was making a new CV last night for the new year.. since i left college in 1998 ive had 14 jobs... is that to many? think i should leave some off the CV otherwise it will be a 20 page epic.. will list companies and jobs and see if anyone can trump it. Also have to include living in Oz for a year and being off work for 6 months after being in a coma...
The Cutty Sark (ship not pub) - Crew member
Dixons Lewisham- sales assistant
charlton athletic - turnstyle operator
r & d multiplan - electricians mate.
alpha photographic agency - dark room assistant
london management - actors agents assistant/voice over and comedy department
merrill lynch - post room op
orange -post room op
linklatters - post room op
stagecoach - bus driver
greenwich counci -l bus driver
curtis brown - entertainment industry, comedy and presenters department assistant
charlton manor - caretaker
revolution - area manager/ site manager
i have lost a few jobs due to reduncany, never been sacked or fired, i think its fair to say im still looking for my vocation in life... any lucky buggers out there who have had the one job since school and love it to death?? also those that know me, any ideas of job suggestions? apart from crisp taster for walkers crisps and sumo wrestler...
Comments
Adam, in my opinion gaps in job history are the greater evil. Leaves it open to suggestion and gives them another question to ask you. If you then explain what you were doing they will then wonder why you didn't put it on in the first place and have them wondering why you left it off (sacked? etc). 14 is a lot in 11 years. I've had 2 in 26 including my current one.
Robert Lee impersonator.
Sorry couldn't resist! Will try and come up with something serious and sensible.
They interpret these things how they want and depending on what day of the week it is!
Like you did I've worked at the same place (albeit under different ownership) for a long time. On the occasions I have put feelers out (or been approached) some have admired my "loyalty" others have concluded, without interview, that because I've not moved for a long time I lack ambition.
Which is right? Pay your money and take your choice!
If it was me I'd be honest and, as you say, let them ask any questions. It may also help you assess whether they are the type of people you would be happy working with / for anyway.
Also your CV is the wrong way round. Most recent first as that will normally be the more impressive job. You do need to taylor you CV for the job/company you're applying for.
Email it over if you want some in depth professional advice : - ) No charge.
I think the photoagency work was your ideal. I know someone who's a photo researcher. Maybe try for that.
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Spell "turnstile" properly - unless you were actually designing clothes for the CAFC Superstore. :-)
How about bigging up some of the job titles? Rather than "Post Room Op" - how about "Data Distribution Team Leader". Turnstile Operator could be something like Consumer Admissions Oversight.
Seriously though don't you need to mention PSV/PCV in the bus driver bit - gets the prospective employer focused on your ability to take and pass exams?
Tailor the cv for the job you are going for. Research the company you want to work for and repeat key phrases and lingo that you see on their website. If their mission statement is 'Always focused on the customer' then that's how you describe yourself on the cv. Most recent job first, but before then a couple of sentences that describe you and your outlook.
If you are less than certain on spelling, punctuation etc then get it checked by someone. Just because there are no squigly lines on the screen doesn't mean that there aren't spelling mistakes. Where I work we chuck cvs with mistakes in the bin.
Read the job ad carefully. If it says send the cv in the body of an email then do that, don't attach. If it asks for particular skills, make sure the first para of the cv and covering letter show that you have those skills in abundance. And you lived in Oz for a year, so presumably you are resourceful and flexible. That needs to be bought out.
Think about shared skills. What elements of previous jobs need skills that will be necessary in the job you are going for now.
And good luck. It's hard out there but so many candidates make little to no effort.
For full time employment the serious stuff
I joined Coca Cola at 18 and i am still here at the age of 36
Do i love my job
Yeah right now i do but there have been times that i honestly thought about leaving and trying something else
I have had 10 different jobs in Coca Cola so i suppose that counts as differnt jobs
Should i succeed in this new role then my CV will have some amazing refrence points to look back upon,
for me the Olympics is key in 2012 do well and who knows what 2013 brings, fail and i know what it will bring
Once in a life time
It would be impossible for me to put all the jobs I've had on four pages, let alone one, so it's inevitable that something has to go or be 're-written.' I have to make an effort to really remember what I've done anyway. Some of the companies I've worked for have since gone bust, were overseas, or probably never legally existed in the first place so who's to know the difference!
The point is Adam that all the people contributing to this thread have varying degrees of success or longevity in their posts so it's not possible to make one rule that fits all. The bottom line is that you have to SEEM interesting so adapt your CV to do that.
If you've been travelling then you have to leave some gaps in the CV. Anyone who assumes that you must have been to prison or suchlike (as mentionned above) must be the sort of short-sighted arse that isn't worth working for anyway.
AXA Travel Insurance
Watson Wyatt
The Fitness Zone
Sunglass Hut Xmas temp
Sainsbury's summer temp
All Sports Xmas Temp
Amici Summer temp
Actual jobs since college 3 in 5 years!