PUT YOUR CV TO WORK FOR YOU! Effective CVs for Placement CIT Careers Service

Effective CVs and Interviews Put you in the spotlight ! Showcase and highlight your key skills, competencies, knowledge, experience, qualities, strengths and attitude. Are customised, edited and targeted at each specific job and Organization Provide Evidence the You are a close match with what an employer wants and needs

You have 30 seconds to make an impression! You’re here!

Create a Targeted CV Find out about the placement role Look at the role & the skills needed Develop a Personal Profile & a Skills Profile Tailor your CV…Structure, Layout & Content RELEVANCE IS KEY! Your CV influences what you an talk about at Interview

Why send a Targeted CV? Make the connection between you and the placement role! TARGETED CV = Increased chance of INTERVIEW

CV - Core ingredients Personal Profile Education Projects Technical/ Analytical/ Laboratory Skills Skills Profile Work Experience Interests and Achievements

CV Format – 2 page & rules Academic – Work with your strengths, relevant subjects, projects, results Course related skills – IT, software, lab, accounting, etc.. Work – show skills not only tasks an duties of job What exactly did I do? Work sheet What skills did I use? New skills developed? What did I do that I was proud of? Any achievements big or small! Extra curricular Parts employers check first

Personal Details Name (Font 16 & Bold) Address (Font 12) Mobile Number (Font 12) Set up your voic ! Address (Font 12) NB: Business-like Linkedin

What is a Personal Profile? 2 to 3 purposeful sentences (the information has relevance to the employer and/or the job for which you are applying.) Your profile demonstrates; Your current status 2 to 3 key skills and a proven achievement where possible CV objective – seeking a placement… Who you are? - Target driven Software student Functional Attributes - Excellent knowledge of key programming languages Desirable Personal Attributes - Genuine desire to succeed/make a contribution 2 or 3 targeted skills

Education Provide information re: dates, course title, College Outline details of subjects studied, specific modules, projects undertaken, technical or lab skills acquired if applicable. Provide information re: results achieved in specific years/modules/projects.

Education Start with your college course! Dates Name of college Official course title Overall result to date Core modules (current year) Projects or Group Work IT Programmes/Labs Laboratory Work (Techniques & instrumentation used) Awards / Competitions….. Include Leaving Certificate ◦ Dates ◦ Name of school ◦ Leaving Certificate (or equivalent) ◦ Relevant honours subjects ◦ Overall points or grade Use reverse chronological order- Start with present

Education…example 2013-PresentBSc Full Correct Title of Degree Cork Institute of Technology Current 1 st Year Average: 2H1 Subjects Include:…………………………………………………… Projects: Title/Task …………………………….. What exactly did you do? (Objective) How exactly did you do it? (Responsibilities, Techniques & Software Used) What were the learnings/outcomes? (Report/Presentation/Key Findings) Remember Include academic awards / achievements

Projects ………… Provide information on relevant projects undertaken: Begin with the Title and a brief Description What research did you carry out? What Methods did you use? What was the analysis that you conducted? What were your findings? What result was achieved? Optional: Include web link to project Projects showcase your skills and ability to work in teams

Skills /Technical /Lab/Software Outline the expertise you have developed in specific areas. Name the techniques/skills and level of competency developed (Optional) Examples: HTML: Excellent knowledge of HTML, developed while undertaking individual web design project. Example Spectrophotometric Analysis, Liquid Chromatography, Extraction and Separation Laboratory Testing -applied HPLC, GC, general wet chemistry techniques Pharma-Bio Serv and during Internship with Fournier Laboratories Ireland Ltd Analytical Skills -compiling and analyzing testing results for project examining spray drying technique Reporting -writing reports on new product testing IT Skills -using laboratory software including SAP, LIMS, Empower Very Important !

. Work Experience Work – show skills not only obvious activity What exactly did I do? Use a Work sheet What skills did I use? -What new skills did I develop? What did I do that I was proud of? Any achievements big or small! Tip You can Tailor you're experience to the sector you are applying to Possible Headings Work Experience/ Professional Experience/ Relevant Experience/Engineering Experience/Administrative Experience Accounting Experience ……………….. All jobs can demonstrate “transferable” Workplace Skills

Interests & Achievements Personal Interests Membership of Clubs/Societies/Activities State your level of involvement – Positions of responsibility Individual and team based activities Travel Volunteer /Charity Work Achievements – Recent or in the last few years (music grades/competitions/captained a team…) Make sure to mention anything that links to your studies( computers/ Young Scientist/ Fixing engines ……………

don’ts for your CV… Don’t… Write Curriculum Vitae as a heading Don’t… Sign or date your CV Don’t Give incorrect information Don’t Have any spelling mistakes or typos Don’t No longer use I, My, We, etc…

Follow Up Regular CV Lunchtime CV Clinics 1-2 pm Venue: A block – Main Foyer between Blocks C & D, on the way to the student canteen Check notice boards and “What's On”

Thank You!