h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

....or beyond your ability to retain your sense of humour and your sanity!

Hi there, 77-year-old Researcher 240946. Why not pick a name so that we'll know what to call you? Also, post something on your home page so that we can contact you there by replying to it.

ONE PAGE ONLY!
There are many opinions on the 'ideal' size. The one-pager side was explained for that one auntie's company, the two-pager side suggests that a one-pager is more easily lost or stuck to something and the staple helps it from getting missed, the three-or-more pager side suggests that every kernel of information they include is necessary to capture their history.

The truth is that the CV or resume' is just an opportunity to present oneselves in a positive enough light to get one's foot in the door for an interview. While a one-pager will probably do for most people, I happen to keep mine at two-pages; but the employer is most interested in your last two to five years of background, your position, your education, and your professional certifications (and maybe your professional memberships).

The only time that earlier work will have an impact is if you want to re-enter a field that you left. Anything that won't fit on the one (or two) page resume, that is pertinent to the position, can be referred to in the cover letter. This is just as important a document as the CV itself.

Another thing to be aware of: Many larger employers are not utilising computers to scan your Cover Leter, CV (or resume), and anything else you send in. The more sophisticated systems create an image file, a use OCR to create a text file. The text file is then read by an artificial intelligence program to fill an application form with your home, school, and work contact data; all of your employment history, including any mentioned job titles, salaries, locations; it catures your schools, your grade averages, your majors; etc., etc.

I hope this helps someone.

Hi there, 77-year-old Researcher 240946. Why not pick a name so that we'll know what to call you? Also, post something on your home page so that we can contact you there by replying to it.

ONE PAGE ONLY!
There are many opinions on the 'ideal' size. The one-pager side was explained for that one auntie's company, the two-pager side suggests that a one-pager is more easily lost or stuck to something and the staple helps it from getting missed, the three-or-more pager side suggests that every kernel of information they include is necessary to capture their history.

The truth is that the CV or resume' is just an opportunity to present oneselves in a positive enough light to get one's foot in the door for an interview. While a one-pager will probably do for most people, I happen to keep mine at two-pages; but the employer is most interested in your last two to five years of background, your position, your education, and your professional certifications (and maybe your professional memberships).

The only time that earlier work will have an impact is if you want to re-enter a field that you left. Anything that won't fit on the one (or two) page resume, that is pertinent to the position, can be referred to in the cover letter. This is just as important a document as the CV itself.

Another thing to be aware of: Many larger employers are now utilising computers to scan your Cover Leter, CV (or resume), and anything else you send in. The more sophisticated systems create an image file, a use OCR to create a text file. The text file is then read by an artificial intelligence program to fill an application form with your home, school, and work contact data; all of your employment history, including any mentioned job titles, salaries, locations; it catures your schools, your grade averages, your majors; etc., etc.

I hope this helps someone.

Hi there, 77-year-old Researcher 240946. Why not pick a name so that we'll know what to call you? Also, post something on your home page so that we can contact you there by replying to it.

ONE PAGE ONLY!
There are many opinions on the 'ideal' size. The one-pager side was explained for that one auntie's company, the two-pager side suggests that a one-pager is more easily lost or stuck to something and the staple helps it from getting missed, the three-or-more pager side suggests that every kernel of information they include is necessary to capture their history.

The truth is that the CV or resume' is just an opportunity to present oneselves in a positive enough light to get one's foot in the door for an interview. While a one-pager will probably do for most people, I happen to keep mine at two-pages; but the employer is most interested in your last two to five years of background, your position, your education, and your professional certifications (and maybe your professional memberships).

The only time that earlier work will have an impact is if you want to re-enter a field that you left. Anything that won't fit on the one (or two) page resume, that is pertinent to the position, can be referred to in the cover letter. This is just as important a document as the CV itself.

Another thing to be aware of: Many larger employers are now utilising computers to scan your Cover Leter, CV (or resume), and anything else you send in. The more sophisticated systems create an image file, a use OCR to create a text file. The text file is then read by an artificial intelligence program to fill an application form with your home, school, and work contact data; all of your employment history, including any mentioned job titles, salaries, locations; it catures your schools, your grade averages, your majors; etc., etc.

I hope this helps someone.

Hi there, 77-year-old Researcher 240946. Why not pick a name so that we'll know what to call you? Also, post something on your home page so that we can contact you there by replying to it.

ONE PAGE ONLY!
There are many opinions on the 'ideal' size. The one-pager side was explained for that one auntie's company, the two-pager side suggests that a one-pager is more easily lost or stuck to something and the staple helps it from getting missed, the three-or-more pager side suggests that every kernel of information they include is necessary to capture their history.

The truth is that the CV or resume' is just an opportunity to present oneselves in a positive enough light to get one's foot in the door for an interview. While a one-pager will probably do for most people, I happen to keep mine at two-pages; but the employer is most interested in your last two to five years of background, your position, your education, and your professional certifications (and maybe your professional memberships).

The only time that earlier work will have an impact is if you want to re-enter a field that you left. Anything that won't fit on the one (or two) page resume, that is pertinent to the position, can be referred to in the cover letter. This is just as important a document as the CV itself.

Another thing to be aware of: Many larger employers are now utilising computers to scan your Cover Leter, CV (or resume), and anything else you send in. The more sophisticated systems create an image file, and use OCR to create a text file. The text file is then read by an artificial intelligence program to fill an application form with your home, school, and work contact data; all of your employment history, including any mentioned job titles, salaries, locations; it catures your schools, your grade averages, your majors; etc., etc.

I hope this helps someone.

Hi There FT, Looks like you got the "triple post bug" as well Eh!
I still say experience should over ride so called bits of paper saying to employers that you are bright
I have worked with people who had Dr. in their names, and as much common sense as a 3year old???
Smudger.

Hey there, Smudger!

Yes, I've noticed that I'm not the only one 'tripling'. I suspect it has something to do with the repetiting lag on the BBC server.

I couldn't agree more about valuing experience over a pretty CV/resume. And, we may know the same 'doctors'. I've also known some highly talented, experienced, and intelligent people who could not put together a resume that could be comprehended by anyone of lesser ability.

Some are an unreadable 9-pagers, some don't have a word under fifteen syllables, some use such a diverse set of acronyms that one must be a specialized version of etymologist to interpret half of them.

These people just need a bit of help putting together a more attractive and informative document.

We have seen on this thread that the final decision maker will probably never see a CV/resume that does not make it past the initial screening by a sub-sub-subordinate who is unlikely to have the background to recognize applicable experience; they are just looking for an easy to read resume that fits the minimum requirements as they understand them.

Mine have halped me change careers twice in the last fifteen years, both times during high unemployment and hiring freezes at the places that took me on. That's probably the trickiest of CVs, trying to relate past experience to a position you've never held, and whose requirements call for a specific background.

[If anyone's interested, I use a chronological document that inludes:

My Name
Contact information
Career Summary
Current Career Objective

and the following for each position listed (concentrating on the most recent and applicable of the previous positions, focused towards desired position's requirements):

Year or Years employed - Employer Name; Employer Address; Job Title
Job Elements/Duties (bullet points)
Accomplishments/Highlights (bullet points)
And, if absolutely necessary, an additional line of description of a particular success.

Formal Education
Additional Training and Skills

Community Service / Interests]

That looks like the best lay out FT, mine was similar to that due to the fact that I went from being a welding inspector to an ambulanceman? a change I know. Yet it was only to keep myself in full employment, on hind sight not a good move as I am now disabled due to back injury
I must admit I do not miss the cut & thrust world of chasing jobs these days, explaining my work life to some youing pip squeek fresh out some collage or uni. who has never done a days graft in his life. No not me any more, the body may be done but the brain & pride remain
Smudger.

Smudger, you sound like a kinsman.

My first part-time job was manual labour, and my first 'real' full-time job was in a trade. I didn't mind the physical stuff; at times a rhythm would kick in and it was almost like a dance. But, I started taking any training that was offered.

But, technology and economy were threatening the whole trade as a life-long option, so I accepted a generous severence and went to work for a large corporation. Fortunately, those skills still had some application there.

I started off doing similar trade-type work, until the facility was cut, and exercised an option to stay on. If it wasn't for the fact that I had been using there education reimbursement to start uni, I'd never have made that cut. I'd was near getting my 2-year degree, as luck would have it, and it was enough to make the difference.

After the switch, I realised that I needed the piece of parchment to prove that I could do what I was already doing. I finished the two-year and started on the four. I had less than a year left when a downsizing effort put me back on their radar.

I took advantage of another great package deal and stayed in school while looking for career #3. They called me because of a CV/resume posting I made on a job search website. The interview went well, and I went back to work with a raise, and a new career.

I've since finished the four-year and am looking at a Master's. Personal growth, I believe, is the only job security we can find in this world.

I have a great respect for uni, but you are right about students who gain the book knowledge, and have no practical experionce. They are at a disadvantae even if they do get the job. My grades were pretty good, even excellent, not because I was so much more intelligent than my average classmate, but because I'd been around and picked up a lot of knowledge. It's amazing, sometimes, what they don't know.

I'm not looking forward to it, but there is a whisper that before I can get the Master's, I may be seeing this position disappear. I'm working with several PhD and Masters graduates, and I haven't seen anyone who is entirely safe in this economy.

This weekend I changed an ignition lock cylinder in my son's car, something I've not training on, and hadn't a clue where to start. It has a very interesting security system that had to be handled. It's nowhere near my realm of experience, but my motto is: 'I learn something new every day'. Keeps the old brain cells from wandering off looking for something more interesting to do.

Hi FT, If youve read my home page you will see that I started off as a welder, then worked up to inspector and instructor, even ended up as QA manager on a refinery job in Turkey!
Never had any bits of paper, but as you say you can learn a lot more with just experience. Im not knocking higher education, its just that I left school when I was 15 and worked all my life, I would have loved the chance to go on to higher education, but it was not an option for me The exams I had to pass just to get into the ambulance service were all in metric? but I still got through, when at least 8 younger applicants who had just left full time education, failed?
Lets just say, Im glad Im out of the rat race now I feel Ive done my bit
Smudger.