not appropriate for convincing a recruitment team that you have ambition and drive.

I would personally include a section on interests. I want to know what sort of individual you are and it's a nice thing to talk about in the interview as an ice breaker e.g. sport, volunteering.

Spell check/date accuracy/ fake references.

Remember that you'll probably be googled so be aware of what the results/images might show up.

@Sparklesocks
To be fair, this is the advice given by "return to work" coaches to SAHMs - list all the chores you've been doing at home as if they were professional responsibilities on your CV. I've also seen more than one CV like this, it usually comes from a place of slight insecurity, not from some grandiose self-importance.

@Sparklesocks

I used to recruit administrative staff at my old job and have seen quite a lot of CVs. The best advice is for them to be clear, concise and well presented. Only a couple of pages ideally, with tight bullet points. Anything else you want to emphasise or elaborate on can normally be added into the cover letter.

Yes agree with above, no photos. I know it's the done thing in a lot of other countries but not in the UK.

Also no wacky fonts or colours (unless perhaps it's for a design job, but even then it needs to be done very well!).

We also once had a stay at home parent who hadn't worked for a few years and so listed things they did at home like duties at a job e.g. 'manages all bills/mortgage and pays on time', 'co-ordinate complex schedules for children', 'created and manage a cleaning rota to keep household in shape'. I know it was an attempt to be creative but it wasn't necessary and felt misguided, just a note about the fact they'd been raising their children for the last few years to explain the gap would've been absolutely fine.

But the worst was a pretty well written CV and cover letter of a graduate who had applied for one of the entry level roles. At the end of a cover letter read this note:

'Here you go, hope this helps. Remember to tailor it slightly for different roles and don't forget me and your dad can always proofread if needed. And don't forget to take this bit out!! Love you, Mum xxx'

Not ideal!

Ah I have had this too , while I appreciate been a parent can be hard work saying that you can multitask and work under pressure, get little Johnny to swimming and help Sara with her times tables , you are not under 'work' pressure you are not going to lose a client / contract /your job if Sara does not learn her times table

Selfie by the swimming pool taking a large part of page 1

I once received a 'booklet' of six double sided pages, with a cover picture of a Spanish village. Being an overworked head of department at the time, I had no time or inclination to read any of it.

The worst I ever saw was just a covering letter that said ‘this is where I work now and what I’d do. If you want to know anymore, invite me to interview’!!! Erm, no. Bin.

Doesn’t help you, just thought i’d share