1. Writing CVs

2. Today’s Meeting Objective
To help you develop a CV that gets
attention by focussing on what you
have achieved .

3. What we will be covering
The purpose and objective of a c.v.
Getting started
Which format ?
Out of work periods
Covering letters

4. What is its purpose ? = Why is it being done

5. Purpose
TO SELL / PROMOTE YOURSELF 1 – market knowledge 2 - product knowledge 3 - competitive edge

6. CV objectives To get a meeting , not a job
- to get you to talk to someone you
can benefit and who can benefit
you.
To get you through first cut
selection

7. So , it has to be - An advertisement about yourself that
- meets a need
- conveys the benefits of
employing you
AND
is a competitive statement
- why you ?

8. 1 Your Market Market is recruiter
- They are looking to solve a problem
- so sell your benefits
Your CV is all that they know of you
- make it relevant to the job
Problem solver (product )is YOU
- What does it do ?
- Why buy?

9. 2. Product(you) - Getting started ...
Write down your KEY achievements
- NOT just what you did but what you achieved
- with measurable results
Write down the skills required
Write down your profile - Who / What you are
THIS IS THE CORE OF YOUR CV
To Tailor
- Relate Skills and Achievements to actual job
- Change emphasis / add detail

10. A CV FORMAT
1 Heading
- Name and contact details
2 Personal Profile
- 5/6 high impact statements that
describe you in 50/60 words .
3 Key Skills
- Your 4-6 key skills – NOT everything you can do

11. PROFILE First 30/40 words make a powerful impact
No clichés – Team Worker/ motivated
You look like everyone else

12. PROFILE – EXAMPLE
A professionally qualified engineer and Prince2 qualified Project Manager particularly skilled in the implementation of Lean /World Class Manufacturing techniques that deliver business results . He has done so in a wide range of complex manufacturing environments .

13. Skill Example Compare “ good communicator “ to
“Ability to persuade others through assembling information and presenting it convincingly and insightfully”

14. A CV FORMAT
4 Key Achievements (4/5) - Refer to outcomes supported by figures - Do not “ hide “ with too many words - They are the evidence of why you should be employed - They must be relevant to the job you are seeking

15. Achievement Example
Responsibility - Purchasing new factory equipment Achievement - Researched and purchased new equipment , leading to a 30% increase in throughput .

16. A CV FORMAT Career History
Tight, compact, summary of your career to date
Name, location ,dates , job title
Reporting line
Purpose of job
Key responsibilities
Achievements

17. A CV FORMAT 6 Education and Qualifications ?
List relevant qualifications and training
Detail only highest educational achievements
7 Interests ?
Your (relevant) interests
Any voluntary work undertaken
Any published articles

18. Dealing with out of work periods .
Rule No 1 – believe that you haven’t lost your skills
Rule No 2 – comment on voluntary work or courses undertaken during unemployment
Rule No 3 – show that you have committed yourself to getting back to employment – retraining / re-evaluation
Rule No 4 – be bold about what you have learned from negative events and adversity
Rule No 5 – show that you understand the business reasons for redundancy – not personal

19. Covering Letters - Purpose
To explain the reasons for your interest in this organisation and this particular job and to identify your most relevant skills and achievements . Shows WHY you want THIS job WHY you should get it

20. Covering Letters- Objectives
Attract the reader to read CV
“ summary of a summary “
Get you noticed

21. Covering Letters - Phrases
Letters are conversational .
“ Would relish the opportunity to –”
“I find the opportunity stimulating “
“ I have deployed these skills to achieve --- “
“ I have the ability to exceed the expectations of the role “

22. Covering Letters – Guidelines
Research the organisation and their market place
Relate key achievements / skills to their business
No more than 2/3 paragraphs
- 120/140 words / 3 key skills / 3 outcomes
Make it conversational , imagine talking directly

23. Covering letters - Speculative
Obtain the name and position of a senior person involved in staffing and / or senior functional manager
Write it with a targeted job in mind

24. Use of key words
Identified by words in “ essential “ section of job or advert
Use a key word generator such as wordle –
Change CV by using language /key words applicable to job
If not job specific – use template of an actual job

25. Overall Guidelines Know your skills and capabilities – don’t be vague
Relate to the job spec.
Rewrite for every post you apply for.
Results NOT activities / Benefits NOT
Features
Use key words.
No superfluous wording .

26. SUMMARY It is a sales document with you as the product
- what are the benefits, what do you bring
- show proof
2 You are solving a problem
- Relate to recruiter’s circumstances
3 Go through it again and again making it
more readable
more relevant
- NEVER WITTINGLY UNDERSELL YOURSELF
- BE GENEROUS TO YOURSELF