I'm having a quiet moment currently trying to update my CV as I have a feeling I'm going to be using it in the not too distant future. There are some very bright sparks kicking around here so I thought I'd run them past you lot. I'm fairly happy with it however I have 2 questions: Im 26 and been working since I was 18. Do I really need to include my GCSE results under education any more? I'd have thought my other qualifications are more relevent and interesting giving what I do for a living. I was thinking of just including English and Maths to be safe and remove the rest. I don't imagine a test manager in some IT firm is going to care I got a C in history at GCSE somehow. Secondly do you guys include references or do the "Available on request" thing? I'm undecided at the moment. When its done I might show it to you. Maybe.
You could condense your results to something like "8 GCSEs C or above". Depending on who you're using as your references, it may be advisable to offer them on request only (if you are worried about your current employer finding out you are leaving, for example).
I don't know the EU market at all, and as such maybe take my opinion with a pich or a handful of salt. ITO Education, include the highest qualification attained, note your school and uni/tech/college in the CV. ITO of references, I'd include the latest relevant 2 or 3, unless you are (as shirty ninja'd me here) afraid of your current employer finding out. Make sure that RELEVANT expeirence gets priority. The general consensus AFAIK is that in most of the EU, a "short form CV" gets used. 2 pages MAX, possibly with supporting documentation extra. If your CV gets longer than that, I'd trim down the irrelevant stuff (i.e. that time you worked at buger king in school break). A CV tells FACTS ONLY. the rest gets told in your cover letter. Though you probably know all of that anyway. Good luck.
I just include "# GCSE's, including English, Maths & Science at grade B or above" in my qualifications list. As you said they aren't really relevant once you have previous experience and industry specific qualifications but some places require the three basics at grade C or above for all employees. References shouldn't be included on a CV as they should only be asked for when an offer of employment is made. If you want to say they are available this could be included on a covering letter.
As most have already said. Include relevant qualifications under education. As far as specific ones such as GCSEs, if you're running out of space then summarise. Lets say for arguments sake, that Maths is the only really relevant GCSE you have, depending on space you could put X GCSEs grade A-C, or X GCSEs grade A-C, including X in Maths or X GCSEs grade A-C, including X in Maths, X in English, X in Science. My advice, don't make it feel cramped - it'll put people off reading it. 2 pages max. Most recent and relevant work history. They'll more than likely be looking for key things when reading your CV, skim reading it to find it. If they see something of interest they'll read it in detail. Don't put reference imo, leave as on request. Good luck!
my CV is laid out as follows and does not EXCEED 2 sheets of A4. personal details ( dont forget to add CLEAN driving license on if you have it) Education starting with most recent. i do summarise my GCSE's (1/2 first page) Job History - again most recent down to last professional job (1/2 first page, 2/3 of the 2nd) skills/hobbies - (usually less than a 1/3 of the last page) Employers tend not to read past 2 and if they do its usually a very quick skim and 4 is almost never looked at. Also cover letter is important along with your CV as people do read this and it highlights why YOU want the job etc.
Thanks all. Most of you hit the nail on the head. Its a space saving exercise. There's quite a bit I want to put in my most recent job history section and something somewhere has to give. I refuse to go past two pages. Ill just summarise the GCSEs part and remove the references section or at least put "available on request" TYVM all. I hate these damn things. Endless fiddling and going around in circles all to satisfy by chance the opinion of one lone individual who I don't even know and who would most likely rather not be reading through a pile of CVs on a Monday morning.
