Projecting a professional image – ECS level 1 CV workshop Diana Fitch djf4@soton.ac.uk What is a CV? Styles of CV? Good and bad practice CV basics How to use self-audit Employability recap Intro 2 minutes Hello everyone, Brief introduction for those who weren’t there. Welcome Who I am Brisk PACE Most of the session is going to be about helping you produce a decent CV for this module, but importantly for the future, today is activity based and will help you develop some career management skills which you can build on, but there will also be a chance to remember some of the points about employability raised in the lecture. ACTIVITY One So the first point is, What is a CV? Who is it for? When is it needed? What should it do? 5 minutes I’d like you to start off by spending a few minutes talking with your neighbour (pairs or groups of 3) and come up with a definition of a CV you could use on a Wiki entry. Note: Discussion – define a CV – 5 minutes Self-audit – 20 minutes Poor CV – critique – 5 minutes CV points – 5 minutes Compare templates – supplementary activity – 5 minutes Take Guides, template (on-line) and Passport leaflets. www.southampton.ac.uk/careers

CV? A curriculum vitae means a “life list” BUT CVs: Inform about your background Persuade the opportunity provider to see you What you have done in the past gives EVIDENCE of what you can do in the future NOT just a list, but a professional and targeted marketing tool which is about your achievements and skills, And results in an interview A life list A good degree Someone who has got involved Work Experience – “the missing ingredient in undergraduate education” Someone who has thought about what they have to offer Someone who has focus NB! These will also give YOU the EVIDENCE that you need for a good CV Talk about Shell Step applications and CVs – student comment about CV just being a list and cover letter much better to show why you can do the job. In reality its not like that, you’ve got to try and make your CV as interesting and as personal as a covering letter No one right way to do a CV Its about your market, what they need to know, what you’ve got that’s going to interest them YOU want an interview – START WITH YOURSELF

Start with yourself Self audit: experiences > activities > stories (actions) > skills Feedback from tutors, colleagues, friends, relations ALSO Explore what’s out there ECS Employability Tutorials www.prospects.ac.uk Types of jobs Employers targeting ECS students, work opportunities ECS tutorials and Career Destinations website What is your CV all about? It is about YOU! SELF AUDIT EXERCISE Use next slide of skills to help them once underway What is a self audit? It is where you take each experience in your life, write down all the tasks that you did in that activity, talk through those activities in terms of your behaviours and then work out what skills you have gained/used – work through an example of their degree course/sport on the board ACTIVITY Give out A3 paper and ask them to do work experience activity/transparencies/post-its Feedback Computerised Guidance programs - more information on next slide as well/ Team roles/questionnaires ‘what kind of person are you’ Interest guides - ask if you want more information Feedback from people you have worked with - friends etc www.ecs.soton.ac.uk/careers > > > >

Employability Skills Software Engineer* Attributes Leadership, interpersonal, and problem solving skills Self-motivated, detail-oriented, efficient Ability to prioritise, team player, reliable, ability to multi-task technical competency; problem-solving skills; attention to detail a logical mind; numeracy knowledge of the sector good interpersonal communication skills Career motivation Willingness to learn new skills Awareness of current issues *Abridged from Prospects.ac.uk Indeed.com 2010 4 4

What needs to go on a CV? Personal details Objective or profile – if it adds something Education/qualifications Work experience/employment history, including voluntary. Focus on the skills developed, your achievements Skills/interests/activities/achievements/responsibilities Referees? - or “Referees available on request” Edited and organised to fit one or two pages Seek suggestions – quickly, show slide to summarise, highlight work experience and skills entries. CV critique ACTIVITY: You will be given three CVs in quick succession (1 minute each), the reality of recruitment is that most CVs will only get a few seconds before an initial ‘in the bin’ decision. Highlight any plus or negative impacts, problems, questions. 5 minute discussion in small group to rank them – need to be prepared to share reasons and feedback. Pick up issues of Email Date of birth Nationality Work experience Degree content

Danger points NO target audience Poor layout, lack of headings, bullet points Tables and lines which don’t format correctly Open access software which doesn’t download correctly Boring, too many unnecessary details, long chunks of text, too many tasks Too much sailing, football, or too little? Inappropriate personal information Poor spelling, grammar, too small, fancy fonts, BOLD ’m sure you have excellent WORD skills, so show them off. By the way do use WORD and don’t use fancy formatting, or other freebie applications, the chances are they won’t work for the employer, they don’t want a lesson in LINUX, they want to print off your CV easily and read it easily and I’m sure that’s what you want too. Qualcomm advice: “Make sure they research the company prior to interview 2. Ensure CVs include an explanation of their course work and projects. 3. Advise the students bring their course work to interview for discussion. 4. Its very important the international students are fully aware of their working limitations. 5. Always include a cover letter where possible covering confirmation their availability and duration for an Internship. 6. They should be prepared to discuss confidently on a technical level what they have learnt during their study to date.”

Winning points Clear, attractive layout with space Good sized font Easy to navigate (dates and headings are clear) Demonstrates attention to detail Gives evidence and is interesting (USPs) Relevant (targeted) and to the point Appropriate style (chronological, skill based, academic) “I want to meet this person”

Help - presenting or developing your skills Career Destinations, B37 Skills section , workshops & talks CV checks in ECS Use the template, the Guide and the website > Make successful applications Get involved Keep a log / extended CV Reminder To help with your CV (MODULE?) : Winning application section Guide pg 26 CIC – always ask if unsure, videos, DVDs, examples. Use the on-line catalogue to see what’s available. Web pages Personal help – remind about email. Programme – News & Events Any Questions? SKILLS – We talked a bit about building your skills last week, this first stab at a graduate CV might make you feel you need to generate some more meaty material, don’t worry, get active there’s lots you could be doing – get some ideas if there is time.