A solution to both issues was creating a CV in HTML. This means that it can be displayed on the web and is less subject to the vagaries of Microsoft when it's printed, so the recipients get to see it how I want them to see it.

The problem was solved when I got my current job, but when arrod.co.uk began it seemed logical to put an updated version on the site. This was version 1, the traditional CV

The traditional CV is designed to tick all the boxes for how you should do a CV. However, even in creating it I felt bored with it - it's so dry and impersonal. It also mentions lot of my technical skills. Although I have these, I don't want to be a technical consultant, but mentioning these skills on your CV seems to get you pidgeon-holed by some agencies. It's very difficult to move out of technical IT...

So all of this dissatisfaction with the 'traditional' format was translated into the first alternative CV. This aimed to be as fluid and interesting as possible, in a way to intrigue the reader enough for them to want more...

This continued for a while, but then I got in touch with Nick from www.imagecv.co.uk. He gave some very useful feedback: that the benefit of the traditionl CV was the structure and the benefit of the alternative CV is that it is more personal. Try combining the two, he said.

This I duly did, and the alternative CV 2 was born. The aim is for it to be less in your face, but still different and hopefully interesting to read. For the descriptions of my previous jobs I have abandoned the bullet point style with action words that is recommended and gone for prose, because I feel it reads better. Am I sticking my neck out here I wonder...?

Now (Feb '04), nearly a year after the first version, Mike Kelly of First Impressions has given me some very useful advice and Dave has created his Job-winning CV. This is radically different again and is aimed at seeing the CV reading process fromt he point of view of the recruiter. The only thing that worries me about this CV is that it describes my personality and values less.

Another year on (Feb '05) and the CV did help me to get the job I wanted, but was not the only thing that got me there. The best thing I got out of the process of revising my CV was to consider the process from the employers point of view. Firstly, they get lots of applications - what makes you different. Assuming you are different, why should they go to the significant cost and risk of employing you? Can you re-assure them that you are not a risk, ticking all the boxes whilst having something a bit different?

The way in which I did this was to carefully choose the company's and the method by which I approached them (I used "What colour is your parachute?"). Then a friend (Paul) gave me excellent advice regarding my application letter. See it the whole process on the career change journey page