Ideas for CV

[Crazed Rabbit]

Hmm, here in the states resumes longer than one page are usually frowned on.

This can require being quite concise, but I think it helps.

Mine is set up thusly;
Name

Contact Info

Objective (What type of job are you searching for? What field do you want to work in?)

Education (With info on the Institution, years attended, GPA, accomplishments, and notable classes)

Notable Educational Projects/Experience (specifically, I talk briefly about my senior design project. Use whatever makes you look best for the job.)

Work History (Here I highlight the only meaningful engineering experience I've got, as an intern. It takes up 1/4 of the page and almost 1/2 of the word count, as I detail the different tasks I accomplished)

Now, you don't have work experience. So you'll want to expand the education experience (and use any volunteer work or work for your family) that could apply to the job. The key is to be broad minded - see what the job requires and look if the classes you've taken apply to that skill.

Skills

As a general thing, I use a lot of bullet points to get the key points of my experience across. You don't want to have a wall of text. Say as much as you can in as little words as possible. My total word count is under 390 words. Secura makes a good point about the references - use your teachers and/or other adults you've worked with (perhaps as a volunteer or whatever) or who can vouch for your character. Make sure you call them and ask for their permission to use them as references. Don't use family.

CR

[Secura]

Hmm, here in the states resumes longer than one page are usually frowned on.

In the UK, it's no more than two pages; one page just isn't enough for an employer to get a proper idea of who you are and what you can do... or at least that's what I've just had drilled into me for the last two weeks. :3

As a general thing, I use a lot of bullet points to get the key points of my experience across. You don't want to have a wall of text. Say as much as you can in as little words as possible.

Well, when you've got two pages and you have as little valid work experience as myself or Rhy, you can embellish what you have done a little more; bullet points are definitely the way to go when you're a fair bit older and there's alot more substance to your life, though.

[pevergreen]

Heres a link to mine if you want a look. I did mine with the help of dad, who has been employing people for the last 40 years.

http://www.filefront.com/16439451/re...%2002%2010.doc

Its not the end of it though. Unlikely for summer jobs, but I know a guy who used to work at BT in a recruiting role and he would often just nod once at the resume and then ask questions, ignoring it completely and having never read it.

Depending on the type of job: Computer skills. List em! Can you do fancy things like bold and underline in MS Word? You have basic skills! Can you do more things like tabs and bookmarks/hyperlinks etc? Thats intermediate skills! and so on

[Raz]

This will help me in getting a job after end-of-year exams. A love this thread. Thank you everyone.
And special thanks to you, Rhyfelwyr, for creating this thread. :D

[johnhughthom]

I'm actually at the other end of the cv these days and can tell you an in-depth cv with paragraphs describing every aspect of your life will get binned. A well layed out, easy to read cv on two pages will certainly get my attention, it also makes the interview more enjoyable for interviewer and interviewee to actually have areas to expand upon. Some really good tips above.