Preparing a CV?

[Dilligaf]

- Customize it for the job! DO NOT USE A GENERIC ONE.
Good Luck!

Best advice so far

[mynameis]

To the ones that have replied to this thread and who are actively involved in interviewing/hiring people do you really chuck away CV's which are more than 2 pages?

[Ocean1]

To the ones that have replied to this thread and who are actively involved in interviewing/hiring people do you really chuck away CV's which are most than 2 pages?

Well I've replied now.

It depends on how specialised the role is, if more is genuinely needed to describe applicable experience then so be it. What's not OK is interminable waffle, stick to the facts, the relevant ones. The only rider to this is if the CV is for an agency, the lazy bastards often just do a text search of their database so make sure all the relevant buzzwords are in there somewhere.

If it's for a specific job and you've got a job description, (or even just the add) try to match your skills and experience to the same format, make it easy for them to just check off their relevant requirements. If it gets you a phone call it's done it's job, the rest of it's up to how well you can sell yourself in person.

Good luck Tart.

[Her_C4]

To the ones that have replied to this thread and who are actively involved in interviewing/hiring people do you really chuck away CV's which are most than 2 pages?

I hadn't replied to this thread to date and haven't read ALL the responses, but for my 0.02c worth:

No is the short answer.

The longer answer involves an algorithm that includes the following must haves / have nots:

Tailored to the actual role advertised
Addresses core competencies outlined in the full and detailed Job Description (hey there is a LOT of work goes into those JD's!)
Provides specific (and VALID!) examples of experience
No spelling mistakes
Concise and to the point
Up to date
No false claims to experience / fudging of facts (IT is a very small world in NZ)
Not long winded (who the hell wants to read that in 1970 you worked in Burger King / KFC / McDonalds when that experience has no relevance to the role you are applying for now?)

In fact I have a checklist produced for each role advertised and have someone go through the initial culling, so I don't even see them.

For example, if the JD asks for a minimum of 3 years experience in the role, or a specific qualification then that would be on my checklist, (alternatively because of the specific role I had advertised I might ask for 3 years but my checklist would note '2+ years' - and the qualification check might read 'qualification as stated else x background or other relevant experience')as would all of the above in some form or another. Ticks in all the boxes means it goes through for me to review.

[Oakie]

To the ones that have replied to this thread and who are actively involved in interviewing/hiring people do you really chuck away CV's which are most than 2 pages?

Certainly not. I'll reject them for the info that's ON those pages, but not just because there are more than two pages. Any employer who biffs a CV just because it's more than two pages needs their head read, especially in today's tight labour market (which is not to say that a 6 page CV is better than a 2 pager ... or that a 2 pager is no good ... it's just that it's the content that's important, not the amount of printer ink that's used.) Personally, my favourites are 3 or 4 pages of well spaced information. This usually gives me enough information to get a reasonable picture of the whole person and their history and make a resonable decision as to whether they are worth an interview or not.

[mynameis]

Riiiight now we're getting somewhere with this, thanks guys. Just taking a pun at the guys who replied on the first page I think it was mentioned 2 or 3 times, if a CV is more than 2 pages it's in the bin !!

[mynameis]

Again engineered CV's and initial letter are a great way to get attention which is about only 30% of the work, the phone call after, the first 30 secs of meet and greet and the first 2 minutes of the interview is the other 70% I'd say.

[Conquiztador]

To the ones that have replied to this thread and who are actively involved in interviewing/hiring people do you really chuck away CV's which are more than 2 pages?

No

"The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 10 characters."

[Oakie]

Again engineered CV's and initial letter are a great way to get attention which is about only 30% of the work, the phone call after, the first 30 secs of meet and greet and the first 2 minutes of the interview is the other 70% I'd say.

In our case it's about 10% application/CV, 45% interview, 45% reference checking. I've had a couple of great CVs followed by interviews who were shot down by their referees.

[Conquiztador]

In our case it's about 10% application/CV, 45% interview, 45% reference checking. I've had a couple of great CVs followed by interviews who were shot down by their referees.

And I had very resently a good CV that was followed by a excellent interview that was supported by ok references, but was shot down by a scary police vetting...

The moral of the story: Be up front (saves everyone time) as it will come out.

[yungatart]

There has sure been some interesting reading on here...thanks so much, everyone for your help. I actually have put together a brief CV that covers all the relevant points and will drop it in tomorrow to an outfit that has advertised a positon which I know I can do and sounds very different from my current job, with more money, less stress and a totally different field. Applications close tomorrow, so it really is a bit rushed!! I may have some inside help tho.....

[Her_C4]

There has sure been some interesting reading on here...thanks so much, everyone for your help. I actually have put together a brief CV that covers all the relevant points and will drop it in tomorrow to an outfit that has advertised a positon which I know I can do and sounds very different from my current job, with more money, less stress and a totally different field. Applications close tomorrow, so it really is a bit rushed!! I may have some inside help tho.....

Good luck - remember that a final review before you drop it off may pay dividends

[Cr1MiNaL]

good info, cv's take a while to prepare as well, mine took me little under 4 months and countless hours of drafting and researching to prepare, and now 3 months down the line I have the job that I wanted and it will need an update again... kinda like learning I suppose it never stops. Good luck.

[Big Dave]

I've worked as an Art Director for 20 years and I had a career as a sales manager before that.

The things I sought in sales people were stability - professional and personal, and a suitable personality for the position.

In creatives it's comprehension/interpretation skills and their portfolio.
And as little baggage as possible.

Try and convey those if you aim there.
HTH

[Conquiztador]

One thing that really gets me when I interview is when the interviewee puts any of the previous companies down. Straight away a BIIIIGGGG minus in my books.