CV Help please.....

[CarlT]

I may need to write my CV fairly soon and I would be most grateful if anyone could give me any pointers to websites / places I can look to get a decent template. Or, alternatively a template that has worked for you and you wouldn't mind sending me!

I have tried Google but not found what I am looking for. I need a CV that will be suitable for a senior management role in sales / marketing / motor trade.

The last CV I had was 8 years ago and was ok at the time (just starting out back then)

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance

[mkgriff]

The templates that are built into Word are perfectly adequate and easy to use. If you are going through an agency, most will rewrite it onto their letter headed stationary anyway.

[beano500]

The "problem" with all CVs is that someone will tell you to do it differently. well that's always been my experience anyway.

Word Templates are as good as any (but be careful that they're not Yank-ified!)


But: How NOT to write a CV

[FourWheelDrift]

Simple guide to writing a good Cv.

2-3 pages maximum,

1st page - name, contact details, Current job (lots of detail) brief part on who you work for and what they do, what your role is and most important of all what you have done to benefit your company (business wins, sucessfull projects etc...). Then continue with previous companies you have worked for similar details but maybe less for each one but make sure you have your selling points in each one (business wins again or how you have added value to your company).

Then Educational details.
Courses/training
Additional skills
Little bit on interests (often ignored but can sometimes be a good ice breaker at interviews if the interviewer also has similar interests.

IMPORTANT BIT - DO NOT TRY TO BE FUNNY in your CV.

And remember the first 30 seconds of reading will set the tone for the rest of the CV, if a reviewer doesn't get grabbed in that first 30s they may not read on.

[simpo two]

FourWheelDrift said:

IMPORTANT BIT - DO NOT TRY TO BE FUNNY in your CV.

Good point. I have yet to meet anyone in HR who has one molecule of humour in their bodies.

[beano500]

simpo two said:

Good point. I have yet to meet anyone in HR who has one molecule of humour in their bodies.

Oxymoron. They're neither Human (nor humane), nor resourceful.....






"Allegedly"

[YamR1,V64motion]

lie.....extensivly
only joking, try to keep it all as true as you can and do a personal profile saying what you are looking for in a job and what skills you bring to the table, try to personalise it for the sector you wish to go into as much as possible.

[Highway Star]

Maybe think about including a two-three line summary of who you are and what you are aiming to achieve in your career (in the immediate future) at the start of the CV

[mindgam3]

My first tip when creating a CV, DONT USE TEMPLATES, be original, create your own :P

[ProPlus]

If you email me via my profile, I have several that me and my collegues have all used and seem to work very well... I have just used one to switch from retail banking to corparate banking, another one was sucessful in an orange application, etc. They are IT based, but if interested email me.

Si

[wiggy001]

Don't use templates - it'll stand out a mile off that you couldn't be arsed to create your own cv

Avoid cliches too

Don't write long paragraphs of information - keep it short, relevant and in bullet points

Give lots of information about current role, less about previous jobs

If you have lots of experience, qualifications may be less important

May sure speeling is completely accurate ()

You only get 2 pages - don't waste half the first page with

Name:

Address:

Telephone Number:

Stick it in the header of the first page

Use a normal font - don't try to be creative or write it in wingdings

Don't leave loads of white space but equally don't make it difficult to read easily

In my experience, information relating to your desires/future career progression/desires are better suited to the covering letter (if one will be sent - won't happen via an agent)

Referees: On request. You don't want them contacting your current boss before they've spoken to you!

Places of employment and education: no one needs to know the full address of your primary school or the Macdonalds you worked at one summer - save the space for something relevant.

HTH

[ProPlus]

CarlT said:

I may need to write my CV fairly soon and I would be most grateful if anyone could give me any pointers to websites / places I can look to get a decent template. Or, alternatively a template that has worked for you and you wouldn't mind sending me! I have tried Google but not found what I am looking for. I need a CV that will be suitable for a senior management role in sales / marketing / motor trade. The last CV I had was 8 years ago and was ok at the time (just starting out back then) Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance

YHM

Si

[FourWheelDrift]

And don't use text boxes or frames, it might look good on your PC but if the person you send it too has a different default setup for page size it'll go all screwy.

No colours either.

And keep it to one font type as well.

[CarlT]

ProPlus said:

CarlT said: I may need to write my CV fairly soon and I would be most grateful if anyone could give me any pointers to websites / places I can look to get a decent template. Or, alternatively a template that has worked for you and you wouldn't mind sending me! I have tried Google but not found what I am looking for. I need a CV that will be suitable for a senior management role in sales / marketing / motor trade. The last CV I had was 8 years ago and was ok at the time (just starting out back then) Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance Cheers YHM Si

[Plotloss]

One of the Contractors websites has a cracking guide.

If you search Gassing for CV theres a thread similar which I started.

Cotty I think pointed me in the direction of this contracting guide and its well worth it.