Ok so im job hunting again as im bored in my present job (and the pay is poo )

Its a long time since ive had to make a CV and was just wondering how people set them out nowadays?

Anybody here in management? If so what do you like to see in a cv/ job application?

Ta mucho,
Mark

Paul is the cv master

He helped me write mine yesterday.

I received a CV recently - the candidate is coming in on Wednesday evening, for me to interview him can't wait......

Can I help stu? I enjoy it now.

I am happy to look at it and give a few pointers from what I know about it?

The Negotiator said:

Can I help stu? I enjoy it now.

I am happy to look at it and give a few pointers from what I know about it?

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Trouble is, you won't like the MSN access, net access, and lunchtimes socialising between 1 and 2pm :chin: so no

I am happy to give it a glance as well - will give an honest opinion, although please don't get upset if I am brutal

All comments will be appreciated.
Here is the body of the cover letter, its for Reg Vardy hence the car comments.
I know its short but havent had to do this in ages.
Havent writtent he CV yet but will do so now.


Dear Sir/Madam
I am writing in response to your advertisement in the Hartlepool Mail on the 3rd August 2005.
I am a hard working, reliable and enthusiastic individual who has always had a keen interest in automobiles and automotive engineering.
I can work well as part of a team or as an individual, can be constructive and imaginative and always strive to go one step beyond for both the customer and myself.
I have experience in a sales environment and as I have always been interested in cars, have a good idea of what the average person requires from a car and what might interest them.
Please find attached a full Curriculum Vitae with references. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact me and I look forward to hearing from you.

Fast Finger said:

Dear Sir/Madam
I am writing in response to your advertisement in the Hartlepool Mail on the 3rd August 2005.
I am a hard working, reliable and enthusiastic individual who has always had a keen interest in automobiles and automotive engineering.
I can work well as part of a team or as an individual, can be constructive and imaginative and always strive to go one step beyond for both the customer and myself.
I have experience in a sales environment and as I have always been interested in cars, have a good idea of what the average person requires from a car and what might interest them.
Please find attached a full Curriculum Vitae with references. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact me and I look forward to hearing from you.

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So you can only sell cars to average people, then :chin:

I have to start my new job in shortly so can't give a decent reply but a few quick notes:

Do you have a name of a person to contact?
In the paper, is there a reference number? If so, give it.
I was always told to not write "I am writing in..." since it's obvious you're writing, I'll think of alternatives
Think of another word than constructive IMO.


I don't like this for some reason:

I have experience in a sales environment and as I have always been interested in cars, have a good idea of what the average person requires from a car and what might interest them.

I would do:

I have had experience within a sales environment and also a keen interest with the motor industry. It has long been my ambition to try and link these two aspects and hence feel a career within vehicle sales would really be a good choice for me. I feel that my interest in cars also gives me a good foundation and would enable me to understand a customer's requirements to a deeper level than otherwise.


and:

Click to expand...

Please find attached a full Curriculum Vitae with references. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact me and I look forward to hearing from you.
__________________

Please find attached a full c.............. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me using the contact details on the Curriculum Viate.

I look forward to hearing from you.

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All good comments.

Stuart DemonD, its Hartlepool, everyone is average. But honestly cheers, will have to think of a better way of putting it.

Remember to put ENC at the bottom of the covering letter.

ENC
enclosed

ok so i have a contact name but no reference.

re writing now but comp having a fit

ENC means enclosures i.e. your CV

I would write to the contact then, and not Dear Sir/Madam

First line under that could be 'Re: position of...' or whatever your advert stated; underline this

Also need to ensure sign off is correct - Yours faithfully OR Yours sincerely

ok heres another go.
also it may sound stupid but just to check it is their address top right followed by yours lower left then body of text?

ENC at bottom of page?

BRB to see comments after picking up other half, will then do the CV section.

Once again thanks for your help eveyone.

Dear Mr Preston.
I would like to apply for the position of Sales Executive as advertised in the Hartlepool Mail on the 3rd August 2005.
I am a hard working, reliable and enthusiastic individual who has always had a keen interest in automobiles and automotive engineering.
I can work well as part of a team or as an individual, can be dynamic and imaginative and always strive to go one step beyond for both the customer and myself.
I have experience in a sales environment and as I have always been interested in cars, would be able to aid the customer in finding a car tailored to their needs.
Please find attached a full Curriculum Vitae. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me using the contact details on the Curriculum Vitae.
I look forward to hearing from you,

Yours Sincerely,
M Hood


ENC

Just found this website, for your perusal http://www.speakspeak.com/html/d2h_resources_letter_writing_phrases.htm

The best CV's list achievements rather than a long list of what they have done or what qualifications they have got. You need to think of things which are different from the average response they get. If you state "I was a sales manager for XXXXXX resposnsible for XXXX and consistently achieved my sales target", doesn't really say much about why you are better than somebody else doing the same job. If you can back it up with interesting examples, then you are more likely not to be filtered out because of your CV. Also keep in brief, it will encourage them to ask you about these achievement at the interview stage.

i.e

I succesfully planned and introduced a new marketing strategy which resulted in a sustained 20% increase in sales of X.

or

I was responsible for the implementation of a radical new customer enquiry procedure, which reduced response times by 30% something which the company previously had been unable to achieve.

You also need to show that you have put some thought into why you want to join the company. For example if it is sales job at a garage, is it the number one in the area, how many cars do they sell, who are their main competition etc. Most of this you can get from the receptionist if you have a chat with them.

When I was doing my MBA, we did a lot of interview practice, writing job specifications etc and it is a more complex than you would think. A lot depends upong the person who opens the letter and what their background is.

Good luck.

here is a slightly modified version of your CV..

Fast Finger said:

Dear Mr Preston.
I would like to apply for the position of Sales Executive as advertised in the Hartlepool Mail on the 3rd August 2005.
I am a hard working, reliable and enthusiastic individual who has always had a keen interest in automobiles and the automotive industry.
I work well as part of a team or as an individual, i am dynamic and imaginative and always strive to go one step further for both the customer and myself.
I have experience in a sales environment and as I have always been interested in cars, and would be able to aid the customer in finding a car tailored to their needs.
Please find attached a full Curriculum Vitae. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me using the contact details on the Curriculum Vitae.
I look forward to hearing from you,

Yours Sincerely,
MR M Hood


ENC

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Ok im pretty hapy with my cover letter so now my CV.
This is an old one i found on disk that i did about 6 months ago (although i only updated it, the original was done about 2 years ago).
dont laugh at the grades i got , should have done better but difficult time in life. (thats my excuse and im sticking to it).
i think the first change will be to make it most recent first as its ar$e first at the mo.
Apart from being a manager in a pub and heading a mentoring program where i am now theres not really a lot i can put in about achievements.
i dont think "can drink most friends under the table" or " my time record for tv-fridge-tv remains unbroken" would count.
but anyway
*let the ripping commence*

Education and qualifications.
1992- 1997 Henry Smith Secondary School.
Qualifications Gained: Science (Dual Award) B, B
English Language D
Information Technology D
Mathematics D
Art and Design E
Design Technology E
English Literature E
German E

1997- 98 NVQ 2 – Electrical Engineering Manufacture.
NVQ 2 – Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
NVQ 3 – AutoCAD (Computer Aided Design)
Draughting and Design.

2002 Site safety passport (SCATs card).


Licenses Held.
Full UK Driving License – Clean.
Electric Counterbalance Forklift Truck
Diesel/ Gas Counterbalance Forklift Truck
Reach Forklift Truck
Rough Terrain Forklift Truck
Telescopic Load all Forklift Truck
(R.T.I.T.B reg no 1/189/002/01)


Work History
June 98– Dec 99. 42nd Street, Hartlepool.
Worked as a glass collector and later as general bar staff in a busy nightclub.

Dec 99– Jan 2000. Club Uropa, Hartlepool.
Worked as a glass collector and bar staff.

Jan 2000– Feb 01. Hartlepool Working Men’s Club, King Oswy Drive, Hartlepool.
Worked as general bar staff and cellar boy in a local pub.

Feb 01– Sept 01. Chicago Rock Café/ Bar, Hartlepool.
Worked as bar staff.

Sept 01– Dec 01 C J Garlands Call Centres, Powergen, Hartlepool.
Customer Sales Agent. Gas, Electricity and Telecom service sales.

Jan 02– March 02 Manpower Plc, Sunderland.
Worked for P&O trans European as a labourer and forklift driver.

April 02- June 02 Kinetic Plc, Middlesbrough.
Worked for Kama in Sedgefield as a forklift driver and floor assistant.

Nov 02 – Jan 03 Hartlepool Rugby Football Club
Hartlepool
Worked as bar staff over Christmas period whilst recovering from an operation.

Mar 03 – Aug 03 Hillcarter Hotel
Hartlepool
Worked as bar staff in a three bar operation. This included function rooms and a nightclub.

Aug 03 – 20 Mar 05 King John’s Tavern. Duty manager.
Hartlepool
Started as part time bar staff. Cross trained to work in kitchen and then progressed to bar Team Leader/Supervisor.
Trained as a KST(Key Staff Trainer) and was then promoted to Duty/Shift Manager and entered into a Management training programme.

21 Mar 05 – Present C.J. Garland Call Centres.
Garland House, Harbour Walk, Hartlepool
Customer Service Reprasentative for Vodafone Department.


Personal Statement.
I am confident, trustworthy and punctual. I am a quick learner and enjoy a challenge. I have an outgoing personality and enjoy socializing with friends. I am comfortable working as part of a team or as an individual. I have gained experience as part of a management team and feel I have the right attitude to help train staff and lead a team if the situation arises.


Hobbies and Interests.
In my spare time I work on restoring a classic car, reading fictional literature, visiting the cinema/ café’s/ bars and I also enjoy spending time with my two dogs.


References.
Available upon request.

Ok, a few things that jump off the page for me...

socialising with a z - is that an Americanism?

Why do you need to put all your GCSE grades AND subjects

Are forklift truck licences needed in great detail for job you are applying for?

Give full details of references

Why not expand on each job held, especially the managerial ones.

I wouldn't have put 'worked as' as often as you have. I would put more 'action' words, e.g 'successfully'. Should grab the reader's attention.

Use bullet points.

I would keep it in the 3rd person.

Contact details at the top (I know you probably wouldn't want to post them anyway), and DON'T put 'Curriculum Vitae' at the top - the employer knows what it is.

Have an introduction, e.g. 'an enthusiastic, dependable and hard working NVQ graduate seeking to establish a successful career in Sales and Marketing'

Don't exceed more than 2 pages of A4.

If you can, write more about yourself and shout about your qualities, plus anything unusual that may set you apart from other candidates.

I can't think of anything else.

HTH

Stuart DemonD said:

Give full details of references

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Why? I'd have thought it would be better to use the space to talk about yourself and then the employer can ask for references, when arranging an interview or something?


Oh and make sure the spelling and grammar is correct!