Writing a CV - how much depth to go into?

[Benno]

I'm working on my CV for applying to jobs when I graduate this summer. I showed it to my Dad and he said that it was crap, since it didn't actually explain any of the things I had done.

For example I wrote:

Multiple working trips abroad i.e. The Gambia, Honduras (Op. Wallacea), Raleigh International Costa Rica & Nicaragua, University Travel Society w/Original Volunteers Paraguay.


and

Farm station hand: assisted in operating a cattle station, Involved mustering & working large numbers of cattle, maintenance of land & vehicles/equipment, limited resources, man and animal management


I know I'm going to be called a hippy gap-yah for the volunteering so let's get that out of our systems first!

As far as I see it that tells them what I've done. What more detail is needed?

tl;dr how to write a CV and job application tips general (such as how to write a cover letter ) I'm stumped now, it's quite a daunting prospect.
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I'm autistic. That means I'm smarter than you.

[MattJ]

What uni do you go to? Don't they offer any help?

[yambabe]

Farm station hand bit is fine.

Re the gap year stuff, put just a line or two in about what you actually did, so something like:

"Year of volunteering including clearing forest in Nicaragua, building a school in the Gambia, working as a deck hand on a *whatever type* boat for Operation Raleigh"

Obviously I've made that up but you get the general idea.

For that sort of experience the biggest bonus of having it on your CV is that it will show that you are willing to have a crack at just about anything......
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[Derivative]

My CV is very brief on individual roles. I detail the key points of each activity (job, volunteer role, society membership, whatever), usually one or two bullet points.

I suspect if you were writing a CV for a technical role that you have experience with this would change. For example - if you're going for a senior role in a select field, then it makes sense to elaborate more on the jobs that are directly relevant.

Putting myself in the shoes of an interviewer, if your past employment doesn't link together in a concrete way, then it seems best to simply get the headlines across effectively, rather than trying to describe in-detail loads of very different jobs.

Otherwise, you end up with a really long essay-type document that no-one can be bothered to read. My CV is a page long and has about 7 roles on it - if the company needs to know more on a specific point, they can ask me at interview, and that gives us something to talk about.

edit: Thinking about it, I'm at about the same 'life stage' as you, I could send you my CV to have a look at? I can't guarantee that it's world class, but it's gotten me interviews.

[Wonko The Sane]

[Flatbadger]

Applying for a retail job? Working well with and meeting new people.

A clerical job? Managing time and organisational skills.

Highlight those parts of your experiences which match the particular job you're going for. Be pepared to tweak your CV for each job you REALLY want, it'll give you a better go.
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If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
You're in ISIS

[Benno]

[Derivative]

[Ichy]

Sorry if it has been said, I have not read all the posts.

I've just sifted through 125 CVs in about 2 hours for a graduate position at work.

You've got a minute at best to sell yourself. I want to know why I should continue to read the rest of your CV within the first few seconds. Put the important stuff at the beginning.
Get to the point, I can't be arsed reading waffle and may miss pertinent facts while scanning.
Tune the CV to the audience / business. I scan the first few paragraphs and if I don't see anything relevant it goes in the bin.
Nothing fancy. Readability is the most important part. It may seem harsh but I've been known to chuck CVs out simply because the layout looked odd.
I do not need to know every task you were given when working at Mcdonalds but I do need to understand the depth of knowledge if you have used a SEM in Tribology.
Think about how a minor fact can be perceived. You play a lot of sports? Injury risk. Regular church goer? Won't work weekends and likely to complain about 'banter'.
You may have got a 1:1 in Business Admin but all your 'A' levels and GCSE results were C's and D's. You are obviously lazy and only went to Uni to get out of work. Sometimes less detail is the better option.

Yes, these are all my own thoughts, there are probably a load more intelligent ones to add but I have eye strain and a headache. Other recruiters may be far more professional, forgiving, and willing. Most I talk to aren't but you never know.
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[Ichy]

BTW most of the CV's were two pages. The CV's on one page generally did not have enough info to make a decision in their favor or were too cluttered to read. Size 8 font is not an option. Double sided printing is one piece of paper.
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