1. Career planning and making applications
Recognising own skills and qualities
Preparing a curriculum vitae (CV)

2. Aims of the session Identify your own skills and personal qualities.
Recognise the importance of writing a good CV.
Recognise the importance of proofreading for spelling, punctuation, grammar and meaning.

3. What is a personal skill?
Something you may have learnt.
The expertise or talent to do a job or task.
For example, having a driving licence may be necessary for the job you are applying for.

4. What is a personal quality?
Characteristics you possess as a person.
What makes up one’s personality.
For example, dependability and patience are qualities that an employer would want an employee to have.

5. Work experience can be:
Paid or voluntary
Temporary or permanent
All work experience can help you get a job. It shows that you are capable and willing to work.

6. What is a CV? A document that contains information about your:
Qualifications
Skills
Qualities
Experience.

7. How will it be useful?
CVs are an opportunity to show an employer why you are an ideal candidate for the job.
It will say things about you that will help you to stand out from all the other applicants trying to get the job.
It will draw attention to your relevant skills, experience, achievements and potential.

8. What else will it do?
It will draw attention to achievements from your work, education or personal life.
These achievements reflect your personality and can show potential employers exactly what you can do.

9. What to include and in which order?
Name
Address
Contact telephone numbers
Date of birth
Short personal statement
Education and qualifications (with grades and dates)
Work experience
Skills and achievements
Hobbies and interests
References (two)

10. What is a personal statement?
A personal statement gives you the opportunity to to make yourself really stand out by describing the best bits about you.
It will give you a chance to highlight some of your best skills and qualities.
Contains a sentence or two about the type of work you are aiming for.
A good personal statement is short and to the point.

11. A few examples David Beckham:
‘I am hard working, honest and highly motivated. I am a good team player who is capable of leading when necessary and I get on well with many different types of people.’

12. The Queen:
‘I am an experienced traveller and am used to working with people from all walks of life. I am honest and trustworthy and have particularly good leadership skills.’

13. Jessie J:
‘I am easy-going, confident and friendly. I love working to the best of my ability and am always looking for new challenges.’

14. Key words that might be useful for your personal statements
Trustworthy
Honest
Reliable
Adaptable
Motivated
Hard working
Calm under pressure
Eager to learn
Good team player
Good leader
Cheerful
Positive attitude
Conscientious
Polite
Sociable
Energetic
Remember: get straight to the point, avoid lengthy descriptions.

15. Writing a good CV A good CV should: be clear and clean
be printed on good-quality paper
use an easy to read font
have sections
be a maximum of two pages
not leave huge gaps
be up to date
be honest.

16. The DO’s of writing a CV Do: use a standard font size in black ink
be consistent in your layout
keep it short (maximum two pages)
be honest but positive (negatives can always be turned into positives)
use positive action verbs such as ‘organised, delivered, accomplished, achieved’.
proofread for spelling, punctuation, grammar and meaning.

17. The DO NOTs of writing a CV
make spelling mistakes or rely on spellcheck!
use silly addresses
use tiny fonts, mix up font styles and sizes, and fail to align bullets points and numbers
brighten it up with colours, photos (unless asked to), or fancy paper
include too much information
include too little information
state your gender
give health details
state your nationality
state the money you have earned or hope to earn
state reasons for leaving a previous job.

18. Speculative or specific
for applying generally for a job not for a particular one
when sending out lots of CVs at once.
Specific:
for applying for a particular job
tailored so it ‘fits’
personal statement may change slightly to put more importance on certain areas more than others.

19. Honesty
It is essential that CVs are accurate and honest. In 2010, a woman was jailed after it was discovered she had lied on her CV. UK Fraud Prevention Service stated that: 324 people were prosecuted in 2013 for all forms of fraudulent applications

20. Referees Who or what are they?
Someone who knows you well (for at least two years) and will give an honest opinion of you.
Someone who has seen you recently.
Usually your current/last boss or tutor from college.
You can also use a sports team coach.
Ask their permission to give their name and give their full contact details.

21. References Who or what are they?
Tempting though it is to put your best mates down for your references, you MUST be honest.
Suitable people to do references are tutors at college/school, bosses at work, cadets, colleagues from volunteering organisations and sports team, or someone who has known you for several years.
People who provide references must be over 18 years of age.

22. When you have finished your CV
Check the following:
If you are applying for a specific job, have you ‘tailored’ your CV for this job?
Have you carefully checked spelling and grammar?
Has someone else read it?
Is it showing you at your absolute best?

23. Recap: what have you learnt today?
Complete a mind map about things you have learnt.
Were the learning outcomes completed?