Thump, my revision is away. Tell me if the format worked for you. If not, I'll re-save and re-send.
Jimmy, Thump, and others:
I've held a variety of positions in the past and currently, from low-life jobs to well-respected professional ones. I generally am not out of work for more than a week or two at a time, unless I'm actively not looking for work.
Some tips:
The CV or resume is meant to get you an interview, not get you a job. Though I've been hired once simply on the strength of a paper application, generally that isn't the case.
My CV is constantly being revised and updated, even when I'm working. That way I have a running tab of dates and accomplishments.
Make sure someone proofreads your final draft!!!!! Silly spelling and punctuation mistakes are embarrassing, and if the employer has fifty resumes to sort through and only one position, you stand a much lower chance of being called for an interview than if your resume is perfect.
If at all possible, hand your CV directly to the person with the power to hire you, or to someone on the same level. Smile. Shake his/her hand firmly. (I had one person literally back away from me when I offered my hand, and it was most off-putting, especially as he was applying for a customer service position.) Introduce yourself, and tell him/her why you're there. Don't go during busy hours, if you know what they are. (If you don't, make an effort to find out.)
For mailed/emailed CVs, get the name, if at all possible, of the person directly responsible for hiring. Double check spelling of said person's name and their gender.
Phone back a week or so after mailing or delivering your CV, if there was no indication of a possible hire date. Again, aim for slow times for the particular place you're applying, if at all possible.
Don't be too humble on your resume, especially if this is your first job. You need to put down as many of your job-related accomplishments as necessary, because you don't have work experience to fill up that page!
Neat, tidy, and on white or off-white paper, with a clean font. (NOT font
s!)
And you should have dozens of the things printed once done, not one or two. And looking for a job should take almost the same amount of time that actually working at the job does, if you're serious about finding work.
Jimmy, don't feel too bad about the temporary jobs. I've temped before, and I've been hired on three times by the companies I've temped for. A lot of companies now go through temp agencies to find new employees, because if the new employee doesn't work out, a phone call to the agency to ensure they don't come back is less paperwork than having to fire them. Do your best, and keep sending out your CV while employed as a temp, and eventually you'll end up where you're supposed to be.
