Online CVs
In this section there are 14 CVs of different types.Their purpose is to
show how a complete CV looks, using different styles and approaches.
Most are based on real-life CVs, details disguised with the person’s
consent. They represent typical career challenges, ranging from the
young mum wanting to get back into the workplace to a distinguished
officer looking for a civilian role after many years of military service.
Some are blends of several actual CVs and some are fictionalized,
invented to demonstrate particular points.
None of these CVs is intended to offer you a perfect fit that you
can lift straight out and use. This is because there is no true shortcut
to creating the CV that will be precisely right for you.You are the only
person who can do this. However, in scanning these CV examples,
you can look at how the people concerned have:
chosen layout and typeface. There will be some that appeal to●●
you more than others and which you can use as inspiration for
your own CV.
solved particular problems in presenting their careers and●●
lives, emphasizing strong points and minimizing weak ones.
used ‘CV language’ to create a document with impact.●●
selected one format rather than another.●●
broken some of the classic ‘rules’ of CV writing – and why.●●
The idea is for you to judge for yourself how far these CVs do the job
for which they were intended and to give you a kick start in writing
your own.
1
GREAT ANSWERS TO TOUGH CV PROBLEMS2
CV1: Young professional seeking a change of
firm: Sheena Howerd-Leggett
Sheena has been with the same firm of actuaries since leaving
university. It has been enjoyable and she has done well. Her firm is
about to be merged with a competitor. This could be good for an
ambitious young professional because it could create many new
opportunities for further advancement and there is no pressure on her
to leave. But Sheena has privately decided that this might be a good
time to move on and intends to contact a few headhunters with
a view to joining a company with an internationally based business.
The CV challenge for anyone working in a professional services
firm (for instance, accountancy, the law, management consultancy) is
to demonstrate that you really have made a difference rather than just
doing your job.The more your service is about giving advice rooted in
a complex subject such as the law, the more nebulous it can seem
and the greater the temptation just to make your CV a faint echo of
your job description, especially as in the early years of such careers
you are essentially building your experience while you follow in the
shadow of a much more experienced principal. In many such professions,
the work is actually about long-term trends and slow changes,
many of which may be imperceptible at the time. Despite this, Sheena
has been able to make some impressive claims about her record and
to demonstrate the skills and knowledge she would bring to a new
job. She has chosen the chronological format as it seems the most
straightforward in her case.
CV2: Artistic director: Patrick MacMahon
Patrick spent three years after graduating discovering what he really
wanted to do. He did a RADA course because he was considering
trying to become a theatre director, but concluded that there was too
much competition and that maybe he was not quite good enough.
He then went to the USA where he undertook an MA. His educational
qualifications look good, but to support himself he had to do
a variety of low-paid casual work. In effect he was a student until
his late twenties. He has made a significant swerve in career from
being a writer and radio drama producer to being an artistic director
– a much more broadly focused role from performer/writer/director to
manager and entrepreneur. Although he has done well in his current
ONLINE CVs 3
role, he feels the job is too small and too regionally based. He is now
looking to be appointed to an even bigger national or international role
– perhaps as a major festival director or as chief executive of a bigger
arts centre. He realises that at a time when the arts generally are
facing savage cuts, this will be tricky. He is willing to work in the UK
or Europe. He has chosen the route of presenting his CV in the hybrid
format, which allows him to emphasize his achievements at the same
time as showing his career path chronologically and of having an
introductory paragraph. Note that his leisure interests are a close
match to his professional interests – often the case in this kind of
career and life.
CV3: Role change and promotion skills:
Gwynne Martin
Gwynne is in early-to-mid career. She has had a career in management
and HR and her career includes five years as a management
consultant – this will be a big plus in her job search. She has become
interested in organizational development (OD) and is now looking for
a director job where she can build on her OD experience in a bigger
organization and for more money. She has tailored her CV to the skills
and qualities that a potential new employer is looking for, playing
down her substantial HR experience. She has opted for the skillsbased
CV as she is aiming to change role and sector at the same time
as looking for a promotion.
Her experience is virtually all public sector and this is where she
knows she will be most immediately acceptable. If her initial job
searching does not pay off, she will be able to adapt the CV easily to
remove even more of its public sector flavour, emphasizing the transferability
of her skills. Her current employer is a small local authority
with fewer than 500 employees and she is bored with this job.
The OD part of her current role is actually small, but she has rightly
emphasized any of it that will make her a strong candidate for the
new job. Her first page faithfully reflects the competencies the
employer has said it is looking for. At the interview she will talk convincingly
about wanting a job with increased scope and challenge.
Although it is normally good practice to exclude anything about
personal circumstances. Gwynne has just separated from a longterm
partner and is keen to move away from Norfolk, so she adds
that she is willing to relocate anywhere in the UK or EU.
GREAT ANSWERS TO TOUGH CV PROBLEMS4
CV4: Salesperson to manager: James S. Smith
James has now been in estate agency work for six years and has
had fast promotion because he can sell property when colleagues
struggle. When his boss had a breakdown and went off sick for six
months, James stood in for him and realised that he loved running
a sales team. He feels he is a natural leader. Now he’s looking for
a new job as a sales manager. He urgently needs to earn more, buy or
rent his own flat and the job needs to be in Belfast or Dublin because
of his personal circumstances.
James’s CV makes the most of his experience in his current role
as a way of countering his relative youth and emphasizes the unusual
breadth of his successes and innovations for one so young. For the
same reason he has chosen Garamond, a somewhat sober typeface,
to give an impression of maturity. He has given his driving licence
status when normally you would omit this, but in his profession it is
important and employers request it. Similarly, you always need to
hesitate before including training courses in a CV but in James’s case
it is worthwhile as it shows his commitment to his own development
and the choice of courses is interesting. An employer looking for
someone professionally interested in leadership would also see that
James has invested considerable amounts of time, and possibly his
own money, in his personal development – for instance with his postgraduate
diploma in management.
James has registered with several recruitment agencies specialising
in sales roles and will also network vigorously, knowing that the most
likely way a new job will come his way is through personal contact.
CV5: Teacher: Sarah James
Sarah is a successful modern languages teacher in her mid thirties
and at a crossroads in her career. She likes nothing better than being
in a classroom full of children and her outstanding record of exam
results will speak for itself to any potential new employer. She is
aiming for a head of faculty job. Her CV emphasises her gift for
innovation as well as making it clear that she enthusiastically supports
current educational initiatives which have the double aims of enhancing
the school experience for every child and improving the academic
record and reputation of the school.
ONLINE CVs 5
Note that Sarah is safe in using the jargon of educational policies
as this will be known to any likely reader (no interception by HR
specialists) and shows she is fully familiar with all the buzz words.
She can flex this CV depending on the path she chooses. If she
decides to enter the world of school management, aiming ultimately
for a headship, she can recraft it to emphasize the more managerial
aspects of what she currently does. If she decides to go for a role
where hands-on teaching is what is needed, then this CV will be
fine as it is. Not least, her ultimate decision will be affected by her
domestic circumstances. For instance, she already has one baby and
if she decides to have another, then she may opt for putting her
career into neutral for the time being and continuing much as she is.
CV6: Contractor (a CV that breaks many of the
‘rules’): Fletcher Thomas
Fletcher is an IT specialist who is making a lucrative career out of
a niche in the banking world. After his first two jobs, he has never
been employed on a staff basis, preferring to work as a long-term
contractor. His CV breaks many of the general rules of CV writing. His
first page is full of bullets, but this is acceptable when, in effect, he is
presenting each contract as a specific set of tasks and achievements.
The CV is full of technical jargon and acronyms, eg CRM (customer
relations management), targeting strategy, dashboard, but this is safe
in his case as the CV is aimed exclusively at people who will know
exactly what they mean. In fact, the jargon works well for him as it
shows his complete familiarity with the problems potential clients
want to solve. If Fletcher ever decides to move out of this type of
work he will need to do a severe revamping of the CV, but for now it
is fine as it is.
CV7: Manager NHS: Jane Morgan
Although Jane’s CV may look as if it is only suitable as a template for
another NHS senior manager, in fact it could form the basis of any
managerial job, with different evidence, of course, but the headings
are the competencies needed for most managerial work.
Jane is the chief executive of a medium-sized NHS hospital and
is looking specifically for a bigger hospital, probably a teaching Trust.
GREAT ANSWERS TO TOUGH CV PROBLEMS6
She is aware that her own hospital is a target for merger and wants
to change jobs before this happens. Ideally she wants to stay in the
hospital sector of the NHS or would consider a move to local government,
central government or to the private health sector where her
experience would serve her well. She has emphasised her leadership
and managerial achievements. Her aim is to give the message to any
potential employer that she is a fearless exponent of change with
a strong track record of delivering on targets. Any job for which she
applies will probably have headhunter involvement.
Jane has taken the calculated risk of extending her CV to three A4
pages to allow for a further emphasis on her skills, this time using the
space to describe her management style – and in a more informal
way than she has used on the first two pages, for instance using the
first person. She could make a decision later to remove this, if she
wished – or to use it in the covering letter. It will depend on the advice
she gets from the headhunter in relation to any specific job.
CV8: IT expert to salaried job: Stepan Botev
Stepan is Bulgarian and is part of the trend that brings talented East
Europeans to the UK. He has had a number of jobs with companies
supplying IT services or working on helpdesks. His last job ended
when the company went into administration. He has found selfemployment
bleak and lonely as he is not a natural self-promoter. He
is now looking for a salaried job.
He knows that any British employer will wonder about his command
of English, so he mentions the language study he did in
Scotland. He is multilingual and this will be an advantage in any
company trading with the former Soviet Union. Stepan has a British
wife. Normally you do not need to mention your marital status but
Stepan does so because he wishes to emphasize the stability of
his current situation and for the same reason he mentions that he is
applying for British citizenship as he is determined to make the UK
his permanent home.
IT specialists frequently fail to mention their so-called ‘soft skills’
but in any customer-facing role this will be important. This is why
Stepan mentions his abilities here, knowing that this will give him
an edge over competitors.
ONLINE CVs 7
CV9: Job hopper: Kayleigh Simeon
Kayleigh left school at 18 with unimpressive A level results. She was
not interested in university but had no clear idea about what she
wanted to do instead. As the only one of her friends without higher
education qualifications she is seeing them overtake her in income
and job satisfaction. The truth is that until recently she has been
a somewhat unfocused job hopper, working to live rather than living
to work, holding a series of low-paid jobs with little prospect of
promotion.
Now at 29 with a partner and with a mortgage to feed, she has
decided to get a grip on her career and to go full-out for a job selling
cosmetics in a department store or working as the in-house therapist
at a gym or spa as a prelude to specializing in skin care and make-up
– and even, eventually, to running her own business.
Kayleigh’s younger sister has a large ‘port wine stain’ facial birthmark
and Kayleigh has been aware of how much this has affected her
sister’s life and confidence.This is what encouraged her to learn camouflage
techniques as part of the portfolio of skills and experience
she can now offer.
She scraped together the money for a part-time NVQ Beauty
Therapy course at her local college and managed to talk her way into
heavily subsidized places on two other relevant short courses.
Showing that she has stuck at this at this will impress any future
employer but she will still have to demonstrate that her job-hopping
days are over.
Kayleigh has opted for a version of the skills-based CV, headed by
an informally written profile and a statement of her career objective.
In reality her CV is a list of the skills she has acquired on her Beauty
Therapy course – and note that she has clustered the part-time and
contract jobs together to minimize the reality of a rackety earlier
career when she skated precariously from one short-term and unsatisfying
low-paid job to another. She has not given details of her
A level grades and hopes that any interviewer will not enquire too
closely since two Es do not look good.
GREAT ANSWERS TO TOUGH CV PROBLEMS8
CV10: Young graduate delayed career:
Elizabeth Westfield
In her parents’ view, Elizabeth has ‘dossed around’ for far too long.
They are more worried about her than she is about herself. She has
recently returned home after two years of temp jobs, some of which
time was spent travelling in France and Italy with a boyfriend, now
discarded. After working with a coach (funded by her parents – they
are desperate), Elizabeth has decided that she wants a career in the
hospitality industry and also hopes to use her excellent language
skills.The danger to a recruiter is that Elizabeth’s career could be seen
as unfocused and unambitious: Why has she been doing all these
apparently low-level jobs for so long?
In writing up her CV, Elizabeth has chosen a softer version of the
skills/competency-based CV, picking out the experience and skills
acquired during her foreign travel and her temp work in the UK. Now
a career that could seem too much like a little bit of this, little bit of
that, seems to make sense. The language skills and food, wine and
bar knowledge make a good case to a potential employer for appointing
her to the first and inevitably somewhat junior managerial role
that is within her reach.
Elizabeth has included her school exam results when normally you
would omit them, but in her case it helps to round out the impression
of a clever and active young person.
Note that she has included her objective as part of her profile.
This can pay off when you are in Elizabeth’s situation. Elizabeth is
bound to be probed on the temporary nature of her employment
during an interview, but she has prepared some strong answers, all
based on the claim in her CV that her aim in breezing round Europe
was to deepen her understanding of European culture. Elizabeth is
likely to be applying for jobs where there are mass applicants. This is
why she has placed her contact details in the top right corner so that
they are more likely to catch the attention of a busy recruiter.
CV11: Postgraduate with little work
experience: Matthew Freeman
This example of a one-page CV shows how powerful a carefully
targeted approach can be, even when you are at the absolute
ONLINE CVs 9
beginning of a career and without either a great deal of employment
experience or brilliant A level results. Matthew has decided that he
wants a City or consulting career and has stripped down his CV to the
essentials that will catch the eye of a graduate recruiter in these
fields, even in times when such jobs are scarce and competition
fierce. His school results look mediocre (and he might do better to omit
them in future CVs) but his degree from a first-rate university and his
exposure to German language and culture suggest an international
outlook. His MA in War Studies, again from an impressive university,
and his dissertation on a challenging internationally relevant subject
suggest a lively, analytical mind. His employment experience is
extremely limited but he has given a flavour of his willingness to
plunge into new worlds confidently and to get results. It is clear from
his personal interests that he has devoted time to political and social
concerns. He has used a classic typeface: Times New Roman. Note
that he has omitted the humble ‘McJobs’ that it is likely he did during
vacations. This is a risk but it has paid off here. The real-life CV on
which this version is based quickly earned its writer innumerable
offers of interviews for jobs with good salaries, and therefore the
portal to a flourishing career in his chosen sector.
CV12: Mum returner: Ella D’Argenio
Ella is 33 and dropped out of higher education after only a year
because she was pregnant with her first child. She has put the needs
of her children first, so her employment history is thin. To all intents
and purposes she has been a full-time mother. Not completing her
degree also puts her at a disadvantage against other women of her
age who have similar ambitions. Her younger child is now within sight
of secondary education and Ella wants to find a job as a teaching
assistant, with the eventual ambition of qualifying as a teacher. This
will mean committing herself to a teacher-training programme, and to
get a place she will boost her eventual application enormously if she
has worked as an employed classroom assistant.
Ella’s chances of getting this kind of job are improved considerably
by her bold personal statement, where her commitment to young
children shines out. Because she is so clear about her longer-term plans,
she has stuck at her volunteer classroom assistant role, knowing that
this will impress a head teacher – and also, of course, because she
loves the work. Her Open University course is also a good match to
her target career.
GREAT ANSWERS TO TOUGH CV PROBLEMS10
Since this is a CV that will be used for a teaching role, Ella’s CV
follows academic conventions and puts her qualifications on the first
page. Note that normally it is not necessary to include GCSE and A
level results, but since Ella does not have a degree, she has included
them, especially since they are impressive. Normally you would
also leave out all reference to having children but in Ella’s case it is
important to mention them. First, they explain why she never
completed her degree. Second, it conveys that Ella enjoys her own
children enough to want to spend time educating the children of
others – and her track record entirely endorses this impression.
CV13: Uniformed service to civilian life:
Colonel Peter Saxton
This is a version of the one-page CV. Peter is a senior officer who
could continue his army service for a few more years if he wishes,
but at 50 he has decided he would like to make a move sooner. People
in the uniformed services with long-service careers are in demand in
civilian life as long as they can demonstrate their transferable skills.
The normal way to do this is through the skills-based CV and to take
up to two pages to do it. Peter has decided not to follow this route.
He has had a remarkably illustrious military career and has specialist
skills in security and bomb disposal. This is the civilian sector he
wishes to enter. By simply stating his distinguished service record
and emphasizing this element in his experience, he is allowing it to
speak for itself.
If he finds his planned career path more difficult than he supposes,
he has other more conventional CVs up his sleeve which emphasize
the transferability of his skills – for instance in leadership, training,
coaching and strategic thinking.
CV14: Performer: Caron Anson
Unlike the other CVs in this book, this one is the actual CV of the
person concerned, presented here with his full permission.
When you are in any kind of performer or creative role and sell
your services on a freelance basis, this may be the most useful type
of CV, but check with the likely recipient first about what they expect.
Caron works as an actor and can flex this CV according to whether
ONLINE CVs 11
the potential buyer is considering him for corporate work or for traditional
acting (stage, TV, films). In this example he would be pitching
for work as part of a team offering role play and coaching to a corporate
buyer. This is work where the actor quickly takes a brief from
a participant and simulates a colleague with whom the participant
might be having difficulty.The participant plays themselves, the actor
plays the ‘difficult’ person and then offers exquisitely accurate and
helpful feedback. The work needs both acting and coaching ability
and this is what Caron stresses in his CV. Note that he mentions an
impressive list of previous corporate clients and also his Indian descent,
knowing that obvious diversity (in this case, culture and skin colour)
could be a recommendation. Since the target reader is a business
person, Caron also mentions his earlier, non-acting career where his
business experience could be a valuable recommendation. Rightly,
he has not given any details of dates or actual jobs because the
employer is unlikely to be interested. One page is always enough for
this type of CV.
This is the only kind of CV where a photograph is not only appropriate
but necessary. Backing the CV up with a personal website is
also a useful touch as it allows any reader to check the candidate out
more thoroughly and for the CV writer to offer more information in
a way that is easily accessible.
GREAT ANSWERS TO TOUGH CV PROBLEMS12
Page 1 of 2
Sheena Howerd-Leggett, FIA
Tyrone House, Old Broadway, Manchester M20
09876 7756432   email S.Howerd.Leggett@aol.com
Profile
Confident, outgoing and ambitious consulting actuary with strong communication
and consulting skills and 11 years’ experience in pensions and liability management.
A long-term thinker with a flair for creativity and innovation.
Career history
September 2006 to date
Fine & Silkins Ltd, Manchester, Corporate pensions consulting actuary
Leading a client portfolio of six companies with pension schemes varying from under
£100m to over £10bn.
Long-term thinking: advise clients on 20–30-year implications of their current
pension dilemmas, working closely with CEOs and CFOs of FTSE organizations
and their boards.
Managing down pension costs: have worked closely with clients on pension
benefits, reducing costs by 10–20%, reflected in eventual P&L results; advised
on methods of avoiding increases, keeping costs steady for two client
organizations despite volatility of the last two years.
Restructuring investments: advised clients successfully on improved
approaches to match assets to liabilities.
Benefit reviews: developed innumerable creative approaches to client
schemes which have enabled them to redesign pension schemes where, for
example, inflation-proof pensions have been exchanged for higher initial
payments.
Consulting skills: create close, mutually trustful relationships with clients,
enabling both challenge and support to be part of the way we work together.
Multinational working: developed approaches to help clients ameliorate and
understand differences made by pension traditions and legislation in different
countries.
Communication: have developed effective ways of demystifying complex data
to clients, explaining in simple terms without losing the integrity of the ideas.
Have also worked with client communication specialists in one organization,
developing strategies for anticipating and overcoming member resistance to
changes in pension schemes, for instance designing a series of workshops
delivered across UK and Europe.
Business development: worked closely with sales team to provide input to
proposals for prospective clients; headed up the technical aspects of the
presentation, resulting in winning business from two substantial new clients.
ONLINE CVs 13
Page 2 of 2
‘Thought leadership’: lead the UK group of liability management specialists,
calling regular meetings to brainstorm new approaches, tools and techniques.
Group has developed many successful ideas which have been converted into
standard practice across the firm.
Coaching and mentoring: act as formal mentor to 3 actuarial students;
informally offer mentoring to colleagues across the UK branches.
Conference speaking: regular contributor to national and international
conferences on liability management topics.
2004–2006
Consultant
Worked as a consulting actuary supporting principals on delivery of work; developed
specialism in liability management issues during this time.
1999–2004
Actuarial student
Worked in the pensions consulting department working on both company and
trustee work. Carried out the usual mix of student work: calculations, accounting
and valuations.
Education and qualifications
Institute of Actuaries: FIA 2003
1996 to 1999: University of Warwick; BSc (Hons) Mathematics 2:1
Interests
Squash, tennis, skiing, fell walking, Italian cooking.
GREAT ANSWERS TO TOUGH CV PROBLEMS14
Page 1 of 2
Patrick MacMahon
23b Regency Crescent
Cityname
Postcode
0127 901333  (H)  07976 241 552 patrickmacm104@blueyonder.co.uk
Driven and passionate artistic director, entrepreneur and drama specialist of 20 years’
successful experience with demonstrably extensive knowledge of the arts in Britain
and internationally. Strategic thinker with strong record of innovation and commercial
success. Experienced leader of creative teams.
Career history
2005 – current
Artistic Director, Performing Arts Centre, < name of city >
Artistic and commercial flair. Initiated and led x years of artistic and commercial
success in this major arts centre. Increased income streams by 60% through
planned programmes of emphasis on new trends. Increased grant income by 30%
in highly competitive environment while simultaneously increasing selfsupporting
commercially successful activities.
Team leadership. Inherited demoralized team. Rebuilt it through careful selection
process, developing the current talented team of 6 specialists in dance, theatre,
music and cinema through involvement, delegating budgets and responsibility.
Partnership working. Built mutually beneficial partnerships with Arts Council,
theatre and music schools, local government, other performance centres in
region.
Commissioning. Commissioned major dance festival (October–November) 2007,
repeated 2008 to showcase modern British, European and US dance, drawing
sell-out performances from leading artists like Michael Clark and Siobhan Davies
plus popular successes such as Rambert and Nederlans Dans Theater. Created
International Theatre Season with visiting companies from all over world, resulting
in extensive press coverage and 85% capacity audiences throughout.
Commissioned New Music Festival 3 years running featuring young composers.
Ran successful piano competition for under-15s; brought English Touring Opera,
London Sinfonietta and many other orchestras to the Centre.
Property. Led redevelopment of Arts Centre complex, working closely with
architect, project manager and builders, managing budget of £xm; project
delivered on schedule and to budget in 2009. Design won RIBA award 2010.
Education. Initiated an innovative education programme for young people and
adults, with regular workshops linked to current performances.
Community. Established Community Link, including an Elders Dance programme
which now has waiting list of 50.
ONLINE CVs 15
Page 2 of 2
1999 – 2005, Viva Arts Centre, London
Theatre Projects Director
Successfully delivered and initiated series of festivals including classics,
children’s theatre, international specials such as Czech, Russian and US.
Established theatre education programme, building on predecessor’s work.
Successfully established artistic residencies.
Diversification: extended Viva’s theatre policy to embrace broader areas of
contemporary scene in street theatre, improvisation, urban roots, founding and
running the popular Love-All Festival.
1993 – 1999
Freelance radio director-producer, writer
Worked extensively for BBC and corporate communications companies as freelance,
specializing in contemporary drama. BBC commissioned 5 plays as author
during this time. Developed own company, DramaWorks, working closely with
distinguished associates and actors, producing range of output for BBC Radio Drama.
Sony Award 1997 for Best Contemporary Drama.
1990 – 1993
BBC Radio, drama producer, Manchester and London
Three years of broadly-based production experience working on the full range of
BBC drama, from Shakespeare, adaptations of several Dickens novels, to modern
classics such as Waiting for Godot.
Won Sony Award for Best Classical Drama for Macbeth, 1992.
1984 – 1990
Variety of part-time jobs to support educational fees.
These included freelance ASM, working as extra, bar work.
Qualifications
1990 MA in Performing Arts, University of Colorado, USA, Masters
dissertation on British Theatre 1950–1960
1987 RADA Graduate Certificate in Theatre Directing
1986 University of Bristol, 2.1 Honours Drama and English
Other information
Council Member Arts Council England, London from 2009
International Arts Advisor, French Government panel, 2004–6
Author of Modern British Theatre: A Handbook, Routledge, 2000
Leisure interests: all forms of the performing arts, singing bass in Crouch End
Chorus, amateur orchestral conducting.
GREAT ANSWERS TO TOUGH CV PROBLEMS16
Page 1 of 2
Gwynne Martin
123 Station Rd, Reedham, Norfolk NR13 8BR
H: 01493 609123  M: 07862 451883  E: gwynm222@zoom.com
Summary of skills and attainments
High-level consulting skills:●● 5 years as a management consultant depended for
success on having the skill to think strategically, create trust with clients, advise
on implementation. Clients included Lloyds TSB; Mayor of London’s Private Office;
Department of Culture, Media and Sport, House of Fraser.
Organization development:●● lead role for organizational development in current
job; successfully working as an internal consultant to the Authority – establishing
this role as essential and valid in face of initial scepticism from colleagues and
rapid change in the current climate of cuts.
Managing change and innovation:●● devised and introduced new performance
management system, including designing and running workshops for anyone
carrying out performance reviews; system now used by 95% of managerial staff.
Strategy:●● devised, then implemented HR strategy for Authority including issues
such as retention, succession planning, recruitment and reward. This involved
detailed attention to competitive environment, reliable knowledge of the climate
among staff.
Communication:●● frequent and confident giver of presentations at public meetings
and smaller meetings including at board level, with positive feedback.
Coaching:●● hold ILM Diploma (postgraduate level). Offer executive coaching to
middle and senior managers in current organization, plus several private clients.
Building partnerships:●● essence of current job is building collaborative
relationships with colleagues inside and outside Authority. Successfully set up
Public Health Network with GPs; set up half-yearly conferences on OD with
neighbouring Authorities.
Team leadership:●● led a team of HR specialists, turning them from demoralized
group into a high-performing team through process of participative management,
and attention to process as well as to task.
Team membership:●● have consistently played key roles in the all the teams of
which I have been a member.
Client awareness:●● my team provides a service to the rest of the Authority.
Customer awareness is key to success. Set up series of measures to ensure that
this is the case, including annual telephone survey carried out by external agency.
Results show year-on-year improvement of 20%.
Facilitation:●● excellent facilitation skills are fundamental to current role. Have
successfully facilitated every type of meeting, large and small, including many
awaydays with GPs, board members, professionals from Trusts.
Re-engineering:●● responsible for redesign of Authority’s office support services,
simplifying and streamlining department, resulting in dramatic improvement in service
quality; relocating staff and reducing the costs of the whole operation by 20%.
ONLINE CVs 17
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Employment history
Assistant Director of Development, West Norfolk District Council
2008–present
Lead responsibility for organisational development and HR.
Lead responsibility for liaison with local NHS providers.
Lead responsibility for winter pressures planning, including the coordination of
emergency services; commended by government as an example of good practice.
Contract and budget negotiation with GPs and Trusts.
Working with clinicians, Social Services and GPs to develop alternatives to acute care
for older people, with acceptance of shifts of investment from hospital to
intermediate and primary care.
Senior Management Consultant, Hebden Associates, London, 2003–2008
Worked with this well-regarded health care specialist practice as senior consultant
where accountabilities included:
Reaching stretching targets for self-generated work with healthcare clients
Creating innovative approaches to organizational problems with range of
household-name clients
Delivering training workshops; facilitating events for senior clients.
Director of Marketing, SW Essex Provider Unit, 2002–2003
OD role to merge the structures and systems of an acute and community provider unit.
Business planning and contract negotiation in preparation for the 1991 reforms.
Unit General Manager SE Norfolk Community Unit 1999–2002
District-wide lead for quality initiative, using TQM techniques.
Development of learning disability services jointly with Social Services.
Assistant General Manager, Thetford General Hospital, 1996–1999
Development of bed management and waiting time policies to manage conflicting
demands of emergency and elective admissions.
Qualifications
BA Hons French, 2.1: Manchester University < date >
MBA: Warwick University < date >
Member Institute of Personnel and Development: < date >
Diploma in Coaching: ILM 2010
Interests
Acting in village drama group; volunteer mentor for local literacy scheme; reading
(biographies and fiction); antique restoration; textile crafts.
Personal circumstances
Able to relocate anywhere in the UK or EU.
GREAT ANSWERS TO TOUGH CV PROBLEMS18
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James S. Smith
582 Lisburn Park Rd
Belfast
BT15 8OQ
Telephone 02890 89 5162  Email JamesSSmith5.belfast.home@bluesky.com
A confident senior sales negotiator with 6 years’ enjoyable and productive experience
in estate agency. Outstanding sales success, consistently delivering above targets,
popular with vendors, purchasers and colleagues; committed to improving the image
of the profession – selling property in a way which meets needs of both buyer and
seller and acting with integrity at all times. Developer of innovative and successful
web-based approaches to marketing and client management. NLP Master
Practitioner. Now looking for a role as sales manager in Belfast or Dublin to sell
commercial or residential property and to lead a team hungry for results.
Achievements and career
Senior Negotiator, Emerson Property, Belfast, 2008 – present
Handling all aspects of residential property sales; managing own client list; dealing
with enquiries; liaising with solicitors and mortgage brokers.
Won company award as Sales Negotiator of the Year, 2010. Exceeded monthly
targets every month in 2011 and increased sales revenue by 20%.
Developed successful new strategy for advertising campaign in local press and
web which resulted in doubling number of initial enquiries. Website traffic tripled
after making business case for and then implementing improved picture quality,
more interesting copy and introducing video.
Developed improved software to track sales and trigger automatic follow-ups to
investigate delays.
Coached vendors in: radical ways to improve first impressions of their property;
how to price realistically in a downturned market.
Created strong relationships with network of lawyers, surveyors, valuers and
mortgage brokers to reduce sales cycle time from offer to contract and
completion.
Initiated method of analysing and then acting on client segmentation and profiles
to guide marketing policy.
Inducted and trained junior staff.
Managed budgets and forecasting, deputizing for boss.
Gave presentations to colleagues at other branches, briefing them on our
methods.
Stood in for manager when he was off sick for a 6-month period. Handled staff
appraisals, dealt with motivating and rebuilding a team demoralized by
exceptionally difficult trading conditions.
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Sales negotiator, TQZ Property, 12 Claremont St, London W1 2006–2008
Handled all aspects of property selling, specializing in commercial property. Achieved
all sales targets. Learnt to work under pressure at this premier agency. Made initial
visits to properties, drew up paperwork and wrote advertisements. Conducted initial
presentation of property to potential buyers and followed up offers; carried through
negotiations.
Earlier career
Trainee sales negotiator, Foxtons, Kensington, London 2005–2006
Sales assistant, House of Fraser, Menswear Department, Oxford St, London 2004–2005
Variety of temporary jobs including McDonald’s, bar and restaurant work 2003–2004
Travelling in Australia, Singapore and New Zealand 2002–2003
Qualifications
University of Ulster; BSc Business 2.2; 2002
Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies; London Metropolitan University, 2008
NLP Master Practitioner; NLP Academy 2009; trained with John Grinder, one of the
founders of NLP
Professional development
Have attended innumerable courses including:
Excellence in selling
Managing difficult clients
Mediating in disputes (one-term evening course)
Business development
Legal aspects of estate agency (modular course over a year)
Finance for non-financial managers
Driving licence
Full, clean licence
Personal
Triathlete; playing rugby; qualified rugby coach and referee; travelling to far-flung
places.
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Sarah James
15 Grant Avenue, Peterborough, PE1 6TA
Phone 01733 580234  email Sarah_Jane_James@percent.com
PROFILE
French and German teacher with 10 years’ hands-on classroom experience backed by
two years in the commercial world. An innovator skilled in the use of interactive,
creative approaches to classroom practice and to supporting the Social and
Environmental Aspects of Learning (SEAL) agenda. Outstanding results, with 80% of
students achieving A*–C grades at GCSE. Keenly aware of the need to keep
improving results and to support the ‘Every Child Matters’ philosophy.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
September
2006 – present
Deputy Head, Language Faculty, Six Meadow Academy,
Peterborough, teaching French and German
Performance improvement: have consistently raised standards of
results at Key Stages 3 and 4 with year-on-year improvements.
80% A*–C at GCSE in German, 75% in French, both above average
for school and 25% above national average and exceeding
Target Minimum Grades for 90% of students.
Classroom practice: introduced innovative methods to reward good
work (e.g. interactive whiteboard); developed creative ways to
involve students in technology – e.g. exposing them to actual French
and German websites with quizzes; producing leaflets for French
and German partner schools.
AfL tasks: piloted school use of these ‘open’ assessments for
students with peer and self-assessment.
Social and Environmental Aspects of Learning: designed and ran
innovative workshops for Year 7 students, repeated for Year 8 on
the emotional aspects of learning, including anger management.
Asked to train other teachers in neighbouring schools and ran 6
training workshops 2010–11.
Classroom management: fully supportive of school policy. Member
of policy group monitoring how policy works out in practice.
Informal mentoring of colleagues who are struggling.
Launched new Exchange Schemes: with partner schools in France
and Germany, running parent–student evenings to reassure and
encourage participation. Participation has increased year on year
by 10%.
Mentoring: acted as mentor to 3 newly qualified teachers after
training at UEA.
Parent involvement: pioneered scheme to send regular emails to
parents celebrating their child’s progress or raising questions about
difficulties at an early stage. Introduced regular ‘round robin’
half-term newsletters by email.
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July 2001–2006 French and German Teacher and Form Tutor Paston
Community College, Rutland
This position involved teaching both languages at Key
Stages 3 and 4 and to all levels of ability, delivering the
Citizenship and PSHE Curriculum to Years 7, 8 and 9 form
groups. Other responsibilities included the German
curriculum and developing links with primary feeder
schools, by running a lunchtime French club for Year 6
pupils.
Sept 1998–Sept 2000 Various positions in London-based companies
Worked for L’Oréal as French-speaking secretary;
Data Monitor as German-speaking admin assistant;
Smith & Eldon (Solicitors) as Personal Injury Assistant.
Sept 1996–August 1997 Six-month work placements in France and
Germany
Translator and Administrative Assistant at Tréfimétaux
S.A., Paris. Position entailed translating documents from
the marketing, legal, accounts and technical
departments, and tutoring colleagues in English
grammar and conversational skills.
Translation Assistant at Volkswagen A.G., Wolfsburg,
Germany. Role involved translation of marketing and
public relations documents.
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
2000–2001 Institute of Education, London
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
11–18 French and German
Classification: Pass
July 1998 The Bell School, Norwich
Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults
Cambridge/RSA CELTA
Classification: Pass B
1994–1998 University of East Anglia, Norwich
BA (Hons) English and Comparative Literature with
French and German Language (third year spent working
abroad)
Classification: 2:1
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FURTHER SKILLS
Comfortable with the Microsoft Office suite, including packages such as Word, Excel
and PowerPoint, as well as various e-mail applications and internet browsers
including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer.
PERSONAL INTERESTS
Ballet, both as participant and audience member, opera, Latin dance, yoga,
swimming, travelling in France and Germany, experimenting with international
cuisine. Currently trying to master knitting.
REFEREES
Professional referee
Name and details
Academic referee
Name and details
ONLINE CVs 23
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Fletcher Thomas Consulting
53 Arlsome Rd, London N13 6DG
Mob: 07751 842022 Email: fletcher_thomas_consulting@zeus.co.uk
EMPLOYMENT
Jan 2010 –
Present
Prima Banking Group
Data Analyst (contract)
Data analysis to resolve strategic problems and questions■■
associated with personal current accounts
Developing a customer–product characterization process as■■
a means of monitoring the numbers of customers moving
between products and into and out of the bank to assess
against the group KPIs
Running segmentation reports to gain insight into customer base■■
Oct 2009 –
Jan 2010
DataDirect
Senior Manager – Data Analytics (contract)
Liaising directly with client to advise on customer management■■
strategy and establish KPIs for loyalty scheme
Led project to extract client’s CRM data, importing data and■■
creating DataDirect database. Analysing data to assess success
of client’s loyalty scheme, making recommendations
Researching success of existing stimulation campaigns and■■
advising on improvements
Writing technical specifications for CRM management plus and■■
statistical modelling tools
Advising on database architecture, data governance and system■■
development
Mar 2009 –
Aug 2009
Skype
Insight Analyst (contract)
Delivery of analysis for XX business unit as part of the three-year■■
strategy programme
Developing SQL-based tools for the product team to run risk■■
analysis on clients, providing support when required
Building and collating a data warehouse for customer lifetime■■
value project; advise on strategy based on the findings
Providing SQL training for colleagues■■
GREAT ANSWERS TO TOUGH CV PROBLEMS24
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Oct 2008 –
Jan 2009
ONLine retail plc
Insight Analyst (contract)
Running post-campaign analysis to gauge the success of■■
customer stimulation programmes and predicting future campaign
results, recommending future targeting strategy
Producing internal reports and dashboards for the finance function■■
for driving the business and training key stakeholders in their use
Supporting customer research with survey programmes■■
Acting as an internal consultant on pricing and PR problems■■
May 2008 –
Oct 2008
Bank of XX, Wealth
Insight Analyst (contract)
Leading product rationalization and customer migration project;■■
followed by monitoring and ROI analysis
Analysing customer segmentations, refining and testing customer■■
selection characteristics; supplying feedback to key stakeholders
to develop campaign strategies
Dec 2003 –
Sept 2005
Finance Plus, Cardiff, Process Engineer
Apr 2002 –
Nov 2003
BZW Systems Ltd, Nottingham
Process Engineer and Production Cell Manager
EDUCATION
1998–2001 University of Durham
MEng in Mechanical Engineering with Process Systems 2:1
SKILLS
Data query languages: SQL, PL/SQL, SAS
Database platforms: Oracle (up to 9i), Teradata, SQL Server, MySQL
Microsoft Applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Access, Visual Studio
Data reporting tools: SAS Enterprise Guide, SAP Business Objects
Data query tools: SQL Navigator, Toad, MySQL Server Assistant, Teradata SQL
Assistant
Modelling tools: KXEN
Presentation skills to senior managers including board members
Training: experienced in teaching software applications to non-IT colleagues
Influencing and persuading: experienced in using range of techniques and
approaches to influence peers and seniors
Leadership: experienced team leader; able to motivate and enthuse colleagues
Strategic thinking: analysis of complex data and ability to present it in
commercially astute ways
INTERESTS
Competitive cycling, the wines of South West France, supporting Arsenal
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Jane Morgan
46 St Augustine Rd
Kingston on Thames
KT4 9QT
M: 07863 996543  E: JMorgan5.home@orange.co.uk
Employment History
2006–present
Chief Executive, Beckford and Wallington NHS Foundation Trust
Achievements
Managing change:●● Led difficult merger between previous two hospitals.
Strategy concentrated on creating a patient-led culture. Staff morale is high
with year-on-year improvements in staff survey; sickness absence reduced
from 10% to 5%.
Financial management:●● Commissioned new information systems for tight cost
control, now on target for a zero deficit and have managed within budget for last
two years. Reduced overhead costs by 30% by rationalizing property portfolio.
Reduced operating costs by 25% by initiating process reviews mapping patient
pathway.
Strategic leadership:●● Developed new strategy, clarifying what services we are in
(and not in); e.g. that we are in rheumatology, orthopaedics and cancer services;
diminishing importance given to elderly services because they will be developed
by the XX Trust [a neighbouring hospital].
Quality assurance:●● Led the process of tougher clinical governance in the Trust
with full involvement of clinical staff. Excellent reports from Care Quality
Commission.
Team leadership:●● Have created strong, flexible team capable of responding swiftly
to both strategic and operational issues. Have retained the services of a talented
group in face of competition from elsewhere.
Collaborative working:●● generated strong relationships with local authorities plus
most of leading voluntary agencies. For past two years Trust has coped well
with winter pressures – no ‘patients on trolleys’ stories in the local press and
a confident approach from staff, thanks to increased cooperation with GPs and
community nursing services.
Results focus:●● We are on target to reduce our lists to below the national average.
Operational management:●● Developed constructive ways to manage the interface
between huge orthopaedic workload and the need to admit emergencies in winter.
Patient experience:●● Commissioned clinician-led review of all acute services,
streamlining and shortening distressing delays. Most recent Patient
Satisfaction Survey shows 85% of patients believe they received ‘outstanding’
or ‘very good’ care.
GREAT ANSWERS TO TOUGH CV PROBLEMS26
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2000–2006
Director of Operations, Dereham NHS trust
Dereham is an acute hospital with 450 beds. It is the major accident and emergency
trauma centre for North West Norfolk, a Calman Cancer Centre and also has
neurology, paediatric, maternity and obstetric services.
Achievements
Improved waiting times, average 16 weeks, bringing them to one of lowest in UK.●●
Introduced tight financial management resulting in low running costs and the●●
reduction of deficit to zero.
Led major, innovative capital developments achieved within normal NHS●●
guidelines – e.g. patient dining rooms, ensuite rooms, an ambience of dignity and
respect for patients.
Achieved collaborative working with sister Trust, the N and N in Norwich,●●
avoiding pointless competitiveness.
Created a model Calman–Hine Cancer Centre featuring hospice and patient●●
information centre.
Developed new risk management system.●●
Led the achievement of Investors in People accreditation.●●
Secured voluntary donations of £3m, enabling us to establish field-leading●●
endoscopy and diabetes day units and pioneering outpatient facilities.
Earlier career
1995–2000
Unit General Manager, City and East Norfolk Health Authority
1984–86
Unit General Manager, Bloomsbury Health Authority
1993–1995
Team Leader, Surrey County Council Social Services
1990–1993
Children and Families Social Worker
Skills and qualities
Strategic thinking: My track record demonstrates that I have had to use high-quality
strategic thinking, especially in my last two posts. I am a creative thinker with an eye
to the longer-term future. I believe in living with ambiguity and in using a both/and
approach rather than the limitations of either/or.
Personal resilience: I am a hard and conscientious worker who still regards her
personal life as important. My approach is to tackle what is important rather than
what is urgent. This includes a proper balance between my work and private lives,
which protects me from stress.
ONLINE CVs 27
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Leadership: My approach is to involve, to challenge and to support, not just with
my immediate team but with as many people in the whole organization as possible.
I have successfully developed a number of innovative ways of doing this.
Developing and coaching: My aim is always to develop and coach through feedback,
challenge and support rather than to command and control. The result is empowered
teams who get on with their own jobs rather than asking me to do theirs. At the same
time, I demand – and get – high standards, relying on this rather than expecting any
formal performance management system to achieve it for me.
Financial management: I am keenly interested in financial results, am numerate and
interested in robust financial models which help get the most out of limited resources.
Quality: Clinical and other kinds of audit are critical to the success of a modern NHS.
The only way to do this satisfactorily is to involve the clinicians in genuine leadership
and management. This is a hard task, but I have now achieved it in two Trusts.
Influencing: I rely on personal power, not position power, to achieve what I believe
needs to be done. My approach is collaborative and the excellent relationships I have
achieved with other NHS and local authority chief executives are proof of this.
Interests
Walking in the Lake District; Latin American dance; running; 20th-century history;
reading and writing poetry.
Qualifications
MBA: Cranfield Institute of Technology, 2000
CQSW: 1988
BA, Hons: University of Bristol, History, 2.1, 1986
GREAT ANSWERS TO TOUGH CV PROBLEMS28
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Stepan Botev
16 Kings Cross Rd
London
E15 6TF
07757 689 724 stepan@ITserve.com
Objective: to contribute first-class IT technical skills in a customer service company
in the London or Greater London area.
Profile: a highly qualified IT professional with 7 years’ experience in customer-facing
IT. Enjoys problem solving; friendly, persistent. Can teach customers how to use
software. Up to date in website development and maintenance. Hard-working,
flexible; fluent in English, Russian and Bulgarian.
Employment history
Feb 2009 – present: self-employed
IT engineer working on PC maintenance and repair for range of East London small
business and individual customers, solving hardware and software problems.
Jan 2005 – Feb 2009: Pentagonal IT Ltd – engineer
Created custom-built computers for home and small business customers.
Built specialist servers.
Networking support for home and commercial customers, wired and wireless.
Repaired and replaced laptop hardware.
Installed CCTV systems.
Dealt with PDAs, IPAQs, Palm OS.
Dec 2003 – Jan 2005: Technical support analyst, Computer Technologies Ltd, Edinburgh
Restructured and maintained company’s website.
Configured, rolling out and troubleshooting desktop and server systems.
Transferred complex data between servers in multiple-domain controllers
network.
Successfully relocated company’s IT infrastructure to new premises with minimum
downtime.
Solved technical problems for users re networking, servers, hard drives, wireless
points, back-up, etc.
2004 – 2005: Software developer, Technocomp Sofia
C# programming languages; developed MS SQL and MySQL databases for small
business clients.
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Technical skills – troubleshooting and maintenance for:
Windows: 2000/XP/Server2003
Active Directory 2003
MS Office: all applications
Exchange Server 2003
VMware: workstation/server
Networking: TCP/IP. IPX/SPX, NetBIOS
Linux: RHEL-4, Ubuntu 6, 7, 8
Data back-up and recovery.
Customer-handling skills:
Pleasant, polite manner with customers.
Keep customers informed of unavoidable delays in servicing their equipment.
Patience; able to deal successfully with anxious or angry customers.
Able to teach customers more effective use of their software.
Qualifications
2006 NCC International Advanced Diploma in Computer Studies, London Computer
College, Holborn
2003 NCC International Diploma in Computer Studies, BMC College, Edinburgh
2004 Technical University of Sofia. Honours Degree in Business Studies and
Computing, 1st class
Additional information
Undertook intensive English course while in Edinburgh. Speak fluent English,
Bulgarian and Russian, reasonable French. Private interests include repairing antique
watches, playing and watching football, French ‘noir’ films.
Married. Currently applying for UK citizenship.
GREAT ANSWERS TO TOUGH CV PROBLEMS30
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Kayleigh Simeon
25 Middleton St, Exeter, EX16 8NU
07796 573433 email Kayleighsi@googlemail.com
Qualified Beauty Therapist, distinction in all modules at NVQ Level 2, special interests
in colour and style in clothing and make-up and also in depilation of all sorts.
Committed to the difference that wonderful make-up and hair can make to
appearance and confidence. Conscientious, friendly and highly client focused,
excellent selling skills. Now seeks full-time employment in a cosmetics department
or health spa.
Skills and qualities
High standard of personal presentation: immaculate appearance, up to date●●
without being over-trendy, discreet make-up, good haircut.
Commitment to client service: fully support that the client comes first and that●●
they can feel exposed and vulnerable when receiving treatments.
Selling skills: able to offer clients/customers additional products and services●●
appropriate to their needs without over-persuading. Have acquired many
repeat clients in my most recent job.
Discretion: special skills in intimate waxing; able to deal with potentially●●
embarrassing conditions sympathetically and professionally; able to use hot
(hard) wax safely and effectively with excellent results.
Pigmentation disorders: completed BeautyFirst course in pigmentation●●
disorders including ‘camouflage’ treatments for severe conditions. Have
worked as volunteer for local branch of Changing Faces, charity devoted to
the needs of people with severe facial disfigurements.
Advanced eyelash extension skills.●●
Manicure and pedicure skills.●●
Wedding and other special occasions make-up; have now created make-up for●●
8 brides and their mothers/bridesmaids.
Trained by Foreman-Stanton in colour and style analysis, so able to advise●●
clients on colours and styles that suit them along with the right styles and
colours of make-up.
Career history
2010–present
Freelance beauty therapist, working on contract at Gayles’ Spa, Esporta and Fitness
Express Gym and with my own clients.
2009–10
Studying for my NVQ; supported self with variety of freelance and casual work
including beauty therapy, Royal Mail, shop assistant at Freeman’s, delivering
pamphlets, bar work.
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2008–9
Receptionist, Frizell’s Printing: carried out all reception duties, e.g. welcomed and
looked after visitors, managed security arrangements, made tea and coffee, took
messages, kept reception area immaculate, arranged flowers and managed
switchboard, often under time pressure; being organized and friendly at all times was
key to success in the role.
2007–8
Salon assistant, Grant Samson. Assisted with hair-washing; kept salon clean and tidy;
learnt hair colour techniques, manicure and facial skills under supervision of
experienced stylist and beauty therapist.
2005–6
Shop assistant, River Island.
2000–5
Self-employed. Variety of short-term contracts, freelance work, temping including
office assistant, filing clerk, selling franchised perfume, dancer, mini-cabbing.
Education
2010 Exeter College: Beauty Therapy NVQ Level 2, distinctions
2008 Foreman-Stanton: Colour and Style course
2011 BeautyFirst: Pigmentation Disorders course
2000 Grebe School: A levels in Geography and Media Studies; GCSEs in English,
Maths, Geography, History, Science
Personal interests
All aspects of fashion and style; travelling with friends; garage music, dancing.
GREAT ANSWERS TO TOUGH CV PROBLEMS32
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Elizabeth Westfield
50 Park Drive Rd
Brighton
BN4 2EH
Mobile 07467 476552 elizabeth@westfield.yahoo.co.uk
Profile and objective
Energetic graduate with excellent people and customer skills, calm in a crisis,
fluent French, conversational Italian; food, wine and service skills; 3 years of
diverse experience. Now seeks first managerial role in the hospitality industry,
UK or Europe.
Accomplishments
Ran Frog & Rosbif (English pub) in central Montpelier, France, for 4 months, deputizing
for owner on shift basis, dealing with ordering, cashing up, serving, managing bar and
kitchen on nightly basis. Turnover increased by 10% during this time.
Customer skills: dealt confidently, courteously and quickly with difficult customers,
French and British, sorting out conflicts before they turned into embarrassments or
fights.
Acted as unofficial advisor and interpreter on all things French to British tourists.
Led emergency evacuation of staff and customers when life-threatening fire broke out
in pub kitchen, maintaining calm with customers and staff, dealing efficiently with
aftermath of fire; finding builders, managing refurbishment and insurance claim,
getting pub back to normal within 5 days.
Food service: prepared simple bar meals single-handedly and under pressure in
several temp positions since returning to UK. Acquired commis chef skills at Cuisine
Extra in Brighton, working to Alison Patterson (chef). Silver service skills acquired at
Hotel Imperial, Hove.
Self-funded a period in France and Italy through temporary work in Paris, Lyons,
Marseilles and Milan, broadening knowledge of French and Italian language, culture,
food and wine.
Wide experience of sharp end of hospitality industry through work in bars,
housekeeping departments, reception in hotels and bars in Scotland, London, Italy
and France.
High standards of accurate, fluent written and spoken French.
Fluent conversational Italian.
Good organizer, following through on projects. Able to handle detail of many activities
at once without flapping.
Well informed about food and a good amateur cook.
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Job history
Bellings Recruitment (catering/hospitality):
temporary positions in London and Brighton
July 2010–present
Office Assistant, Parkers Packing Ltd Jan–July 2010
Telesales, Media Direct, Southampton May 2009–Jan 2010
Travelling in France and Italy: worked in hotels
and bars to fund trip
July 2008–May 2009
Work experience as student: jobs as care assistant
in residential home. Office assistant, Burger King,
waitressing.
Qualifications
BA, French, 2.1 Middlesex University 2008
A levels: French, English, Italian,
all A grades
Islington Sixth Form College 2005
9 GCSEs at Grades A, A* (French)
and B
Camden School for Girls 2003
Undertook evening course in wine appreciation at Brighton Civic College September–
December 2010 to improve my knowledge of fine wine.
Personal interests
Cooking Meditterranean-style food, entertaining friends, French and Italian wine,
drawing and painting, European films, backpack travel.
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Matthew Freeman
26 St Andrews Rd
Leatherhead, KT52 6TM
Matthewfreeman88@yahoo.co.uk (+44) 07865 623451
Bright, presentable International Relations postgraduate with fluent German,
good knowledge of emerging markets, with banking and marketing
experience.
EMPLOYMENT
Private Banking
July 2009 NatWest Private Banking, Bristol
Internship involved working for a variety of private bankers, learning about the role of
Relationship Managers and sales executives. Developed teamwork and leadership
skills as part of the winning group in a competition involving a presentation to
NatWest executives as a pitch to win funds for a charity.
Public Relations and Advertising
Winter 2009–2010 PCMB Advertising, London
As an Account Executive worked on variety of accounts including Midland Trains and
FastGov, developing copywriting, account management and client relationship skills.
Acted as liaison between creative team, client and senior management.
Summer 2008 Singleton Public Relations, London
Developed interpersonal and negotiation skills as Account Executive. Had daily
contact with clients, pitching to journalists, writing press releases, liaising with
media, managing databases and organising press conferences. Predominantly worked
on the London Olympics Account and also for clients such as Mitre & McGovern plc.
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EDUCATION
2010–2011 Kings College London, War Studies Department, MA International
Relations: Merit
Research interests: South Asian security; interplay of social, economic, political and
cultural factors; how this impacts on the West.
Dissertation: India’s relations with the USA, US foreign policies in India – success and
failure – nature of India’s ambitions in the world and the economic and security
implications which result.
2005–2008 University College, London. BA German and History, 2.1
Spent third year working as teaching assistant in German school.
Dissertation: Macro-economics and the German economy 2000–2005.
2000–2005 Smithson School, London. A levels: A, B, B; GCSEs: 2 As, 4 Bs
and 3 Cs
OTHER SKILLS
German language fluency, Level 9 International Certificate. Studying for Investment
Management Certificate. Excellent computer skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
INTERESTS
Charity work: volunteer for Future Hope, teaching English to street children in Kolkata.
Politics: volunteered to work for local Conservative candidate in run-up to 2010
election.
Team sports: captained school and college tennis 1st teams.
Other interests: travel photography, club squash player, sprinting, competitive cycling,
skiing.
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Ella D’Argenio
Email: elladargenio@yahoo.co.uk
Garden Flat, 52, Elia Rd, London N2 5HF 07653 592560
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Working with children is at the heart of what I enjoy most in life. I have a good
working knowledge of how children learn and develop, and a range of strategies
I can deploy to help them achieve their learning and developmental goals. I can work
effectively as part of a team and am able to make a positive contribution whether in
a leadership or a supporting role. I endorse the importance of observation and the
role it plays in planning for and meeting children’s educational, social and emotional
needs. After 7 years of working as a volunteer and on a part-time basis while bringing
up my children, I am now seeking to establish a career in education, working as
a teaching assistant.
EDUCATION
The Open University Certificate of Higher Education in
Early Years Practice
Jan 2006–
Oct 2007
University of East
Anglia
Certificate of Higher Education in
Film and American Studies
Sept 1995–1996
Chelmer Valley High
School, Chelmsford
A Levels: English Literature, A,
Sociology, A, History, A, French D
July 1995
GCSEs in Dual-Award Science,
English Literature, English
Language, Maths, Business
Studies, History, French, Food and
Nutrition, Art
July 1993
CERTIFICATES and TRAINING
Food Hygiene June 2007
Child Protection for Managers June 2007
Health and Safety May 2007
Child Protection May 2007
Positive Behaviour Management Dec 2004
First Aid Sept 2004
(All above courses taken at the Enfield Centre)
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EMPLOYMENT
November 2009–present Volunteer classroom assistant,
St Peter’s C of E School,
Ledbury Rd, London N2
Responsibilities
Working with Year 5 children to improve their Big Writing skills; working with
Year 4 children on improving their reading skills.
Skills acquired included:
Developing creative ways to engage attention, including storytelling and●●
questioning
Pacing learning to suit each child’s abilities and needs; managing and●●
helping children with learning disabilities
Facilitating group discussions●●
Managing children with ADD●●
Logging and recording children’s progress; keeping accurate records●●
Supporting the class teacher at all times.●●
September 2006–July 2008 Nursery Supervisor, Little Stars Nursery,
Sedary Rd, London N2
Responsibilities
Managing and training staff; supervising children during sessions; developing and
carrying out policy for the nursery. This included running in-house training for
staff in order to bring them up to date and improve their skills; carrying out health
and safety risk assessments to ensure that nursery was compliant with
legislation and that children were protected at all times.
Skills acquired included:
Developing and updating policies and procedures●●
Key worker for 8 children: worked in partnership with parents; engaging●●
and developing the children in my care; keeping profile books
Using positive behaviour management techniques to control unruly●●
behaviour and create a positive and loving learning environment
Implementing ‘Birth to Three Matters’ and developing appropriate policies●●
Working productively with parents and carers in partnership●●
Effective training: growing staff confidence and skill●●
Observational skills.●●
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October 2004–July 2006 Pre-school Assistant, as above
Responsibilities
Caring for children during sessions, observing them, assisting in record keeping,
working with parents.
Personal interests: reading science fiction; creative writing (recently completed
creative writing module at Birkbeck University); US and British films; spending time
with my own children.
References on request
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Colonel Peter Saxton, Royal Engineers
6, Blenheim Road
Little Trent, Surrey
GU28 8AT
Tel: (0044) 07796 564320 e mail: petersaxton55@sixer.com
Objective Seeking a senior managerial appointment in the Explosive Ordnance
Disposal (EOD), Search or Security industry.
Professional Summary
30 years commissioned officer service in the British Army●●
Qualified Bomb Disposal Officer●●
Current Head of Defence EOD training and equipment programme●●
Command of EOD and Search Regiment of 800 men in peace and on●●
operations, worldwide
NATO and United Nations experience in the EOD and Search arena●●
Strategic planning and implementation experience●●
Responsibility for annual budget circa £50m●●
Command of Combat Engineer Training School (circa 2000 students●●
per annum)
Strategic personnel and human resource policy experience●●
Experienced officer-trainer at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Staff●●
College
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Experience
Officer, British Army, September 1980 to present. A wide-ranging career in the British
Army encompassing considerable management, command and leadership skills in
testing environments worldwide including service with the Gurkhas. Operational
experience in Northern Ireland, Falkland Islands, Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq. Overseas
experience in Hong Kong, Kenya, Belize, the Falkland Islands, Germany, Canada and
the USA.
Command of 11 Engineer Regiment (EOD) in peace and war including experience
of working with NATO nations and the United Nations in Iraq concerning
clearance of IEDs, mines and unexploded ordnance.
Command of the Army Combat Engineer Training School responsible for teaching
core engineer skills to soldiers, non-commissioned officers and officers including
mine warfare, bridging, demolitions, water supply, route clearance and boat
handling.
Current appointment – Head of Defence equipment, training and international
liaison including oversight of EOD and Search programmes in the Royal Navy,
Army and the Royal Air Force. Appointment includes liaison with other
government departments concerning protection of the UK mainland and EOD
and Search support to the Home Office.
Extensive personnel and human resource experience working at the Army
Personnel Centre. Directly responsible for the career management and posting of
over 400 officers, and human resource policy and strategy experience at HQ Army
level.
Selected to instruct at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the Army Staff
College.
Education
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (junior officer training) – 1980/1. Instructor in
1997/8
The Army Staff College (senior officer training) – 1992. Instructor in 1993/4
Senior Bomb Disposal Officer Course – 2002
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Caron Anson
Caron came to acting later in life after completing a 2-year drama course, and since
then he has worked in theatre, television and film. As a result of his broad experience
in business and in acting, his work on business simulations is always realistic,
engaging and highly effective, and he is able to provide high-level coaching that
makes a lasting difference.
Caron has worked extensively and effectively in ‘forum theatre’, assessment and
development centres and role-play work at different levels over the last 7 years.
He is experienced in performance and one-to-one role play and equally comfortable
in pre-prepared one-to-one sessions or sessions briefed and enacted on the spot.
He finds the latter to be especially effective and rewarding in helping participants
learn about their impact on others. His feedback skills are highly regarded by
everyone he works with. These skills have allowed him to provide excellent personal
coaching to business people worldwide. He has completed the Institute of Leadership
and Management (ILM) Foundation Course in coaching and is currently working
towards the higher-level Diploma in Leadership Coaching and Mentoring.
In the public sector, Caron’s clients include The Cabinet Office, Dept for Education and
Skills, Dept for Work and Pensions, Immigration and Passport Services and the NHS.
Caron has also worked extensively with private sector clients including Barclays Capital,
BBC, City of London Corporation, Halifax Bank of Scotland, Citigroup, Anglo-American
Mining, Imperial College, KPMG, SEGRO property and the United Nations, Geneva.
Caron has a career background in sales management and marketing and has worked
in a senior position at Harrods, and then as National Accounts Manager for the
consumer electronics company JVC. He was responsible for all JVC’s department
store business throughout the UK and achieved an increase in this turnover of 25%.
In fact, JVC’s highest sales per outlet were achieved in its department store business
at this time. He also ran the national team of in-store representatives.
Caron is of Indian descent. He was born in Trinidad and has lived in London since
childhood.
Contact Caron on 07xxx xxxxxx
Website:
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