Transcript No Slide Title

UCL CAREERS SERVICE
Selling yourself on paper
Dave Carter
UCL Careers Service
Aims of a CV
• get an interview by showing what you have to
offer
– can do the job, will do the job, will fit in
• evidence to back-up your claims
–
academic, work experience, interests
• level of content and focus:
– needs to pass: the scan test/ in-depth read
– tailor to the type of role you are applying for
• BUT…..CV’s are subjective: no right/ wrong way
CV/ Applications - preparation
• Research - them
– recruitment literature
inc. job specification
and description
– company website
– trade press
– current practitioners:
employers/ alumni/
networks
• Research - you
– self-audit: examples from
education/ work experience,
volunteering and leisure
– vary examples as far as
possible – shows ‘wellrounded’
– focus on aspects of the role
and competencies required
CV’s - basics
Generally 2 sides of A4 to cover (order in terms of
relevance):
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personal details
career/ personal profile (optional)
education
employment history
skills profile (optional)
extra-curricular activities / interests
references
CV’s - basics
• personal details
– Name not CV at top
– professional e’mail address
– Nationality optional (consider work permits)
• career/ personal profile (optional)
– targeted and concise/ evidence-based
– Is this?
• A polished, articulate individual who is committed to a
career in management consultancy. I am motivated and
possess excellent time-management, teamworking and
presentation skills.
CV’s - basics
Traditional
– To develop a career in IT consultancy based on my strong
academic background, ability to construct and use databases and
experience of managing staff in an online environment.
Film trailer:
- UCL Geography undergraduate taking relevant IT modules with
award-winning academics in maths
- broad and advanced database experience and programming ability
including C++ and Java
- Team working and leadership skills gained managing up to 3 staff
in local online community volunteering project
- presentational and negotiation skills gained as member of UCL
Geography department staff/ student committee
CV’s - education and qualifications
• give details
– reverse chronological order
– institutions/ courses/ dates/ context/ grades/ modules/
projects if relevant/ academic prizes
• relevance/ pitch
– give prominence and detail where relevant
– pitch language/ technical content appropriately
• skills you have gained
• summarise your schooling
Where your degree is in some way relevant
to the job you are applying for……
University College London 2002-2005
BA Geography
Expected Grade 2.1
My degree has dealt with the impact of human beings on the
environment especially in relation to consumer behaviour and
how it can be influenced.
relevant final year options:
Quantitative research techniques; Project management; Impact IT
on post industrial economies; UK economic development.
final year project:
researched attitudes of East End residents to growth of refugee
numbers within local community. Activities included compiling
a questionnaire and analysing around 200 responses using
complex computing and statistical techniques incorporating the
supporting results into a 40 page report.
Where your degree has no direct relevance to
the job you are applying for……
School of Oriental & African Studies 2002-2005
BA Geography
Expected Grade 2.1
Skills gained:
• communication: delivered presentations to audiences of up to
20 on my research and project findings including handling
questions. Presented key issues affecting students on the staff/
student committee (3rd year). Achievements include the
negotiation of a complete overhauling of lecture/ seminar
timetabling;
• numerical: the ability to problem-solve and manage analysis
and interpretation of complex experimental data;
• organisational and time-management: ability to manage final
year project with academic exams, part-time and voluntary
work.
CV’s - work experience
• consider everything you’ve done
• think about most appropriate format
– reverse chronological/ grouped in terms of relevance/
summarised
• give details
– name/ position/ dates/ context
• responsibilities and achievements
• skills you have gained
Work Experience example
University of London union (UoL) bar
2003-date
Part-time bar worker – (approx 9 hrs/ week term time)
The union bar is open to students from the diverse colleges of UoL
providing live entertainment, food and drinks to over 5000
customers per week.
My responsibilities include:
• taking orders and payments, co-ordinating with kitchen staff
and restocking supplies;
• liaising with the union events team to ensure live entertainment
bookings run smoothly.
Skills gained:
• teamwork: working with up to 8 bar staff under pressure
especially during periods when the bar is under-resourced;
• persuasion: dealing tactfully but firmly with difficult customers
especially at closing time;
• stamina: working on physically demanding shifts of up to 8
hours.
CV’s -basics
Key skills:
– languages/ computing & keyboard/ driving/ other
Interests and Activities:
– think about clubs/ societies/ travel/ hobbies
– use to further demonstrate skills & qualities
– think how it reflects on you
References:
– full details or ‘available on request’
– 1academic/ 1employer
– give referee copy of job description
Cv’s - skills profile (optional)
• positioned after work experience
• provide evidence (facts) of 4/5 key skills required for the
role
– try to use different examples to illustrate different skills
– be specific, give supporting evidence, outcomeorientated
Persuasion: Responsible for on-campus publicity for
charity fund raising event. Involved negotiating
sponsorship and advertising with local companies,
arranging poster displays and collecting student
donations. Attended by over 800 students and raised
over £1,000.
• widen profile as part of a skills-based CV
CV’s - making the right impression
• 2 sides A4 unless specified – separate sheets. Some
Investment banks (especially US) prefer 1 page.
• no photos
• use appropriate formatting/ highlighting
– distinct sections, use headings, keep sections
together
• omit pronouns and articles, use active verbs (achieved,
controlled)
• keep to the point, use bullets, keep paras to 4 lines or
less
• ensure most relevant is most prominent
CV’s checklist
• targeted &
• well presented
relevant
• appropriate writing
• logical structure
style and
language eg
• evidence-based
active
verbs
• positive
•
appropriate
length
• correct
spelling/grammar
Powerful covering letters
Formal business letter: 500 words to fit on 1 page –
order is subjective…
• try and address to a named individual
• heading
• introduction : who you are, what you are applying for,
where you saw the job (para 1)
• why you want the job: interest and research carried
out (para 2)
• what you have to offer: highlight skills and experience
relevant to the job and evidenced by the CV (para 3)
• why that company: distinguishing features (para 4)
• conclusion – positive close and goodbye (para 5)
Your Application form
Why do employers use them?
• deters unsuitable applicants
• creates focus on areas relevant to job
• comparable information - who stands out?
Applications - types of question
• biographical:
– What work experience have you got the most out of? (50
words)
• career choice and motivation:
– Why do you want to work for this organisation? (100
words)
– Tell us what steps you have taken to clarify your career
choice. (100 words)
• Competency:
– Please give a recent example of a team in which you
have been involved. What was your role? What
challenges did you face? (100 words)
– Describe a recent situation where you have
demonstrated motivation and initiative. (75 words)
Application forms clinic….
Motivation examples
Why do you want to work as an account manager for our
marketing agency?(150 words)
Your organisation is a leader in its field. It has an
international reputation and is also one of the most respected
agencies in the UK. It is important for me to work for a
successful organisation and I would welcome all the different
opportunities available to me. I would also like to work
abroad at some point and so the global nature of your
organisation appeals to me. Finally, I’d like to work for the
organisation because the role matches my skills. I am
interested in developing new skills and believe that your
graduate account management scheme would help me to
achieve my goals. (100 words)
Question Strategy
• Prepare a draft then ask yourself does it…
– answer the question by providing the relevant
information/ deal with the qualities the employer is
looking for?
– provide a personal perspective with specific
examples rather than regurgitating readily available
information
Better….
Why do you want to work as an account manager for our marketing
agency? (150 words)
Firstly, I am familiar with the products of your client-base including Riva
and Viva, and having spent an internship period with Diva, I am excited
by the thought of working alongside these prestigious organisations.
I’m also attracted to the ‘creative hot-house’ reputation of the agency as
described in a recent ‘Campaign’ magazine agency profile. I have been
involved with the innovative re-branding strategy of the student union
through a diverse range of media channels including online and outdoor.
After examining your website and attending your 2007 SOAS
presentation, I understand the value of good organisational skills in order
to successfully manage client campaigns. This appeals since I have
worked on simultaneous research projects whilst balancing union
commitments and a part-time job (15 hours/week).
I have also been impressed by the honesty and enthusiasm of recently
recruited trainees of the organisation I met at this year’s Careers Group
LGRF
(150 words)
Application forms clinic…..
Competency examples
Describe a time when you instigated change to solve a
problem.” (75 words)
During my Masters, I discovered that lab times didn’t suit
everyone as many of my classmates were missing slots due
to timetable clashes with other academic and extra-curricular
activities. These included optional seminars that many felt
the need to attend and Wednesday afternoon sporting
commitments. I undertook research and found that there
needed to be a more flexible arrangement for students to
carry out their lab work and consequently a greater number
of slots were made available’. (82 words)
Competency Question Strategy
• STAR
–S
–T
–A
–R
Situation
Task
Action
Result
Better...
Describe a time when you instigated change to
solve a problem.” (75 words)
During my Masters, I identified the need for a
change in laboratory times since my year group
were missing slots due to time-table clashes. I
put my case in writing to two academic staff,
explaining the situation and suggesting more
convenient times. I followed this up in person
and was invited to the next staff meeting. After
protracted negotiation, a revised timetable was
introduced and students were consequently able
to complete projects on time. (74 words)
Applying online
•
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download the form and assess requirements
plan your approach/ do your research
complete the more straightforward areas
break down the harder questions
brainstorm possible examples and decide on
most appropriate
• draft - evaluate – refine..to keep to wordcount
• get a second opinion
• apply early but submit only when ready
Need more help?
• get it checked by a UCL careers adviser
• ‘How to Write a CV/ How to complete an application
form’ – CareersGroup publications available in careers
library
• employer led skills workshops - Autumn Programme
06/07: ucl.ac.uk/careers
– BT: CV and apps - 31 Oct 2pm
– Various: Seven deadly skills - 1 Nov 12moon
– JP Morgan: Interview skills – 13 Nov 5.30pm
• thecareersgroup.co.uk/ ucl.ac.uk/careers
• look at CV/ application form examples on the net:
– www. prospects.ac.uk; www.doctorjob.co.uk
– www.ucl.ac.uk/careers; www.thecareersgroup.co.uk