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Just a quickie here if anyone works in or around Recruitment (or anyone really!). Current job is not working out as desired, so about to sort out my CV again. I'm at the point now where I've had 6 or 7 previous jobs over 25 years, and going into full 'roles and responsibilities' of all of them is starting to get 'wordy' (into 6 pages now).
I'm thinking of having 2 copies, one 'Magna Carta' with full detail, and then almost a summary edition having detail on the last 2 or 3 positions, with 'more detail available on request' on the other headings, just to try and get it back down to 2 pages.
Personal Statement, Qualifications/Training and Interests probably included on both.
Market is Private Sector Construction Industry, Senior Commercial Team
Basically is a 6 page CV too much? I probably would rather the full document and just skim, but interested in other opinions.
Keep to two pages tops, ideally one. What you did as a junior whatever role 20+ years ago isn't relevant at all. Half a page for the latest job, couple of lines for the previous, brief summary (as in dates, job title, company) of ones older that that.
It's to get them interested enough to give you a call or invite for interview, if they want more about the older stuff then they can ask for it then.
I'm in the process of doing mine as want out of the job i've been doing for the last 17 years. I've been told by everyone that 2 pages max is the way to go.
What he said, but also be prepared to edit it for the specific role if you’re replying to job offers rather than sending a multipurpose cv to a recruiter etc.
Just put the stuff that relates most directly to the job and don’t write an essay.
I’m at the point now where I’ve had 6 or 7 previous jobs over 25 years, and going into full ‘roles and responsibilities’ of all of them is starting to get ‘wordy’
Try writing a CV when you've had 25 previous jobs over 6 or 7 years.
Just ignore everything that isn't relevant to the job you're applying for.
Two pages. Ditch the personal statement unless if you can keep it to one short paragraph. Personal statement type stuff can be put into covering letter, which should be heavily customised for each application
25 jobs or 25 "contracts" ?
Makes me think you're lacking commitment, or difficult to work with. Probably not the case but the thought entered my head.
I've always increased / decreased the amount of information on previous employment based on which job I'm applying for. Unless doing a blanket CV for recruitment agency or email/post spam - in which case a gradual increase in information from oldest to newest.
You need to provide enough information for a foot in the door, peeking enough interest in your to gain the interview which is the way in.
You can pay people to help with this stuff. My wife did, it was a few hundred pounds. Answered a questionnaire, had a discussion then reviews a couple of drafts. Could be well worth it.
Alternatively chat gpt is good for inspiration. Throw what you have at it and ask for it back in two pages. Give it some specifics and it works better. E.g what skills or period to focus on.
2 pages is about the limit. You can remove a lot of stuff. References, contact details (mine just has name, phone, email, location in the header). I do what you have one, start with a longer version and trim it. Older stuff matters less if you've moved up in responsibilities etc.
I'm of the opinion that a CV is as long as it needs to be. But no-one is going to read a six page CV, that's excessive. Mine's too long at four. Distilling a decade of your life into one sentence is really difficult I know, but the cold hard fact is that nobody cares that you flipped burgers for six months in 1995.
Don't get fixated on it being short. Depending on the role, the first pass of many CV assessments is done by a machine which, within reason, doesn't care how long it is. 4 pages is fine, 6 pages is OK if you have lots of different experience and or qualifications.
Two pages might work well for someone 5 years into their career who has done a degree and has a couple of jobs. It might not work so well with someone who is 25 years in and has a load of relevant experiences and qualifications.
If you have 25 years experience, qualifications achieved many years ago will be less relevant than what you've delivered in your last job.
Keep it to two pages, i.e. one piece of A4 paper, because 2023, or not, someone will print your CV out.
Someone reading your CV will be asking themselves, why should I interview this person? Does your CV answer that? How will hiring you benefit this company?
Finally, what is the core purpose of the role you are applying for? Does your CV demonstrate that you can fulfil that? For example if it is the commercial side of construction and you have a sales target, how much have you sold in the last 2-3 years?
If you have 25 years experience, qualifications achieved many years ago will be less relevant than what you’ve delivered in your last job.
That very much depends on what that experience and those qualifications are, what job you currently have and what role you are applying for.
Put in as much detail is relevant, but don't be fixated on keeping it to 2 pages.