C.V. Template

[PunkDaddy]

I have done mainly manual work since leaving school at 16, eventualy got a job printing at a company I had worked for, then got a job programming and have been doing that for the past 2 years. As I have only done manual work and mainly worked for agencies I never needed a C.V. Now the programming is getting monotonous where I am and is drying up, so I want to move. To do that I need a C.V. Can anyone point me to a decent I.T. oriented C.V.

 

Also I have no qualifications to speak of, how do i get around that on a C.V.?

 

Any help is appreciated.

[thepheebster]

Ok...first of all you need to start telling lies...so what if you've got no qualifications - just say you've got loads!! :-)

[ewand]

Do not take thepheebster's advice, PunkDaddy.  There are many people who lie on there CV and get away with it, however, there are many who get caught, something that can lead to seriour issues regarding the representation of fradulent information.

 

However, the advice I can give is in two areas.  Firstly, it might be an idea to either go to a reputable recruitment agency and dicuss your possibilities with a trained professional.  Make an appointment with a Senior at the firm well in advance, and try to discuss as many options as follows.  Also, you could contact a professional CV writing company, who might discuss your options and provide some further inspiration.  However, this can be a costly option, and not necessarily productive.

From your CV point of view, I would suggest that you we're completely open and honest regarding your skill set.  Outline, (but don't overplay) the fact that you have no formal qualifications, but concentrate on your technical skills, professional skills and everything though have picked up from experience.  Devote more page space to your previous jobs, and outline everything you have picked up over the last few years.  Also, be fairly enthusiastic about your own personality traits, for example you might be a quick learner, keen or motivated etc.  It is also a good idea to "talk up" then importance of work you have done in the past, to ensure it gets their attention, but don't embellish too much!

 

It also might be an idea to look at some courses (with the Open University etc.) to show that you are keen to learn, and interested in getting some formal qualifications.

Best of luck.......

[Octavius]

There are lots of resources for CV help.  With your particular circumstance it might be better to talk it through with an adviser of some kind (jobcentre?).  As a starting point here are a couple of websites giving general advice:

 

http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/cms.asp?Page=/Home/Customers/JobHuntingHelp/GettingStarted

 

http://www.vnunet.com/features/1154631

 

Most importantly your CV should stand out from the crowd by empthasising what experience you have.  I have an ONC, HNC, BSc (Hons) an MBA  and I am chartered with a major UK & global professional institute - these fill up one line of my CV the rest is about me and my experience which is far more important.  At the end you can emphasise your willingness and ambition to further your experience by gaining qualifications or aiming for a membership if an industry-recognised body.  Some employers would rather see that you have been out there and done things rather than sit in a classroom and study books - I am sure the importance of IT is actually being able to do it rather than having a certificate.  Good luck.

[natalie_1982]

Just backing up what ewand said - I got caught lying on my CV.  They offered me the job providing I could supply my A'level English certificates.... which I didn't have.  I triedblagging it and got busted so had to go out looking for another job again!

[PunkDaddy]

Thanks people, i guess I am going to have to talk to someone about it. i was probably looking for a quick fix so I could start applying now to get out of here, but there is no point in rushing something so important. It seems I will have to play up my ability and love of learning and my self taught skills and play down the qualifications, just give them a quick mention, I just hate to blow my own trumpet. Also I couldn't lie about my qualifications, if I got asked about them I would get instantly embarrassed, I am just a poor liar.

 

I will also check out those sites now.

 

Cheers.

[JSB]

A postcript to the above:

When you've completed your CV on the computer print on high quality paper - preferably cream and > 90gsm.  Reasons are that cream makes it stand out from a host of white ones and 100gsm + will make it feel nicer to anyone reading it.  Says 'Quality candidate' without you havinbg to say so explicitly!

Has always worked for me!

Good luck!

[Joe Bond]

I strongly recommend you visit www.ukjobszone.com they have an e-book that shows you "how to find your perfect job in 30 days or less"

They have access to 1000s of vacancies not registered with any recruitment agencies. Their e-book also provides you with clients who are looking to recruit people to start work ASAP.