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31. January, 2012 Advice, Applications, CVs, Finding a job, Work experience
This article has 11 comments

Hacks online CV clinic

by Jonathan Frost

Another year, and another wannabe’s CV for you to inspect. We’re looking for your tips and tricks in CV writing and presentation to help Helen Turnbill spice up her CV. Is there an area you think it falls down in, or something she should tweak?

Keep an eye on the comments and you might learn something you could apply to your own CV, too.

Please be critical, but remember to be constructive too.
And if you want to get your CV under the microscrope, you can email it to entrepreneur@wannabehacks.co.uk.

 

Open publication – Free publishing – More cv

 

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10 comments
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HelenTurnbull
HelenTurnbull 5pts

Didn't even realise his was up! Thanks y'all for all the constructive Criticisms. Will take it all on board.

tim_aldred
tim_aldred 5pts

Will this CV be sent as a Word document or as a link to the ISSUU website?

I ask because it looks awful on my screen... margins all over the shop, crazy line breaks leaving single words on a line (in the middle of sentences). It may be my computer that's at fault, but I may also have the same system as your next potential employer.

I also can't work out how I'd print it, which means I can't scribble on it, highlight it or take it into an interview with me.

Jonathan Frost
Jonathan Frost 5pts

@tim_aldred I uploaded the CV to issuu just so we could view it here. Always send a print copy too!!

ClelandThomCTJT
ClelandThomCTJT 5pts

Looks nice. Buthis CV gives mixed messages. It mentions the ability to use design software - but the margins aren't consistently aligned.It mentions web writing skills - but uses loads of unnecessary caps, which are the one thing a web writer avoids.

Few people would take the email address seriously and so the CV would probably be rejected on the basis, before it was read.

MediaSpank
MediaSpank 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

The CV looks good and I like the way it all fits on one page. It's hard to proof/ write comments because you can't alt-tab out the full screen view or copy text into another document, but here's a few thoughts..

- Add a link to your Twitter account.

- Not sure about the phrase 'matter of fact style', isn't all news written in that style? What does it add? If you do keep it add hyphens - 'matter-of-fact style'.

- Did you arrange photos on the page like a sub-editor or arrange photo shoots? It's obviously the latter, but remove the ambiguity, it doesn't read well.

- I'm sure there's a better word than 'provoke'.

- Try to avoid using the same word twice in a sentence - 'Scouring fashion website...' (style)

- The 'HERE' link isn't formatted in the same style as the other links.

- I think you either need to split the online core skills section into two lines or add a semi-colon, and probably an 'and' between the last two social media items...Either way it needs tweaking. Same for the following section.

@MediaSpank

Natalie Clarkson
Natalie Clarkson 5pts like.author.displayName 1 Like

I think it looks really good, I really like the use of colour, which tends to be controversial with CVs, but I think you've done it well.

Just a few things I'd change:

With skills you've put Microsoft Office and then listed the software, which is a little unnecessary. Some people would even argue it's unnecessary to put Microsoft Office into your skills section as it's a given these days.

And there's a couple of places where the text inexplicably goes onto a new line (in your work experience section and additional info section)

Oh and I don't know if it's just been taken off to go online or if you don't have a mobile number on your CV, I think that's something that should definitely be included.

AmirahValu
AmirahValu 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

The CV looks really good on one page but a little bit cramped and wordy. I would do what @RedHeadFashion suggested and have a link for your published work. :)

RedHeadFashion
RedHeadFashion 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

I'd argue that core skills and published work should come before experience. The way I do it is have a hyperlinked 'Portfolio' link on my CV, which clicks through to the Portfolio page of my blog - this is great for LinkedIn and Twitter searches (how I found my current job) and is a real space-saver on a CV.

Frost_J
Frost_J 5pts

@wannabehacks thanks for tweeting this, I've had to head out.

HuwLHopkins
HuwLHopkins 5pts like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

try to re-word things so you avoid having any widows (single words) on new lines - saves space for more important information and shows you put effort in.instead of saying you wrote for them in 'a concise and matter of fact style', simply say that you learned to "adhere to brand standards", it shows more versatility and that you are able to follow ordersyou need to include more educational qualifications, some HR depts have two piles - those who have GCSE's and those who don't. even if you have a PHD and you think there's no need to write down that you have GCSE's they will still put you in the 'those who dont' pile.you only need to supply referees at interview stages, there should be no need to include them on the CV and it saves you space.

change those and i'd definitely hire you!

good luck

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