Writing CVs

1
Writing CVs

• David Henderson
• Careers Adviser
• d.m.henderson_at_durham.ac.uk

2
Content

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

3
Preparation

• No such thing as the perfect CVand 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 (1st
  page impact)

4
Preparation

• Focusing the content
• what skills/abilities are needed for this kind of
  work
• what experience is required
• additional requirements (e.g. specific
  qualifications, driving licence etc)
• Reference to resources in careers room, employer
  websites and www.prospects.ac.uk

5
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

6
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

7

• The basic contents of a CV

8
Basics of a CV Contact Details

• Name can be used as a heading
• Nationality?
• Address term and home address?
• Profile?
• Telephone (Mobile Landline)
• E-mail address not too quirky!
• Compact, clear font e.g. Arial, Verdana

9

• David Henderson
• 49 New Elvet, Durham, DH1 3PF
• Home 0191 334 1432 Mobile [phone]
• E-mail d.m.henderson_at_durham.ac.uk
• Profile (Goal, Summary)
• Psychology graduate with highly developed
  analytical skills
• and commercial experience seeking employment in
  market
• research.

10
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)
• Skills developed via study (presentation,
  analysis, research, 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

11

• Education
• King Charles College, University of
  London 2002-2005
• BSc (Hons) Biology 2.1 expected
• 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.
• Analysed results, wrote 6,000 word report and
  presented conclusions in a seminar to 20 members
  of the department and 23 fellow students
• Stockport Comprehensive 1995-2002
• A-Levels Geography B, Mathematics B, History
  C 2002
• GCSEs 8, including Maths A, English B, French
  C 2000

12

• King Charles College, University of
  London 2002-2005
• BA Geography 2.1 expected
• Options include -Regional Economic Development in
  the UK
• -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
• -Analysed around 200 responses using computing
  and statistical techniques
• -Wrote a 40-page report
• -Helped integrate the results into a larger
  research project
• Stockport Comprehensive 1995-2002
• A-Levels Geography B, Mathematics B, History
  C 2002
• GCSEs 8, including Maths A, English B, French
  C 2000

13
Basics of a CV Relevant Information

• Work Experience
• vacation work
• placements
• full-time work
• voluntary work
• Most recent first. Information to include dates,
  job title, employer, duties and responsibilities
• Opportunity to highlight achievements and
  contribution
• Organise work experience according to relevance
  e.g. legal, teaching, retail etc
• Group similar items useful if you have done
  lots of similar jobs!
• Focus your experiences to the key requirements
  of job
• Recent experienceweek spent with an employer
  while at school not necessarily relevant

14
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. Achievements
Directly responsible for planning a 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.
15

• Policy research experience
• April 07-July 08 Constituency Administrator,
• Sir Peter Soulsby MP for Leicester South
• Duties included undertaking constituents
  casework, responsibility
• 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
• preparation of briefings and letters.
• 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)

16

• 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
• Trained my replacement in use of equipment at the
  end of my 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

17
Basics of a CV Relevant Information

• 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 IT, language, relevant
  technical skills (e.g. SPSS, C)
• Skills referred to should reflect those required
  in the position applied for
• Interests and Activities
• Offers employer a more personal picture of you
  but also opportunity to highlight personal
  qualities and skills (e.g. working with others)
• Context important how often? level of
  attainment? achievements?
• References (do not have to be included in a CV!)
• Ideally one academic and one other employer,
  personal (e.g. college tutor)
• Dont forget to ask permission!

18

• 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.

19

• Structure of a CV

20

• 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

21

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

22

• Styles of CV...

23
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
• does not focus closely on a specific type of work
• Opportunities to customise and focus CV
• Useful format if you have relevant work
  experience (e.g. internships) or have
  demonstrated career progression

24
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

25
Targeted CV

• may start with a career objective
• is more highly focused responsive to the needs
  of employer/role
• highlights relevant skills, experience and
  achievements in both education and employment
  (giving evidence)
• may include a list of key achievements
• useful for individuals with a broad range of
  relevant experiencesas relevant for
  undergraduates?
• Hybrid CVs
• Elements of traditional and skills based CVs
• Alternative CVs
• Creative careers (advertising, media, design etc)

26
Academic CV

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

27
Impact

• First impressions logical structure, easy to
  pick out key elements
• 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 nothing left to the
  imagination!
• Keep it to a maximum of two sides of A4 avoid
  leaving any blank spaces
• 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.

28
Impact

• Avoid long sentences and large blocks of type
• Use colour/shading sparingly consistent font,
  layout
• Positive language action verbs e.g. negotiated,
  demonstrated, evaluated
• Positive outcomes achievements, awards,
  successes
• Be careful when using abbreviations and technical
  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 CVsis it well presented
  and easy to read? Are your main selling points
  transparent?

29
Covering Letters

• Your CV should link you to the area of work
• the Covering Letter should link you to this
  particular opportunity

30
Covering Letters

• Make sure it reaches the right person
• - Contact company
• address it appropriately
• Dear Mr/MrsYours sincerely
• Dear Sir/Madam.Yours faithfully
• 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)

31
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
  demonstrate that you are making informed choice
  (opportunity to show employer that you have done
  your research)
• draw attention to your strengths, qualities
  relevant skills/experience
• be concise and relevant
• only refer to weaknesses in youre application if
  it is essential
• conclude on a very positive note

32
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

33
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 service
• 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)
• The Global Resume, Mary Anne Thompson (John Wiley
  Sons)
• Careers Folders
• Career planning and job applications (2 CVs
  Covering Letters)
• Websites
• www.targetjob.co.uk
• www.prospects.ac.uk
• www.get.hobsons.co.uk/advice/applications
• www.vitae.ac.uk (useful examples of academic CVs
  for PhD students)
• www.dur.ac.uk/careers-advice

34
Writing CVs and Cover Letters

• Any Questions?
• Thank you!
• d.m.henderson_at_durham.ac.uk