Winning CV's : Sue Hawksworth, Senior Career Consultant

1
Winning CV's Sue Hawksworth, Senior Career
Consultant

2
The E Word Employability

• A good degree is not enough
• Every employer seeks more from a candidate than
  academic excellence
• Team working, leadership, initiative, commercial
  awareness..go to
• http//leedsforlife.leeds.ac.uk/ to see how you
  can enhance or acquire the skills you want or
  need through the University.

3
The R Word Recession

• Graduate vacancies amongst major recruiters down
  by 17 cf forecast for 2009.
• Toyota has cancelled graduate training scheme
• Big 4 accountancy firms virtually full
  knock-on from lack of opps in investment banks
• But KPMG have gone on to a 4 day week, salaries
  reduced by 1/5
• Vital to be aware of what is happening in the
  economy day to day

4
Facts and Figures www.highfliers.co.uk

• 50 of Top 100 cutting back on recruitment in
  2009
• Investment Banking down by 47
• Majority of active recruiters targeting only 15
  to 20 UK universities (Russell Group)
• Public sector least affected
• Pro-active job seeking/networking needed
• There will still be jobs out there but
  flexibility is key.
• Be prepared to move, be prepared to consider
  alternatives to get a foot on the ladder.

5
Improving your chances

• In the light of the current downturn it is vital
  to market yourself effectively
• Understand market conditions news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi
  /business/default.stm
• www.guardain.co.uk/business
• Business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/
• Financial Times www.ft.com/home/uk
• Economist www.economist.com/

6
Setting the Record Straight

• There is no such thing as a perfect CV
• The accurate definition of an effective CV is
  the one which presents your information to the
  best advantage
• A general CV is likely to end up in the bin

7
What is a C.V.?

• Biographical sketch of the course of your life
• Persuasive sales document selling you (the
  product) to an employer (the buyer)
• You have editorial control unlike an
  application form.

8
Standard CV

• Contact Details No need to give age or marital
  status
• Education and qualifications
• Work Experience, embedding your skills in the
  text
• Additional information e.g. Driving Licence
• Interests
• Referees

9
Skills-Based

• Personal Details
• Possible Personal Statement
• Brief outline of education
• Brief outline of work experience
• Expansion of Skills
• Brief outline of interests/activities
• Referees

10
Traditional or skills based?

• Traditional good if you have lots of relevant
  experience and is a clear structure
• Skills based is good if you have limited relevant
  experience.
• It draws attention to your skills developed
  from different experiences
• Good practice for coping with graduate
  application forms.

11
The skills employers rate

• Effective communication
• Teamwork
• Problem solving ability
• Analytical skills
• Flexibility
• Self management skills
• Decision making and judgement ability

• Numeracy
• Logical argument
• Enquiry and research skills
• IT skills
• Relate to wider context
• Specialist subject knowledge

12
Evidencing your skills

• Never make a statement without putting it in
  context
• I have strong time management skills.
• I have time management skills, demonstrated
  effectively when I was managing a team of
  volunteers at the Charity Shop. I had to plan the
  weekly rotas, check and price new stock donated
  by the public, arrange to display it effectively,
  and send in weekly reports to our regional
  headquarters. This was in addition to studying
  for my degree and working in a bar on Saturday
  nights.

13
Presenting the facts.........

• Use an attractive clear font
• Beware of spelling errors and US spell-checks on
  computers
• Allocate space to reflect the importance of your
  information - you only have 2 pages
• Be aware of the prime spaces - 1/2 way down page
  1 and the top of page 2

14
Making an impact action words

• Showcase your achievements using purposeful
  vocabulary and the I word, for example.I
• Accomplished budgeted collaborated delegated
  established facilitated guided handled
  implemented lead marketed oversaw produced
  quantified regulated selected trained viewed
  wrote X Y Z.

15
The Accomplishment-Orientated CV

• Passive
• I worked in customer liaison
• Active
• I provided customer support in a busy financial
  call centre
• Passive
• I ran a fish and chip shop
• Active
• I managed a profitable fast food outlet

16
Big yourself up Accomplishment-Orientated

• I provided customers with a tailored service
  through explanation of the banks services and
  policies. My knowledge of financial planning and
  resolution of customer problems significantly
  increased customer satisfaction.
• I managed a small business with a 75k turnover,
  organised the advertising and interviews for 6
  part-time staff. I ran training courses for new
  staff, and was responsible for stock management
  and re-ordering, and for daily cash balancing and
  banking

17
Planning the Covering Letter

• Always send a covering letter with a CV
• Make it structured
• Opening (who you are and what you are doing)
• The role you are interested in and why
• Why you are particularly interested in that
  company you will have to show evidence of
  research
• Why you are a good candidate
• Positive ending

18
CVs and Covering Letters - Key Points

• Avoid Scene-Setting
• Refer to YOUR role/activity and the skills it
  demonstrates
• Ideally 1 academic referee and 1 from employment
• Make sure it is targeted.

• No more than 2 sides of A4 for CV
• No more than 1 page for Covering Letter
• Supply home and term-time addresses
• Record everything in REVERSE Chronological order

19

• Any Questions?