Writing the Killer CV

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Thanks to member Pete01 for originally posting the link to this one. Cheers.

http://www.contractoruk.com/news/00405.html

 

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nice one trip... even though i managed to nail a job with my current CV (yeah i know!! ) im still looking for ways to improve it in the future lets say... would you or anyone else have an article of entry-level CVs or a way to set it up?

 

Interesting posting thanks Trip. Alot of jobs that I go for are by application form only. I was looking at a post this week saw they had a PDF application form but no Word or RTF form - emailed the HR department to be told they don't provide such a form. Looks like I need to buy a pen!

 

with adobe writer you could add form elements to the pdf and thus fill it in that way
if the forms not protected in any way

 

After much thought I've substituted 'achievements' (I'm not a programmer or particular project person I just fix things) with 'working practices extablished through experience' which for my CV is more support friendly.

I wracked my brains for a while trying to think of some achievements that would sound better than stuff like 'my users insist on coming straight to me!' without sounding like a hairdresser..

So I tweaked the 'template' to be more support and less coder, mine reads like this:

"WORKING PRACTICES ESTABLISHED THROUGH EXPERIENCE
• Ability to hit the ground running developed by being outsourced to diverse range of sites over 3 year period.
• Proficiency in taking ownership of issues, seeing them through to completion and becoming the point of contact for clients/users with problems and projects.
• Documentation and change control to clinical detail subject to government inspection.
• Acute business awareness and decision making in crisis situations.
• Creative troubleshooting and versatile resourcefulness. "


Not exactly achievements but definitely skills gained from learning the hard way....

 

Any more pointers for one who has never done an IT Job before or never got around to doing a CV that is good enough to fit in?
I don't know where to start or how I can make my CV work to nail an IT job (even at entry level).
I have an HND and BSc in Information Systems and also am A+,N+, MCSA and MCSE certified. I also have an HND in Business Studies. At the moment I am studying for a postgraduate diploma in Strategic Business IT and hope to top it up an MSc in Strategic Business IT.
I work for a Supermarket at present. It's non-IT Administrator job I am afraid.

 

Been reading some articles on monster.co.uk about CV writing, saying you should tailor your CV to the job you are applying for, so using a generic CV may not be the best idea.

 

Hi, and thanks for the tips,

Since modifying my "Conventional, and professionally re-written" CV, one which was made for me by a Recruiter who specialises in CV creation for clients, I have had quite a few phone calls and interview offers.
My old CV ( the one created by the recruiter - I'll try not to bore U lot too much), looks a little like this (Page 1 of 2 pages),



The above one gained me one interview after possibly 2-300 online applications (I kid U not).

Then I modified it genetically to look like this, same info, but better ordered and "In your face"




Not joking, but since I released this, I've had a barrage of phone calls from newly applied for positions from agencies and recruiters, Now to pass some interviews!
Thanks for the brilliant advice!

 

Great tips here. I think the sample CV that you've mentioned looks very promising. I will use this as a guide for my own.I do have a few good professional and academic qualifications under my belt but none were ever put to use (BSc, HND, A+, Network+, MCSA/MCSE 2000, MCSA Messaging). I worked at a Supermarket as a Customer Services Supervisor for just under 10 years and am now on the brink of being made redundant or demoted. Alongside I have been studying for a Postgraduate Diploma in IT and Business Studies and should complete that in a month or so.
Just a few weeks for me until the judgement is passed. I do operate a few workstations at my workplace, do a bit of troubleshooting on an standalone machines and printers etc (again at work) but nothing network related. This is in addition to my Customer Services obligations. But I am baffled as to how I can target an IT entry level job (at the very least) from where I am and how my CV should read and where should I start? Can anyone point me in the right direction? Cheers.

 

Also if I to be made redundant at my current job with the Supermarket, how will this affect my future prospects and my job prospects in applying for an IT job?

 

I must be a harbinger of doom upon myself, found out yesterday that I'm going to be made redudant by Christmas.

 

Sorry to hear that Wizard. Hope you get a good job well in time.

 

Just the information i need to jump start my resume and bring it back from the brink of blumbering blurb.
Hope this can at least let me get my foot into the door, i know once i get an interview that i'll have the job, it's just getting my foot in the door.

 

alreet peeps,

after reading this thread it was obvious that i needed to 'fashion' my cv specifically for the roles im aiming for.
ive had a good go at it and would appreciate your 'constructive' critisism. i hope Pete01 and Baron210 dont mind, but ive used a couple of line uot of yours. seeing that you both have vastly more experience than me and you dont live in my neck of the woods i dont think were in direct competition, but please tel me if you think im a cheeky and ill take them off.

 

dont try to read the attachment i forgot to change the format from works to word

 

second time lucky

 

Some quick thoughts on your CV Leeroy. The formatting and layout of it are a bit poor to be honest and I would definitely lose the handwriting style font you have used for headings.

Also, there are some quite bad grammatical mistakes in the first paragraph which is a very bad to have on a CV. Don't want to be too negative, it's hopefully some constructive critisism for you.

 

damn you microsoft works!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .

any criticism will do now

 

try the second attempt mate, the formatting screwed it up. i am a numpty but my grammar isnt that bad honest

 

sorry modey thought you were wagnerk