What makes a good CV?

I'm told two to three pages max. Should I include an introduction or only use the cover letter for that purpose? Ideas appreciated. Tough times out there!

Clear layout with most focus on your recent employment. Make sure all experience/achievements are tailored to the role you're applying for. I'm not a big fan of the personal statement as I think it's meaningless (you could write anything you like to be honest) and you'll get grilled on it in the interview, agree you can leave all that to the letter.

2 pages unless you are in a profession that carries lots of qualifications and requires years of experience. 1 page is too short, looks like you've achieved nothing and 3 pages is an autobiography.

Clear layout with most focus on your recent employment. Make sure all experience/achievements are tailored to the role you're applying for. I'm not a big fan of the personal statement as I think it's meaningless (you could write anything you like to be honest) and you'll get grilled on it in the interview, agree you can leave all that to the letter.

This is key.

I would say 2 pages. The first page is all important, it will decide if the person reading it will bother to go any further.

Be concise, put all important information on the first page ie. recent employment history, main qualifications etc.

Don't waffle, don't lie but accentuate the positive.

Make it relevant to what you're applying to, I see far too many that list every job they ever had even if they've no relevance to the role they're after. If I'm reading a CV the first thing I'm looking at is employment history for relevant experience, if it's not easy to see you're heading for the discard pile.

Also you'd be surprised how many people can't even be bothered to check they've spelled things correctly, poor spelling/grammar puts people off instantly.

Also you'd be surprised how many people can't even be bothered to check they've spelled things correctly, poor spelling/grammar puts people off instantly.

Totally. I once didnt shortlist somebody because she'd written "I have an excellent eye for detial". Sounds petty but when you have a lot of applications from qualified people these things count.

If your going to do the personal stuff on your CV what ever you do don't put down under hobbies "socializing with the lads". I'm amazed how many CVs I have had over the years with that (or variations of) on them. Now granted I have no problem with people having a drink and laugh but I always just imagine somone who is going turn up late and hungover to work on a frenquent basis and usual dimiss them out of hand.

It's also amazing how many hobbies people lie about on CVs. Probably doesn't seem that important but I like to use the personal stuff as an Ice breaker in interviews. "So you like reading? tell me about the last book you read?" "what?! erm eerrr I can't really remember" doesn't go down well.

What sector(s) are you going to be applying in? As said above, this is key, as certain sectors require a different focus.

Otherwise, agree with above: clear layout is vital, make it relevant but concise, always tailor it for the role you're applying for, to highlight the more relevant bits and reduce the less relevant. If you include a cover letter, a summary on top of the cv is not essential, but sometimes a few bullet points summarising the main reason why you'd be suitable for the role can help no matter.

Depends a huge amount on the person reading them and the level of job applied for. Personally, I skim read every page of a cv, unless it's REALLY long, and then go back and read in more detail if I see enough things I like.

Key bugbear of mine: cover letters that tell me everything you can do, but with no evidence or examples to back it up. ALWAYS back up what you say with the evidence to prove it. And then expect me to ask you about it.

Well I have done a few depending on the role I apply for. I have experience in web design, administration, piercing/tattoos and car valeting. It's all about tailoring to the job. At the moment I'm by no means being fussy in the roles I'm applying for. I'd much rather be working than not.

All the tips are much appreciated too guys. Thanks.

here you go, all the advice you need... http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?28135-Writing-a-CV&highlight=write

Not needing one,if you're good enough they'll come looking for you. Never needed to apply for a job in my life.

2-3 pages

Overselling yourself is just obvious and puts me off

I'm not a fan of the personal summary, if necessary keep it short

Keep font sizes to between 10 and 12pt

Get others to read it

If you want to get an interview, go to the company website and read their visions and values or their mission statement. then write your application to explain what qualities and experience you have that will fit these exactly. This is a very simple method and it is almost guaranteed to get results in applications and interviews as in most companies this is exactly what personnel people are waiting to hear. It's incredible how few people bother doing it, but most companies have what is effectively a checklist of what they want from you. This is the sort of thing that should really be in your covering letter.

Also you have to be positive and passionate, let them believe this is your dream job and that it is perfect for you and you are perfect for it. Most applications are dull and unfocused.

Not needing one,if you're good enough they'll come looking for you. Never needed to apply for a job in my life.

I hadn't reailsed the window cleaning business was so buoyant ;-)

Serious advice for the OP. It does, as others have said, depend on the business area. In my world, one, or two sides max, of A4. Longer and I won't get read past the first page or so anyway, so you're just wasting ink. Most recent stuff and most important stuff to sell yourself, first.... so it has a sporting chance of being read before the employer loses interest. Do clearly head sections on employment history, qualifications, etc.

Personally I hate the 3rd person "Johnny is a top notch specialist in...." statements that many people use when describing themselves. You're writing about yourself, so use the first person, as far as I am concerned.

But someone must teach people to do this because they are quite common. Maybe other employers like it? If it isn't just a speculative sending of a cv in vague hope, and you know there is a current vacancy, send a covering letter, again 1 or 2 sides of A4 only, that really addresses that specific job and how you could do it.

Make sure there are no spelling or grammatical errors ...though note form is fine in factual sections. That is, no need to write in full sentences when just listing jobs or quailfications, but do write in full sentences when selling self in longer prose, and do break up long passages into paragraphs.

I hadn't reailsed the window cleaning business was so buoyant ;-)

 

I know that was said jokingly but it is around my area. I asked six window cleaners to do my house - all said they were too busy. Eventually found one after three months - £30 for 20 minutes work. One guy even said he could do it over the summer when he could find students to employ, but couldnt find anyone to do it when the weather was colder. At £90 ph (not including travelling) with low skills and low capital outlay, work when you want, I was almost tempted to set up myself.

Just wanted to say thanks for the tips. Created a new CV and after posting it on Monster and a few other jobsites have actually had agencies and companies contacting me. Shows what a spending a bit of time on a CV can do!!

Didn't want to give away the fact I'd put it on jobsite but think I just failed bugger.

Not needing one,if you're good enough they'll come looking for you. Never needed to apply for a job in my life.

What a knob.

What a knob.

Beat me to it ha ha!