Raising a CV

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

I am just about to embark on the minefield of applying for jobs within the haulage industry and seeing as we have some bosses of companies and recruitment people on here can you give me some tips on raising a CV.

What do I put on the responsibilities for a driver as I don’t really have a clue? Obviously I know what the responsibilities of a driver are but how do you put it into words?

My CV for logistics jobs is quite impressive from my experience in the navy but that counts for nothing in the driving world to be honest. You can be the best logistician in the world but not have a clue about driving. The main bulk of my work has either been fridge work, trunking for parcel companies and curtains.

What have people put on their CV’s (I won’t nick any of the wording but might change it around to suit myself and my experience) and I won’t lie on a CV, as I would get found out very quickly as I am a ■■■■ liar.

Any hints or tips (or even a copy of your/a CV) would be very much appreciated

Thanks for your time ladies and gents

2

CURRICULUM VITAE

NAME:

ADDRESS:

Oldham
4SD

TELEPHONE No.: 0161 62

MOBILE No.: 07837

E-MAIL gez.i@googlemail.com

DATE OF BIRTH: h April, 1953

NATIONALITY: British

NATIONAL INSURANCE No: Supplied on request

MARITAL STATUS: Married

SCHOOL ATTENDED: Alderman Smith High From: 1964
Arbury Road To: 1969
Nuneaton
Warwickshire

WORK HISTORY

From 24 July 2008 To July 11 2008
Compton Rd
Yeovil

Position Held L G V 1 Driver

From: 15 Sept. 2006 To: July 21 2007
Yorkshire St
Oldham

Position Held: LGV 1 Driver

DHL/Exel : August 2000 To: 11 September 2006
Manby Road
Immingham
DN40 2BR

Position Held: LGV 1 Driver

From: 22nd March 2000 to: August 2000
329, Oldham Road
Rochdale
OL16 5JG

Position Held: LGV 1 Driver (agency)

WORK HISTORY CNTD.:

Industry Driver Force From: September 1998 to: 21st March 2000
76 High Lane
Chorlton ■■■ Hardy
Manchester
M21 9EF

Position Held: LGV 1 Driver (agency)

s From: February 1994 to: September 1998
Shaw Road
Royton
Oldham

Position Held: HGV Class 1 Driver - Night Trunk (now closed down)

From: October 1992 To: February 1994
Trubb Farm
Castleton
Rochdale

Position Held: HGV Class 1 Driver

Agency Work From: March 1992 to: October 1992

From: 21st May 1984 to: March 1992
Chichester Street,
Rochdale.

Position Held: H.G.V. Class 1 Driver - Night Trunk(now closed down)

, From: September, 1983 to: 20th May, 1984
Grimshaw Lane,
Middleton,
Manchester.

Position Held: H.G.V. Driver

ADDITIONAL I have held a clean HGV/LGV 1 licence for 32 years and hold
INFORMATION: an A.D.R. licence in tanks and packages. I am in possession
Of a digital tacho card . I have experience in
Most forms of transport e.g. flatbed, taut liner, box, fridges and
Containers. I have a 100% attendance record for the last 15
Years and am trustworthy and a good timekeeper. I have
Done trunk work, national/local deliveries and also shunting for a busy parcel depot.

REFERENCES: I can supply names and addresses if requested

Hope that gives you some pointers mate

3

Re - AGE

If over 25 just put that so they know you are ok for insurance.

4

Thanks Getz… You will have every african who is in an internet cafe buying everything on the shopping channel in your name…By the way ,Thanks for the flat screen :open_mouth:

5

cheers for that gezt,

some ideas there so i will give it a bash and see how i get on.

any more for anymore

Rog - as i am only 36 and had my C+E for a year should i put my age to show that i am a newbie but an older one c(if you know what i mean?)

6

mucksavaga:
Thanks Getz… You will have every african who is in an internet cafe buying everything on the shopping channel in your name…By the way ,Thanks for the flat screen :open_mouth:

Well you won’t get anything cos you spelt name wrong :laughing: :laughing: its gezt not getz

7

Only kidding Gezt never got a flat screen your credit rating would’nt stretch that far made do with a tom tom instead :smiley: :smiley:

8

Do you want me to email a copy of my CV to you Lee?
It was written for me by my dad who used to do a bit of hiring and firing…

9

DAF95XF:
Do you want me to email a copy of my CV to you Lee?
It was written for me by my dad who used to do a bit of hiring and firing…

if you would please mate? pm sent with email addy

10

Giblsa:

DAF95XF:
Do you want me to email a copy of my CV to you Lee?
It was written for me by my dad who used to do a bit of hiring and firing…

if you would please mate? pm sent with email addy

You have email… :wink:

11

Pretty much what’s been said above, but with the following to bear in mind…

  1. No more than two pages of A4 paper.

  2. Keep it brief and simple. Use a spell-checker.The main selling points need to be within the first two paragraphs; if in doubt, write CV out and then get the missus to read it for 30 seconds, and find out how far she got. That’s how long the average TM will give to your CV before the phone rings and distracts him or he gets bored. Bear in mind he’s likely to be sifting through dozens of these. You need to sell yourself before his phone rings again. That additional information (ADR, FLT etc) needs to be BEFORE your work history for that reason; he needs to know first if you’ve got the tools for the job.

  3. Only the last five years of employment need to be meticulously detailed. Over that, unless it’s a high-security job like CIT or bonded goods, it’s pretty irrelevant so keep it to month not exact date, and if you only did a couple of weeks for a firm you can risk skipping it. As stated in sample CV, if firm closed down say so. Reason for leaving not essential, if they want to know they’ll ask and if your version differs markedly from firms when reference given it’ll count against you.

  4. References on request is a good idea; if they want to take it further it means they’ve got to contact you again. However, if you are certain of a cast-iron good reference from a former employer include the details.

  5. I consider this the most important part; BE HONEST! If they specialise in something which is new to you, stress that you are a quick learner, flexible and adaptable. Don’t try kidology; it never works.

As a former TM and recruitment consultant I’ve probably seen more CV’s than most. If you’d like me to proof-read your finished one (strictly in confidence of course) I’m happy to help.

12

just to add to the above,get proper cv paper(its silky to touch better quality paper).it costs a bit more,when i used it i reserved it for “special” companies i applied to.most remarked at the interviews on the effort made.

13

Don’t print it, email it. No paper needed. And put your personal details, licence, and most recent job first. Put your schooling on page 2 along with other interests. Are you applying for the office or the road ? And scan your licences and other relevant stuff and post it online too. Then it’s there if they want it. I’ve never had any trouble.

14

I have posted about 200 CV’s around the Merseyside area and the current reply rate is about 10-15%,bearing in mind that mailing CV’s is akin to sending junk mail,nobody is under any obligation to respond as that costs both time and money.Something else to bear in mind is the security of your personal information in these days of fraud.You have no idea who gets to read your CV or if it gets thrown away if it is shredded.

As regards date of birth I certainly would not put it on a CV as it can be implied from your work experience.Age discrimination is supposed to be illegal but how many fifty year olds do you see working in TopShop ? It obviously goes on .

Avoid using any form of Industry jargon as no one will understand it as is the case with those industry specific qualification acronyms.For example if you have an ADR license there is no need to list all the categories on it but equally a description of what it is to the uninitiated would help.“I have an ADR (Hazardous Goods) licence”

Being a single male without children is the most attractive proposition for any company so if that is your situation , highlight it.Having kids means having time off,having more rights,paternity leave,more rules and regulations for an employer to comply with.

Do not draw attention to any outside interests that you may have that could potentially conflict with a job.

Try to relate anything in other jobs you have done to the one you are applying for.

15

gnasty gnome:
As a former TM and recruitment consultant I’ve probably seen more CV’s than most. If you’d like me to proof-read your finished one (strictly in confidence of course) I’m happy to help.

that would be very much appreciated if you would. can you send me your email address and i will whizz a copy across to you.

many thanks for the offer

Lee G