So tell me wise MNers.. I need to settle a debate...

[Mascaraohara]

I have always been told that CV's should be written in the third person so "Mascaraohara is fab blah blah blah"

I'm chatting with someone and they say they should be written "I am great blah blah blah"

Who's right?

anyone?

I prefer your version. The other seems a little American. English people aren't allowed to boast.

personally i think it should be "i am great"

Not in 3rd person, do I am fab/achieved blah

I don't use first person. I do hings like Excellent IT consultant with strong blah blah skills.....(so third person I suppose) Use 'I' in covering letter

I was told either ! I have a Profile on mine that says things like 'currently doing...'. Then an Objective section that says 'I want to do..'. Then bullet point skills / experience / qualifications.
There is lots of conflicting advice !!

but obviously cr*p speller...

3rd person is the "traditional" way. I've done occasional freelance work for a CV writing company and they always insisted on 3rd person. But I wouldn't say "Mascaraha o hara is fab" I'd say " an excellent, all round team player, with fab networking skills" ie avoid all mention of any name at all.

Oh damn!

Sorry that was supposed to be

oh damn!

I was looking for an outright win (or lose)

Anymore for anymore?

implicit third person (is that possible? does it have a proper name?) seems like a strong contender?

If you are writing something about yourself it should be in the first person! writing it in the third person just sounds pompous and silly because it is obvious you are writing it, not someone else!

i'd agree with jimjams. avoid the passive.

I always found it a bit odd reading cv's written in the 3rd person, made not a jot of difference to whether they got an interview or not though.

its very difficult to write a whole CV without using the word "I" or your own name surely?

So if you were to write 'an excellent team player who..' would you then go on to write he/she or they? how would you then continue the referral?

OOh I think in person is weird. I've always written mine in the first person.

*third person I mean

Leaving out the pronoun doesn't make it 3rd person - if you put 'Excellent speller' that's just as likely to mean 'I am' as 'she is' IYKWIM.

It is doable....
"Fully qualified MCSE and MCT with broad knowledge of NT, W2K and W2003 operating systems, Active Directory, SMS, SQL and associated networking and security issues. A conscientious, self-motivated individual with strong technical, organisational, analytical and presentational skills. Proven ability to acquire and utilise new skills and adapt to a range of working environments and to deliver projects on time and to budget."

And whilst it may be pompous its how I was taught to do it. Covering letter is first person.

BTW anyone want to give me a job....

Blackduck, that is how I would do it too but the example you have given is not specifically either first or third person (and I don't think it's particularly pompous) - it just doesn't have any pronouns in.

I would do it as I am fab. Hate that 3rd person shit, agree with Spidermamma re it feels a bit american.

Ahh but TC you ARE fab...(I only pretend to be on my CV...)

No, i think first person is better, and more common these days.