need some help with my CV

[foxtiger]

I'm currently applying for jobs after taking voluntary redundancy a couple of months ago from a job I had been doing for about 10 years. So far, all the jobs I've applied for have been ones where you fill in an online form, but I wouldn't be surprised if I need a CV at some point.

Obviously I haven't printed out a CV for a very long time and I've been hearing conflicting things about them. Specifically:

1. Some people say you should not put your date of birth on them. I can see why there might be a case for saying this - so employers aren't prejudiced by your age before they even meet you - but all the application forms I've done have asked for a date of birth, and in any case, if I say I got my degree in a certain year, they're going to deduce that I was at least 21 at the time, aren't they? Is it really a major faux pas to included a date of birth these days? I'm not in the least embarrassed about my age (early 50s).

1. Some people say you should only go back 10 years with your past jobs, some say you can go back longer if it includes relevant jobs, but most seem to agree that you don't need to include all your jobs. Well, my career goes roughly like this: about 30 years altogether but basically 8 years of doing one thing in various different places, 5 years career break when my children were little, 15 years of doing a different thing in various places, the last 10 all in the same place. About 8 jobs in all, counting some temping. If I literally only went back 10 years, or even longer, there'd be no indication at all that I ever did the other kind of job, which is closer to the sort of thing I'm applying for now and it feels important to clarify that I do have those skills. If I pick and choose, taking a few jobs from each half of my career, there'll be gaps and it will look odd. What is the right thing to do in a case like that?

I've had a look at some online templates but they all seem to be geared more towards American conventions. If anyone knows of a good UK-friendly one I'd be interested to have a look.

That didn't add up! More like 17 years of the most recent thing!

For a CV, don't put DoB. You might be proud of being in your early 50s but the odds are that the manager hiring you will be younger. You just want a level playing field with other candidates, so I'd say on balance no birth dates.

Yes, they can work out your age from the year of your degree. I'd be more inclined to put the year, if the degree is relevant to the job.

Are you changing careers. Unless that is the case, II would have thought your most relevant experience (from the job you took voluntary redundancy) the one that is most relevant to these current roles?

blueshoes, the jobs I'm applying for now are closer to what I did before the career break. I'm happy for them to know what I did more recently, but I want to show that I also have experience of the other type of job, otherwise they might think I'm applying randomly to something I know nothing about! (older jobs were office/admin, newer ones something more practical.)

Could you group the temp jobs? I am freelance and do lots of different projects at the same time, overlapping each other. So I put freelance (job title) and the years I've been doing it, so for me 1996-present. Then I write a general description of what I do and list some individual projects tailored to the thing I'm applying for.

I would definitely include the older stuff if more relevant. And no DOB, I do what you suggested and put the year of my degree (am also early 50s).

Thanks Twotabbycats. That's worth thinking about - and I'll go with you and the majority on the no DOB.

CV should not be longer than 2 pages. Only go longer if its an academic CV

Dont put DOB or marital status as this isn't relevant.

Relevant experience is probably what employers look for the most, particularly those in the same sector. I would agree with the grouping but when I read a CV, I would like roles presented in reverse chronological order. Hopefully, this is possible. The last 10 were in the practical stuff is in the same place, so you can quickly deal with that with a line and a very brief description. You can go into more detail pre-10 years where you have relevant experience.

In your covering letter, or personal statement at the top, explain why you want to go back into office/admin and that you are committed to making the change. Try not to give the reason as personal (like better hours or family friendly) but more along the lines that you are ready for fresh challenges and wish to develop in the area, sector . blah blah - it is ok to roughly crib from the job spec.

I don't whether it is just me but when write a job spec, I often don't remember what I wrote or necessarily read it again before I review CVs or interview. When you use the same-ish language as the job spec, the prospective employer thinks it is a match made in heaven. On the other hand, I have read CVs that sound like the job spec of the company that the candidate is applying from. Therefore, be judicious.