CV help?

JoeF2k2

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can anyone give me any tips and pointers regarding this CV, position she is applying for is export administrator. I have been told by my manager she should write what programs she can use such as word, excel and others and included absolutely everything, but where would i include it?

Personal Profile

I am an experienced Administrator with excellent customer service skills. I am a quick learner, highly flexible and adaptable to changing organizational needs. I enjoy leading and working within a very successful team. I am very successful at motivating others. I have extensive customer service experience in a variety of roles and possess excellent telephone and administration skills I can communicate concisely at all levels.

Education and Training

2004 CovWise Limited
Undertook computer and information technology course (CLAIT)

1999-2002 Sydney Stringer Community & Technology College

Record of Achievement

GCSE
OCR Level 1 Certificate For IT Users (New CLAIT)
OCR Level 2 NVQ in Administration
OCR Information Technology Skills
OCR Office Practice
Max Factor Cosmetics Certificate
First Aid Certificate
Fire Safety Course
Level 2 NVQ Team Leading


EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

May 2009 – Present Reception Manager/Administrator

I am currently working as a reception manager at the ***** hotel in ****8, my duties include managing of the reception desk, checking guests in and out, training of staff and dealing with rota's. Typing of letters, sorting out bills, arranging wake up calls, newspapers and any other administrative tasks as and when required. I also cover shifts as a guest care manager dealing with all guests needs.

Jan 2008 – May 2009 Reception Manager/Administrator

I worked as a Reception manager for ******, we run a 5-aside football league and also offer a bar/function room for hire at the weekends. I started as a receptionist and worked my way up to Reception Manager. My duties include running the league of an evening, arranging league fixtures, liaising with suppliers and bookers via telephone and email, Supervision and training of Reception staff, meeting weekly and monthly targets, managing budgets, recruiting new teams, sales, cashing up, dealing with collections and ensuring the branch runs smoothly on a daily basis.

April 2006 - March 2007 Receptionist/Administrator/Accounts Assistant

I worked as a receptionist/administrator with ******8 where I undertook several duties which included filing, faxing, typing of letters, processing orders, data input, raising invoices, answering of telephone, liaising with customers and suppliers as well as meeting and greeting guests, maintaining of the absence log, SAGE and running of the reception area. I spent a lot of my spare time studying towards an NVQ Level 2 in Administration and gaining a variety of skills on an IT/Administration course this is what prompted me to take this position although coming from a beauty/retail background.

Jan 2005 – April 2006 Max factor Account Manager

I worked within Boots as the account manager for Max factor, I loved my position and undertook several duties including training of consultants all accounts paper work, setting targets on a daily basis to ensure that period targets are met, ordering of stock, organizing of events to boost sales, traffic stopping, bringing customers and introducing them to Max factor cosmetics, full application of make up, demonstrations, special event organizing, promoting products and keeping my stand clean and tidy. I also introduce customers to Olay skin care as this is part of Procter and Gamble which is the owner of max factor to boost sales for the company as a whole and help promote our make up. It was here where the job of trouble-shooting and staying calm under pressure was learnt!

Nov 2002 - Jan 2005 Olan Mills Family Portrait & Makeover Studio Makeup Artist/Elegance Sales Manager

I secured the position of the make up artist/elegance sales manager for elegance makeover shoots within the Coventry store of Olan Mills Photographic Studios. I was fully trained within studios and undertook several tasks which include the application of makeup to customers before there elegance makeover photo shoot, hair styling, keeping changing rooms and makeup room clean and tidy, sales, meeting targets, generating sales leads and general reception duties.

Interests and Activities

Include: Formula 1, Sport, Hair, Beauty, Internet, Swimming and Travel.
 
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You would include it under a general "skills" sub-heading, or as appropriately titled

.....................

I would be inclined not to list every individual GCSE. Just put 5 A-C's*. If they want it, an interviewer will ask for it
*(obviously change it as applicable, I am just using the current minimum standard)

I would also remove your introductory paragraph
"I am an experienced Administrator with excellent customer service skills. I am a quick learner, highly flexible and adaptable to changing organizational needs. I enjoy leading and working within a very successful team. I am very successful at motivating others. I have extensive customer service experience in a variety of roles and possess excellent telephone and administration skills I can communicate concisely at all levels."

Interviewers/recruiters can draw inferences and this is all something which they should be getting from your past/current work experiences and your duties

Everything above is just my opinion
 
well i wouldnt put all gcses down anyway, so do you think there should be no opening paragraph and just straight into the skills / grades / qualifications
 
I have had another skim read and think your work experience descriptions could do with tightening up. For example remove the "I loved it" comment under Max Factor. That is something that you can say in an interview and should not be read on a piece of A4. And imo I would remove this line:
"It was here where the job of trouble-shooting and staying calm under pressure was learnt!"

Again that is something an interviewer/recruiter should get for themselves from reading your CV, not because you spelled it out to them. And "learnt" is not perfect grammar

Likewise I think you are not expanding or being precise enough. For example your Jan 2008 – May 2009 role. Was you a manager or an administrator? If you was the former then you need to say more about the team you managed. The five a side league should be separated out or removed entirely imo if it was not central to the job
 
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well i wouldnt put all gcses down anyway, so do you think there should be no opening paragraph and just straight into the skills / grades / qualifications

You should include a cover letter with your CV, your cover letter can be a more like an 'opening paragraph' as to why you think you are right for the job.

edit. Also it's worth tailoring your CV to each job your apply for.

Look at the required skills for the job, and make sure you use those key phrases/words in your CV.
 
You should include a cover letter with your CV, your cover letter can be a more like an 'opening paragraph' as to why you think you are right for the job.

edit. Also it's worth tailoring your CV to each job your apply for.

Look at the required skills for the job, and make sure you use those key phrases/words in your CV.

something like this or does it need to be better and more elaborate?

Re: Export Administrator

Please accept my application for the position of Export Administrator as advertised on the Job Centre website on the 11th October.

During my career I have gained extensive knowledge of working in a customer focused environment, I have demonstrated proficiency in all core office administration functions and have gained a solid understanding of the levels of customer service required within this role.

I have worked my way up from a Receptionist to my current position of Trainee Manager. In addition I have experience in supervising staff and working with a variety of clients which are valuable for company’s to move forward.

I have excellent communication and reception skills which include proficient use in Microsoft Word, Excel and many other software applications, as well as an NVQ Level 2 in administration. I am able to get the best out of a team by promoting a happy workplace environment and ensuring efficient workplace practices. I also work well alone. I am energetic, highly-motivated and detail-orientated.

I am looking for a suitable position where I can bring my experience and willingness to learn. I believe that I can make a substantial contribution to your company.

I look forward to your response and am available for an interview at any suitable time.

Yours sincerely
 
good stuff, thanks for taking time and pointing stuff out for me, its for my partner who is in a job from hell so this needs to be a good cover letter and cv.
 
good stuff, thanks for taking time and pointing stuff out for me, its for my partner who is in a job from hell so this needs to be a good cover letter and cv.

:) haha... same situation as me, trying to do what I can to get my partner out of a job in hell. :)
 
She neend to be prepared to answer why she has never been in a job for that much longer than a year and why there is a 6 month gap in the CV
 
the 6 month gap in the cv is sorted so that's not a prob, i understand what you mean though about why she aint been in jobs long, i said this to my manager and he said don't worry about that, he said if she has been on continuous employment then that's fine, obviously though it will be a factor
 
Interests and Activities

Include: Formula 1, Sport, Hair, Beauty, Internet, Swimming and Travel.
I recall Michael McIntyre talking about Interests and Activities (or possibly hobbies) on The Apprentice .... he said something like everyone lies on their CV if, in that section, they don't mention masturbation and watching TV.

"Sport" should cover F1, unless she's actively involved which should then be expanded upon, and how is "Internet" an interest? ... needs to expanded upon if it doesn't just mean "using the web and emailing like most of the population", which would probably not impress.
 
the 6 month gap in the cv is sorted so that's not a prob, i understand what you mean though about why she aint been in jobs long, i said this to my manager and he said don't worry about that, he said if she has been on continuous employment then that's fine, obviously though it will be a factor

If the gap is covered, then it should be on the CV, especiallay if she was traveling or something
 
the CV looks to long and boring to me. you need to keep it simple and just list the jobs and a brief list of duties required, not a narrative story. if the job is administrator you need to present your CV as you would your work, thus short and sweet, only the important points, use bullet points etc

i'd also skip the hobbies section on any CV unless they are relevant to the job, and that's usually if it's a specialised job. if applying to work in a bike store you might want to mention your hobby of mountain biking and repairing bikes, and how you rode around the world, but hair, beauty and internet don't make the applicant seem more appealing to an admin job. if the employer is interested in hobbies they can be discussed at the interview. oh, and don't say your hobies are watching movies, wine tasting and computers, as that translates into "lazy drunken git"

the i did, i this that and the other doesn't sound good either, and writing in the third party isn't good either. it just makes you sound like an idiot (ie. "Mr Joe Bloggs is an excellent worker, he did blah blah"). and don't mention you enjoyed or didn't like a job, as it's clear you didn't like the other jobs if you mention you enjoyed one. keep to the facts. if it's relevant you can mention "i enjoy photocopying, and i look forward to spending hours every day filing and making the tea", but don't write a biography as a covering letter, just a few short lines. many interviewers neither have the time or inclination to read through loads of long CV's, so make thier job easy by keeping it short with bullet points so it can be speed read in 30 seconds instead of ignored because they can't be bothered wading through it. it's a representation of your work, so they don't want an admin person to write a novel each time they ask for some data

oh, and you should try and make tangable references, as things like "i am excellent at" mean nothing as one persons idea of excellence is different to another. few people are going to say "i am crap at". instead try, "trained to standard XYZ qualification" or "10 years experience in...", again relevant to the job. swimming certificates and kung fu belts are irrelevant to an admin post, so don't bother telling anyone. in some way the less personal the CV, the more professional it can look
 
Personal Profile

I am a Mature, responsible and hardworking individual, who always strives to achieve the highest standard possible, I possess excellent telephone skills along with excellent customer service skills (verbal and written) and the ability to relate to wide range of people. I'm a Confident and very enthusiastic individual who is always keen to learn new skills. I have the ability to work effectively within a team and the initiative to handle difficult situations without guidance.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

May 2009 – Present Trainee Manager

• Managing of the reception desk
• Checking guests in and out
• Training of staff
• Preparation of rota's
• Typing of letters and any other Administrative tasks required
• Sorting out bills and customer issues
• Arranging wake up calls
• Preparation of suites for corporate hospitality and weddings
• Covering shifts as guest care manager

Mar 2007 –May 2009 ******* Ltd Assistant Manager

• Running of a 5-aside football league
• Liaising with suppliers & bookers
• Supervision and training of Reception staff
• Meeting weekly & monthly targets
• Managing budgets
• Administration duties (data input, email, invoices, telephone)
• Sales
• Using Microsoft Office software and Parcsoft
• Cashing up and closing/opening of the branch



April 2006 - March 2007 Receptionist/Administrator

• Filing, faxing, typing letters, order processing, data input, raising invoices
• Answering of the telephone
• Liaising with customers and suppliers
• Meeting and greeting guests
• Maintaining of the absence log and Sage
• Running the reception area
• Using Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher and Email applications

Education / Qualifications

• 2005: Covwise Limited, undertook Computer and Information technology course (CLAIT)
• 1997 – 2002: Sydney Stringer Community & Technology College

Qualifications

• OCR Level 1 Certificate for IT users (New CLAIT)
• OCR Level 2 NVQ in Administration
• OCR Information Technology Skills
• OCR Office Practice
• Level 2 NVQ Team Leading
• GCSE's
• First Aid Certificate, Fire Safety Course

Additional Information

• IT Skills: Considerable experience using Microsoft Office Applications, Email Packages, Internet platforms and various software applications such as Sage, Opera and Parcsoft

• Full UK Driving License (no points or convictions)
 
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the updated version looks miles better. you can have a quick glance at it and see what you want

there are a few odd capital letters in place that you should correct before sending though (mature, internet, confident)
 
corrected again :p thanks again for the help and advice
 

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