2. CVs and Covering Letters Jenny Keaveney Careers Advisory Service

3. WHAT IS A CV? curriculum vitae an outline of a person's educational and professional history, usually prepared for job applications (L, lit.: the course of one's life) Also known as: resumé

4. What is the purpose of a CV? To inform the employer about your: education work experience skills interests To persuade the employer, on the basis of this information, that you are potentially suitable for the job and are therefore worth interviewing

5. When should a CV be used? When an employer asks for applications to be received in this format When an employer simply states "apply to..." without specifying the format When making speculative applications (i.e. when writing to an employer who has not actually advertised a vacancy but who you hope may have one)

6. BEFORE YOU START ….. Match your CV to the job To persuade an employer that you are suitable for the job, your CV must show that you have the qualities they are looking for A CV should always be targeted on a particular job

7. Find out what the job involves Browse the employer’s website or read any brochures or reports they produce Read general information about the type of work you will be doing Talk to people doing similar work

8. Think about the job What tasks would the daily routine involve? What skills would the job call for? What type of personality would suit the job? (Answers for 600 jobs on: www.prospects.ac.uk/links/occupations/)

9. Think about yourself Do you have the skills called for? Do you have the right sort of temperament or personality? Do you want the job? Look for evidence of things you have done which show that you have the qualities required in the job

10. PROVING YOUR ABILITY There are four main things employers will look at in CVs: Education - ability to think clearly, analyse and assess information, draw conclusions, work independently, research, etc Work experience - ability to get on with people, work under pressure, meet deadlines, etc Leisure interests - ability to plan and organise, co-operate with others, compete, work hard to achieve results... Specific skills - eg driving licence, computing or foreign language skills

11. PRESENTING INFORMATION IN A CV Chronologically and factually or Skills-based - emphasising the transferable skills needed to do the job

12. PERSONAL DETAILS Definitely include: Name Address - both home and term-time, if different Telephone number(s) and email address You don’t usually need to include: Nationality Date of birth Sex, marital status etc

13. PERSONAL PROFILE It is not essential to include a profile If you do, make it meaningful It should: –catch the reader’s attention –tell them what they need to know –be specific, not vague and general

14. PERSONAL PROFILE “An enthusiastic and motivated graduate with excellent personal and communication skills eager to start a career with a respected company in a field which will provide interesting and challenging work”

15. PERSONAL PROFILE “A numerate and computer-literate graduate with communication, negotiation and organisational skills developed through work experience in customer services and telesales. Seeking to utilise these skills in a marketing position with a financial services organisation”

16. EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS Higher Education: Institution attended, with dates Degree and subject Class obtained or expected You may also include some details of your course

17. EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS 2008 - 2011The University of Kent at Canterbury BA (Hons) Philosophy and Religious Studies Degree class predicted: 2.1

18. EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS Before higher education: Institutions attended, with dates (secondary or further education only) Qualifications gained, in particular: A-levels or equivalent GCSEs or equivalent

19. EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS 2002 - 2008St Radigund's School, Canterbury 2008A-levels:Religious Studies B History B Psychology C 2007AS levelBiology C 20068 GCSEs including English Language (A), Mathematics (B), French (B)

20. WORK EXPERIENCE Full-time Part-time Long-term Vacation Paid Voluntary Work shadowing

21. WORK EXPERIENCE Summer 2009uSure, Croydon General office administration in an insurance company. Responsibilities included handling clients’ queries over the telephone, processing claims and maintaining a database. October 2006One-week work experience placement in a High Street bank

22. WORK EXPERIENCE Summer 2008Sainsbury's, Canterbury Checkout assistant This job developed my ability to deal with the public and work under pressure

23. WORK EXPERIENCE Don’t feel you have to include every job “In addition to the above, I have held a variety of temporary jobs during school and university vacations, including fruit- picking, factory work, bar work and waiting on tables”

24. INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES Sports Music Drama Societies and clubs Positions of responsibility Other leisure activities

25. INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES These activities and interests can demonstrate: Skills relevant to the job, such as: - teamwork - organising - commitment Your intellectual abilities Your personality

26. INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES Reading, cinema, stamp-collecting, embroidery Reading, cinema, travel, socialising with friends Cinema: member of the University Film-Making Society Travel: travelled through Europe by train this summer in a group of four people, visiting historic sites and practising my French and Italian Reading: helped younger pupils with reading difficulties at school

27. SKILLS-BASED CVs These make your transferable skills explicit rather than implicit Must be closely tailored to the job description Use your education, work experience, interests, etc as evidence of skills rather than as information in their own right

28. SKILLS-BASED CVs Examples of evidence of skills: Verbal Communication - assisted visitors of many nationalities as a seasonal Tourist Information Assistant, advising on places of interest, transport and accommodation and helping resolve any problems Time Management - have successfully combined studies with a part-time job and involvement in a number of drama and music productions Factual information can be much briefer

29. PRESENTATION OF YOUR CV The first visual impression your CV makes is important Try to keep your CV to two sides of A4 paper Check yore speling! Use consistent, clear and simple fonts Use bold type and bullet points, but in moderation

30. THE COVERING LETTER Your CV is incomplete without it! Use it to: – highlight your main selling points –relate your skills and abilities to the work –demonstrate your understanding of the job The letter may do this better than a profile May be either a traditional business letter format, or the text of an email to which your CV is attached

31. Visual appearance …

32. SUMMING UP Make sure your CV is relevant to the job Give essential information, but leave the reader wanting to know more Ask a careers adviser’s opinion if you have any doubts or queries about your CV

33. MORE INFORMATION - and example CVs Careers Advisory Service booklet - “CVs, Covering Letters and Application Forms” How to write a Curriculum Vitae - London University www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv.htm

34. GOOD LUCK!!! (but with a good CV you won’t need all these)