Writing CVs

David Henderson Careers Adviser [email protected]

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Content

• Preparation & conventions • Basics of a CV – Layout • Types of CV ∂ • Impact • Covering letters • Support from Careers Advisory Service 2

Preparation

• No such thing as the perfect CV … and one CV does not fit all! • CV must provide a strong reflection of you (qualifications, experiences, skills & qualities) but must also reflect employers ’ needs. • It must interest and meet needs of employer (1 st page impact) 3

Preparation

Focusing the content:

• what skills/abilities are needed for this kind of work • additional requirements (e.g. specific qualifications, driving licence etc) Reference to resources in careers room, employer websites and

www.prospects.ac.uk

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Preparation

Relating the job/opportunity to you:

• Evidencing the required skills and competencies - Relevant experience - Other experiences (employment, volunteering, positions of responsibility etc) - Academic achievements 5

Conventions

• Which country? A UK CV is very different to a German CV – ‘ Global Resume Guide ’ • How long? 1,2,3 or more? ∂ • National legislation Age, Marital status, Gender, Nationality 6

The basic contents of a CV

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Basics of a CV

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Details

• Name –

Contact

can be used as a heading • Nationality? • Address – • Profile? term and home address?

∂ • Telephone (Mobile & Landline) • E-mail address – not too quirky!

• Compact, clear font e.g. Arial, Verdana 8

David Henderson

49 New Elvet, Durham, DH1 3PF Home: 0191 334 1432 Mobile: 0795553350 E-mail: [email protected]

Profile (Goal, Summary)

∂ and commercial experience seeking employment in market research.

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Basics of a CV - Education

Education

• Most recent/current programme of study – degree/postgraduate • Some employers may ask for 1st or 2nd yr results • Predicted grade?

• Additional degree related information – particularly if relevant to job/organisation (e.g. modules/projects/dissertation) technical etc) ∂ • A2/AS subjects (or equivalent) and grades • summarise GCSE results e.g. 10 GCSEs - grades A-B (including English, Mathematics and Science) • International qualifications – present them as they are (do not attempt to equate with UK qualifications) • Reference to institution and dates attended • Some people separate education from qualifications – pertinent if you have attended numerous institutions 10

Education

King Charles College, University of London

BSc (Hons) Biology 2.1 expected

2002-2005 Modules included: Cellular & Molecular Biology; Microbiology; Molecular Virology, Genetic Systems and Human Genetics

Final Year Project: Assessing expression of cancer genes in tumour cells

• • • • Cultured human tumour cell lines in sterile conditions over several weeks Assessed ideal conditions for extraction of protein from cell lines Separated proteins by gel electrophoresis and assessed levels of cancer genes present by immunological methods.

∂ seminar to 20 members of the department and 23 fellow students Stockport Comprehensive A-Levels GCSE ’ s Geography B, Mathematics B, History C 8, including Maths A, English B, French C 1995-2002 2002 2000 11

King Charles College, University of London

BA Geography 2.1 expected

Options include -Regional Economic Development in the UK 2002-2005 -Economic and Social Development in the Third World -The effect of IT on post industrial Economies -Research techniques and project management skills Major Project Attitudes of London East End residents to influx of business -Compiled comprehensive questionnaire techniques -Wrote a 40-page report ∂ -Helped integrate the results into a larger research project Stockport Comprehensive A-Levels Geography B, Mathematics B, History C GCSE ’ s 8, including Maths A, English B, French C 1995-2002 2002 2000 12

Basics of a CV

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Information

Work Experience

     

Relevant

• vacation work • placements • full-time work • voluntary work Most recent first. Information to include dates, job title, ∂ Opportunity to highlight achievements and contribution Organise work experience according to relevance e.g. legal, teaching, retail etc Group similar items – jobs!

useful if you have done lots of similar Focus your experiences to the key requirements of job Recent experience … week spent with an employer while at school not necessarily relevant 13

Administrative Assistant

Durham County Council (June – September 09) Responsibilities: Broad range of clerical duties within town planning department, including organizing meetings, taking minutes, word processing documents and handling public telephone enquiries.

∂ public meeting in respect of a significant city centre development. Arranged venue and public speakers, liaised with local media and promoted event to local communities. 14

Policy research experience

April 07-July 08 Constituency Administrator,

Sir Peter Soulsby MP for Leicester South

Duties included: undertaking constituents for the office reception and telephone callers, supporting the Communications Manager by monitoring and recording media coverage, assisting with the organisation and running of meetings and constituency events, providing some research support for the ∂ ’ casework, responsibility

Other experience

June 09 – September 09 Retail Assistant, Tesco Duties included: providing high level customer service (checkout duties, shop floor customer care), stock room management, staff training (customer service) 15

MICROBIOLOGIST: Health Protection Agency - Year in Industry July-July 2004 Responsibilities

•Analysed survival rates of range of micro-organisms in varying environmental conditions •Grew pure cultures of bacterial strains •Produced statistical analyses of results using SPSS contract ∂

Achievements

•Developed excellent aseptic technique through careful handling of bacterial cultures •Developed effective project management skills •Received excellent feedback for end of year report and oral presentation 16

Basics of a CV

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Information Relevant

Positions of Responsibility/Extra-curricular Activities

• Clubs/societies/committees • Emphasise nature of responsibility/level of involvement

Skills/Additional Qualifications

• Skills based courses e.g. Insight into Management/Routes to Success • Key element of a skills based CV – alternative to an extensive work experience section • Chronological CV –

Interests and Activities

• Context important – • Ideally one academic and one other • Don ’ t forget to ask permission!

∂ • Skills referred to should reflect those required in the position applied for • Offers employer a more personal picture of you but also opportunity to highlight personal qualities and skills (e.g. working with others) how often? level of attainment? achievements?

References (do not have to be included in a CV!)

– employer, personal (e.g. college tutor) 17

Positions of Responsibility Social Secretary – Collingwood Football

• Initiated contact with local employers regarding team sponsorship. Following a number of presentations secured year long funding with two companies.

∂ • Organized two week tour of USA. Responsible for itinerary and all communication with opposing teams.

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Structure of a CV

… ∂ 19

• Helpful to break the CV up into a series of key headings and sub-headings • Effective means of grouping and reinforcing key information about yourself • Effective use of headings can help to target your CV to the employer/role • Does not matter what the headings are but must logically reflect what you have done and achieved; must also enhance structure of CV and improve ‘

scanability

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Education Achievements Internships Administrative experience Volunteering Extra-curricular activities Key Skills Positions of responsibility Financial sector experience Other experience Relevant experience Interests Employment Commercial experience Gap year Awards 21

Styles of CV...

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The traditional CV (Chronological)

•presents information in order - chronological or reverse chronological order •keeps to standard headings (education, work experience, achievements, volunteering etc) •Easy to organize and demonstrates your progress work ∂ •Opportunities to customise and focus CV •Useful format if you have relevant work experience (e.g. internships) or have demonstrated career progression 23

Skills-based CV

• Demonstrating evidence of your relevant skills • Skills headings e.g. teamwork, communication, decision making, problem solving etc • Brief work experience descriptions • Difficult to organize but demonstrates that you have considered needs of employer • Useful if you have had lots of different experiences or if you have limited vocational experience but have done other things e.g. voluntary/society activities 24

Targeted CV

• may start with a career objective • is more highly focused employer/role – responsive to the needs of • highlights relevant skills, experience and achievements in both education and employment (giving evidence) • may include a list of key achievements experiences … ∂ as relevant for undergraduates?

Hybrid CVs

• Elements of traditional and skills based CVs

Alternative CVs

• Creative careers (advertising, media, design etc) 25

Academic CV

• More emphasis on undergraduate/postgraduate study • Research interests/areas of expertise • Research/teaching or other relevant work experience • Publications ∂ • Professional membership • Conferences & courses • Not restricted to 2 page rule! 26

Impact

• First impressions – key elements logical structure, easy to pick out • Effective use of space – devote more space to key selling points, use key areas of CV to maximum effect (halfway down 1st page, top of 2nd page) • Fill in the gaps – any blank spaces nothing left to the imagination!

∂ – avoid leaving • Tailor it to the employer/profession and/or type of work - use different versions if necessary. Law CV likely to be more traditional than one for the media. Emphasise aspects of your work experience that are most relevant to the individual employer.

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Impact

• Avoid long sentences and large blocks of type • Use colour/shading sparingly; consistent font, layout • Positive language • Positive outcomes – – action verbs e.g. negotiated, demonstrated, evaluated achievements, awards, successes jargon ∂ • Add an effective covering letter supporting the evidence presented in your CV • Put yourself in the position of an employer

who has looked at lots of CVs selling points transparent? … is it well presented and easy to read? Are your main

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Covering Letters

Your CV should link you to the area of work … the ‘ Covering Letter ’ should link you to this particular opportunity

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Covering Letters

• Make sure it reaches the right person - Contact company • address it appropriately Dear Mr/Mrs………Yours sincerely • state position that you are applying for and

where you saw it advertised (make it clear what the purpose of the letter is at the beginning)

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Covering Letters

• take great care with spelling, punctuation, layout; if writing multiple covering letters ensure that you refer to the appropriate employer! • evidence to support career and employer choice that you are making informed choice (opportunity to show employer that you have done your research) – demonstrate skills/experience ∂ • be concise and relevant • only refer to weaknesses in you ’ re application if it is essential • conclude on a very positive note 31

Covering Letters

Simple structure:

• Why this job? - appreciation of role • Why this employer? - demonstration of interest • Why you? ∂ - emphasise your relevant skills/complement information on CV 32

Careers Advisory Service

Support

• CV and Application form clinics (pre-booked 30 min appointments) • If you have an immediate deadline use 20 minute ‘ Quick Query ’

Resources

• CVs for Graduates, Gerald Higginbottom (How to Books) • Preparing your own CV, Rebecca Corfield (Kogan Page) • Making Applications, AGCAS booklet • The Perfect CV, Tom Jackson (Piatkus) • Brilliant CV, Jim Bright & Joanne Earl (Prentice Hall Business)

Careers Folders

∂ • Career planning and job applications (2 – service CVs & Covering Letters)

Websites

www.targetjob.co.uk

www.prospects.ac.uk

www.get.hobsons.co.uk/advice/applications www.vitae.ac.uk

pdf (useful examples of academic CVs for PhD students) www.dur.ac.uk/careers-advice http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/students/downloads/publications/essen tialsseriesofhandouts/greatcvsfromscratch/fileuploadmax10mb,161405,en.

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Writing CVs and Cover Letters

Any Questions?

[email protected]

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