Resume into CV

Why is what you did in high school relevant? BTW you didn't say anything about high school read it somewhere, maybe in a response post here?

It could be because some jobs require certain high school qualifications. Usually most employers will require at least a C in GCSE Maths and English as a minimum requirement for any job and some employers require specific A levels too. Of course, it will depend on the specific job as to which qualifications are important to list and which aren't.

My job requires not only a degree in a physical science, but also an A or AS level (or equivalent) in Maths and Physics, because the training course requires an understanding of calculus and the ability to interpret complicated physics equations.

So, when you apply, you need to give your high school grades as well, because while you might be qualified for the job with your degree in Geography, if you don't have the maths/physics background too, you're going to struggle.

It could be because some jobs require certain high school qualifications. Usually most employers will require at least a C in GCSE Maths and English as a minimum requirement for any job and some employers require specific A levels too. Of course, it will depend on the specific job as to which qualifications are important to list and which aren't.

This.

One of the clients that we work with requires certain GCSEs and also to produce the certificates from them, too.

Like ksand said, it depends on the employers requirements and the requirements of the job that you're applying for.

When I moved over and was looking for my first job, I didn't have my US high school education on there, but I did my US degree on there even though it was completely irrelevant to any work experience that I have.

Yes, this arises from the more specialized UK degrees which means the employers have to hark back to secondary school qualifications to see if you have all the required background.  There's probably not a lot of difference in US high school diplomas across the country -- we pretty much all studied the same stuff.

Yes, this arises from the more specialized UK degrees which means the employers have to hark back to secondary school qualifications to see if you have all the required background.  There's probably not a lot of difference in US high school diplomas across the country -- we pretty much all studied the same stuff.

Not necessarily, though. In my high school there are two very distinct 'tracks', one for those planning to go to university and one for those not. The University track required four years of history and English, three of science and math and foreign language. The non-university track was a lot less rigorous. Plus there at honours classes and AP classes. It's possible for two people to go to the same high school and get very different educations.

It's possible for two people to go to the same high school and get very different educations.

True, but unless a US employer looked deeply into it, it's doubtful they'd know if an applicant graduated on the university track or the non-university track.

I think the point being made - that UK employers can be much more interested in an applicant's classes and grades in high school than someone moving from the US to the UK would expect - is still valid.

I think the point being made - that UK employers can be much more interested in an applicant's classes and grades in high school than someone moving from the US to the UK would expect - is still valid.

I never said it wasn't My point is that all US high school diplomas are not created equal. If I filled out an application form that asked for GCSE/A level, I'd mention my AP classes, for example. Just putting "US high school diploma" isn't really giving the employer useful information.

If I filled out an application form that asked for GCSE/A level, I'd mention my AP classes, for example. Just putting "US high school diploma" isn't really giving the employer useful information.

Ah, that's the part I didn't get from your earlier post.  Makes sense now.

Yes, putting down AP classes would be meaningful but, unless things have changed since my day, a high school diploma itself never mentioned whether you were doing college prep or business or what.  I suppose you could get a transcript to show what courses you took and the grades. 

Yes, putting down AP classes would be meaningful but, unless things have changed since my day, a high school diploma itself never mentioned whether you were doing college prep or business or what.  I suppose you could get a transcript to show what courses you took and the grades. 

That's exactly why you should go into more detail in British job applications. The guy who who barely passes remedial woodshop gets a diploma that is identical in appearance to that of the guy who aced advanced calculus. An employer is going to want details about what you studied. And AP exams are hugely useful. Even UK NARIC, which is notoriously and insultingly dismissive of non-British education systems concedes that AP exams are equivalent to A-levels. Definitely worth mentioning those.

Interesting tidbit: I have often done lessons on comparing different educational systems with my EFL classes, and I'm pretty sure the US is the only developed country in th world that has no standardised national exam at the end of secondary school.

Interesting tidbit: I have often done lessons on comparing different educational systems with my EFL classes, and I'm pretty sure the US is the only developed country in th world that has no standardised national exam at the end of secondary school.

I sometimes include my SAT and ACT scores on my UK CV as that was the closest thing to a nationwide standardised exam I'd taken. I included my subject-specific scores, composite score and my nationwide percentile to give some context.

I sometimes include my SAT and ACT scores on my UK CV as that was the closest thing to a nationwide standardised exam I'd taken. I included my subject-specific scores, composite score and my nationwide percentile to give some context.

Haha. I barely remember just my composite score and I'm only 8 years out of high school.

I only remember my 2 digit ACT score because I was so happy that it allowed me to take Honors courses at my college which got me out of needing to take more than one English course my Freshmen year. To be honest I still took more English courses than I needed to, but those were fun ones like Non-Western World Lit, Mythology and Children's Lit.

I only remember my 2 digit ACT score because I was so happy that it allowed me to take Honors courses at my college which got me out of needing to take more than one English course my Freshmen year. To be honest I still took more English courses than I needed to, but those were fun ones like Non-Western World Lit, Mythology and Children's Lit.

Weirdly enough, I think when I was applying to take the bar exam, I had to provide my SAT scores and the dates in which I took it. My mom overheard me complaining about it and magically immediately laid her hands on the actual letters I got from college board for both times I took it. Once in 05 and once in 06. Hooray for pack rat moms!

Weirdly enough, I think when I was applying to take the bar exam, I had to provide my SAT scores and the dates in which I took it. My mom overheard me complaining about it and magically immediately laid her hands on the actual letters I got from college board for both times I took it. Once in 05 and once in 06. Hooray for pack rat moms!

THIS!

My mom saves everything relating to my brother and me. My dad saves everything relating to family finances. Both have come in handy in my move but mostly the habit has been helpful in applying for ILR. We had everything saved (and organised) nicely for the application.

A bit unrelated but I had to take the SAT twice - the first time around our tests, as they were being sent to be scored, got stuck in a post office sorting center with anthrax. The second test was free and we got to keep the best of the two scores (my second test was a bit better) so it worked out in the end.

IMO, Cv's are rediculously long.  Resumes are usually only 1 or maybe 2 pages.

I think you have to be careful about assuming CVs are longer. It is going to come down to the employer, the position and your CV/resume writing skills (fluff is bad at any length). My office, which is almost entirely degree educated professionals, has a very strong preference for short CVs.

For example, we use a very strict one page limit for graduate positions. When we are sorting through 100+ CVs for 1 position, people who are materially longer than 1 page, particularly if they also have stupid formatting, will be eliminated almost instantly.

Listing things on a CV which are not relevant to the position you are applying for shows that you either don't understand the position or made very little effecting in applying for the position. If instructions or guidance are given on what the employer wants in regards to CVs or cover letters, the instructions can be a simple test to see if you can follow basic instruction.

This may be slightly off topic, but I have found that British universities are worse at preparing their students to apply for jobs. Maybe it is just where I went to university, but anyone who spent 10 minutes in the career services office at that uni could create better CVs than what most British students produce.