Help writing a military engineering CV

W

Woots

Veteran
 Milton Keynes
so im about to apply for a position in the canadian airforce...

i obviously need to write a cv to email to them but seeing as i left school at 16, almost 7 years ago i have zero experience writing cv's

if any engineers/cv gurus could give me some pointers or tips etc that would be much appreciated

i really dont have a clue other than to do a little speel on myself as a lil profile, then do key achievements and skills then do career history, seeing as ive only had 1 employer i can only really give different areas i worked in, should i mention warzone deployments as a separate entity?

help

thanks :thumbsup:
 
sp3ctre said:
Canada has an Airforce?? :rofl:
Click to expand...

hey they have F18's :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

which is better than the seaking im working on right now....although i ll prob end up working on their seakings :thumbsdown:
 
Yeah, was only kidding, I love Canadia, spent a lot of time around Ontario growing up.... No idea on engineering CV's though :)
 
Don't waste writing about your education history from 5-16 years. Emphasis should be placed on what you have been doing in the last 3-5 years.
 
^^^ what he said. Keep it short and sweet too. 1.5 pages max.

Pull out key things that you've done - that you can explain fully at interview. Don't write paragraphs of stuff

You can get a company to write it for you for a small fee


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Adamski said:
You can get a company to write it for you for a small fee
Click to expand...

Or leave it to us... we'll all write one paragraph for you and you'll soon have something that'll get you a job... or get you locked up :rofl:
 
cheers guys will do

one issue is as its been my only job i guess i ll have to break it down into working on various squadrons in different positions and aircraft types and deployments??
 
I would break it down by tour - don't you tend to do 2 1/2 year stints in each job, with combat and other deployments within them ? The combat deployments then become a highlight, activity or achievement in that role.

I spent my whole working career up till recently in BT but did a wide range of jobs, each of which is a different entry on my CV. Mine has been tarted up and in use recently, and whilst it is probably not quite what yours needs to look like it may help get your mind working in the right direction. Happy to share if you want, just tell me where to send it.

Oh, and have a chat with an officer or two that you are on good terms with as I'll bet they have military style CVs :wink:
 
Woots said:
cheers guys will do

one issue is as its been my only job i guess i ll have to break it down into working on various squadrons in different positions and aircraft types and deployments??
Click to expand...

Yep, break out deployments and cover the experiences gained and what you achieved (certifications, personal skills etc) for each deployment.
 
Do not overlook the importance of a very well written cover letter.

Here you have poetic licence to really grab their attention & explaining why you're worth talking to... ending with confirmation you're perfect for the position & a number you can be reached on.

Good luck
 
if ive got a foundation degree in engineering....

should i put adam wootton FEng in the title

or just leave the title off it...
 
Woots said:
sp3ctre said:
Canada has an Airforce?? :rofl:
Click to expand...

hey they have F18's :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

which is better than the seaking im working on right now....although i ll prob end up working on their seakings :thumbsdown:
Click to expand...

The Canadian Fleet Air Arm has stickers which say "Flying Yesterday's Aircraft Today" on their ageing fleet of Seakings :rofl:

I'd agree with all of what's written here. My top tip is to make sure your experience highlights why you could do the job/role that you're applying for. The further back you go, the less detail you should give. Definitely keep it to under 2 sides!
 
Also start with what you are currently doing and give more detail and less detail as you move back in time. Sometimes they only read the first page.
 
ItHurts said:
Woots said:
sp3ctre said:
Canada has an Airforce?? :rofl:
Click to expand...

hey they have F18's :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

which is better than the seaking im working on right now....although i ll prob end up working on their seakings :thumbsdown:
Click to expand...

The Canadian Fleet Air Arm has stickers which say "Flying Yesterday's Aircraft Today" on their ageing fleet of Seakings :rofl:

I'd agree with all of what's written here. My top tip is to make sure your experience highlights why you could do the job/role that you're applying for. The further back you go, the less detail you should give. Definitely keep it to under 2 sides!
Click to expand...

for our seakings maybe we should say "flying yesterdays aircraft today...and tomorrow...and probably the day after that" :lol:
 
2pages,
page one-
Profile
Qualifications and training
Key skills and achievements

Page 2
Experience ( relevant to page one)
Hobbys etc
Memberships of engineering body etc

This is how I based mine after leaving the forces, but mine is qualification based.
If you have more competencys than Qualifications then swap the quals to the rear.

I moved from the Army ( Reme) to the oil and gas industry quite successfully using the above as a basic structure.

Be careful of over egging the op tours, as it will make your Cv sound cheesy. ( unless you really saved a bus load of kids etc)

If you have a foundation Degree and use the post nominals, be prepared to answer ' why have t you got a real degree' :)
 
Also think of the Cv as an answer to a question
The question being the job spec or advert your applying for.

If you want me to have a look and red pen it for you lol
Feel free to ask me for my email addy via pm
 
Nathanhu said:
Also think of the Cv as an answer to a question
The question being the job spec or advert your applying for.

If you want me to have a look and red pen it for you lol
Feel free to ask me for my email addy via pm
Click to expand...

thanks bud, ill send a copy to those who have said they will mark it for me :)

be brutal, its my first one however

might not be finished tonight tho :P
 
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