C.v. help please

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
21

DS. I’d be looking to try & shorten it by 40 - 50%. No need to list GCSEs obtained for your average truck driving job. Just 6 GCSEs is adequate.

Some shortening can be done by removing superfluous words such as “MVT passed with credits and distinctions”. If you’ve got it, its obvious you passed it. That’s just an instance, look for other unnecessary words.

I can’t rewrite it all for you, but try this:

My interests and hobbies:
Outside work, I try to live an active and varied lifestyle, I have lots of different interests and hobbies, and these often include:
Target shooting; I used to spend all my spare time on the range or working to better my physical fitness. I got to such a high level; I was shooting for the county team and was also training with the national squad, took part in two overseas tours and shot in four international matches. I don’t do so much target shooting now, though I do still like to go when I can.

I’m also interested in many outdoor activities. Including; camping, fishing, off road driving and rough shooting.

My interests and hobbies:

Target shooting, outdoor activities including, camping, fishing, off road driving and rough shooting.

Fair play to you mate it certainly seems like you are keen to learn new useful skills & any potential employer worth his salt will pick that up. However, he doesn’t want to read your life story.

I wouldn’t be mentioning that you’ve failed C+E although you could mention you have had some training,but ran out of funds and have not yet passed your test but hope to do so soon.

Good luck!

22

Thanks for that mate, I know it needs “condensing” I thought it might be easier for you guys to see what needs to be done if it was all out in plain English though. I’m trying to steer clear of “lists” as I’ve had some very encouraging complements about it being “different”. (everything you’re told/read seems to be quite uniform and people seem to appreciate the change of scenery).

Fair point about the c+e, I’ll re-think that.

23

Wish i could get at my CV, its on my old PC which won’t boot. :frowning:

24

Driveroneuk:
Wish i could get at my CV, its on my old PC which won’t boot. :frowning:

Can you get to the Hard Drive?
Are you using a Laptop or PC now?

25

Here yer go driveroneuk. Fill yer Boot(s) :wink: :wink:

search.incredimail.com/?q=My+pc% … =051028016

26

Why mention a failed attempt at Class 1 ? That’s something to talk about in interviews.

Target Shooting,International Competitions,all that tells an employer is that your outside activities have the potential to interfere with your working time.

Drivers C.V…I don’t know what licence you hold,if it’s clean,how long you’ve had it.That should be prominent.

FLT,Trucks are loaded with FLTs’,Don’t you think that you should list that with your prime qualifications ?

There are no dates on this C.V.,no timescale,what period does this C.V. cover ?

You have done Agency work,which agency ? ,will they give you a reference ?

The companies that you had assignments for,are they famous names that everyone knows ? Why not name them ?

“I can’t say I was keen on the style of London’s drivers however” That’s not a phrase suitable for a C.V.,more for a conversation.

I trust that you will name your College on your actual C.V.,if it’s a decent college then you are missing an opportunity if you don’t.

What you should bear in mind that when you apply for a job these days is that you C.V. could be one of three hundred landing on someones desk.The only way that it will be read is if it grabs someones attention at the first glance,I don’t think that yours does at the moment,the content is there but it falls down in its presentation.I don’t think that you are making the best of yourself and your skills and it may be wise to get professional help.

27

darkseeker:
ereyar then, as said it’s only a first draft so plenty to be going on with. Please try to keep it constructive guys, as I’m sure you can see - self esteem’s not really a strong point.

Contact details:

Qualifications.

lose the list; use 6 GCSE Passes

N.v.q: (Work based training, Day release)
Level 1 motor vehicle technician, service & inspection: Pass
Level 2 motor vehicle technician, service & replacement: Near completion. lose this

Whilst working towards the above, I taught myself to m.i.g. and arc Weld outside work and college and was also trained to

B.T.e.c: (Full time college course)
Motor vehicle technician progression award level 1: passed with credits and distinctions.
Motor vehicle technician progression award level 2: passed with credits and distinctions.

As part of the above course, I also completed over a year of[lose] training in the college’s engineering section, which included work with various precision engineering machines, hand machining processes and work with technical drawings where I learned to not only interpret and work from them but to draw them as well. During this training I taught myself to weld using varied techniques,

Experience:

Since leaving school, I have mainly worked as a vehicle technician, have references which can be made available if I am offered a position.

I’m currently working as a class 2 driver for several agencies and on a large variety of contracts. It is two and a half years since I passed my category C test and have recently booked a C+E course of which I am confident in passing; Vehicles operated during this time include a fork lift truck, light van, curtainsider, refrigerated and flat bodies delivering various commodities to shops, supermarkets around central London and further afield.

Recent Milestones
Work based Training and College March 2004 - September 2007
Ermine Engineering October 2007 - December 2009
List Agencies December 2009 to Present
Having decided to try a new trade, and trying a couple of others for a short while I started working for this company in August 2007 as a labourer and van driver, My experience as a mechanic and practical approach helped immensely and I started to advance many skills that I’d “picked up along the way” and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

My interests and hobbies:
Outside work, I live an active and varied lifestyle.

Target shooting; I was shooting for the county team and was also training with the national squad, took part in two overseas tours and I shot in four international matches.
other leisure activities. Include camping, fishing, off road driving and rough shooting.

Had to go to hospital, so not finished, but condense, condense condense

28

Thanks guys, as said it’s only a first draft and so far I’ve just chucked it all on to sift through, condense and tidy up.

Back to the original point though, the driving experience is a bit lacking, I’m struggling to make my couple of years look any better than it really is - I’ve tried alsorts of driving jobs which can only be a good thing but there’s not much else to say about it, is there?

I’ll have another play with it and see what I can sort out.

Wheelnut, hope all’s well with hospital.

29

Needs some more condensing yet but how’s it looking;

Qualifications to date:
(Oldest first)

6 G.c.s.e’s At city school, Lincoln.

N.v.q: At options training and development.

Level 1 motor vehicle technician, service & inspection

B.T.e.c: At Lincoln college.

Motor vehicle technician progression award levels 1 and 2, both passed with credits and distinctions.

As part of the above course, I also completed training in the college’s engineering section, which included work with various precision engineering machines, hand machining processes and work with technical drawings where I learned to not only interpret and work from them but to draw them as well.

Experience:

Since leaving school, I have mainly worked as a vehicle technician. I would be confident that most of my previous employers and tutors at college would be happy to give me a good reference though I’ve had no contact with any of them for some time now.

I’m currently working as a class 2 driver for several agencies, Whom I’d expect to give me a good reference, and on a large variety of contracts. In the two and a half years since I passed my cat. C test I’ve driven;

Curtain sided vehicles for Caistor distribution, Cartwright brothers and Jackson’s among others, delivering anything from animal feeds to plaster board and has also included full loads of full i.b.c’s.
Fridge work for Noble foods and Brakes mainly. Carrying eggs, cages of supermarket stock and chilled and frozen foods for pub’s hotels and restaurants.
I’ve occasionally carried steelwork for A.s.c metals.
I like to learn new skills and visit new places, I’m happy to do nights out or any regular shift pattern including nights. I’ve recently booked a class 1 course and aim to have the license in early August.

My most recent employer was:

Ermine engineering;

Having decided to try a new trade, and after trying a couple of others for a short while I started working for this company in August 2007 as a labourer and van driver, My experience as a mechanic and practical approach helped immensely and I started to advance many skills that I’d “picked up along the way” and thoroughly enjoyed this.

It was here where I found how much I enjoyed driving for a living. I was delivering steelwork, mostly in and around central London, most days of the week in a transit drop-sided vehicle. I moved onto h.g.v’s (class 2) and eventually left to pursue my new career around eighteen months after I first started working there.

A little about the sort of person I am:
I’m an easy going person and of very even temperament. I’m open-minded and enjoy learning new skills and give everything my best and enjoy new challenges.

My interests and hobbies:
Outside work, I try to live an active and varied lifestyle, I have lots of different interests and hobbies, and these often include:
Target shooting; In which I used to compete at international level. I also enjoy camping, fishing, off road driving, rough shooting and most other outdoor pursuits.

30

Lets pretend that I am looking for a Driver and my advert asks for Class 2 ADR,I want to know that as soon as I open your C.V. otherwise I wont waste any more time because I’ve got 200 other C.V.'s to get through.First line,Class 2 Licence,no points,even better,ADR in Packages and Tanks,packages would have done but Tanks is a bonus.So now I can read on because I know you’re qualified.Recent ADR too,not like the other applicant who will need a refresher in 6 months.You’re gaining an advantage already.
Now I need to know if you have any relevant experience and if so,how much ? I am going to need evidence to back this up,I don’t know you so why should I believe you ? So far so good,what sets you apart from every on else,what extra skills and abilities do you bring with you ? I see that you’ve got a Fork Lift licence,that’s handy because our Forkie is unreliable. Have you done anything else that may be of use to me ?
Okay,your beginning to impress me but are there any negatives,will your private life interfere with work or will you need special treatment ?..That’s how an employer will deal with a C.V.You have to make it as easy as possible for the reader to know that you are the right person for the job.That’s the order your information is needed in.Simple facts with the evidence to back it up.Accentuate the positives.You posted earlier about a dislike for London Drivers,a negative if ever there was one.Why not say “Experience of London Traffic” ? That immediately turns a negative around without lying.
Now,what about your interview technique ? :laughing:

31

Deathstar:
Now,what about your interview technique ? :laughing:

:laughing: one step at a time!

32

Buycrider:
Here yer go driveroneuk. Fill yer Boot(s) :wink: :wink:

search.incredimail.com/?q=My+pc% … =051028016

Thanks for that Buycrider. Actually its a 10 year old PC. Have tried several recovery disks. It is thought the HD is corrupted.

Oh & by the way I’m not ignoring dinosteveus1’s post. We took it to PM so as not to go off topic.

33

Opinions please;

Not sure of dates to be honest so I’m doing my best to avoid them and contact details are on the real thing just not on here, Anything missing or need changing? I’ve left agency names out too because the last thing I want is to loose the work I’m already getting (unless I get the job).

Introduction:
I’m Richard, I’m 27 and I currently live in Lincoln though re-locating wouldn’t be a problem if required. I’m currently working as a class 2 driver for several agencies. I like to learn new skills and visit new places. I’m happy to do nights out and any regular shift pattern, including nights. I’ve recently booked a class 1 course and aim to have the license in early August. My driving license is clean.

In the two and a half years since I passed my cat. C test I’ve driven; Curtain sided vehicles for Caistor distribution, Cartwright brothers and Jackson’s among others, delivering anything from animal feeds to plaster board and has also included full loads of full i.b.c’s.
Fridge work for Noble foods and Brakes mainly. Carrying eggs,
cages of supermarket stock and for pub’s hotels and restaurants. I’ve also occasionally carried steelwork for A.s.c metals and for Ermine engineering on drop sided vehicles.

Qualifications to date (oldest first):

6 G.c.s.e’s At city school, Lincoln.

N.v.q: At options training and development.

Level 1 motor vehicle technician, service & inspection

B.T.e.c: At Lincoln college.

Motor vehicle technician progression award levels 1 and 2, both passed with credits and distinctions.

My most recent employer was Ermine engineering;
Having decided to try a new trade, I started with this company in August 2007 as a labourer and van driver, My experience as a mechanic and practical approach helped immensely and I started to advance many skills. It was here where I found how much I enjoyed driving for a living. I was delivering steelwork, mostly in and around central London, most days of the week in a transit drop-sided vehicle. I moved onto class 2 and eventually left to pursue my new career.
My interests and hobbies:
Outside work, I have lots of different interests and hobbies, and these include:
Target shooting; In which I used to compete at international level. I also enjoy camping, fishing, off road driving, rough shooting and most other outdoor pursuits.

34

Much better.

35

That looks good DS. Just a few things I’ve picked up over the years…

CV no more than 2 sides of A4. Keep it all consice.

Contact details 1st. Big and bold.

Rather than call it an introduction how about Profile, use this to summarise
your experience to date, include a few details about what you currently do.
However keep this to no more than 6 lines, there is a trick coming up :wink: .

Qualifications and education next, forget primary school, just secondary and beyond.
School attended and dates, years for this are fine i.e. 1981 - 1987 and do it in order
of college/uni back to secondary school. Add a few lines at the end expanding on the
college/uni stuff.

Training, any vocational training, again if there is a lot, then refer to the trick.

Work Experience, start with your current job and working back. Write the most
about your current job, then no more than a line about others. Again years for this
are fine. If there are gaps i.e unemployed then say that.

Personal stuff, dob, kids, married, good health etc, etc.

Liesure, hobbies.

The last 2 should be no more than 1 line.

Now for the trick :smiley: if you have a long list of qualifications then add
an appendix to your CV and refer to it in your profile. Also tailor the CV
to the job ad i.e if they want ADR make you sure you you mention it
in your profile.

The covering letter is just as important as the CV and should highlight
your recent skils and experience, tailor it to the job ad or if it’s an
‘on spec’ than tailor it to the company and what they do, why you
want to work for them.

Remember the CV and letter are only get them interested in
seeing you face to face, so finally don’t lie on them you
will be caught out.