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TolTol 19th Apr 2006 00:41

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.;)

RAFAT 19th Apr 2006 04:28

Generally in aviation - 1 page.

scroggs 19th Apr 2006 07:41

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

pipergirl 19th Apr 2006 07:50

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...;)

buzzc152 19th Apr 2006 09:00

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.

MrHorgy 19th Apr 2006 09:49


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

sicky 19th Apr 2006 19:58

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.

Artificial Horizon 19th Apr 2006 20:06

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.

nickphuk 19th Apr 2006 20:27

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

low n' slow 19th Apr 2006 20:29

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

757manipulator 19th Apr 2006 20:38

1 page..end of story, Pete the pilot did mine for a small fee :ok:

(hopefully that fits the no-advertising rule)

TolTol 20th Apr 2006 09:55

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.

Troy McClure 20th Apr 2006 10:51

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.

scroggs 20th Apr 2006 11:03

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

USE THE RUDDERS 20th Apr 2006 11:45

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.

TolTol 20th Apr 2006 14:02


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:ok:

scroggs 20th Apr 2006 22:34

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

M80 20th Apr 2006 22:58

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.

despegue 20th Apr 2006 23:02

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.

TolTol 20th Apr 2006 23:54

Well I dont agree with that scroggs, so I think we'll agree to disagree;)


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