Transcript Eng-CV-Presentation-April-5-2011

Preparing an Effective CV and Cover
Letter - Engineering
Shaun Pulman, Career Consultant
Room 126, The ClockTower
09 373 7599 ext 89409
Email: [email protected]
www.auckland.ac.nz/careers
Outline
1. Where to start - Identifying your
skills
2. What skills are required?
3. General principles of a CV
4. How to write a cover letter
5. How the Careers Centre can
assist you
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General Principles of a CV
CV QUIZ – True/False
1.
It is best to use the same CV and cover letter for every application
 False
2.
A CV should be between 2 – 4 pages
 True
3.
On average an employer only spends two minutes looking at each CV

4.
A CV should be written in an essay format with full paragraphs explaining
everything in detail

5.
False (20-40 seconds, first impressions are important)
False (use bullet points, underlining, headings, clear sections)
It’s necessary to always include a cover letter
 True (unless it’s stated otherwise)
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Identifying your skills
Most employers are looking for the
‘package deal’:
Q + WE + S + PQ
Qualifications
+ Work Experience
+ Skills
+ Personal Qualities
Therefore, to be competitive, we need to show them
what we have to offer that’s relevant in each of
these 4 areas!
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Identifying your skills
Different Types of Skills
SPECIALISED
numeric, modelling, programming, quantitative analysis,
project work...
TRANSFERABLE
communication, research, problem-solving,
teamwork, analytical, time-management, organisational
Personal Qualities
patience, persistence, creativity, accuracy...
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Identifying your skills:
You can develop skills from many activities
For example
• Working in a shop/restaurant
• Travelling overseas
• Uni clubs
• Class representative
• Involvement in a cultural group
• Camp America, Girl Guides, Duke of Edinburgh Award
• Playing in a band/sports team
• Doing volunteer/community work
• Attending community education courses
• And many more…
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Identifying your skills and qualities:
What extras can I bring to the
organisation?
Some examples of additional skills you may have
• Playing instruments – time management
• ICT skills – innovative, problem solving
• Event management – time management, organisational
• Cultural knowledge and language skills
• Sports coaching – leadership, teamwork
• Singing – discipline, calming
• Drama – teamwork, creativity
• Art and craft/design – creativity, attention to detail
• Fund raising – organisational, planning
• Outdoor pursuits - leadership
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What skills are required in work?
An example of matching skills:
What employer wants:
teamwork skills
What I have that matches:
•project team for university
course
•member of dragon boating
team for two seasons
•organising committee for
school fair
•worked in customer service
team of four at McDonalds
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What skills are required for a particular
position?
Matching your skills with employers needs
requires research
Check the requirements of the organisation you’re applying to:
•Look at the job ad/job description/strategic plan for the next 2 to 3 yrs
•Talk to people in the field or in similar job
•Research what is happening in the media
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Skills Activity: Education/Work/ExtraCurricular Activities
Situation Task
•
Organising Committee for the School Fair
•
Elected on to a committee of 5 people to raise funds for resources. Researching potential
sources of donations and organising the Fair stalls.
Action
•
Wrote Fair newsletter asking parents for help with stalls, donations and bringing goods to sell
at the Fair
•
Approached local businesses for sponsorship and prizes
•
Ordered equipment for Fair
•
Participated in regular Fair Committee meetings and recorded the minutes of the meetings
Result
•
Made a $10,000 profit for the school
•
Received positive feedback from the school principal and due to success on this committee
was invited to join the Parent Support Group
Skills
•
Self-reliance, setting objectives, innovation, team work, project management, resourcefulness,
planning, time management, leadership, organising, problem solving, presentation skills, public
speaking, motivating others, hard working, marketing, listening, negotiating…
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What do employers want to see in CVs:?
Important
Not Important
First impressions
Coloured/textured paper
2-4 pages long
Special fonts/graphics
Residency status
Age/gender/marital status/nationality
Consistent layout & formatting
Photograph
Bullet point lists
Detailed explanations of papers
Cover letter
High School records
** Document should be paper clipped or stapled – binding not necessary
Source: CV Survey of Auckland Employers, 2006 (conducted by AUT)
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Target your documents
• Focus on employers’ requirements
because you can….
• Catch employer’s interest quickly
• Show employer that what you offer is
relevant for them
• Communicate your motivation
• Enhance your chances of an interview!
• T&T example here
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What goes in to your CV
Sections of information for all CVs
? Personal information
Summary of your
skills/strengths/
knowledge/achievements
Details of relevant
experience, incl. paid
and unpaid work
Extra-curricular activities, incl.
interest, sports and other
activities
Education/qualifications
Referees
? Career goal/objective
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Contact Information
Chin-Wai Leung
Family Name:
Given Name:
English Name:
Leung
Chin-Wai
Sherryl
58 Manchester Close
Herne Bay
Auckland
Phone: 09 307 9432
Cellphone: 021 234 567
Email: [email protected]
Residency:
Permanent New Zealand Resident
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Personal Statement
I am formally trained in electronics, telecommunications, data transfer systems with
progress into data processing, particularly data capture, technical specifications,
programming, computer interfaces and system testing.
My career objective is to broaden my experience and skills in computing, particularly in
communications, local area networks and in computer languages, with a company that will
make use of my investigation, diagnostic, analytical and system solution skills.
I believe my strongest assets are my self-disciplined professional attitude, accuracy,
adaptability and eagerness to learn more to develop the highest standards possible.
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Highlights/Key Strengths/Areas of Skills and
Knowledge/Summary of Skills and Experience:

Bullet pointed one-two liner phrases that prove your suitability for the role and related
to the criteria stated in the job ad and job description. Example:
• Computing Skills
Specification and design of computer systems from user’s requirements
Programming substantial technical systems (language: primarily BASIC)
Hardware testing and diagnostic procedures
Interfacing of external hardware to computers
Barcoding
Use of Digital Command Language (RSX 11M+), Personal Computer DOS, CPM
Use of DOS and Windows packages (Lotus, Word, Open Access)
Technical drawing
• Communication Skills
Design of communication protocols within computing systems
Presented outline of electrical engineering systems logic to staff meeting
• Problem-Solving Skills
Problem analysis and design of system solutions for electrical engineering project
• Time-Management Skills
Managed team to ensure project completed within deadlines.
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Education
Make a choice about what details to include
 Academic awards and other distinctions
 Subjects/details of courses if relevant to employer
 Grades – if a selling point
 Projects
 Courses or workshops relevant to the job you’re applying for
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EDUCATION
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil)
University of Auckland
Key grades
Civil Engineering Materials and Design
Technical Communication for Engineers
Environmental Engineering Design
Introduction to Structures
Fluid Mechanics 1
Land Information Systems
Mathematical Modelling 2
2008 - 2010
A
AAA
A
B+
B
Awards
Recipient of the Tonkin and Taylor Scholarship in 2010.
Winner of 2009 Engineers Without Borders Design Challenge.
Project partner in 2008 EWB Tonga Biodigester design.
NCEA Level 3
Takapuna Grammar School
School prefect
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2005 – 2007
Extra-curricular activities
Class Representative
The University of Auckland
March – June 2010
Responsibilities:
•
Liaising with students, lecturers in order to keep students informed.
•
Negotiating on behalf of students to ensure student needs are met
•
A member of the university consultative committee
Skills:
•
Strong negotiation skills
•
Ability to speak to large lectures of students (up to 200 students)
Achievement:
•
Elected by fellow students for this role due to previous year’s success in role.
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Work History
Landsdowne Limited, Auckland
Information Systems Officer (Summer Position)
Dec 2008 – Feb 2009
Responsibilities
Specifying, designing and implementing automatic data capture system (data transfer directly from scientific
instruments to computer)
Evaluating commercial software and hardware in terms of costs/benefits
Programming for workstation computers
Landsdowne Limited – Refinery, Auckland
Instrument/Energy Engineer (Summer Position)
Responsibilities
Installing and upgrading computer system associated with energy metering
Supervising instrument workshop
Specifying, designing and commissioning instrumentation systems
Analysing energy consumption for energy reduction
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Dec 2007 – Feb 2008
Work History
FURTHER WORK EXPERIENCE
Sage Restaurant, Auckland City
McDonalds Family Restaurant, Auckland City
Body Shop, Takapuna
Responsibilities
• Serving customers
• Ordering stock
• Supervising staff
• Assisting with promotional activities
Achievements:
• Promoted to maitre d’ at Sage Restaurant
• Crew member of the month at McDonalds; two months running
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Nov 2004 – Oct 2005
Mar 2002 – Feb 2003
Jan 2001 – Mar 2001
Interests
Touch Rugby – played at social level for last three seasons
Surf Life Saving – Past President of South Beach Club for five years
Photography – keen interest which has extended to developing a collection of contrasting national scenery
prints
These interests have further developed my teamwork skills, leadership skills and creative skills
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Referees

Names, titles/designations, phone contacts

Between 2 - 4 referees

Lecturers, employers, sport coaches, senior people in organisations that you have
belonged to

Easily accessible by phone (can include overseas referees)

Well informed about you

An option: “Referees available on request”
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Cover Letter Tips
An effective cover letter:
• Focusses on the employer’s requirements
• Demonstrates knowledge of the employer and the job
• Is written in a business letter format
• Is positive and shows motivation
• Is typed neatly and error free
• Is up to one page in length
• Invites the employer to read your CV
© The University of Auckland Careers Services
How to write a covering letter
• State what you are applying for and where you heard about it, and briefly
outline your enthusiasm for the position
• A paragraph about your education, and directly why it is relevant for the
position/profession/industry/firm
•A paragraph about your work experience, and directly why it is relevant for the
position/firm
• A paragraph about your enthusiasm/suitability for this specific position/firm –
try and build a connection. Mention any contacts you have in the company or
research that you have done – website/media/projects
• Express your desire for an interview to discuss further your suitability for the
position
• Limit to one (typed) page
© The University of Auckland Careers Services
Dear
Re Graduate Software Developer, reference number 34598
I was very pleased to see the Graduate Software Developer role advertised on SEEK, and I would like to apply
for the position. I believe that the combination of my international and domestic work experience, along with my
recent Master of Science make me a strong candidate for the position.
I have a comprehensive background in software development through my postgraduate study at The University
of Auckland. I feel that I gained excellent skills from both a theoretical and practical perspective. The fact that I
gained high grades indicates that I place a strong emphasis on achievement, which I know is strongly valued at
Zoom Software.
My work experience is broad within the field of information technology, and I believe that this will provide me with
a solid base from which to enhance my career as a software developer. I have seen that your organisation
prefers people with all-round skills, and I think that my ‘can-do’ approach would suit the work environment.
Recently I met your Chief Information Officer, Kevin Andrews, at a career fair at The University of Auckland, and
we spoke about the some of the projects that are in progress at Zoom Software. He encouraged me to apply for
this position, as he said that I had the type of skills and outlook that would enable me to succeed there. I have
since conducted some research into the organisation, and I am extremely enthusiastic about the culture that you
have created.
Enclosed is my CV for your perusal, and I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. Please contact me
either by cell phone on 021 444 4444, or by email on [email protected]
Yours sincerely
© The University of Auckland Careers Services
How the Careers Centre can assist you
• Engineering fair 28 April 2011, Faculty of Engineering
• ‘Drop in’ service for 10 minute discussion, every week day
except Wednesday 11am – 2pm in ClockTower 126
• Workshops – Job Search strategies, Interview Preparation
Details on CareerHub.
• Practice interviews
• 25 minute one to one career guidance appointments on
Tuesday afternoons from 2pm – 4pm
© The University of Auckland Careers Services
CareerHub –
© The University of Auckland Careers Services
www.auckland.ac.nz/careerhub
Contact Me
Shaun Pulman
Careers Consultant
[email protected]
Ph 373 7599 ext. 89409
University Careers Services centre:
The Clocktower, Room 126
22 Princes St, Auckland City
[email protected]
www.auckland.ac.nz/careers
373 7599 ext. 88727
© The University of Auckland Careers Services