I figure a CV is a CV, just like a resume you can put it in any format, as long as it shows your skills, qualifications, training, employment.

luv4u said:

apparently not...I've been warned I need to have it in the UK format otherwise employers won't look even look at it

Do a search on the internet then Nat or call an employment agency where you are and ask where you can obtain an example.

luv4u said:

I've done both Luv...searched the internet endlessly but I can't find anything hence I'm asking here in hope one or more of the UK orgers might be able to help me

Natisse said:

APB to all UK Orgers.....

luv4u said:

ha...well I thought it was worth a try anyway I didn't think it was that rediculous lol

I'll help you...hmmmmm...send me an orgnote with what you need and I'll have a look at what can be done

Natisse said:

Bollocks. You can get a job in the major cities without any kind of formal CV. When I visited the job agencies (a few years ago I admit) at London none of them even mentioned that there'd be a need for such a thing.

Novabreaker said:

all the agencies I've ever used over the past 5 years have wanted CVs...plus not having one rules out getting a non-agency job. Best to have one prepared

hey natisse.

let me know your email address and i'll send you over mine. then you'll need to delete all the juicy stuff and put your juicy stuff in.

would make it into a template myself but i'm v v busy right now at work.

Natisse said:

Do 3 pages MAX.

You should have name, contact address/numbers, D.o.B, Nationality, Sex, all at the top.

Then start with 'Academic Qualifications', and begin with the highest attained first - include dates of study, place of study, type of qualification received, grade received. Also include a few lines describing any important aspects of the study, like theses, dissertations, 'industrial placements' etc.

Then do more or less the same for 'Vocational Experience' or 'Employment'. Start with most recent first. Again include dates of employment, place of work, position held, and a few lines on what your job involved.

Some folks put a 'Relevent Experience' bit where you can list various aspects of your vocations/academia/other stuff that might be particularly relevant to the job you're applying for. But generally though you should aim to craft the whole CV so that it's all relevant. i.e. it's a waste of space to include your experience as a turkey inseminator if you're applying to a legal firm.

Do a little section on 'Interests', and list those things that will help to sell you. i.e. include your personal interest in astronomy and cognitive neuropsychology, but NOT your collection of goat skulls.

Include 3 referees. Ask the employer what refs they want...Maybe all 3 have to be ex-employers or maybe some have to be academic.

DON'T include a photo, no matter how fit you might think you are.

DO include a 'cover letter', or 'letter of intent'. Write this in the formal way with contact address, date. Funky company paper goes down well. Use this letter to describe why you want this particular job, why you think you're qualified, also use the letter to explain a bit more about your career path - maybe some past decisions have to be explained a bit more, or maybe you'll want to explain how this job fits in with your path. Often the employer might ask you to include something in particular, and sometimes they ask you to 'hand-write' it.

As luv4u said, ultimately a CV is a CV, but as far as I'm concerned the good ones tend to be: pitched specifically for the job, no irrelevant info, very clearly formatted, the cover letter is NOT formulaic ('a person behind what's written' if ya know what I mean). I know that in some countries it's typical to compile an entire novel, but the UK tend to like concise versions.

Rowdy said:

I don't think anyone ever asked for a "formal UK standard CV" though. I was never handed instructions either on how to make one. This was in 1999 though.

Novabreaker said:

true...although I suppose it's best to have it looked over by an english pigdog to make sure that it's properly englishified.

Rowdy said:

LOLOL!

I wouldn't worry too much Nat, CV's tend to change format depending on what job type you are applying for. I imagine agencies will help you out with this kind of stuff once you arrive. Just have a word document with all your details with you when you arrive and reformat it for each job. A lot of jobs applications in the UK now request specifically that you DON'T submit a CV and have very detailed application forms for consistency. These can be a pain in the arse to keep filling out but at least you won't have to worry until you get here.

PREDOMINANT said:

Actually yeah I've never had to do these but I've had to live with people who have

Natisse said:

Okay, one single stupid question just to make sure you haven't forgotten the most important thing to acquire:

Do you have a work permit?
(I've witnessed this to happen to quite a few Americans who have come to UK)

Novabreaker said:

lol yep I sure do