C.V

[Sparky Stu]

Hi was wondering what you look for on C.V's as i have been applying for any and every electrical job that is going in my area for the last 2 yrs with no luck, not even a sniff at an interview.

I have completed my 2330 levels 2 & 3, 2382 and 2377. I am not nor have been in the industry (currently a bus driver) so i am desperate to get in.

Just asking for ideas and tips really as beginning to feel a tad down about it.

 

[ian.settle1]

Don't take this personal but if you don't have any experiance and an employer has the choose between you and someone with it then they are going to take them

 

[malcolmsanford]

In the current climate Stu there is not a lot of comfort to give you.

Most large companies use a scanner system to check CV's so I would normally tailor a CV to each job, so if the job advert asks for certain skills you work them into your cv and the scanner will pick that up and your CV will then move onto a real person.

Never have a CV longer than 2 pages, first page should be about you on the top a profile. then a brief outline of your last jobs, maxium 15yrs, you can always put at the bottom of this " Further history available on request" and title this Skills and Achievemants. Then finally your qualifications

As a smaller company I have to admit to bias. I would look in this order at qualifications, apprenticeship, experience. I would then expect to see his last few jobs and take it from there.

 

[Sparky Stu]

Its just a bit frustrating as people ask for experience but i cannot get any without getting a job first.

Kind of makes you think about doing jobs on the side to get the experience but then again i wouldn't do that as most things are notifiable and wouldn't even be able to show that experience to a prospective employer anyway. aaaarrrrrgggghhh

 

[jamesm]

know just how you feel, its all a bit catch 22.

aaaaarrrrrrrgggggghhh indeed.

 

[One_of_them]

you need to put yourself out there mate offering free labour. Get the yellow book and ring every local sparky and explain your situation, offering a free pair of hands on any work they have going. If you coming in from another career, without the experience employers will not look twice so if you can get some hands on, put this on your CV and its a start. Friend of mine done exactly this and now works for the bloke full time

And not every job is "notifiable" however you need to know what your doing and be properly insured should the worst happen. Its not all just about electrics either e.g should you bang a hole through a wall where it shouldn't be, could you confidently sort it out??

hope it works out mate and whatever you do "DON'T LET THE F*****S GRIND YOU DOWN" chin up, think positive and keep learning.