Wikiposts
Search
Interviews, jobs & sponsorship The forum where interviews, job offers and selection criteria can be discussed and exchanged.

Length of CV

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 19th Apr 2006, 00:41
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: The Block
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Length of CV

Hi all,

Sorry if this has been covered already (couldn’t find anything on search).

What is the recommended number of pages that a CV should contain? I have heard that Ryanair only want 1 page! I can just about manage 1.5 but not 1.

The headers in my cv are: Personal Details, Flying Experience, Education, Hobbies and Interests, References.

Thanks for any help.
TolTol is offline  
Old 19th Apr 2006, 04:28
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 530
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Generally in aviation - 1 page.
RAFAT is offline  
Old 19th Apr 2006, 07:41
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: Suffolk UK
Posts: 4,927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Archive Reference Threads - READ BEFORE YOU POST A QUESTION

One page only. After 29 years' professional flying and 14000 hours or so, I can still get my CV on one page. So can you.

Scroggs
scroggs is offline  
Old 19th Apr 2006, 07:50
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Scary Eire
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Get it down to one page-
You mention references as one of your categories..just put under this heading "available on request" and keep the hobbies short n sweet...
pipergirl is offline  
Old 19th Apr 2006, 09:00
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: UK
Age: 47
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's suprising how many people don't know how to put together even a half decent CV. We generally get 1 or 2 CV's through our office door a week and most of them are pretty bad in there design, layout and content. We even once received a CV 34 pages long....... we keep it for comedy value.
buzzc152 is offline  
Old 19th Apr 2006, 09:49
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In t'sky
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by buzzc152
We even once received a CV 34 pages long....... we keep it for comedy value.
I remember when I worked in the HR department of a certain government organisation they used to have a "comedy folder" - where all the people's applications would go if they were worthy of keeping. You'd be amazed what some people do or do not write on forms. I'll never forget someone spelling "speshel" (special) on one particular form!

Horgy
MrHorgy is offline  
Old 19th Apr 2006, 19:58
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 369
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Does anybody know any good resources for CV writing, such as websites?

It's easy to understand why some people get a little confused, but i see it as the CV being a brief summary of you, and the interview is to go into the details of what is on your CV.

Edit: Sorry scanned over the links above, will take a browse through there.
sicky is offline  
Old 19th Apr 2006, 20:06
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: The Land Downunder
Posts: 765
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Here is a page from the Oxford Aviation website that I have found useful over the past few years and used successfully on several occassions. Worth a look for any unsure of how to prepare an aviaition CV.

http://www.oxfordaviation.net/career/cv.htm

Hope it helps.

A.H.
Artificial Horizon is offline  
Old 19th Apr 2006, 20:27
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Devon, England
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Not really sure on the general view in the aviation world.
However from various sources it appears that the References section whilst required is not generally included in the actual CV anymore.
It is preferred to be an addition so to speak listed with

3 or 2 x Personal Reference
3 or 2 x Professional Reference

I hope that helps, I can sqeeze it to 1 page by removing the reference section.

Regards
nickphuk is offline  
Old 19th Apr 2006, 20:29
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Scandiland
Posts: 480
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My general rula has been: As many pages as required, but don't just try to fill them out with the story of your life.
In the top margin I've put my contact details, full name, birth date, phone numbers and e-mail etc. Then there's the certificates section stating all held and valid certificates. I've also included validity of the relevant certificates and ratings. I've also here given reference to my main flight school.
Since I don't have a large number of flying hours on any large transport aircraft, I've kept the flying experience section small and simple. Total, ME, IR and PIC. No type specifications.

After this I've put most recent education followed by most relevant jobs I've held, most recent first. I've finished off with references, although I think it might be better to just put: "will be given upon request".

I think the layout is whats most important. It has to be easy to read, no shadows or intricate shapes in the background. If it's a paper version, make shure that everything they need is on the first page so you can afford for them to loose the second page. Put your contact details on both pages in the top margin.

Once you have a good CV, keep following up on it, unless they state clearly that they don't want you to call them. This method gave me a job, but then again, it might just have been good fortune...

Good luck!
/LnS
low n' slow is offline  
Old 19th Apr 2006, 20:38
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: planet igloo
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
1 page..end of story, Pete the pilot did mine for a small fee

(hopefully that fits the no-advertising rule)
757manipulator is offline  
Old 20th Apr 2006, 09:55
  #12 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: The Block
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Okay so 1 page it is! However I'm a little unsure as to what hours I should include. At the moment I have the total hours followed by single and multi time. Should I put down PIC, Dual, IR and Night?

Thanks.
TolTol is offline  
Old 20th Apr 2006, 10:51
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: South West
Posts: 967
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Why put down Total, Single and Multi? Fairly obvious that Single + Multi = Total. I include Total, Multi and PIC. Also include multi-IFR if you have any, esp when applying for charter jobs. And current aircraft type if you're employed, unless it's SEP.

Also after the word 'Employment:', stick in your notice period in brackets.
Troy McClure is offline  
Old 20th Apr 2006, 11:03
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: Suffolk UK
Posts: 4,927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
nickphuk you haven't even finished fATPL training. You must be struggling to fill half of one side of A4! How on earth can you 'just squeeze it into one page' by removing your referees??! Remember, you are applying for jobs as a pilot, for which only your flying experience is relevant. Your employment history may be very interesting, but if it's not in flying it gets very brief mention indeed.

PS Your username is offensive. Find another one.

low n'slow: 'My general rule has been: As many pages as required... Nope. One page, no more. It's easy to do. As you say, it is not a life story. It is effectively a statement of flying experience and little else.

TolTol Why can't you get it into one page? Your headings are OK-ish:

Personal Details: Name, address, phone, e-mail (not [email protected] or similar, please) age.

Flying Experience: Total hours, total ME hours, PIC hours, qualifications held (CPL/IR, MCC, any type ratings, class 1 medical with date).

Education: Only if you're a recent school/college/university leaver and the target employer has stated a requirement for particular educational qualifications. A single line should do it: 8 GCSEs at C and above, 3 A-levels (Maths, Drama, Balinese Pole-Dancing), BA (Hons) in Advanced Fraud and Dodgy Book-keeping.

Employment history (which you didn't mention): If it's not in flying, make it very, very brief. I don't need to know what synergistic benefits devolved to the wider consumership from your holistic approach to shelf-stacking in Tescos.

Hobbies and Interests: OK, if you must, but keep it short. Don't tell me what football team you support - I might hate them. Actually, I might hate football altogether, so be wary of mentioning stuff that generates strong feelings.

References: 'Available if required' is all that is needed

Scroggs
scroggs is offline  
Old 20th Apr 2006, 11:45
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Bristol/Cardiff
Age: 50
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My CV is 1 page and to be honest some of the employment descriptions could be less detailed.
Basically my cv consists of:

Personal Details
Flying Hours - split into Total and Multi
Licences and Training
Educational qualifications
Employment history going back 10 years in my case (over 30)
Interests and hobbies

Then references on request.
USE THE RUDDERS is offline  
Old 20th Apr 2006, 14:02
  #16 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: The Block
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by scroggs
TolTol Why can't you get it into one page? Your headings are OK-ish:
Well I have it down to one page. But as you have pointed out I'm missing the employment history section. My education section is kind of complicated (different awards) and I really don’t want to leave it out as I've worked pretty darn hard for it. Thanks for the feedback doe
TolTol is offline  
Old 20th Apr 2006, 22:34
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: Suffolk UK
Posts: 4,927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It doesn't matter how hard you worked for your educational qualifications; this is not an Oscar nomination, it is a statement of experience. You may be (quite rightly) very proud of your degree, your high-speed CPL or the fact that you worked for a particular company in the past, designing some very important part of an esoteric piece of machinery. None of that is relevent to me when I'm choosing people to interview as potential pilots - I'll ask you about it at the interview. What I need to know is that you're qualified for the job I'm offering. That's it. If you wish to bask in the reflected glory of some past achievements, write your memoirs and show them to your kids.

Scroggs
scroggs is offline  
Old 20th Apr 2006, 22:58
  #18 (permalink)  
M80
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: blank
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Scroggs - your response is too harsh. Low houred guys DON'T have a lot of hours and DO attempt to distinguish themselves by previous academic achievements. It reflects a record of academic achievement.

I realise that you have a lot of hours and your hours speak for themselves on your CV, but even so you may be able to cast back to the dim and distant days when you were a young, aspiring pilot. Your response was derogatory. I'll put my tin hat on.
M80 is offline  
Old 20th Apr 2006, 23:02
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: In my seat
Posts: 822
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sorry, English is not my mothertongue, but why is "nickphuk" offensive"?

On the topic now:

some of my "tips"...
1 page is preferable, but NEVER make your lettertype too small (at least 12, never smaller, this is really important)
Keep it brief but make sure you don't leave "blank periods".
Hobbies: put them down when you think that it might highlight your personnality. eg. Scouting and theatre/acting are always very good.

oh yes, a cv. is nothing without the motivation letter. These 2 go together.

One more thing... English is the "lingua franca" in aviation, but please, people who's mothertongue is English, be aware that for non British, writing a cv. without spelling mistakes is a must, knowing perfectly the "British CV. etiquette and form" is next to impossibe.
despegue is offline  
Old 20th Apr 2006, 23:54
  #20 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: The Block
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well I dont agree with that scroggs, so I think we'll agree to disagree
TolTol is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.