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Careers CVs and Cover Letters Careers Careers • Understand the purpose of a CV • Know what to include and structure • Identify how the careers service can help you • Show that you meet the requirements of the job • Give a professional impression of yourself An effective CV should win you an interview Careers What’s the purpose of a CV? • UK employers expect a CV to focus clearly on relevant skills and experience. Employers expect a CV to be targeted to their vacancy. • Employers don’t expect a set format but expect to see certain required information. • Employers look for examples of skills – not resume style Careers What is different about a UK style CV? Careers • Less focus on educational qualifications and awards/honours and much more on skills • No ‘personal details’ section • No longer than two pages • You need to provide the names of two referees but not actual letters of reference • Essential – – – – Contact details Education history Relevant Work / Other Work References • Optional – – – – Personal profile Positions of responsibility Volunteering Interests / Leisure Activities Careers What to include? With the job specification! Write your CV to fulfill these requirements Big Issue Job Specification Careers Where to start? - main purpose is for contact details (phone/email) - is the email address appropriately professional? - don’t need date of birth, marital status or nationality - may wish to state right to work Careers Personal Details - where you are now “Current student of IT at Queen Mary University of London… - where you want to get to in your career “…looking for a job in technology within a City bank.” - skills relevant to the job & how gained “Organisational skills proved by my ability to manage study and part-time work. Ability to lead demonstrated in my role as Captain of the Cricket Team.” - no more than 4 lines Careers Personal Profile (optional) – targeted to job Education (2009-) MSc Computing & Information Systems , Queen Mary University Key modules: advanced network programming, computational genomics, graphical user interface design (2006-’09) BSc Mathematics, University of California (2:1) Final year Project: 60% Skills gained: Ability to work Independently through final year project Attention to detail through complex maths problems (2001-’08) Berkeley High School (USA) Finals: 85% (A Level Equivalent) SATS: 77% Careers Education History Targeted to job Relevant Work Experience (2008) Summer I.T Internship, Orangecounty Bank • Solving IT problems for staff • Assisting on developing new software ideas • Administration for the department Other Work Experience skills required in job description (2007-2008) Sales Assistant, IT Solutions • Provided good customer service by answering enquiries, listening, prompt service and tailoring information to customer needs. • Carried out stocktaking & maintaining of the shop floor • Managed a team of 3 people: timetabling lunchhours, signing in/out at the end of the day. • Planned and delivered induction 4 hours of induction training for 2 new staff Use numbers wherever possible Careers Work History b)My communication skills are excellent. I am able to work independently and as a team. I manage my time effectively and am calm under pressure. Careers a)I was responsible for developing the intranet service. Liaising with all functions to establish their requirements developed my communication skills and delivering results when the deadline was changed required effective time management and the ability to stay calm under pressure. b)"I organised a fundraising event for 60 delegates. As a result we helped to raise £1,000 for charity." Careers a)A fundraising event was organised and one thousand pounds was raised for charity as a result. • Ideally round up skills that don’t fit elsewhere • Specific skills such as: IT (software/programming), Languages, Lab experience • Quantify experience i.e. competency level • Keep it relevant and provide evidence Careers Other Skills • NOT socialising/seeing friends • Can help to fill skill gaps required on job description e.g. Cricket team captain = leadership “Captain of cricket team for local club, organising matches, training and motivating other players.” Careers Interests • Most employers want at least two (academic & professional) • Get permission • Useful to have references forwarded from tutors/employers in home country • No need to enclose documents • ‘References Available on Request’ is acceptable Careers References • Beginning • This identifies who you are, what you are applying for, and how you heard about it. • Middle • To explain your skills and experience relevant to the job • To explain why you want to work for them • • • • End Briefly states your availability for interview. Sign off the letter: Yours sincerely if you addressed to a particular name, or Yours faithfully if you used a job title/Sir/Madam. 1 page long Careers Cover Letter A)"I look forward to hearing from you." B)"I humbly await your considered response." C)"I would honourably like to progress in your esteemed and reputed organisation." D)"I would like the opportunity to progress and add value to your forward thinking and results driven organisation." Careers Avoid flattery! • • • • • • • Chronology Poor use of margins and formatting Use of tables and photographs Resume style- too brief More than 2 pages – too long! Use of footnotes Too much about awards/scholarships Careers Common Errors What alterations are you going to make to your CV? Careers Review your CV www.careers.qmul.ac.uk/students/international - CV download CV Clinic: 1-1.30pm daily – book 1-2-1 CV check once you have a specific job to apply to Careers http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/students/international/cvs/cvschool/