[M1011]

This isn't intended to be specific to my CV, I'm just interested in peoples general opinions.

First off, I think it's fair to say that everyone knows a CV benefits from strong work experience and a strong academic record. So no need to repeat those really (unless someone disagrees? ).

What else can potentially really contribute to a CV?

Are there certain societies/groups that are worth joining to enhance a CV (both inside and outside of education)?

Is there any benefit in taking further tests for the sake of putting them on your CV? E.g. the GMAT. (I was reading about this one on a thread earlier, but I'm sure there are loads of similar ones)

Basically anything outside of experience and education that may be worth getting in order to include?

Thought it might be interesting to hear what some of you guys thought

[M1011]

Nobody?

[Tokyoround]

Sporting achievements are usually quite good and an ice breaker. I have a friend who was a junior national champion some 6 years ago and it has been brought up in every single one of his interviews.

[M1011]

(Original post by Tokyoround)
Sporting achievements are usually quite good and an ice breaker. I have a friend who was a junior national champion some 6 years ago and it has been brought up in every single one of his interviews.

Yea that's an area I'm always a bit undecided on. I supposed if you are a national champion then it makes sense to put that on your CV as it is quite an achievement, but I've always stopped short of putting things like membership of a rugby team down on my CV. Just seems unrelated to most jobs, I always find myself wondering 'will the interviewer care about my sports activity'.... probably not!

[threeportdrift]

(Original post by M1011)
........

Anything at all that gives evidence that you have the specific skills to do the job the employer requires - its entirely job specific. Employers don't care about skills they aren't going to use, but they are actively looking for the best evidence of those skills they do need used in the job. So work out the skills, and then you can work out what is going to enhance that particular CV the most.

[M1011]

(Original post by threeportdrift)
Anything at all that gives evidence that you have the specific skills to do the job the employer requires - its entirely job specific. Employers don't care about skills they aren't going to use, but they are actively looking for the best evidence of those skills they do need used in the job. So work out the skills, and then you can work out what is going to enhance that particular CV the most.

First class CV advise, thanks.

However I'm also interested in what I can go and achieve in order to strengthen a CV. E.g. Tests. Any thoughts on anything in that area?

[Mbob]

(Original post by M1011)
First class CV advise, thanks.

However I'm also interested in what I can go and achieve in order to strengthen a CV. E.g. Tests. Any thoughts on anything in that area?

Only if there is some specific industry qualification (eg. in accountancy or IT)

In general, university graduates already have lots of qualifications but are short on experience, so I'm not sure how having even more qualifications would necessarily help.

[threeportdrift]

(Original post by M1011)
First class CV advise, thanks.

However I'm also interested in what I can go and achieve in order to strengthen a CV. E.g. Tests. Any thoughts on anything in that area?

It depends entirely on what you already have on your CV and what the job you are applying for needs. There is no 'one size fits all' answer. What job are you looking for?

[M1011]

(Original post by Mbob)
Only if there is some specific industry qualification (eg. in accountancy or IT)

In general, university graduates already have lots of qualifications but are short on experience, so I'm not sure how having even more qualifications would necessarily help.

Thanks for your response, you raise a good point. Personally I'll be training for the ACA later this year which falls under the industry specific category you mentioned, but I quite agree that additional qualifications for the sake of it don't really add much to a CV.

I guess what I was really picturing were aptitude tests (like the aforementioned GMAT) which might benefit a CV by showing, in essence, your natural ability. Most employers (in my experience) seem to conduct their own aptitude tests, so I think it would be very beneficial if there was some sort of generic test which was universally recognised. However from the responses so far it would appear there is no such test!

(Original post by threeportdrift)
It depends entirely on what you already have on your CV and what the job you are applying for needs. There is no 'one size fits all' answer. What job are you looking for?

Hi, I was thinking more generically if there might be any universally recognised tests etc that might be beneficial, but it would appear there isn't. I'm not actually looking for a job at the moment as I've got a grad scheme position sorted thankfully (Deloitte). Was more of a forward looking question to be honest!

[Tokyoround]

Some tests can be detrimental though and give an employer the wrong impression of your future plans. The GMAT for example, there isn't really much point sitting it unless you plan on doing an MBA. If I saw it on a CV, I would be expecting that person to be pursuing an MBA not just 'doing it for the lols'.

[hippieglitter]

I'm told lots of people overlook this but my bfs uncle who is the managing director of a large business who went through and helped out with both my bfs and my CVs said its important to put down your personal interests or hobbies at the end cos although they may not get mentioned in the interview or be relevant to the job, managers like to know that you do something other than work. You don't need to go into detail just bullet points of what you do in your spare time.

[Solitaire617]

Ideally, you shouldn't blanket your CV across different jobs and sectors. Beyond experience and education (which you should prioritise/sort according to relevancy to the job), a short paragraph at the top explaining why you want to work for the company/why you're good for it can come in handy. If you're in a society - great, but if it's completely irrelevant to the job then I wouldn't put it down UNLESS you can demonstrate to the interviewer what being a part of said society has taught you. Everything you put on the CV you should be able to backup if asked about in the interview, so always having things that can be applied to the job is great. Hell, even interests and hobbies can be good for that.

I think it's less about what you put on your CV and more about how you say it. I absolutely think extracurricular activity can help - personally, I didn't have much, but I think it's valuable nonethelss. Again, it's about whether you can argue its relevancy though. For example, if you take some tests and get some mathematics qualifications, there's little point putting that on a drama-related job, but for accountancy it would be very good.

I was told a story by my careers service at Uni, where a girl had put on her CV that she had "heavy lifting training" where she worked. She was applying to a bank and didn't think to leave that out. If employers can't understand why you've put something on your CV, they will think you haven't thought about it as much as you should.

Just my two cents

[milfordcunningham]

You should add your all experience of your field.

[M1011]

(Original post by Tokyoround)
Some tests can be detrimental though and give an employer the wrong impression of your future plans. The GMAT for example, there isn't really much point sitting it unless you plan on doing an MBA. If I saw it on a CV, I would be expecting that person to be pursuing an MBA not just 'doing it for the lols'.

Good point. Kind of do want to do an MBA as well, so they'd be right

(Original post by hippieglitter)
I'm told lots of people overlook this but my bfs uncle who is the managing director of a large business who went through and helped out with both my bfs and my CVs said its important to put down your personal interests or hobbies at the end cos although they may not get mentioned in the interview or be relevant to the job, managers like to know that you do something other than work. You don't need to go into detail just bullet points of what you do in your spare time.

Hobbies? I have no such thing!

(Original post by Solitaire617)
Ideally, you shouldn't blanket your CV across different jobs and sectors. Beyond experience and education (which you should prioritise/sort according to relevancy to the job), a short paragraph at the top explaining why you want to work for the company/why you're good for it can come in handy. If you're in a society - great, but if it's completely irrelevant to the job then I wouldn't put it down UNLESS you can demonstrate to the interviewer what being a part of said society has taught you. Everything you put on the CV you should be able to backup if asked about in the interview, so always having things that can be applied to the job is great. Hell, even interests and hobbies can be good for that.

I think it's less about what you put on your CV and more about how you say it. I absolutely think extracurricular activity can help - personally, I didn't have much, but I think it's valuable nonethelss. Again, it's about whether you can argue its relevancy though. For example, if you take some tests and get some mathematics qualifications, there's little point putting that on a drama-related job, but for accountancy it would be very good.

I was told a story by my careers service at Uni, where a girl had put on her CV that she had "heavy lifting training" where she worked. She was applying to a bank and didn't think to leave that out. If employers can't understand why you've put something on your CV, they will think you haven't thought about it as much as you should.

Just my two cents

*Adds heavy lifting training to CV* - Thanks for the advise

(Original post by milfordcunningham)
You should add your all experience of your field.

Ahh, post number one, I feel privileged

[Final Fantasy]

Knowing another language (if you do).

[Moscardini]

A smiley face; see below.

[M1011]

(Original post by Final Fantasy)
Knowing another language (if you do).

I speak fluent Klingon, but my careers advisor told me to take that out

(Original post by Moscardini)
A smiley face; see below.

I tried that once but the employer sent me a rejection letter signed with this;

[Graduate Recruitment Bureau]

I can give you a free CV review if you wish?

[M1011]

(Original post by Graduate Recruitment Bureau)
I can give you a free CV review if you wish?

Appreciate the offer, but this was intended in a generic sense. I'm pretty confident in my CV