What Does It Take To Get A Job?

[rah]

I completely agree with those that have mentioned keeping it to one page. A second page should be reserved for references and only be provided upon specific request. Personally I don't bother looking at multi page one. I figure the person doesn't have the skill to be concise or has too big of an ego. But that's just me. (after looking at thousands of resumes, you get into a routine to subset them to the ones you're going to actually look at)

[Gibsie]

UR - in vitro may be Latin, but it's a recognised term for microbiological work, and no sane employer would find anything negative about its inclusion (as I'm sure PH would have said).

PH might also want to include some statistical packages in the IT section so that any potential employer knows that you can and you have the ability for your work. In my interview that was an important factor, at least.

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by MikeH
I like Ranger's layout and the way he's simplified things.

I agree.

Also, if there is anyway at all to hint that you intend to finish your studies, that you are continuing them etc... you have to put that in. Even if you don't plan to.

[Urban Ranger]

Gibsie,

Sure, but you have to remember that the CV will be first read by somebody from HR, so you have to assume that they don't have they specific vocabulary to handle special terms and such.

[Urban Ranger]

Old Boys Network

It just struck me that why didn't you tap into the Old Boys Network? You graduated from Oxford afterall.

Go down to the alumni office and look up all the alumni who's working in biochem companies and such. Proceed from there.

/me smacks himself for being thick

[Provost Harrison]

Well as I only graduated a few years ago there is no one in a position like that, and besides, most of my friends went on to PhD positions or more medically related stuff (those who were doing biochemistry).

And no, I do not have any professional memberships, experience in any particular statistical packages (excluding Excel - I was supposed to go on an SPSS course but the department kept putting it off all the time, so I never got that one ).

[rah]

SPSS booooo. But our clients use it more.
SAS rocks. There's always lots of jobs for SAS programmers or statisticians that can use SAS.

Rich

[Provost Harrison]

Well they had SPSS in the department so that is the course I would go on, don't know about SAS though mind you.

[rah]

SPSS is more for the Programming challanged people.

SAS is a full robust programming language with excellent statistical procedures.

All of my employees are SAS programmers and about half of them know enough SPSS to help our account groups and clients.

Rich
Knowing SAS would be an excelent resume stuffer.

If you had a copy of SPSS, you could probably teach yourself how to use it in a matter of days. It's reasonably intueitive.

[Provost Harrison]

Yeah, I reckon I could, but alas, I don't have a copy. If only I had 'borrowed' it from the department overnight in the past

[rah]

Yes, that would have helped. I think a single copy of SPSS base runs for about $1,300 US. hmmmm, wonder if I could find a copy.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
Well as I only graduated a few years ago there is no one in a position like that, and besides, most of my friends went on to PhD positions or more medically related stuff (those who were doing biochemistry).

No, no, no, not the people from your class. Graduates who are in their forties and fifties.

[MOBIUS]

CV's really are in the eye of the beholder - although there are national variations...

Imagine my horror when I got to Australia and found out that I stood more of a chance getting a job if I 'bulked' it up from a reasonably svelte 2 pages to a humungous 4 pages!!!

I was so shocked I needed a 2nd and 3rd opinion, but apparently that's how they do it here...

As for the one page thing - I have done more noteworthy jobs in my time that even if I just put my name, contact details and just two lines for each relevant job I would STILL need two pages!!!

There was a time I had a one pager, but it was so devoid of any real substance that it didn't seem to be as successful as my two page London special and covering letter combo...

Anyway, to Rich...

Kill that email address!

Format your CV to look professional, you say you use Word - prove it! Mine uses Headers and Footers, Justified Text, Indents, Borders, Bullets etc... And it still manages to look clean with the relevant headings etc still able to jump out and be seen by that searching eye...

For instance, all my address and contact details take up only two lines as make use of the column feature coupled with aligning to the outside of the page.

For your PhD I'd 'double entry' it as work experience and education, obviously not duplicating it word for word. Work Exp before Edu IMO.

Also your refs can go as UR has done - waste of space, bring them with you to your I/V...

Cut the waffle. Why use three words when only one is required.

Cut out any 'negativity' such as the reason for leaving. I/V room stuff.

Seed you CV with 'keywords', use the technical term when possible as they usually stand out a mile and also reduce your word use.

As I said before I'm not saying mine is the Holy Grail, but as Hunter says... "I works for me!"

I have PM'ed you.

[Provost Harrison]

I have posted the file cv2.doc which is a more recent revision posted on here (although I have done more with it since but I will post it at some point later, I have changed it considerably since the first cv.doc I posted...as I say, I will post another one later when I have had the chance to do some looking at others

[Solly]

So let's see your completed, updated version.