Resume/CV templates and still the same "rules" to follow?
Discussion
Thinking of changing jobs and fired up my old CV.... urgh, its been so long and updating it seems like a right mission.
I struggle to fit everything I might need in to 2 pages and generally just struggle with layout. I don't want it to look like a messy wall of text, but then it kinda does need to be a bit like that to fit pertinent info into two pages.
Are there any templates out there that people find useful? do I need to still include a "personal statement" or other kind of fluff at the top?
My current layout is:
Name + details (contact)
Statement (2 lines ish)
Key Skills (2 columns, 3-4 bullets in each column)
Relevant experience (short description, dates, followed by key experiences or achievements)
Education (most recent only)
Interests (as in outside of work).
Is this still the typical layout? I hate the personal statement bit and would much rather bin it off!
I struggle to fit everything I might need in to 2 pages and generally just struggle with layout. I don't want it to look like a messy wall of text, but then it kinda does need to be a bit like that to fit pertinent info into two pages.
Are there any templates out there that people find useful? do I need to still include a "personal statement" or other kind of fluff at the top?
My current layout is:
Name + details (contact)
Statement (2 lines ish)
Key Skills (2 columns, 3-4 bullets in each column)
Relevant experience (short description, dates, followed by key experiences or achievements)
Education (most recent only)
Interests (as in outside of work).
Is this still the typical layout? I hate the personal statement bit and would much rather bin it off!
Went through the same very recently. I had a 4 page CV and worked hard to pull down to 3. Got some nibbles, but a large international company's feedback was "it's obvious your CV is old fashioned, it immediately ages you".
I came across a site called Wozber. You pick the template and content and it formats it for you. You're still in control but where I was struggling with the formatting, it did it all for me and I now have a 2 page CV which is getting a significantly higher hit rate.
You can enhance the Wozber functionality by getting their AI function to review your CV against a job link, e.g. via LinkedIn. The AI scans your CV against the same criteria as a HR bot and suggests where to tweak. So far, I've not found a better platform.
https://www.wozber.com/en-gb
I came across a site called Wozber. You pick the template and content and it formats it for you. You're still in control but where I was struggling with the formatting, it did it all for me and I now have a 2 page CV which is getting a significantly higher hit rate.
You can enhance the Wozber functionality by getting their AI function to review your CV against a job link, e.g. via LinkedIn. The AI scans your CV against the same criteria as a HR bot and suggests where to tweak. So far, I've not found a better platform.
https://www.wozber.com/en-gb
Fas1975 said:
Went through the same very recently. I had a 4 page CV and worked hard to pull down to 3. Got some nibbles, but a large international company's feedback was "it's obvious your CV is old fashioned, it immediately ages you".
I came across a site called Wozber. You pick the template and content and it formats it for you. You're still in control but where I was struggling with the formatting, it did it all for me and I now have a 2 page CV which is getting a significantly higher hit rate.
You can enhance the Wozber functionality by getting their AI function to review your CV against a job link, e.g. via LinkedIn. The AI scans your CV against the same criteria as a HR bot and suggests where to tweak. So far, I've not found a better platform.
https://www.wozber.com/en-gb
Thanks for that...I'll check it out.I came across a site called Wozber. You pick the template and content and it formats it for you. You're still in control but where I was struggling with the formatting, it did it all for me and I now have a 2 page CV which is getting a significantly higher hit rate.
You can enhance the Wozber functionality by getting their AI function to review your CV against a job link, e.g. via LinkedIn. The AI scans your CV against the same criteria as a HR bot and suggests where to tweak. So far, I've not found a better platform.
https://www.wozber.com/en-gb
Fas1975 said:
Went through the same very recently. I had a 4 page CV and worked hard to pull down to 3. Got some nibbles, but a large international company's feedback was "it's obvious your CV is old fashioned, it immediately ages you".
I came across a site called Wozber. You pick the template and content and it formats it for you. You're still in control but where I was struggling with the formatting, it did it all for me and I now have a 2 page CV which is getting a significantly higher hit rate.
You can enhance the Wozber functionality by getting their AI function to review your CV against a job link, e.g. via LinkedIn. The AI scans your CV against the same criteria as a HR bot and suggests where to tweak. So far, I've not found a better platform.
https://www.wozber.com/en-gb
Thanks a millions for this, exactly my problem and a great solution!!I came across a site called Wozber. You pick the template and content and it formats it for you. You're still in control but where I was struggling with the formatting, it did it all for me and I now have a 2 page CV which is getting a significantly higher hit rate.
You can enhance the Wozber functionality by getting their AI function to review your CV against a job link, e.g. via LinkedIn. The AI scans your CV against the same criteria as a HR bot and suggests where to tweak. So far, I've not found a better platform.
https://www.wozber.com/en-gb
Otispunkmeyer said:
Fas1975 said:
Went through the same very recently. I had a 4 page CV and worked hard to pull down to 3. Got some nibbles, but a large international company's feedback was "it's obvious your CV is old fashioned, it immediately ages you".
I came across a site called Wozber. You pick the template and content and it formats it for you. You're still in control but where I was struggling with the formatting, it did it all for me and I now have a 2 page CV which is getting a significantly higher hit rate.
You can enhance the Wozber functionality by getting their AI function to review your CV against a job link, e.g. via LinkedIn. The AI scans your CV against the same criteria as a HR bot and suggests where to tweak. So far, I've not found a better platform.
https://www.wozber.com/en-gb
Thanks for that...I'll check it out.I came across a site called Wozber. You pick the template and content and it formats it for you. You're still in control but where I was struggling with the formatting, it did it all for me and I now have a 2 page CV which is getting a significantly higher hit rate.
You can enhance the Wozber functionality by getting their AI function to review your CV against a job link, e.g. via LinkedIn. The AI scans your CV against the same criteria as a HR bot and suggests where to tweak. So far, I've not found a better platform.
https://www.wozber.com/en-gb
One thing I thought a little odd was that there was no provision for a hobbies or personal interests section. They are going to add a custom section at some point, but not specifically a "hobbies" one. According to them and their feedback from employers, those doing the hiring (admittedly most likely automated screening) won't look at this or even more likely, strip it from documents entirely. They say this stuff is left to questions in the interview.
I can understand that I suppose. It does seem a little sad though. Still, removing it gives more space to talk about work stuff I suppose!
Otispunkmeyer said:
Having used this, I did find a few issues. Though the developers responded to my feedback quickly and some of the things they are aware about.
One thing I thought a little odd was that there was no provision for a hobbies or personal interests section. They are going to add a custom section at some point, but not specifically a "hobbies" one. According to them and their feedback from employers, those doing the hiring (admittedly most likely automated screening) won't look at this or even more likely, strip it from documents entirely. They say this stuff is left to questions in the interview.
I can understand that I suppose. It does seem a little sad though. Still, removing it gives more space to talk about work stuff I suppose!
Having 'hobbies and interests' on a CV is one thing that ages it terribly IMO.One thing I thought a little odd was that there was no provision for a hobbies or personal interests section. They are going to add a custom section at some point, but not specifically a "hobbies" one. According to them and their feedback from employers, those doing the hiring (admittedly most likely automated screening) won't look at this or even more likely, strip it from documents entirely. They say this stuff is left to questions in the interview.
I can understand that I suppose. It does seem a little sad though. Still, removing it gives more space to talk about work stuff I suppose!
Otispunkmeyer said:
Having used this, I did find a few issues. Though the developers responded to my feedback quickly and some of the things they are aware about.
One thing I thought a little odd was that there was no provision for a hobbies or personal interests section. They are going to add a custom section at some point, but not specifically a "hobbies" one. According to them and their feedback from employers, those doing the hiring (admittedly most likely automated screening) won't look at this or even more likely, strip it from documents entirely. They say this stuff is left to questions in the interview.
I can understand that I suppose. It does seem a little sad though. Still, removing it gives more space to talk about work stuff I suppose!
Times have definitely changed with CV's, Hobbies and outside work activities have zero bearing on how they see you. One thing I thought a little odd was that there was no provision for a hobbies or personal interests section. They are going to add a custom section at some point, but not specifically a "hobbies" one. According to them and their feedback from employers, those doing the hiring (admittedly most likely automated screening) won't look at this or even more likely, strip it from documents entirely. They say this stuff is left to questions in the interview.
I can understand that I suppose. It does seem a little sad though. Still, removing it gives more space to talk about work stuff I suppose!
parabolica said:
Otispunkmeyer said:
Having used this, I did find a few issues. Though the developers responded to my feedback quickly and some of the things they are aware about.
One thing I thought a little odd was that there was no provision for a hobbies or personal interests section. They are going to add a custom section at some point, but not specifically a "hobbies" one. According to them and their feedback from employers, those doing the hiring (admittedly most likely automated screening) won't look at this or even more likely, strip it from documents entirely. They say this stuff is left to questions in the interview.
I can understand that I suppose. It does seem a little sad though. Still, removing it gives more space to talk about work stuff I suppose!
Having 'hobbies and interests' on a CV is one thing that ages it terribly IMO.One thing I thought a little odd was that there was no provision for a hobbies or personal interests section. They are going to add a custom section at some point, but not specifically a "hobbies" one. According to them and their feedback from employers, those doing the hiring (admittedly most likely automated screening) won't look at this or even more likely, strip it from documents entirely. They say this stuff is left to questions in the interview.
I can understand that I suppose. It does seem a little sad though. Still, removing it gives more space to talk about work stuff I suppose!
Fozziebear said:
Times have definitely changed with CV's, Hobbies and outside work activities have zero bearing on how they see you.
I recall seeing a CV that said "I have a great memory, love playing chess, was elected president of the student debating society and I have a good memory"I do see a few CV's in my role and I am always interested in hobbies as it happens - I look for team players, hobbies can sometimes suggest that trait. Marginal interest, but I do look.
Fozziebear said:
Times have definitely changed with CV's, Hobbies and outside work activities have zero bearing on how they see you.
I think that might vary with role, age and the target company.Recruiting for some roles, it's very easy for all the CVs to look the same.
If you've got a significant interest in something outside work, like sport or volunteering or something it can make you stand out.
It can be suggestive of whether you'll fit into a team or not.
At the very least, it's something for the interviewer to ask you about.
I suspect it depends whether you want your CV to impress 'professional recruiters' i.e. the pimps and HR people, or the people you might end up working with.
In some scenarios, people don't need to re-state everything that's on their linkedin profile.
Top tip, don't listen to people who say 'CVs must look like this'.
When I had my own firm, I got a lot of CVs from the local college leavers, nearly all of them looked the same.
Also a lot of pimps will edit CVs down to a page or something, ask them what they want and ask to see it before they send it off.
And take a couple of copies of your un-edited CV to interviews.
NDA said:
Fozziebear said:
Times have definitely changed with CV's, Hobbies and outside work activities have zero bearing on how they see you.
I recall seeing a CV that said "I have a great memory, love playing chess, was elected president of the student debating society and I have a good memory"I do see a few CV's in my role and I am always interested in hobbies as it happens - I look for team players, hobbies can sometimes suggest that trait. Marginal interest, but I do look.
AstonZagato said:
I created a CV for the first time in 20 years about 18 months ago. I kept it to a page. I also put my photo in there. A friend pointed out that I was just proving I was male, pale and stale. As I met no obvious diversity target, I was better leaving my face off the CV.
This raises an interesting point though about unconscious bias. Even at the shortlisting phase, this kind of bias can be alive & kicking.Sage advice is to present your competencies and impact in the most anonymous way possible in order to avoid triggering any bias. Even a name at the top of a CV can impact that (male/female for example), hence at shortlisting phase using online application tools, names will usually be omitted. But even listing academic achievements and institutions attended can trigger that unwanted bias (if for example you feel a certain institution is likely to turn out a better candidate than an other).
All things to be aware of.
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