Dave Kilmartin Careers Adviser Faculty of Science Oct 6 Twenty10

Employers perspective Who are you ? What can you do ? What contribution can you make you make to the organisation ? Is it worth my while interviewing you ?

3 Part of the recruitment process that you control An agenda for the interview Your CV: Reflects you professionally Your past is an indicator of future potential Your attitude & interest in the job Your Sales & Marketing Document

Get an interview

Be professional and you’ll be treated as a professional

CV Exercise What would an employer want to see in a CV from a computer science student Be Specific

Skills Analysis Exercise AreaSkillExample College Work Experience Interests

8 Activities / Experiences Responsibilities/ Projects/tasks undertaken Skills AcquiredAchievements College Work exp Hobbies and Interests Active verbs; undertook; managed; liaised; solved; dealt with; oversaw; e.g. Interpersonal Time Management Leadership Team Be Specific

CV Contents Personal details Education Work Experience/Key Responsibilities Skills Interests/Achievements Referees

Lay it out Tailor CV for each job Before writing, do your research –Self awareness: how do your skills, personality and experience relate to your target job/career? –Employer and role research: what is the company looking for? Read the job specification, talk to people in the industry, use the internet…..

Layout can help or hinder the reader Keep it simple, clear and short - 2 pages of good quality A4 (100gm) Be wary of templates Main selling points on first page Give highest priority to best and most recent examples of your ability to do the specific job Be positive, direct and concise Be selective - space is short, give only the information which counts

CV Contents Personal details Education Work Experience/Key Responsibilities Skills Interests/Achievements Referees

Arms length

So What

What is a Cover Letter? A vital part of your application - your CV is incomplete without it Another opportunity to sell yourself Highlight personal qualities Adds depth to factual information in your CV Highlights most interesting and relevant parts of your CV to an employer

Cover letter layout Concise - 1 page of A4 Laid out as a formal business letter showing your address and the name and address of the employer Sent to a named person - not “Dear Sir/Madam” Spell-checked and grammar checked

Cover letter contents 4-5 concise paragraphs –First paragraph: who you are, why you’re writing –Second paragraph: why you want to work for that particular company –Third paragraph: why you? Highlight the ways in which you meet the person specification, or the skills, qualifications and experience you have that are particularly relevant –end on a positive note. Put your name at the bottom and remember to sign it

Summary - top tips CVs –present your CV in most visually attractive way, well laid out and no more than 2 A4 pages –include only relevant information –balance your CV against the job description Cover Letters –write one! –be concise and precise - 1 page of A4 –use the letter to personalise your application and tailor it to the company/role