CV question/help

[MrsChemist]

I'm just helping DH write his CV and he completed two years of university, before leaving.
He's asked the university if they can send him a certificate of what he did do, but they refused (though if he just asked for an academic transcript, I'm sure they''d oblige).

He's wondering how he should word it on his CV, especially as he doesn't have a formal qualification or a certificate.
It'd be a shame to miss it off completely because he did really well.
TIA

Oh, also, is it really bad to put, "references on request" on the bottom instead of names and telephone numbers? His manager won't be happy if she finds out he is job hunting, so he'd only want to ask her for a reference if it looked like he had a good chance of getting a job elsewhere IYSWIM. He wouldn't want to rock the boat with her unnecessarily.

Hi

When was your DH at uni? If it was a long time ago before he built up experience I'd be inclinded to leave it off completely to be honest. Assuming his "story" is a credible career which just happened to start when he was 20, instead of post uni 21, then I think most employers would accept that. Depends how obsessed his industry is about quals etc.

I can see where you are coming from, but at the end of the day it isn't a degree...sorry that isn't meant to sound harsh, but it could be how employers would look at it. I'd focus more on all the great things he has done and the benefit he has brought to his employers over the years.

I personally would take experience over qualifications anyday. Someone that has done the job before carries less risk in my opinion.

I'd never expect to take up references for somebody unless we'd offer them a job. I personally think it is a waste of valuable space on a CV if you provide reference details. If you get the job, you can provide them then.

The Guardian do a lot of job hunting help/articles if that interests him/you. careers.guardian.co.uk/cv

Good luck to you and DH.

WS

Agree with Watersign.

2 years uni - include if recent, if there are unexplained years or if what was covered in those years was highly relevant to the job. List the modules covered and/or skills gained if relevant to the job being applied for.

References available on request - standard practice. Bad form to put full names and addresses of referees especially if they're not yet asked. In fact at higher level jobs don't mention references on CV at all - it should be assumed your refs are available and glowing.

Make sure the cv is targetted towards the specific job not just a list of dates, jobs and primary schools.

Thank you

He attended university a few years ago. I just would like him to put it on because even though he didn't finish (for personal reasons not relating to the course) he was doing really well, worked hard and was on course to get a first. I suppose I see it as relevant because I saw how good he was at it, but you can't really get that across in a few sentences.

He doesn't have a specific job in mind, he's just looking for anything that pays better than the job he's in. He's in a management role, but only earns £6.50 an hour.
I'll make sure he edits it depending on what he applies for though.