MAKING YOUR CV WORK FOR YOU

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• MAKING YOUR CV WORK FOR YOU

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Objectives

• By the end of the session students should be able
  to
• Understand what a CV is and when it is
  appropriate to use one
• Present their skills and attributes effectively
  on a CV
• Understand how to market themselves effectively
• Understand how to write an effective covering
  letter

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What is a CV?

• CV stands for Curriculum Vitae which literally
  means the course of (your) life
• A good CV should both
• INFORM an employer of your skills and experience
• AND
• PERSUADE them that you are worth interviewing

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Why Send a CV?

• An employer has specified it in a job
  advertisement e.g. Apply in writing
• You are approaching an employer speculatively.
  This type of application is where you write to an
  employer (typically with a CV and letter) to see
  if they may have a vacancy.
• Because an employer says you can!

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Self Marketing

• The CVs sole purpose is to get you an interview
• It presents you in the best light
• Convinces the employer that you have specific,
  direct benefits of use to them
• It passes the employers screening process
• It is not simply a history of your past. Write
  with the intention to create interest, to
  persuade the employer to call you

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Preparation

• Before you put pen to paper
• Do your research. Do you understand which skills
  the employer is seeking. You can find this out by
  their website, employer presentations on campus
  etc.
• Note their requirements before you develop your
  CV.
• What are you going to write? Consider your past
  experience. What evidence are you going to use?

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Focus on the Employer

• You are writing powerful but subtle advertising
  copy
• ASK YOURSELF
• What would make someone the perfect candidate?
• What qualities would this person have?
• What would set out an exceptional candidate from
  merely a good one?
• What does the employer really want?

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Golden Rules for Getting the Message Across

• Remember to target each CV to the job you are
  applying for
• Be as specific as you can using the least number
  of words
• Use action verbs e.g. managed, negotiated,
  produced, co-ordinated
• Check your spelling and proof read

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Make Verbs Work for You

• Make the verb active
• - I organised a programme of speakers NOT
• - I was responsible for organising a programme.
• Use action verbs linked to skills employers look
  for
• For example
• Resolved customer queries within tight deadlines
• is better than
• Resolution of customer queries to tight deadlines
  was required
• Avoid weak verbs like endeavoured and tried

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Try To See Your Experiences As a Professional
Would

• Understated
• Answered phone (receptionist)
• Wiped tables (waitress)
• Professional
• Acted as liaison between customers and sales
  staff
• Created healthy environment for customers and
  maintained positive public image

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Write About What You Did

• Use varied action words to describe experiences
• Ask yourself these questions
• -Who?..With whom did you work ?
• -What?..What duties/activities did you perform?
• -Where?..Where did your job fit into the
  organisation?
• -Why?..What goals were you trying to accomplish?
• -When?..What timelines were you working under?
• -How?..What procedures did you follow?

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Putting it Together

• Vague
• I worked as a counter assistant in a bank
• Specific
• Gained valuable experience working to targets
  within a fast moving financial sector
• Worked quickly and accurately on a number of
  complex computer programs
• Dealt effectively and professionally with the
  public in a busy branch
• Proved highly adaptable and flexible whilst
  working within a team

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What Makes a Good CV?

• CONTENT
• Completeness
• Targeting
• Evidence
• PRESENTATION
• Structure
• Layout
• Language

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CV Tips

• One page is too short, four is too long
• Avoid coloured or textured paper
• First page make it count - everything you want
  the employer to see IMMEDIATELY
• Include a brief description of what you did and
  bring it to life with some dimensions numbers of
  people, values of sales, lengths of projects,
  budgets
• Consult resources on our web site

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CV Summary

• Literally a brief account of your life, and
  therefore is
• structured
• concise - ideally 2 sides of A4
• a summary
• It must have a purpose and therefore is
• targeted
• has a clear layout and is easy to read
• tells the reader what you want them to know and
  what they need to know

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Covering letters

• This accompanies a CV and should
• be addressed to a named person
• have three broad sections
• Opening - present a situation, job applied for,
  site of advertisement
• Middle - statement in support of application
• Closing - positive ending, interview
  availability, next contact
• be on one side of A4 and have impact

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When to Use Covering Letters

• Normally to accompany a CV or application form
• Always to introduce a speculative approach by CV
• Look at resources on web site

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Covering letters (2)

• It is a marketing tool and therefore
• is positive and appropriate both in language and
  style
• makes the most of your qualities and experiences
• is well presented
• is persuasive
• contains relevant, accessible information
• makes the reader want to meet you

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Evaluating CVs - Exercise

• Look at the CV and consider the following
• Its general presentation and content
• Are there any spelling and grammatical errors?
• Is it a good marketing document?
• Can you tell what he/she is applying for?
• If you would you interview this person