Constructive Critism of CV

[Spydaman]

Below is my lads first proper CV. Any suggestions to improve it gratefully recieved.

Curriculum Vitae

Personal Information
Name:
Address:
Tel:
Mob:
Email:
Date of Birth:
Marital Status: Single
Dependants: None

Personal Statement
I am a hard working, conscientious and responsible individual who enjoys a variety of outdoor sports especially skiing which I am planning to make a career of. After teaching for 6 months on a dry slope I am eager to put into practise on the slopes what I have learnt at college and through my current job.

Education
Brockenhurst College: 2007-Date
- BTEC National in Outdoor Education (Ongoing)
- National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 3 in Sport, Recreation and Allied Occupations. (Ongoing)
- National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 2 in Sport, Recreation and Allied Occupations. July 2008

Ringwood Comprehensive School, Ringwood2003-2007
- English Literature GCSE Grade A
- Math GCSE Grade B
- Geography GCSE Grade B
- Design and Technology: Electronics GCSE Grade B
- Science Double Award GCSE Grade BB
- French GCSE Grade C
- Art and Design GCSE Grade C
- English Language GCSE Grade D
- IT GCSE Grade D

Awards/ Achievements
Interski Snowsports School, Level 5 Merit, March 2009
Interski Snowsports School, Level 5, March 2008
Snowsports England, Club Instructor, May 2007

British Canoe Union:
- 2 Star Paddler, January 2008
- Foundation Safety and Rescue Certificate, June 2008
- Certificate in Coaching Paddle Sport Level 1, June 2008

Grand National Archery Society, Leader Award, February 2008
Mountain Bike Instructors Award Scheme (MIAS), Ongoing
National Power Boat Certificate, Level 2, July 2008
PADI, Open Water Diver, August 2007
National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth, March 2008
Community work in Kenya, Aug 2007
Tae Kwon Do, Black Stripe, 2004

Employment History
Snowtrax (Christchurch Ski Centre):
- Club Ski Instructor Sept ’08 – date
- Ski and snowboard Issue staff Apr ’06 – Mar 2008

Spar, Ringwood
- Shop Assistant Jan ’08 – Feb ‘08

Hobbies and Interests
- Skiing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Indoor and outdoor climbing
- Mountain biking
- Classic cars and motorcycles
- Hill-climbing and sprinting classic cars
- Motorsport

Edited by Spydaman on Friday 29th May 18:47

Edited by Spydaman on Friday 29th May 18:47

[walm]

Maybe take his name, address and DOB off a public forum?

[Spydaman]

Done

[walm]

Just some thoughts:
Bin the personal statement, write a cover letter instead. MAKE IT RELEVANT TO THE JOB.
Put the employment history first and write some blurb about responsibilities and skills.
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT BIT FOR AN EMPLOYER.
- How big were the classes he taught? What ages? Any non-instructing responsibilities?
- How big was the Spar (turnover of £Xk) - did he have overall responsibility at any time (e.g. opening up, stock taking etc...)

Expand on the Kenyan community work - in fact put that as part of the employment section - it's still work! Plus to me, that is WAY more impressive than working at Spar.

Take skiing and kayaking out of the hobbies (he is obviously interested in those): put all the hobbies in a list rather than bullets since you don't want to waste space on this.

If you have to keep the personal statement, practise is a verb, practice is a noun so it's "put into practice". Maybe change it to "which I am planning to make my career." (Just to remove the "of" at the end of the sentence.)

Out of interest what sort of job is he looking to apply for? Finding a ski instructor job is nigh on impossible in Europe without the correct training. Although there is obviously plenty of non instructing seasonal work of course.
You can do it in Canada, I think, but again you have to pay for an expensive and long training program first...

[Scraggles]

looks like the OP wants to work at an outdoors country pursuits type of action holiday place, too wide a range and not specific enough for alpine ski resorts

[alfa daley]

Hi Speaking as someone from a ski season and former ski racing background I have to ask what qualification he has at the moment for teaching? Is Christchurch a john nike Ski slope? I ask because they have their own qualifications which aren't recognised, as far as I know by any other slope let alone country. He should therefore be looking at doing his BASI qualification and, if he is keen to work in France, he should start race training in preparation for the equivalence exam necessary to teach there.

It would also be worth becoming a qualified first aider, a useful skill on the mountains and looks good on the CV. I'm pretty sure St john's can do courses.

[Spydaman]

Thanks for the advice, it worked as he's got his first interview next Tuesday. Here's the final version.

William Tindle

Personal Information
Name
Address
Tel:
Mob:
Email:
Date of Birth:

Personal Statement
I am a hard working, conscientious and responsible individual who enjoys a variety of outdoor sports especially skiing which I am planning to make my career. After teaching since September 2008 on a dry slope I am eager to put into practice on the slopes what I have learnt at college and through my current job.

Employment History
Snowtrax (Christchurch Ski Centre):
- Club Ski Instructor Sept 2008 – date. Responsible for kitting-up students with boots, skis etc and teaching complete beginners to intermediate skiers up to parallel turns. Class sizes ranging from one to fourteen students aged 4 years plus.
- Ski and snowboard issue staff Apr 2006 – Mar 2008. Responsible for assessing ability and issuing correct boots, skis and snowboards and setting bindings in accordance with Salomon recommendations. Monitoring slopes to ensure safe use of slopes and lifts.
Community work in Kenya, Aug 2007. One month working holiday with Camps International involved in community projects such as building work, digging water hole for local wildlife and beach conservation.

Awards/ Achievements
First Aid International, Sports First Aid June 2009
Interski Snowsports School, Level 5 Merit, March 2009
Interski Snowsports School, Level 5, March 2008
Snowsports England, Club Instructor, May 2007
Full English Driving Licence, no endorsements August 2008
British Canoe Union:
- 2 Star Paddler, January 2008
- Foundation Safety and Rescue Certificate, June 2008
- Certificate in Coaching Paddle Sport Level 1, June 2008
Grand National Archery Society, Leader Award, February 2008
Mountain Bike Instructors Award Scheme (MIAS), Ongoing
National Power Boat Certificate, Level 2, July 2008
PADI, Open Water Diver, August 2007
National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth, March 2008
Tae Kwon Do, Black Stripe, 2004

Education
Brockenhurst College: 2007-2009
- BTEC National in Outdoor Education. Passed with merit
- National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 3 in Sport, Recreation and Allied Occupations. (Ongoing)
- National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 2 in Sport, Recreation and Allied Occupations. July 2008

Ringwood Comprehensive School, Ringwood 2003-2007
- English Literature GCSE Grade A
- Math GCSE Grade B
- Geography GCSE Grade B
- Design and Technology: Electronics GCSE Grade B
- Science Double Award GCSE Grade BB
- French GCSE Grade C
- Art and Design GCSE Grade C
- English Language GCSE Grade D
- IT GCSE Grade D

Hobbies and Interests
- Skiing
- Hiking
- Rock climbing
- Reading fiction and non-fiction
- Astronomy

Edited by Spydaman on Wednesday 10th June 19:31

Edited by Spydaman on Wednesday 10th June 19:39