I've always loathed them, but as I'm currently applying for roles in a different sector I'm finding I need an opportunity to explain my desires to change path.
What is the STW consensus?
Do you write them in the first person?
Couldn't you do that in the covering letter?
Anyway always, always in the first person.
Not a huge amount of experience on this, but:
1) I have one in the first person, and seem to have got myself a good job
2) most of the people we interviewed for the last two jobs we advertised had one
Personally, I think If well written it shows that you actually want the Job and what drives you. It's important to find some way of conveying those two points to the reader one way or another
They seem to be all the rage, but I don't see the point, after all no one writes
"I am a lazy slacker who intends to milk my employer for all he is worth whilst doing the minimum work possible to avoid being fired."
Oi footflaps. Where did you get my CV from?
They seem to be all the rage, but I don't see the point, after all no one writes
the point is to summarise your entire career so that you can tell whether you could do the job just from reading that as no one wants to read hundreds of CV
I prefer
Line 1: what it is that you do
Line 2 What experience you have
Line3 what you are after
for example
I am a big hitting audi driving IT consultant with 28 years experience working in a darkened room with SQL and spreadhseets. I have experience of working with Linux, domain registration, creating user profiles, problem solving and I am a microsoft certifed ENTER QUALS HERE stuff rom role profile. I would like to work in a room with windows with people who are not imaginary
Something like that
The I am a hard worker , honest good team player, excellent ciommunicator [could not resist ]as as the poster notes pointless as no one say they are tardy, slovenly and do a slittle as possible etc.
Always put one in as the reader will expect it but make sure it lets them know you can do the job and have the relevant skills and experience
OP you are ****ed 😉
Serioulsy e-mail me for help /assistance- its in my profile
I have one. It's written in the third person eg
A total nutjob who gets the job done through sheer force of personality and threats of violence...
😉
Clubber, I'm liking that statement - can I use it for my CV?
I would like to work in a room with windows with people who are not imaginary
Wow, my dream job - does such a world really exist?
I hate personal statements, I've never yet read one that was useful and starting your CV by wasting 20 seconds of my time on something that basically tells me nothing doesn't seem like a good start.
That said, I do find ones written in the third person quite funny, particularly the person who wrote "John has unsurpassed skills in X". So I got one of the acknowledged world experts at the time to ask him some questions. Turned out he wasn't unsurpassed afterall.
"I have a glib understanding of the subject and regularly interrupt my colleagues with non nonsensical statements peppered with acronyms in the vain attempt to impress them. So far this hasn't worked very well, so I am hoping to find a job in a company where this strategy will finally pay dividends."
footflaps, where'd you find my cv?
no
Very basic personal dets
Qualifications, and skills (*in keyword list style for engine searches)
Job history, latest first and more detailed
Write it in the third person, like Rio Ferdinand did when he said on telly....
"The TV, the music, the fashion - it all goes to make up Rio Ferdinand"
Then attach a picture of yourself doing the Zoolander Blue Steel look...
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No, seriously No.
You don't need it. Leave it to email conversation of telephone chit chats.. CV's are too long winded as it is.
footflaps - Member
Clubber, I'm liking that statement - can I use it for my CV?
Only if you ensure you give a credit to me 🙂
OP you are **** 😉
I don't get it 😳
Thanks for all your input peeps. No option for a covering letter in most cases, but I think I'm going to carry on without one.
Yes, and in the 1st person.
Seems to work quite well, too... Good interview to offer rate at the moment (long may it continue!)
[url= http://jaburrow.co.uk/Julian/CV.aspx ]Here...[/url]
It wouldn't get past me Julian too much BS for me.
If people make substantial claims in their personnel profile then I would be looking for hard evidence to substantiate it in the remainder of their resume. I am with Junkyard on this one short and factual and no overtly subjective statements.
@GJP - Each to their own... (and it's 'Personal Profile', not 'Personnel Profile'!) As I said, it works for me, and keeps me getting offers.
What do you do, anyway? Hope you're not recruiting for my next role!
[Edit] I can substantiate that profile, too. The rest of the CV should do that...