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mrplatypus · Newbie Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 3 Career Advice: +0/-0

Please rate my CV .. How should it be improved? .. I want to further myself, learn new skills ...
I am from the United Kingdom, Wales to be precise ..

Heres my CV - note that the formatting is lost when pasting:

*** START ***
Curriculum Vitae

Personal Details

Name My named
Date of Birth My Date of Birth
Nationality British.
Marital Status Single.
Address My address
Telephone My telephone number
Mobile My mobile telephone number

Education & Qualifications

2006 – Currently studying for a Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer

1995 to 1997
: University of Glamorgan.

BSc(Hon.) in Computer Studies Degree Course :
Software Development, Formal Specifications, Information Systems, Project Design, Interfaces Communications and Networks, Human-Computer Interaction, Wide Area Networks, Local Area Networks, Distributed Computer Systems, The Information Systems Managers Role in Systems Development, Hypermedia Information Systems, Introductory Computer Graphics, Advanced Information Systems, Project Design and a Computer Studies Project.

1993-1995
: University of Glamorgan.

HND in Computer Studies :
Transferable Skills (Distinction)Real Time Language (Distinction) Real-Time Systems Design (Merit) End of Year Project (Merit) Systems Analysis and Design (Merit) Business Awareness (Merit)Project Management Support (Merit), Software Development Year 2 (Merit), Systems Architecture Year 2 (Merit), Software Development Year 1 (Merit), Systems Architecture Year 1 (Pass), Micro Databases (Pass), Object Oriented Design (Pass), Software Development Using ‘C’ (Pass)

1985-1993
: Llantarnam Comprehensive School & 6th Form.

1991-1993
‘A’ Levels :
Computer Studies (D)
1990-1991
G.C.S.E. :
Chemistry (C)
1990
G.C.S.E. :
English Literature (B), English Language (B), Mathematics (C), Computer Studies (C), History (C), French (C), Physics (C), Chemistry (D), German (D), Physical Education (D)

Additional Qualifications

1995
Qualified Snooker Referee.
Whilst at Llantarnam Comprehensive school, I became actively involved in the playing of Snooker. As a challenge to myself and as a response to watching the Professional Snooker, I became very much interested in the learning of the Rules of Snooker. Luckily I had available to me a first class referee friend who helped me to learn the rules and manage to be assisted by a suitably classed Senior Referee. Consequently I passed the first test and hope to pursue this additional sport to highest level.

1989
Achieved Grade of Blue Belt in Shotokai Karate.
Whilst at Llantarnam school, I also became very interested in martial arts. I soon joined a club where I was trained and disciplined into the sport and soon progressed through the different levels of karate by training and the coaching of others and as a result obtained the grade represented by the Blue Belt.

Qualities

Written
Through the production of reports and projects as part of my HND and Honours Degree courses I feel that I am capable of a suitably high standard of report writing.

Oral
Through individual and group presentations during my time in education and my work experience and duration of employment as waiter, bar man and stewards assistant has enabled me to be able to establish a rapport with strangers very quickly. Thanks to my qualification as a referee, I have been able to enhance my oral skills, make suitable judgements and responses to stressful situations in tense environments.

Teamwork
I am a natural team player and find that I am able to function equally well as a team leader (motivating and co-ordinating with others) or as a follower of direction. I feel that again my bar work, HND and Degree courses have helped me considerably to develop in this field of communication and co-operation.

Analytical Skills and Flexibility
During my time in education and of producing solutions to tasks, my academic work has enabled me to be able to analyse a given situation, extract the relevant points and make appropriate conclusions. My academic results show that I was able to apply this skill competently and to a wide variety of subjects.

Determination
My successful experience of using computers has made me strongly determined to obtain a good level of knowledge which will be represented by obtaining a Degree in Computer Studies. I also intend to gain more experience in the computer industry. I would put in any additional time needed to ensure that deadlines, where necessary, are met.

Personal Interests

I am interested in many different kinds of sports, but due to my university studies, my participation was limited to snooker. With more time available I will be returning to actively participate in my former sports (football and karate in particular) in which I enjoy the discipline and camaraderie generated.
As a part time bar person I am also interested in the compilation of cocktails, although I would rather have a pint. I enjoy all types of music and an occasional trip to the cinema and night-club.

Resume of Work Experience and Previous Employment

29 August 2000 to date
Employee of IT Services Software Department Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust
Worked upon the Clinical Workstation application which was midway through being developed.
The system was written in Visual Basic 6, utilising a system known as Datagate as the ‘middleware’ between the desktop application and the legacy system databases of PAS, Telepath, Masterlab, Radis and Oracle. I became dominant in maintaining the Datagate system and became familiar with the legacy systems perl listener software to handle requests from the Clinical Workstation.
With the advent of Visual Basic .Net and web applications I was able to actively assist with transferring over of the system from a desktop application to the world of intranet based systems, web servers and web services. Due to the failings of the Datagate middleware system a switchover to SeeBeyonds up and coming Technology, e*Gate. However this new system proved no better than its predecessor, so a new middleware system was developed in-house, named, MXII. This technology provided the same functionality developed in Visual Basic 6 which gave the ability for better support. Given the inherent restrictions of Visual Basic 6 on the new hardware platforms of Windows Server 2003 I was given the task of producing MXII successor, MX.Net. Where I learned more about threading, socket programming, delegates and reflection using Microsoft’s .Net Technology.
Following on from developing the Clinical Workstation and middleware components the need has arisen to develop ancillary software as well as developing other smaller applications, utilising SQL Server and .Net.

1997 to 29 August 2000
Employee of Comtec Europe Ltd
Initially employed as Hardware Engineer
Learnt the process of Polling : the means by which the Late Availability Holidays are collected from each Viewdata System Host and collated into a database which can then be distributed to Travel Agents and onto the World Wide Web. Extended and developed this process from a Novell Server Database Dos system onto the Windows NT Platform and learnt the new scripting languages for the development of the system.
Furthered my knowledge of Microsoft Access with Cold Fusion and Internet Design
Setting Up of Internet Web Servers (assisted with Holiday Expresses IP Network Development, Maintenance, Development)
Setting up and maintenance of FTP Server and client-side ftp access.
FTP Administrator
Software Developer – through VCML development
Gained further Oral and Aural Skills through use of electronic and verbal communications.
Learnt to remotely control computers over a network through PcAnywhere and Win-VNC communications programs. This was employed to check on the status and to update files on these machines.

1996 to November 1998
Assistant Barman at Cwmbran Rifle (Social) Club.
On the weekends away from University. As part of advancing my knowledge and expertise of bar work, I transferred to Cwmbran Rifle (Social) Club. Where I assisted the steward in each of his duties. My duties include the cleanliness of the bar, the restocking of shelves, the serving of and dealing with customers and the assisting with the financial areas of the business.

1996 (16th June to 4th July)
Frank Theak and Roskilly, Tie Manufacturers.
For a period of three weeks after completing my University Degree course, I undertook some part time work in the warehouse. I was a member of a small team of people who were given the duties and responsibilities of tidying and cataloguing of the ties that were in stock. I also had the benefit of picking goods ready to be made up for orders.

1995 (5th February to 5th August)
Computer Aided Services (C.A.S.) Wales Ltd.

As part of my degree course, it was required that we undertook a period of 6 months work placement. I proceeded to apply through the routes of having the University find a placement and of checking the businesses in the local area. Luckily enough CAS Wales allowed me to join the company for a 6 month placement. Where I learnt a new programming language and was able to assist in the production of multimedia kiosk applications.

1994 (Summer of)
Frank Theak and Roskilly, Tie Manufacturers.
During the summer vacation of University. I was part of a team responsible for assembling materials in order to act as samples so that clientele may view the styles, colours and patterns of materials available for the production of ties, waistcoats, neckerchiefs and handkerchiefs.

1993 (Summer of)
Frank Theak and Roskilly, Tie Manufacturers.
During the summer vacation of University. I was part of a team responsible for checking the quality of the ties and for the eventual boxing of those ties which passed the quality checks.

1993 to 1996
Head Barman, Nawab Tandoori Restaurant.
On the Weekends away from University. I was responsible for serving the customers, maintaining the bar and lounge area, taking orders from customers both in the restaurant and over the telephone consequently that the meals were delivered, and for dealing with requests from departing customers for transport home.

1989 (For a period of two weeks)
Warner Lambert/Parke Davis Pharmaceuticals,
Accounts Payable Department.
For a duration of two weeks whilst at Llantarnam Comprehensive, I was offered the opportunity to experience and assist in the running of the department. My duties included the management and maintenance of the filing system, by filing orders which had been sent and by inputting the details of those orders into a computer system. These figures were then added to a spreadsheet application in order for the figures to be checked and balanced.

Resume of Technical Computer Experience :

Languages:

Microsoft Visual Studio 2005
Microsoft Visual Studio 2003
ASP.Net 1.0, 1.1, 2.0
Microsoft Visual Basic 6
Basic (Dragon, Spectrum & Qbasic)
Pascal (Turbo & Borland)
Modula-2 (Top Speed)
C (Turbo & Borland)
C++ (Turbo & Borland)
Visual Basic Versions 3.0, 5.0, 6.0 (Professional)
Borland Delphi (Windows 3.1 Version)
Netwise RPC Tool ‘C’ Compiler (Windows NT 3.51 Version)
HTML All Windows versions
Cold Fusion Integrating HTML with Database Access, Version 2.0,3.0,3.1,3.11,3.12,4.0
VCML Scripting Language for Screen-Scraping Viewdata Systems Text Information Screens

Operating Systems:

Microsoft-DOS (Versions 3.0, 3.1, 4.01, 5, 6.21, 6.22)
Microsoft-Windows (Versions 3.x, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 3.51, Windows NT 4.0, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003)
Linux (Unix clone for IBM Compatible PCs)
X-Windows (Windows for Linux)
VMS Workstations (Vax Cluster and Alpha Systems)
Solaris (on Sun Sparc Stations Version 7)

Application Packages:

Microsoft Office Suite (4.3 Professional and Windows 95, 98 Office 2003 version)
Microsoft Web Server, Internet Information Server (IIS) 4, IIS 5, IIS 6 Internet Web Server Software
ASP 1.0, 1.1, 2.0 Active Server Pages, Versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.2
XML Extensible Markup Language (XML)
XSLT Extensible Stylesheet Language
Microsoft SQL Server Database Package
Netscape Enterprise Server Internet Web Server Software
Apache Server Internet Web Server Software
War-FTPD FTP Server Software for Windows NT
FTP for Windows (DOS) Client Side Visual FTP Software
CuteFTP Client Side Visual FTP Software
WFTP Client Side Visual FTP Software
Borland Paradox (Database Package, Versions 4 and 5)
Ami Pro (Word Processing Package)
Rfflow (Schematics Program)
Select Yourdon (Case Tool, Software Development Package)
Select SSADM (Case Tool, Software Development Package)
Macromedia Director (Multimedia Authoring Tool Version 4 for Apple Macintosh and Version 5.0 for Windows 95)
Multimedia Toolbook (Multimedia Authoring Tool for Windows, Version 3.0 and Computer Based Training (CBT) 4.0 Edition)
Adobe Photoshop (Graphics Editing Suite, Version 2.5, 3.0 and 4.0 - Apple Macintosh, Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 Versions)
Adobe Premiere (Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 Versions)
Jasc Paint Shop Pro (Graphics Editing Suite, for Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 Versions)
Netscape Navigator (Internet and Web Browser, Versions 2.0, 2.01, 3.0, 3.0 Gold, 3.01, 3.01 Gold, 4.0, 4.4,4.5,4.6)
Internet Explorer (Internet and Web Browser, Version 3.0, 4.0)
Lightwave (3D Modelling and Animation Package Version 5.0 for Windows 95)
Caligari Truespace (3D Modelling and Animation Package for Windows)
3D Studio (3D Modelling and Animation Package for MS-DOS)
3D Studio Max (3D Modelling and Animation Package for Windows NT 3.51, Windows NT 4.0)
Personal Animation Recorder (Digital Video Editor and Mixing Package)
Razor (Digital Video Editor and Mixing Package for Apple Macintosh and IBM PC & Compatibles)

**** END ****

Ola · Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 6:39 pm Post subject:

hi there, its better for me to be honest, so you can make solid improvements to secure interviews...you have a lot of information which is good for your job hunting, but some of the information you have detailed in your CV may not be relevant to jobs you may be looking to pursue, what you need to do is make sure your CV is (1) well layout with bullet points, (2)100% targeted to a specific job or opportunity (3) your course details should minimised unless relevant to a post or vacancy. (4) strong points should be articulated and brough to the forefront..my list can go on..but the above is a good start. You may want to visit us at the site below to see how we can help you in much more details Smile

CV Writing Services - Ola Philip King
How to write a CV - Ola Philip King

mrplatypus · Newbie Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 3 Career Advice: +0/-0

Ola, thanks for the advice.

I have checked out your website to find that you charge for your services.

Understandably and please excuse my naivety there is obviously a market which you are attempting to fulfill, however, I believe that the whole point of this site is to provide this advice without charging, more of a friendly nudge in the correct direction.

Ola · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 11:03 am Post subject:

hi there, my previous comments does give you about 3-4 tips, which you can comfortably work on to write your CV yourself, we do give lots of free advise and tips to regular forum users on this site and others. You won't find anyone that will give you 100% personally indepth assessment based on your career goals or literally re-write your CV for you to target specific jobs or industry..this actually requires expertise and takes time, some people do prefer to come to us to save time and hassle....its entirely a personal choice...all the best

CV Writing Sevices - Ola Philip King
CV Writing - Ola Philip King

noradlf · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 7:28 pm Post subject: Hello!

I will try to give you some advice, looking at your cv like an interviewer would do.

I suppose this is your entire complete cv - or resume, in the British way - and you are going to take some pieces from it according to the applications, isn’t it?
(If not, I am afraid it is definitely too long - even with proper formatting. The 2-pages-runnin-for-1 rule about cv’s length is a logistical one. Besides, you are leaving no discovery thrill to your cv’s readers!)

You have some good work experience, so I would write it before education and personal qualities and interests. After all, you are seeking for a job, not for a partner, I suppose.
An example: You are a snooker referee and have blue belt in karate. Good, you are a very active person. Are these skills of any interest to someone seeking for a computer graduated? Probably not. So in “Other Skills” or “Other Informations”, you could write “Qualified Snooker Referee” and “Blue Belt in karate” and that’s enough. But when you have to polish your cv to fit it in two pages, these infos will be going to disappear first of all. And you could write “Good team player and team leader” not linking it to your sports or being a referee or a waiter, since they are quite individual activities. Have you ever worked as team leader or member? Write it! In your work experience, though, not as a personal quality.

Besides, I wouldn’t describe personal qualities in the way you have done. Employers or head hunters could think you are either conceited or not self-confident and that would be ruinous.
Pay attention to coherence, too. A “D” GCSE in Physical Education from a sport-addicted and blue belt in karate? That’s a bit strange…

As for education, I wouldn’t detail about the GCSEs since they are not A. Moreover, I suppose British employer know something about British school programs and that list should be possibly regarded as a bit… offensive? I wouldn’t write it ever if I were applying in other countries, however, unless the job ad requires them.

One thing I would consider an error, in cv or letter or interview, though it is only my very personal opinion, and I don’t know what your people think about that: you can’t feel you are capable of doing something. Either you know you can do it (because you have done it) or you don’t know if you can do it (because you never did it till now - but you are willing trying, so you can define yourself as proactive or self-starter or something of that kind).

Read the articles in CvTips.com about cv and resumes, they are really useful.

I hope you are not going to consider me rude.
Bye, n

mrplatypus · Newbie Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 3 Career Advice: +0/-0

Some good advice, worth trying out at least ..

.. with this site being a good 'sounding board'.

jfkmills · Newbie Joined: 17 Apr 2008 Posts: 1 Career Advice: +0/-0

Hello there,

If you would like to have a look at my CV give me an email address as i dont want to post it here. I left the army recently and they help me write mine, i got a good job shortly after.

regards

rajat1 · Newbie Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 4 Career Advice: +0/-0

As per me, the most important point in your resume is missing. You need to include your achievements in this resume. You talk about a lot of skills in your resume but there is no mention of your success in past companies.


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