Job Application Advice Please

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I am seeking some advice on whether my Cv and cover letter seem appropriate for an entry level job role I wish to apply for. Any tips would be much appreciated

 

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Mark, I think for the most part your CV is pretty good. However, under the heading of

I think you should probably expand on this and say exactly what you did/do to get the IT experience you have listed.

Not sure if I would put as much detail in your covering letter as you have - that should all come from your CV but that's just not the way that I would do it.

Finally, I note you got a D in GCSE English - ever thought about resitting it? A lot of companies like to see at least grade C in both English and Maths and the D might hold you back a little.

Oh, and a big hats off and bow down to the A in maths - way to go on that one

 

Actually, I have never known a company to ask about my GCSE's unless specifically on a job application form, (as opposed to just sending your CV in)

The best thing to do is avoid putting grades all together.

You passed English, that's the key point,

So instead of saying

English - D

why not just say

high School name, Location
English Language
English Literature
Geography
etcetera
etcetera

best case scenario is they never even mention what grades you got specifically, it isn't lying, hell. it isn't even bending the truth, that's what you have. At worse, they may bring it up at the interview after which the fact you're there should deter them from just going "get lost, you got a D instead of an A". (Providing the interview is going well.

That's my 2 cents anyway.

 

Thanks for your reply.
I have thought many times about trying to gain a higher grade in english but have always questioned myself on whether the time could be better spent if that makes sense. It is a hell of a lot of work to study the GCSE and I wonder if all that work and time would be justified by the end result.

 

Yes that could be one way of doing it, just would feel like im hiding something, plus then it doesnt show the A in maths.

I guess it would be different if i had no qualification in english, but i do and its only 1 grade off, obvious trouble being that its a good reason to bin the CV, but if i didnt have anything GCSE wise then it would be a lot more worthwhile doing it.

 

You're not really hiding anything, how many adults do you know that put their GCSE Results in ?

Putting your A in maths on means you have to put your D on too, whereas you could just not put any and then it's obvious you have passed your exams, and that's all that matters, what matters is you didn't fail, a pass is a pass and a fail is a fail, regardless of grade.

University Degrees I would understand, but it's not worth it for GCSe's.

 

Thanks again for another useful post Arroryn, repped again (although my power is only 6 )

Before I start whats all this young man talk in the CV reply im 24 aswell.

Right I have tweaked my cover letter and attached it to this post, i haven't got any personal interests on it yet as i'm not sure what to put. I don't really do that much, either sit on here, go to gigs or occasionally go to the pub. I play 5 a side once a week but not as an organised team or anything. I cant even use that im learning the guitar as I did when I applied for my apprenticeship because that was 6 years ago and I still can't actually play them (i brought more in the mean time )

As for sky diving or anything like that, i'm not sure what in this world could actually make me do such a thing, god I don't even go on the rides at Alton Towers (apart from the river rapids) I'm the bag and camera holder.

I'm still working on the CV at the minute, I seem to have a first page full of bullet points.

 

Hey Marky, great advice already in this thread. Just to add to majority, I'm 23 and 4/5ths, and I don't put the specific grades on my CV, I passed with 2A's 3B's and the rest C's, but as I've not been in school for,what 8 years? I don't see them as a true reflection on my current knowlede/intelligence. Any further education like College/Uni sure stick it up, but GCSE's are (imo) unnecessary unless a requirement on a generic application form.

Most recently I had an interview (successful) with two interviewers. If you find yourself in this kind of situation (it's quite common) be sure to remember to address who is speaking with eye contact, and upon answering, look at the 2nd interviewer aswell to split direction. They was quite tough with me initially, the first interview didn't even introduce himself or look at me and was facing with his back to me for 30 minutes lol. Then he introduced himself and continually stared at me the whole interview. Afterwards they said it was to see it was their tactics of trying to unnerve me, I naturally told them I thought they were barking mad. Of which we had laughs after. (sorry for drifting, I just thought I'd share that )

Your CV looks good and best of luck with your applications, and let your personality shine at the interviews. A big bright personality can often win the day with entry level jobs

 

Yeah I guess I'd agree with that lol, so long as their not too strict lol.
Fawlty Towers is ace, I had a Basil Fawlty moment yesterday, was trying to put my bike rack on my car and the damn the quick releases wouldnt work properly ended up throwing it about the garden and stuff in true basil style, neighbours must have thought i was nuts lol

Yeah I dont do heights or spiders, well apart from money spiders otherwise I have to catch them in a cup or something. Heights are a no no unless im safe.

Shall I put this in my CV then or my cover letter? Can't really think how I could write it in a cover letter, just seems weird if that makes sense.

 

OK this is how they currently stand although I am certain they require a few more tweaks still. I'm not convinced the cover letter is personal enough, still sounds very business and doesn't really show me.

 

Thanks for your comments and advice sparky.

I did have it just listed as MS office but quite a few folks pointed out I should name the version, you have confirmed my suspicions though that putting 2000 sounds crap. I have downloaded a 60 Office 2007 trial which I am using to do these cover letters and CV's to try and familiarise myself but obviously thats only in Word. While I can use it to get myself more familiar with the program I don't think this would be strong enough grounds to make any real claims about.

I will try and trim a bit of the mass off the cover letter as you advise.

Thanks again