CV Writing

[jackdb1996]

Hey everyone

Hope you had a great christmas, its getting to that time of year where I need to start sending off application forms and things to sponsors and go to open days and things.

I was wondering if anyone who has any experience with CV writing or has gone through recruiting applicants by reading CV's could give me any advice or let me know what they think of my attempt.

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9khqyuKy2d-YWZxY3E5WDY1eFU

(I don't know why this link moves the catagory headings, they are aligned on Microsoft Word - e.g. interests, referees).

Thanks & Happy New Year!

[HarmlessWeasel]

Not going to say much apart from you've let a spelling mistake slip through, "I have been bought up in a family...". I'm sure you were brought up instead of bought... Also, I found the main text difficult to read because it was lighter than the rest. Don't do anything fancy with formatting: at least size 12 text in either Times New Roman or Arial font.

Apart from that, a few grammatical things, such as commas instead of full stops. Think about your sentence lengths; a semicolon is perfect for connecting two related sentences. I see you've listed your qualifications in grade order. It might be worth putting maths and physics at the top, as that's what they really care about, but it's only a small thing

On the plus side your extra-curricular stuff is quite impressive, they'll really go for that; be sure to be ready to talk about it in your interview.

Good luck

[jackdb1996]

Thanks Fergus

Will make some changes then, a lot of the text formatting has changed because of Google docs, but I will try and keep it simple and check grammar and spellings.

Cant wait for a response next year.

Thanks & happy new year!

[Lewis]

You should eliminate the formatting all together. Who ever you're sending it to might not be able to see it correctly or even open your document at all. Best to keep it simple in a plane text document.
It's hard to say much more without knowing who you're applying to? What you're applying for?

[GuinnessMan]

You're CV is probably going to need a fair few changes. I would advise you to speak to Hatchorder as he is the expert when it comes to CV's. He helped me re-do mine...

[HolyNougat]

Remove the formatting and reduce the length, they say that CV's should be less than two pages.
There is also some repetition in there. Statements like 'and other extra curricular activities' and that you 'aspire to learn other languages during your life' do not really add anything and should be removed.
Generally I would say that it is rather 'wordy' look at places were you can say the same thing, but with less words.
Don't use etc. It looks like your can't be bothered to expand your sentence.
As Fergus has already said, you need to look at sentence length and also some sentences do not sit comfortably e.g. 'allowed me to work in different teams to work effectively without hassle'
Its not a bad effort though! :-)

[Clanky]

Yeah, I would say generally either remove or simplify the formatting and make it a bit less wordy.

I have had cv's sent to me for review fairly regularly and while yours would not be binned I would take more from a concise summary.

Also I wouldn't mention that you work for your grandparents, just name the company and the role (kitchen porter / sous chef or whatever)

With those exam results you should have offers flooding in, but you might also want to look at the order you list them in, personally i would start with Maths and English, followed by sciences, alternatively you could list them in grade order or even alphabetical order, but there should be some logic behind it.

Have you given consideration to staying on for A-levels and applying to shipping companies at 18?

[jackdb1996]

Thanks guys:

I am applying for a HND - Deck cadetship - with preference to be stationed aboard cruise ships.
I have considered A levels, but I figured if I get accepted now then that would be a bonus, but if I only apply after A levels and my application is rejected, I would be left to figure what I am going to do in the period between my next application.
Will make them changes now, thank you!

[Lewis]

But to which company?
You can't just write one CV and copy and paste to every company.
HR departments will know if you do and it's seen as lazy. Not to mention some get that many they use computers to vet them.
You have to look at the adverts, websites etc
Then play some "buzz word bingo".

[pintero]

Lewis, it's impossible to prepare hundreds of different cover letters each unique for specific company. I am aware that some companies may discover reccurence of the letter but there is no other way.
Jack - I wish You good luck in getting a cadetship, in nowadays it is appreciated being young and having experience and You have a chance to get it!

[Lewis]

It's perfectly possible it will just take more time and effort. Which is exactly what employers want to see somebody willing to devote some time and effort.

[HarmlessWeasel]

For the OP's purposes it's not so bad. There aren't hundreds of sponsor companies to choose from. Granted there are a lot, but I found doing a few a week meant I had them all done within a month. Much better than spending a month worrying about how many there are to do and then trying to do it all in one day and giving up for another month

P.S. Definitely talk to Hatchorder like GM says, he's a fantastic help with everything

[pintero]

There aren't hundreds of sponsor companies to choose from.

Ok I assumed it is about shipowners. Then different cover letters make sense. I prepared few different resumes for roro, psv, seismic and drillship and sending it directly to shipowners.

[HarmlessWeasel]

Ok I assumed it is about shipowners. Then different cover letters make sense. I prepared few different resumes for roro, psv, seismic and drillship and sending it directly to shipowners.

I didn't realise that sending to owners was a viable option. That really must have taken ages. I'm just applying to those on the MNTB website

[GuinnessMan]

I didn't realise that sending to owners was a viable option. That really must have taken ages. I'm just applying to those on the MNTB website

90% of the time it's not and I wouldn't recommend it. Go with the folks mentioned on the MNTB website. Check out those websites and fill in any application forms they may have...