CV help?

Pissin' Poonani · Post by **Pissin' Poonani** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 6:14 pm

Hi guys.

I'm about to start looking for work, and was wondering if any of you could advise me on the best way to lay out a CV, and what kind of info it should contain?

One thing that I'm really not sure how I should tackle is the fact that I haven't worked for about 4 years due to mental illness. I know this info may cost me a few options, but if I don't include it it could bite me in the arse at a later date.

Thanks.

Bouncelot · Post by **Bouncelot** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 6:59 pm

It's probably best to follow your name and contact details with a brief "personal statement" that explains in a couple of sentences who you are and what your key strengths are. Below that, a typical CV normally has employment and educational information, followed by things like hobbies and interests - choose ones that prove you have some kind of skill (e.g. team sports show you can work as part of a team).

However, as you've got a CV gap of four years, you're probably best condensing your employment info at the bottom along with hobbies and interests and instead having a section listing key skills for the type of job you're applying for.

You should also tailor your CV to the specific jobs you're applying for.

The Last Autobot · Post by **The Last Autobot** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 4:30 am

Try here:

http://www.resume-resource.com/samples.html

I dont recommend you to put about your mental illness It would severely affect your chances -people dont understand those issues too well.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:42 am

I've emailed you my CV in case that helps.

If you want to cover the mental illness, perhaps a covering letter would be the way to go. That info is not something you have to include tho.

And good luck.

Pissin' Poonani · Post by **Pissin' Poonani** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 1:26 pm

Thanks for the help and advice guys, and thanks Dave for sending me your CV-it's nice to see an actual example of one.

As far as the mental illness thing goes, I won't put it on the CV but I will talk about it at any interviews-I have on going problems so it's probably safer to bring it up and have them aware of the problem than have them find out the hard way and use it against me.

Once again, thanks.

Pissin' Poonani · Post by **Pissin' Poonani** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 5:34 pm

Well, I done got meself a job.

It's only part time, but hopefully it will be full time sooner rather than later, and at least it gets me used to the idea of working again after being out of the loop for nearly 4 years.

I find myself feeling this mix of fear and excitement-I know that sounds wanky, but I carry a battleship full of self-doubt with me wherever I go (and that wasn't supposed to sound so self-pitying-honest!), but I need to start somewhere or I'll just rot the rest of my life away.

Ok, as always there is a question and a request for help: Do any of you know much about pensions? I should imagine I'll get one via my new job, but I also have 2 other pension plans already that I don't know what to do with (left over from my previous 2 jobs).

So if any one could advise me on what my best options are, that would be great.

In case it's useful, the companies I have pensions with are Scottish Life, and Alexander Forbes.

Ta.