What do you put in your cv?
 

Hey folks,

Unfortunately my trip has ended and I have to go back to work life (at least for a while...)

What do you guys put in your cv for the rtw tour?

Cheers,

Frank

We were away for a year and it coincided with a career break, so I just put the trip in my CV. Being honest is the best policy IMO. :innocent:

Also gives you something else to talk about in an interview and can help to make more contacts. :mchappy:

But with anyting the jury is still out and there will be many trains of thought.

I assume you'd be tailoring the CV to match each job application? In that case I'd have a totally honest version with something like "career break" and a bit of detail for forward looking companies who'll appreciate the honestly and a BS version with something like "Personal Business Development" and crap hinting at your own company for the ones who'll expect your life to take second place to their profits.

To be honest, I wouldn't want to work for anyone who thinks having a year off is a bad thing, but if the choice is between eating and not eating it can be useful to stretch the point a little to gain time. Anyway, if they want a suit on a career ladder chances are they know his name before they start looking at CV's and you could include chainsaw juggling in the hobbies and interests and it'd make no difference.

Andy

Agree. Be honest, keep it short. One or two sentences hinting at something a little special will peak the interest without putting them off. I think its important to make clear your 'career break' was a positive decision and one you made the most of.

If they are interested they will ask you about it in the interview and this will give you an opportunity to 'bond'. A big part of the interview is the interviewer working out if they would like to work with you. An interesting, friendly conversation can often do more to secure you a job than qualifications.

This is something travelling will have helped you with. The ability to gel quickly with people and make friends fast. I honestly think this is the reason I do quite well at interviews. After all, my CV is almost as much 'career break' as career - and I'm qualified to do virtually nothing.

I read recently (and I agree) that CVs should be about 1 side of A4.

Most importantly, from a CV point of view, is to remember that initial sift is nearly always done by a Human Resources admin person with no real knowledge of what the job entails. They dump everyone who does not have all the essential qualities/required qualifications outlined in the job advert. So, even if it involves a little bending of the truth, ensure that your CV indicates that you have all the essential qualities/required qualifications for the job. This will get you past the first hurdle.

Good luck!

:)

Agree - can't go far wrong with the truth; tailor it to the job. As long as the year wasn't spent in jail no one will really care and I agree with Matt - if they think it was a bad idea then they're probably not a good lot to work for.

I usually put "left job to go travelling" and leave it at that, I have been asked where occasionally but as I seem to end up back at my last employer then know anyway.

^^Quote everything and agree...

The truth is what matters... gone are the times where you have to brush up your CV (that doesnt mean that you should not think ybout what and how you frase it...)

good luck with your appplications... will come soon or later for us as well but for now...:nono::thumbup1: :innocent: :bier: :Beach: :stormy: :confused1: :confused1: :Beach: and :scooter:

what i intent on doing
 

i've been out of work for almost 2 years and travelling for all that time. i'm just going to put my blog in the cv, i'm hoping the money will hold out for another 2 years so will have a 4 year gap. you cannot bullshit a gap that big.
I'm more worried about if i am going to be able to work.
saying all that i did do a few days as an extra for a movie in Chennai so maybe i should look at movies mmmmmm.

on my CV - now I am CFO
 

Today I just signed an offer to become CFO of a Canadian mining company - after almost a year on the road. I wrote this on my CV and employers and recruiters loved it.

June 2011 - April 2012
Completed a solo motorcycle journey covering over 63,000 kilometres, spanning North, Central and South America, with the objective of setting and attaining challenging personal goals, and enriching my life experiences beyond the scope of the traditional corporate desk. Documented my journey at www.gregsadventure.com

:clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:bierbier:wave: bierbier:clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:

Wow, that's an impressive way to express it! Don't mean to flatter you, but, YES, I agree that should be the way to go: nothing to hide, nothing you should be sort of... uncomfortable (ashamed?) of during a job interview, but something to be proud of which shows (in your case) you are able to think out of the box and are self-confident enough to express so straighforward.

Congrats for the job and the trip. And thanks for sharing your vision.

Esteban

PS: If I worked in the HR dept, would I fire the CEO (for the new CFO)?:D

CV
 

I must agree with the general sentiment of honesty on your cv, and I think most employers will realise that the experiance of this type of traveling (rather than jumping on a plane) that we are talking about here is a very positive thing. I loved the post by matt cartney, especialy this.

" After all, my CV is almost as much 'career break' as career - and I'm qualified to do virtually nothing."

This made me giggle, but it speaks volumes about matt cartney's attitude,and that is why he is able to gain employment easily. So matt if you can just send me your cv so I can paste my name.....only joking !

Something to avoid?
 

Agree with the comments above especially the one about keeping a CV simple & employers looking for someone they can work with. I am an employer in a tiny business and interview people and I would just add two things. 1) Employers might well prefer someone who's done what you have - proves you've got a bit of go in you; there's nothing worse than a CV under hobbies which lists reading and socialising!!!!!!! 2) You might want to be wary potential employers don't get the impression you're gonna use them for 6/12 months just to boost your money then be off again on travels (not saying you are but if you are, perhaps keep it to yourself). It can be an issue for employers having to keep changing staff as it comes with a time and money penalty for them especially if they are using an agency to source staff - just a thought.
Good luck.
:mchappy:

Have you seen Mission Impossible??? I'm going to try to PASTE HIM in MY INTERVIEW. EasyJet flight, accomodation, all meals, weekend ski forfait and an old XT at the door (no car, so bring foldable skis!), that's the offer (plus 10% of 1st 3 salaries if engaged)! :innocent:

That's a VERY IMPORTANT point. You really want to settle down, not planning a 2nd round. My "hammer argument" would be: "after that time travelling, my gf and I feel ready to start a family, we really want to have kids, which is an even bigger and nicer challenge" (in case of urgent need, fake fiancée's identity as well, photoshop her as a pillion!!:blushing::blushing::blushing:)

interviews
 

I was asked only once by a potential employer if I was planning a future trip. I am planning one, and did not want to lie, so I said with a big smile on my face "It took me 40 years to figure out how to fit everything I needed on a motorcycle in order to be able to do this trip".

This just implies to the employer that it is not easy to this kind of trip and not something that would be doing anytime soon.

You can also metion how difficult it is to save money. Everyone relates to how difficult it is to save money.

You answer the question without actually answering the question.

This is a great reason for doing some volunteering whilst travelling. You can then mention that you've spent some time doing voluntary work whilst traveling. :D

Put this in your CV:
 

In the news this morning:
"An 11-year-old boy took a flight to Rome on his own from Manchester Airport without a passport or boarding pass, it has been revealed.

Liam Corcoran passed through security without being checked, before making his way on to the Jet2.com flight on Wednesday."

He had no ticket either.

I hope he puts that in his CV when the time comes - his Horizons truly are Unlimited!
I think I'd take him on straightaway. (Though he'd probably not stay for long)

Not only that, but from another newspaper:
"Liam Corcoran passed through security without being checked, before making his way on to the Jet2.com flight on Wednesday.
.
.
..... once passengers became aware that the boy was on his own, airline staff were alerted and the plane's captain informed the authorities. He ..... returned to Manchester on the same plane, where he was met by his mother at around 9pm on Tuesday."

So he's found the secret of time travel as well. :eek3:
What a lad!!!!
I wonder what he did all the while he was over there?

I committed plagiarism......and it worked!
 

I returned from a two year around Africa trip and settled into an unsatisfying job for a year. As I was revamping my resume to find a "better" job I stumbled onto this post from mustg02011. The wording grabbed my attention and I used most of Greg's wording on my resume. It turned the whole travel experience into a positive life experience, and attracted a lot of attention. I today received an offer for the position of Finance Manager for a company in the Seychelles. So to Greg.......thanks! If your wanderlust brings you to the Seychelles, look me up and the drinks are on me. :thumbup1:

Perhaps this thread should be updated to say what do you put on your CV and Facebook as potential employers will probably be checking both.

I am quite proud of what I achieved in my two years off travelling on motorbike, and just put a comment down on my CV with the dates along the lines of....

2008 to 2010. Solo motorcycle expedition, Australasia and greater Europe.

I often get asked about it, and nearly always in genuine interest rather than an inquisition type of approach.

I'm hoping it will be seen as a positive. My girlfriend and I will hopefully get experience in a field we're both aspiring to enter. I'm going to emphasise that I've amassed a multifaceted, global perspective on this field of work. Surely that'll place you ahead of someone who has just remained in the same town the whole time?

If it's not seen positively, who cares. Life goes on. It's all about working to live rather than living to work.

Found the new job already during travell
 

Hi,

I would like to attend this discussion, since I started working again 2 months ago after beeing almost 3 years out of the job and travelling.

Fist I totally agree to everybody beeing honest, that is the way, starting the job with a lie will not last for long and making anybody happy!

I was straight forward and told the employer I was looking for more, that I did need some time off, because of several reasons. (I quit my previous job, because of very hard depressions, which I did not mention in the interview.)
But not mention something isn't wrong in my pov. I said, that I had my reasons and don't regret it all. I also told them, that my life beside the work is now more important for me and that I would like to take the job, because of the great location, too. They also asked me about a potential next trip, which I didn't denie. I responded, that I don't know yet, but nothing is impossible...
I didn't lie in any way and was just myself and I think that is, what is most important!
I also had a bit of a good chance for my current job, because my experience at my last employer, which is one of the competitors. So they were really interested and flew me from Tbilisi/ Georgia to Germany and back to Tbilisi to ride my bike back home and covered all the expenses!:thumbup1:

So for me all this is the living proof, that if you follow your dreams the success will come with it!!

My bigger problem now is the whole different life again. All the rules, the timing, the structure and so on...
I hope to find a good way to handle all this a fine and nice way!!

Good luck to everyone and all the best!


Alex

go 4 it
 

Tell the truth. You had the balls to give up work and go and see the world, and not only that you did it on a motorcycle. If any potential employer does not take that as a positive thing, they are not worth working for.
:scooter::scooter::scooter: