cv and cover letter guide

CV and Cover Letter Guide • 1

Careers and Employability

2 • CV and Cover Letter Guide CV and Cover Letter Guide • 3

Contents

Introduction 4

What is a Graduate Job? 5

Skills and Attributes 6

CVs 9

General Tips and Layout 10

Chronological CV 12

Skills-Based CV 14

Functional CV 16

Part Time CV 18

Entrepreneurship, Self-Employment and Freelancing 19

LinkedIn Profiles 20

Other types of CV 22

The Chester Difference Graduate Profile 24

Cover Letters 27

General Tips and Layout 28

Standard Cover Letters 30

Speculative Letters 31

Completing Application Forms 32

International Students 33

Resources 35


www.chester.ac.uk/careers

The Chester Difference Award

Advice &

Gu

ida

nce

Vaca

ncie

s &

Inte

rnsh

ips

Santander Universities Internship Progra

m

me

The

Vent

ure

Programme

Uni

Job

Em

ployers on Campus

E.Y.E Training

Graduate Head Start

Work Sha

do

wing

Cheste

r Em

ploy

abili

ty F

un

d

Ca

se S

tudi

esResources

The DLHE SurveySa

ntander Universities Work Placement Progra

mm

e

For further information about services and support available from Careers and Employability, please contact a member of the team: T: 01244 513066 (Chester)/01925 534235 (Warrington)

Use Ask a Question at careers.chester.ac.uk

CareerHub (vacancies, appointments, training and event booking, resources) - http://careers.chester.ac.ukUniversity of Chester Portal - https://portal.chester.ac.uk/careersUniversity of Chester Website - www.chester.ac.uk/careers

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChesterCareers

Twitter: http://twitter.com/chestercareers

(*


So what are Graduate Employers looking for?*

At Careers and Employability, we are often asked “How can I help the employer connect me and my application with the list of things they are looking for?” One way to look at what you’re offering is to divide it into three headings:

IQ literally means intelligence quotient, or the numerical value of your intellectual ability. But in job applications, it means the ways you demonstrate your intelligence through your academic achievements. It also means how you demonstrate and use your broader intelligence and your ability to apply what you know or have learned to both familiar and unfamiliar situations.

PQ is the practical quotient, or your practical, skill-based intelligence. This is the long list of transferable skills such as team-working, problem-solving, critical thinking, leadership and so on (see page 7). Again, you need to show evidence of your ability in these areas, often through your extra-curricular or workplace experiences. You can also show you understand how these skills work together, complement each other, and when you can use them most effectively.

EQ is the emotional quotient or emotional intelligence, but it’s not just about getting on well with others and being happy. When applying for jobs, it specifically refers to self-awareness. How well can you explain the choices you have made, why you chose and enjoyed your degree or your extra-curricular activities? How well can you explain yourself and your motivations? Employers want to know that in a workplace setting you will be sufficiently self-aware to understand the impact of choices you make and things you do. It will help them see how you will make sense of experiences you will have working for them. It will help them identify that difficult and intangible element: “fit”.

You aren’t going to write a letter under the headings of IQ, PQ and EQ. But when you’re putting your applications together, you are going to ask yourself:• Have I shown my intelligence, and how I’ve used it?• Have I demonstrated the range of my relevant skills and why they are important to

this employer?• Have I shown why I made the choices I made?

It is not always

obvious from the job title

whether a job is at graduate

level, so always read the Job

Description and Person Specification

for more details. You will also find

graduate schemes run by many

companies, and these will explicitly

say that they are looking for

candidates who have or will

have a degree.

Welcome to the Careers and Employability CV and Cover Letter Guide! This is your starting point for all the information you need on how to tell employers what makes you a great candidate for their jobs. This guide contains answers to all the questions you most need to ask about what to say about yourself, how to say it, and what your CV should look like. There’s also advice here on what makes a good cover letter or letter of application for a job, and lots of other information on getting yourself ready for the job market.

The most important thing you need to remember is to Think Like the Recruiter! If you can put yourself in the shoes of the person who is going to read your CV and cover letter, then you’ll be a step closer to telling them what they most need to know about you. Even though Curriculum Vitae (CV) literally means ‘the course of my life’, your CV shouldn’t be the story of everything you’ve ever done and achieved. You need to make sure that what you put on there is what is most relevant to the employer reading it. That generally means that every job needs a slightly different version of your CV, depending on what skills and experience the recruiter has said they are looking for.

In this guide, you’ll also find some really useful information on:• what makes a graduate job• what skills are most in demand by employers• how to write a cover letter

If your CV is like a skeleton – the bare bones or facts of what you’ve done – then the cover letter is the flesh on those bones, the muscles and ligaments that join together the bones, the motivation and experiences that give shape to the facts of your achievements. Adding that new layer of detail gives personality and individuality to your list of qualifications and work experience, and it’s what makes an application your application.

It’s important to remember that there is no perfect CV or cover letter. There’s only the one that’s the right combination of you and the job you want to apply for. If you’d like further help after reading this guide, you can always get feedback from our Career Consultants, so drop in to our offices at Parkgate Road or Warrington and get some advice. For more information on drop-ins, appointments, and all our other services, visit us on Portal (https://portal.chester.ac.uk/careers/Pages/default.aspx) and on CareerHub (https://careers.chester.ac.uk/students).

Good luck!

Dr Kate DaubneyDirector, Careers and Employability

It’s important to

remember that there is no perfect

CV or cover letter

Introduction

*Thanks to Liz Bingham of EY for this model.

What is a Graduate Job?It might seem obvious to say that a graduate job is a job you get after you graduate, but in practice a graduate job does actually follow on in tangible ways from you studying a degree at university. In a graduate job you will demonstrate and use these elements that you have gained from your degree:• Specialist and general transferable skills (see page 6-7)• Attributes and aptitudes that make you work-ready (see page 6)

A graduate job will be one where you:• Have a wide range of responsibilities and activities and develop new

skills and knowledge • Make independent decisions about progressing tasks and projects• Are responsible for managing staff and/or projects• Have professional interactions with a wide range of partners

and stakeholders

EQ

IQ

PQ


EvaluationAssessed, Calculated,

Estimated, Modelled, Priced, Process mapped, Budgeted, Costed, Edited, Interpreted,

Audited, Computed, Diagnosed, Improved,

Proved

DeliveringImplemented,

Instituted, Installed, Secured, Purchased, Provided, Expedited,

Instigated, Integrated

OperatingRan, Co-ordinated, Directed, Activated, Drove, Expanded,

Distributed, Delivered

Transferable Skills This huge group of skills is very important to employers and you will have many of these skills already. They are the skills that can be used in lots of different contexts. They can also be grouped together in categories. These skills will be really valuable when you write about your work experience on your CV, in cover letters or on application forms. We’ll give you some examples of how to use them in the next section.

Customer Service

Provided information, Answered queries,

Collected information, Prepared briefs,

Identified needs, Sold

CommunicationWrote, Presented, Influenced, Persuaded, Negotiated, Built

rapport, Built relationships, Trained, Taught, Reported, Promoted, Publicised,

Proposed, Interviewed, Listened, Clarified, Translated, Advised, Communicated in a

foreign language, Instructed, Built consensus, Demonstrated

Project and People

Management Allocated, Monitored, Measured,

Mentored, Coached, Gave feedback, Oversaw implementation,

Researched/evaluated suppliers, Built a team, Recruited, Trained, Selected, Appraised, Supervised, Delegated,

Led, Assembled, Appraised, Set objectives, Instructed,

Coached, Concluded, Diversified

Administration Scheduled, Ordered,

Organised, Administered, Compiled, Processed,

Programmed, Prepared, Recorded, Prioritised,

Arranged

Problem Solving

Defined, Dissected, Explored, Innovated,

Reviewed, Tested, Improvised, Resolved,

Revised

Establishing Created, Built, Set up, Launched, Generated,

Assembled, Structured, Restructured,

Constructed, Formed, Initiated

Team Working

Liaised, Collaborated, Harmonised, Motivated,

Facilitated, Enabled, Resolved

AnalysisQuantitative, Qualitative,

Operational Investigated, Examined,

Audited, Reviewed, Assessed, Diagnosed, Revised, Identified

trends, Documented, Observed

Entrepreneurship Managed resources, Managed

relationships, Innovated, Critically reviewed, Persuaded,

Sold, Planned, Decided, Analysed, Created,

Developed, Explored, Researched

Raising Finance

Sourced, Developed business plans, Made investor presentations,

Budgeted

Generating Ideas

Produced, Planned, Designed, Developed, Devised, Formulated, Invented, Pioneered,

Composed, Conceived, Innovated

ResearchingPrimary, Secondary,

Reviewed, Interviewed, Experimented, Data-

mined, Ran focus groups, Formulated research

plans, Compiled

Other SkillsAccomplished, Achieved,

Acquired, Anticipated, Applied, Approved, Assimilated, Collected,

Drove, Effected, Familiarised, Formed, Formulated, Obtained, Performed,

Prevented, Produced, Selected, Shaped, Supported

AttributesThese are your qualities or characteristics, but also your attitudes too. They include:• Time management and prioritising tasks• Managing your own feelings and other people’s feelings• Confidence and motivation• Enthusiasm and a positive attitude• Self-awareness• Independence• Imagination • Resilience

Work-ReadinessThese are the attitudes, qualities and knowledge you have that make you ready and able to enter work and function effectively in the workplace. Employers are particularly keen on employees who have these qualities. They include:• Commercial awareness and world awareness• Flexibility and adaptability• Reliability and punctuality • Professionalism• Knowledge of how organisations are structured and function• Understanding of products and services offered in a sector or by

an employer

Specialist SkillsThese are the skills that belong to a particular type of activity, some of which might be learned through your degree. They might include:• Computer programming or software development • Foreign languages• Musical performance• Specialist sporting ability• Visual creativity skills such as painting, design, textiles • Laboratory skills• Mathematical modelling skills• Technical equipment skills such as with audio or visual equipment

Strengthsa combination of skills,

attitudes, and behaviours that reflect your emotional, relationship, thinking and

delivery strengths.

Talentsnatural aptitudes or skills,

things you are good at naturally rather than that you have

learned to do.

Competencies/Competences skills or abilities, or things

you can do well.

You’ll find employers use lots of different

words to describe what they are looking

for. You might also see them ask for:

Skills, attributes, attitudes and work-readiness To create impact with your CV and job applications, you need to emphasise the skills and attributes you have which relate to the role you’re applying for, and demonstrate your ‘work-readiness’ so the employer can imagine you performing the role. On the next two pages you’ll find examples of the different areas employers focus on.

Start your

Journey Here

I’M INTERESTED

BE INSPIRED AND ENHANCE YOUR ENTERPRISE SKILLS

I HAVE A BUSINESS IDEA

NETWORK AND CONNECT WITH MENTORS, ENTREPRENEURS

AND ADVISORS

I’M READY TO START UP

MEET INDUSTRY EXPERTS AND PITCH FOR FUNDING


BE ENTERPRISING BE DISRUPTIVE BE INNOVATIVE

THE VENTURE PROGRAMME


GET IN TOUCH:

Log on to: careers.chester.ac.ukContact us: E: [email protected] T: 01244 513066 (Chester) / 01925 534235 (Warrington)Be social: www.facebook.com/chestercareers @chestercareers

CV and Cover Letter Guide • 9

General CV TipsYour CV is essentially the ‘bare bones’ or ‘skeleton’ on which to build the structure for you to convince the employer that they should recruit you. Your covering letter is then the ‘flesh’ on which you can strengthen your argument by giving more details and targeting your content more precisely. Finally, your interview allows you to add the final layer of detail or the ‘clothes’ to enable you to convince the employer that they should hire you.

CVs


Your CV probably has the time it takes you to read this sentence to make a good first impression on your potential employer. So...

• Create a master CV which you can then use to create tailored CVs for each position you’re applying for, rather than sending the same version to each employer

• Put yourself in the reader’s shoes. Think:• What do they most need to know about you?• And in what order? • Present yourself in relation to their tick list, not yours

• Consider Relevance – how does a specific piece of information add to your case that you are the right person for this particular job?

• Consider Readability – how would a piece of information look to another person? How well is it expressed? How easy is your CV to read in terms of fonts, use of formatting and layout?

• Consider Recency – employers are most interested in what you are doing now or have done recently

• Talk about ‘hobbies’ or just provide a list of activities. Instead refer to ‘Interests and Activities’ and talk about the skills and achievements that you have gained from doing these

• Be too general in your comments - think about what the employer is looking for• Leave big time gaps unaccounted for• Let the details become too technical, familiar or anecdotal• Try to put on too much information. It’s not the story of your life. It’s a list of the things you

have done that are most relevant to the recruiter reading it• Make them bridge the gap to you or guess the details: do point the important things out• Use blocks of prose and don’t use the word ‘I’

General Layout Tips• Make it as easy as possible for the recruiter to find the most relevant information to them • Use size 11 or 12 font such as Times New Roman or Calibri, and arrange logically and clearly• Organise your CV into separate sections with clear headings• CV templates can look dated and make it difficult to edit the document so you may want to stick to creating

your own layout• An invisible table layout can help you keep information and dates in clear columns• Employers generally prefer CVs to be a maximum length of two sides of A4 • Present information in reverse chronological order, so that your most recent experience and qualifications

are seen first• Use one line bullet points to show skills used to complete key tasks rather than large blocks of text• Check that you’ve used a professional-looking email address • Save as a PDF if you are sending by email; this keeps the formatting neat when it’s opened• And finally, ensure you check your spelling and grammar before sending. This is essential!

Remember to use ABC to relate

your experiences to the job you’re applying

forActivity – what you’ve done;

Benefits – what skills it has given you; Contribution: what you

gave to the role you had

Who’s reading your CV?Think like the recruiter! What evidence and skills are they looking for? Read the job description and person specification if one is provided by the employer and tailor your CV to match their requirements. Do create a CV with impact by using clear bold statements, power words and bullet points.

Do

Don’t

Possible Sections for your CVPersonal Details this doesn’t need a heading but should include:• Name, address, contact numbers and email address: don’t forget to

include LinkedIn address and links to portfolio, blog, or relevant social media profiles if you have them

Education/Qualifications• Give detail about your current degree/masters or most recent relevant

qualifications, with relevant modules or dissertation content• Include A Levels with the respective grades • Don’t list all your GCSEs unless asked or required for the role. Instead say

something like:• 6 GCSEs including English (A), Maths (B), 3 Sciences (A-C)

Employment or Professional Experience or Work Experience• Recruiters read down the Left Hand Side – start work experience bullet

points strongly • “Designed and implemented new organisation system for volunteer

record-keeping.”

Volunteering (optional)• Give dates, name of organisation and your role for each voluntary position

IT Skills and Languages• Describe packages used, including ECDL and specialist IT such as

SPSS or coding• Include any foreign language proficiency. If English is not your native

language, give your level of fluency and any qualifications

Activities and Interests (optional)• Think about activities which might help you stand out and give plenty

of detail of relevant skills and achievements

Recruiters read down

the Left Hand Side – start work experience bullet

points strongly

Styles of CVOn the next few pages you’ll find different styles of CV. Pick the right style for you and the opportunity you are applying for:

this traditional layout lists your educational achievements and work experience in reverse chronological order to show the most recent first.

this is structured to meet the requirements of the job first and foremost, arranging information in a way that highlights what is most relevant to the position you’re applying for; it works well for those applying for careers not directly related to your degree or experience.

this shows your most relevant employment experience and education as separate from other experience/education, prioritising the most relevant information to the recruiter.

CHRONOLOGICAL

FUNCTIONAL

SKILLS-BASED


Michelle Peakley69 Lords Lane, Chester, CH1 5SH

0795 347895 • [email protected]

Personal Profile

A bright and enthusiastic business and marketing graduate with experience of social media, customer service and working under pressure, who is equally able to work on their own or as part of a team.

Education and Qualifications

BSc (Honours) Business with Marketing, University Of ChesterGrade: 2:1 Modules included: Digital marketing, Marketing principles, Managing people and organisations, Services marketing, Marketing planning, Human Resource managementDissertation: “Use of Pay-per-Click and Search Engine Optimisation by apension provider”

A Levels, Elizabeth Horley College, MacclesfieldPsychology (A), Business (A), Media Studies (C)

Eltham High School, Eltham10 GCSEs, grade A-C including Maths (B) and English (B)

2012-2015

2010-2012

2008-2010

Work Experience

Home Visit Volunteer, Action for Change (Cheshire)• Carried out assessments using CAFF framework • Provided low-level support to families and children with behavioural

and emotional needs • Gained understanding of current legislation and government policies • Completed safeguarding training and took action as necessary

Student Academic Representative (StAR), University of Chester• Liaised with fellow students to identify issues and ideas for improving

courses and facilities • Presented students’ feedback to members of academic staff during

staff-student meetings• Conducted large-scale Student Satisfaction Survey • Used social media to engage students with issues and share outcomes• Used Microsoft Excel to input and analyse the data from the survey

2014-16

2015-16

The personal profile is optional, as it doesn’t suit every candidate and every type of job. If you are using it, remember to tailor the profile precisely to the type of work you’re applying for: for example this profile is tailored to a marketing position. If you’re struggling to create a unique profile you could use the covering letter to give this information instead, and more fully than you can in a CV.

Remember to use reverse chronological order.

Select only the most relevant modules for the job.

Tailor your language to the employer and use sector-specific terms e.g. CAFF Framework for working with children and families.

You can identify a job as paid or voluntary in the job title or job description if you want to

Lead with skill-based verbs and include outcomes or achievements

If you are breaking a section across a page, try not to split the information entry too; start a new experience on the next page.

CHRONOLOGICAL CV CHRONOLOGICAL CV

Administrative Assistant, Wirral Support for Older People, The Wirral • Handled incoming and outgoing calls within a busy office environment• Created databases and spreadsheets based on referrals from service users• Website editing and management• Involvement in social media implementation

Journalist, What’s On In Chester, Chester • Work-based learning placement during degree• Wrote articles and press releases• Set up competitions to create links with local businesses and engage audience• Established online audience connection through the creation of business social

media sites and blogging

Waiter, Café Ormond, Chester• Achieved sales targets on a daily basis, and consistently remained calm and

positive even when working under pressure • Regularly managed to convince customers to increase orders from

original requests

June 2015- August 2015

May 2014- June 2014

March 2014- present

Languages and IT Skills

• Conversational French gained from holidays in France• Competent user of Word, Excel, Access and Powerpoint; Photoshop • Proficiency in all the main social media tools and management systems

Interests and Activities

• Full UK Driving Licence• Member of Student Union Hockey Society • Raised £1000 for MS Society UK by travelling through 21 European countries within 28 days• Grade Four singing certificate• School prefect at secondary school

References available on request

Interests and activities is an optional section: inclusion depends on what you’ve got on the rest of your CV. Remember to put numbers and quantify your achievements, for example amounts raised, length of time you’ve been involved in an activities. If you’re short of space, you can also combine it with the Languages and IT Skills section above to create ‘Skills and Achievements’ in one section.

Format your name in 14 or 16 pt to stand out

You can present voluntary and paid work in the same section: put the most recent first.


Format your name in 14 or 16 pt to stand outMichelle Peakley

69 Lords Lane, Chester, CH1 5SH0795 347895 • [email protected]

Personal Profile

A bright and enthusiastic business and marketing graduate with extensive experience of social media tools and optimisation processes. Excellent relationship management, persuasion and negotiation skills, coupled with high quality writing in a range of styles, particularly under time pressure.

Education and Qualifications

BSc (Honours) Business with Marketing, University Of ChesterGrade: 2:1 Modules included: Digital marketing, Marketing principles, Managing people and organisations, Services marketing, Marketing planning, Human Resource managementDissertation: “Use of Pay-per-Click and Search Engine Optimisation by a pension provider”



2012-2015

2010-2012

2008-2010

Work Experience

Home Visit Volunteer, Action for Change (Cheshire)

Student Academic Representative (StAR), University of Chester

Administrative Assistant, Wirral Support for Older People, The Wirral

Journalist, What’s On In Chester, Chester

Waiter, Café Ormond, Chester

2014-16

2015-16

June 2015- Aug 2015

May 2014- June 2014

March 2014-present

The personal profile is optional, as it doesn’t suit every candidate and every type of job. In this profile, the skills relevant to a marketing or communications role have been prioritised. This will be echoed in the Skills section lower down.

SKILLS-BASED CV

14 • CV and Cover Letter Guide

SKILLS-BASED CV

Skills and Experience Gained

Social Media Expertise• Understanding and application of Search Engine Optimisation and Pay-per-Click strategies from degree • Established online audience connection through the creation of business social media sites and blogging

for What’s On In Chester• Managed social media pages for different employers using content management systems• Wrote a wide range of copy content utilising different follower engagement styles in text and

image management

Excellent Writing Skills • Wrote articles and press releases for online and print versions of Chester Chronicle and What’s On in

Chester to an extremely high standard • Covered community and crime stories, and wrote features on local cultural events• Attention to detail when writing reports and using data for marketing project

Interpersonal skills • Ability to build strong relationships in a diverse range of working environments • Used positive communication to build relationships with children and families with

challenging behaviour • Strong negotiation skills, regularly converting customers from point of enquiry to sale at Café Ormond • Strong persuasion and rapport-building skills in developing relationships with subjects of

journalistic stories

Teamwork skills • Liaised with fellow students to identify issues and ideas for improving courses and facilities as Student

Academic Representative at University of Chester• Co-ordinated my work with colleagues when carrying out assessments under Common Assessment

Framework whilst working with families as home visit volunteer


• Conversational French gained from holidays in France• Competent user of Word, Excel, Access and Powerpoint; Photoshop • Proficiency in all the main social media tools and management systems


• Member of Student Union Hockey Society • Raised £1000 for MS Society UK by travelling through 21 European countries within 28 days• School prefect at secondary school• Full UK Driving Licence


In this section you are aiming to summarise the key recurring skills strengths you have that reflect the role you are applying for. If they relate to particular roles or achievements, you can mention the context here.


Avoid using abbreviations here, even if you know these phrases better as PPC and SEO. Not every reader may know what your abbreviations mean.


In this skills-based CV, we keep the job titles only and emphasise the recurring and relevant skills in the Skills section below. You can distinguish between paid and voluntary roles in the job title if you want to, e.g. (voluntary).





Relevant Education and Qualifications

BSc (Honours) Business with Marketing, University Of ChesterGrade: 2:1 • Modules included: • Digital marketing• Marketing principles• Managing people and organisations• Services marketing• Marketing planning• Human Resource managementDissertation: “Use of Pay-per-Click and Search Engine Optimisation by a pension provider”

2012-2015

Relevant Work Experience

Student Academic Representative (StAR), University of Chester• Liaised with fellow students to identify issues and ideas for improving courses

and facilities • Presented students’ feedback to members of academic staff during staff-student

meetings• Conducted large-scale Student Satisfaction Survey • Used social media to engage students with issues and share outcomes• Used Microsoft Excel to input and analyse the data from the survey

Journalist, What’s On In Chester, Chester • Work-based learning placement during degree• Wrote articles and press releases• Set up competitions to create links with local businesses and engage audience• Established online audience connection through the creation of business social

media sites and blogging

2015-2016

May 2014- June 2014

This CV is for a marketing/communications role. There isn’t a Personal Profile because the relevant work experience is shown.

If you are breaking a section across a page, try not to split the information entry too; start a new experience on the next page.


FUNCTIONAL CV FUNCTIONAL CV

Other Education and Qualifications



2010-2012

2008-2010

Other Work Experience

Administrative Assistant, Wirral Support for Older People, The Wirral • Website editing and management• Involvement in social media activity and strategy implementation • Created databases and spreadsheets based on referrals from service users• Handled incoming and outgoing calls within a busy office environment

Home Visit Volunteer, Action for Change (Cheshire)• Carried out assessments using Common Assessment Framework • Provided low-level support to families and children with behavioural and

emotional needs • Gained understanding of current legislation and government policies • Completed safeguarding training, applying as necessary


positive even when working under pressure • Regularly managed to convince customers to increase orders from original

requests

June 2015- August 2015

2014-16

March 2014- present


• Conversational French gained from holidays in France• Competent user of Word, Excel, Access and Powerpoint; Photoshop• Proficiency in all the main social media tools and management systems


• Member of Student Union Hockey Society • Raised £1000 for MS Society UK by travelling through 21 European countries within 28 days• Full UK Driving Licence


In a Functional CV, you put your most relevant education and experience on the first page, and the rest on the second page. Remember to use reverse chronological order.



Again, in this section we are putting the work experience most relevant to the job you want to do, bringing out the core skills that match the job description. You can always show a job as paid or voluntary if you want to, by highlighting this in the job title or job description.

Lead with skill-based verbs and include outcomes or achievements

In this section we are putting the other work experience you have. This will be much less relevant to the job you want to do, but you should still prioritise key transferable skills, in this case communications skills. Note how the most relevant skills are put first.

This is where your other Education goes, that is less relevant to the job you are applying for.

Note how the most relevant skills from this role are put in the first two bullet points.





Personal Profile

A bright and enthusiastic first year student at the University of Chester. Having some customer service experience through a waiting on role, I am now seeking part-time work to help finance my studies. I am reliable and can manage my time effectively. I am available at weekends and on Wednesday afternoons throughout the year.

Education

BSc (Honours) Business with Marketing, University Of Chester

A Levels, Elizabeth Horley CollegePsychology (A), Business (A), Media Studies (C)


2016-2019

2014-2016

2009-2014

Work Experience


positive even when working under pressure • Regularly managed to convince customers to increase orders from original requests

March 2014- present

Languages and IT skills

• Conversational French gained from holidays in France• Proficiency in Word, Excel, Access and Powerpoint; Photoshop• Proficiency in all the main social media tools and management systems

Interests and activities

• Raised £1000 for MS Society UK by travelling through 21 European countries within 28 days

• Grade Four singing certificate• School prefect at secondary school


This CV is for getting a part-time job. It’s only one page, so you need to be concise and focus on your most relevant skills and experience only.PART TIME CV


The personal profile is optional, as it doesn’t suit every candidate and every type of job. In this profile, the skills relevant to a part-time role have been prioritised. In addition it is helpful for employers to know your availability.

Interests and activities is an optional section: inclusion depends on what you’ve got on the rest of your CV. Remember to put numbers and quantify your achievements, for example amounts raised, length of time you’ve been involved in an activities.


Entrepreneurship – Producing a CV to send to clientsIf you’re setting up your own business, you might think a CV is the last thing you need. But occasionally you might be asked by a prospective client to provide a CV showing your background and relevant experience.• Make it as easy as possible for the client to find the most relevant information to them• You can use a Business Profile section at the top to pitch your business or services in a couple of lines; keep this

consistent with your other marketing material• Organise your CV into separate sections with clear headings, including any Client Consultancy or Client Services

you have offered• You can also use a Skills or Skills and Knowledge section if you are pitching a particular skill set or expertise in

your business• If you are already developing work for other clients, you can indicate the type of work without naming the client.

e.g. ‘Developed portfolio of branding materials for small IT company’• CV templates can make it difficult to edit the document so you may want to create your own layout; this will also

allow you to use your company branding• Check that you’ve used your business email address• For conciseness, keep to one A4 page if you can, but no more than two• Present information in reverse chronological order, so that your most recent business experience and relevant

qualifications are seen first• Use one line bullet points to show skills used to complete key tasks rather than large blocks of text• Save as a PDF if you are sending by email; this keeps the document style and layout intact when it’s opened• And finally, ensure you check your spelling and grammar before sending. This is essential!

Entrepreneurship, Self-Employment and Freelancing: How to present yourself effectively on a CV

Self-Employment and FreelancingIf you’re doing any kind of freelance work during or after your degree, perhaps as a way of trying out self-employment, you might want to put that on your CV. It can be a way to show relevant skills and experience to a future employer, or be a way of getting more work as a freelancer. Either way, it’s worth considering that your CV is also part of your self-branding in terms of advertising yourself to employers and potential clients, so you need to demonstrate that you understand client needs as well as having the ability to deliver work in a timely and professional manner.

If you’re looking for more freelance work:• Define yourself and your role clearly. You can just describe the role, or you can use your freelance business name,

for example:• Freelance Writer and Editor• Graphic Designer, Jane Smith Designs

• Outline work you have done for other clients in a clear and focused way, for example:• Commissioned, proofread and edited work for specialist fashion magazine• Designed new logo and branding for local homeless charity• Formulated client brief then created new video resources for nursery

If you want to explain the freelance work you’ve done when applying for a fully employed role:• Freelancing or contracting will have given you strong entrepreneurial skills which would impress an employer.

So give examples of situations when you have improved something, taken a risk, or demonstrated leadership skills• Consider the skills you’ve used to source work, monitor the competition, budget and quickly learn new

techniques or products and use these on your CV. You may have had mixture of employment/self-employment – remember to include teamwork as well as other skills


LinkedIn – Converting your CV content to make a great profile

LinkedIn is the largest professional networking site with 433 million users worldwide. In this section we show you how to adapt your CV to create an exceptional LinkedIn profile. Unlike your CV there is no suggested limit to the length of your profile but it is essential that you make sure it is kept updated as it can be viewed at any time.

Michelle PeakleyJob Title

Previous

Education

Photo: Your photograph should create a professional impression.

URL: LinkedIn gives you a unique URL on your profile but you can personalise this as you wish

BACKGROUND

Headline:this is the first piece of information anyone will read about you so make it interesting and eye-catching:

Recent Business and Marketing graduate with experience of social media, seeking an opportunity in Digital Marketing.

SUMMARY

Having graduated in 2015 in Business with Marketing, I am seeking a career in the area of Digital Marketing, ideally in an agency where I can use my client care skills extensively. I also have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, gained from working as a Home Visit Volunteer, with vulnerable families. My written communication skills have developed from creating press releases for “What’s on in Chester”.

I am adept at using a variety of social media platforms to engage online audiences, as well as being a competent user of Microsoft Office. My dissertation was focused on “The use of PPC and SEO by a pension provider”.

EXPERIENCE

Waiter, Café Ormond, ChesterMarch 2014-present

• Achieved sales targets on a daily basis, and consistently remained calm and positive even when working under pressure

• Regularly managed to convince customers to increase orders from original requests

VOLUNTEERING EXPERIENCE AND CAUSES

Home Visit Volunteer, Action for Change (Cheshire)2014-16

• Carried out assessments using Common Assessment Framework • Provided low-level support to families and children with behavioural and emotional needs • Gained understanding of current legislation and government policies • Completed safeguarding training and took action as necessary

Summary:This should contain 100-150 words outlining your career goals and achievements. You can also add links to blogs etc here as well.

LinkedIn has sections called Experience and Volunteering Experience and Causes so you might like to divide your roles accordingly. Use reverse chronological order and provide descriptions for each role with a focus on achievements.

It is not necessary to add references on LinkedIn. Your contacts can endorse you for particular skills or recommend you for work you have done, in the Skills & Endorsements section.

Student Academic Representative (StAR), University of Chester2012-15

• Liaised with fellow students to identify issues and ideas for improving courses and facilities • Presented students’ feedback to members of academic staff during staff-student meetings• Conducted large-scale Student Satisfaction Survey • Used social media to engage students with issues and share outcomes Used Microsoft Excel to input and

analyse the data from the survey

Administrative Assistant, Wirral Support for Older People, The Wirral June 2015-August 2015

• Handled incoming and outgoing calls within a busy office environment• Created databases and spreadsheets based on referrals from service users• Website editing and management• Involvement in social media implementation

Journalist, What’s On In Chester, Chester June 2015-August 2015

• Work-based learning placement during degree• Wrote articles and press releases• Set up competitions to create links with local businesses and engage audi-ence• Established online audience connection through the creation of business social media sites and blogging

EDUCATION

University of Chester2012-2015

BSc. (Honours) Business with Marketing, Grade: 2:1 Modules included: Digital marketing, Marketing principles, Managing people and organisations, Services marketing, Marketing planning, Human Resource managementDissertation: “Use of Pay-per-Click and Search Engine Optimisation by a pension provider”

A Levels, Elizabeth Horley College, Macclesfield2010-2012

Psychology (A), Business (A), Media Studies (C)

Eltham High School, Eltham2008-2012

10 GCSEs, grade A-C including Maths (B) and English (B)

LANGUAGES

• Conversational French

There is no category on LinkedIn for interests. You can however follow other LinkedIn organisations that reflect those interests.

Use this section to detail any volunteering experience you have.

List the details of your qualifications including course title and full name of university. Provide details of key modules and dissertation title if relevant.


There is no IT section on LinkedIn, but you can add your IT and other specialist skills through the Skills & Endorsements section.


Video CVsFor media, performing arts and other creative fields, employers will want to view your creative work via online portfolios, blogs and websites. Creative ‘talking’ or video CVs can offer one way to showcase your strengths and experience and will be a good snapshot of your personal style.

Here are some top tips if you’re thinking of presenting yourself in this way:• The usual CV rules apply regardless of format: think professionalism,

relevance and achievement• Make sure you give weblinks to your online portfolios; try to keep one or

two websites as a home for your work, rather than sending the reader to five or six different sites. Having your own website can be a helpful asset for keeping your portfolio together.

• Animated CVs can work really well as an alternative to filming yourself – think about a format which plays to your strengths

• Although there are plenty of companies willing to film your CV for a fee, producing your own CV is really the best way to demonstrate personal creativity and show you’re able to use the technology. A lot of that technology will be free, so it’s worth researching what’s out there that suits your needs.

• Limiting yourself to 90 seconds helps you use video CVs to their full effect• You could film using your smartphone, then use video editing software

such as iMovie or Windows Movie Maker to give impact to your CV video• Differentiate yourself from other candidates by filming a 20-30 second

elevator pitch: include your aims and highlight your unique strengths and values

Other types of CV – video, creative and visual

The usual CV rules apply

regardless of format: think professionalism,

relevance and achievement

Here are some examples: • Loft Resumes

http://loftresumes.com/blogs/news/6000724-5-of-the-worlds-most-creative-video-resumes • Kassem Jamal (video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwsfyiKkg0k • Mark Leruste (animated)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_PZTAW5piQ • Samantha Little (video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laCoK2dbR7A

Here are some links to further information and advice on visual and creative CVs.

Video CVsHow to make a video CV (Guardian) http://www.theguardian.com/careers/careers-blog/how-to-make-video-cv

Tips on making a video CV (About Careers) http://jobsearch.about.com/od/videoresumes/a/videoresume.htm

How to make a video CV (Total Jobs) http://www.totaljobs.com/careers-advice/cvs-and-applications/how-to-make-a-video-cv

Six tips for creating a video CV (Career Options Magazine) http://www.careeroptionsmagazine.com/articles/six-tips-for-creating-a-dynamic-video-resume/

The Video CV: Will it ever work in academia? (jobs.ac.uk) http://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/cv-templates/1329/the-video-cv-will-it-ever-work-in-academia

Creative CVsTips for using a ‘non-traditional’ CV (About Careers) http://jobsearch.about.com/od/nontraditional/a/nontraditional-resume-tips.htm

Pros and cons of a creative CV (About Careers) http://jobsearch.about.com/od/nontraditional/a/nontraditional-pros-cons.htm

The world’s most creative CVs (Guardian) http://www.theguardian.com/guardian-professional/careers-blog/gallery/2015/feb/25/the-worlds-most-creative-cvs-in-pictures

Creative CV Archives http://cvparade.com/

Creative CV examples (Guru) http://gurucareers.com/creative-cvs/

Creative CV guide (University of Nottingham) https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/careers/documents/students/other/creativecvguide(1).pdf

How to write a CV for the creative industries (Jobs and Careers Magazine) http://www.jobsandcareersmag.com/how-to-write-a-cv-for-the-creative-industries/

Graphic Design CV Guide http://www.ucreative.com/articles/the-graphic-design-resume-guide/

CVs for Artists/DesignersAgain, your CV is a calling card for your creativity and visual imagination, and while it may seem like the least imaginative document in your portfolio, it still needs to show both style and substance.

• The usual CV rules still apply, so remember it needs to be easy to read, prioritising the most relevant information, and keep a professional quality to it

• Don’t get so carried away with the design that you make it hard for the reader to work out what’s there!

• You can give your CV the same style as your website and your business cards; this visual continuity will help reinforce your brand in the reader’s mind

• Make sure you give weblinks to any online sources of your work. Try to keep one or two websites as a home for your work, rather than sending the reader to five or six different sites. Having your own website can be a helpful asset for keeping your portfolio together. A slide show or time lapse video, or using the website’s slideshow features, will allow you to keep a large number of works moving through the site when recruiters visit

• Add details of exhibitions, commissions and projects, and include a link to any other external sites where your portfolio is shown

• If you are sending your CV for an exhibition, competition or residency, you should just focus on your artistic and design achievements and avoid mentioning other jobs you’ve had

For more advicehttps://thepracticalartworld.

com/2013/04/09/how-to-write-an-artists-cv-when-you-dont-

have-much-or-any-professional-experience/


General or Transferable

Skills

Real World Experience and

Awareness

Mindset

Specialist Skills Self-Awareness

Networking

This is the knowledge and experience a Chester graduate gains through a wide range of real world activities, particularly in relation to the workplace.

Employers want to recruit graduates who can demonstrate that they have thought about who they are and the choices they have made. Graduates also need to show they can look and plan ahead.

Chester graduates belong to their own community at Chester, but also understand how to grow and develop networks of their own, and how to add value to them.

These categories encompass the wide range of skills or competences that employers prioritise.

These are the skills a graduate might develop through their degree or through their additional hobbies.

This is the set of personal attributes that help a graduate put their skills and abilities to good use, but also help them manage challenges and change.

Growth Mindset

where is the potential in myself and this situation?; resilience; curiosity; self-

reliance; independence; values; adaptability & flexibility; being proactive; seizing opportunity;

recognising & developing my individuality

How does who I am impact on

others?; How am I unique? And how might I be like

others?; Why have I made the academic and professional choices I have made?; And

where might those choices lead?

Who am I and who can I

become?; What are my strengths?; What

are my natural talents?

Computer programming foreign languages

sports skills • dance • music visual arts etc.

The Chester DifferenceGraduate Profile:

What MakesYou Stand Out?

Self-Awareness

KnowledgeCommercial awareness;

citizenship; sustainability; current affairs; research

in jobs, sectors and industries

Build networks; grow networks;

contribute to networks

MindsetSpecialist Skills

Activities Work-based learning; part-time work and

Unijob; volunteering; placements and

internships; work-shadowing

Connect networks together for others;

create new networks; evaluate networks

Networking

DeliveringImplementing;

organising; monitoring; making things happen;

innovating; creating opportunity; IT

Real World Experience and

Awareness

Communicating Building relationships; teamwork; leadership;

persuasion; negotiation; presenting;listening;

writing

ThinkingCritical thinking;

independent thinking; creative thinking;

enterprising thinking

General Skills

The Chester Difference Graduate Profile:What Makes You Stand Out?

Whatever your career plans for after graduation, whether you want to join a graduate scheme or run your own business, there is a core profile of skills and attributes that will help you succeed. You can develop these during your time at University to help you really stand out.


WorkShadowing Careers and Employability

Exclusive to the University of Chester

First hand career knowledge from a panel of experts in a wide range of professionsQ&AS

Spend a day in the workplace and experience

the realities of a professional settingVISITS

Question and learn from the professionals over the phone and in face-to-face meetings

INTERVIEWINFORMATION

Helping you to get ahead!Work Shadowing provides you with the opportunity to learn first-hand from the professionals you aspire to

Discover your future, your way…

To register or learn more about Work Shadowing visit Portal: portal.chester.ac.uk/careers • Tel: 01244 513066

Email: [email protected] • CareerHub: careers.chester.ac.uk Web: www.chester.ac.uk/WS CV and Cover Letter Guide • 27

Cover Letters


Style, Layout and Good ExpressionsHere’s some useful advice on how to layout and present a great cover letter. Over the page you’ll find a couple of examples of good letters, but here are some general tips.

Contact Details• If you’re writing a letter rather than an email,

you will need to set this out in a traditional style with your address and their address at the top of the letter

• You may also want to include a contact phone number and email address for yourself, if you’re sending an email

Addressing and Introduction• It’s always better to address your letter or email to a

named contact so research this before you start • Think about appropriate language. Whether you

are writing an email or a letter, use “Dear Mr/Mrs/Dr….” If you don’t know the name, write “Dear Sir or Madam”

• Explain why you are writing, for example: “I attach my CV as application for the position of Graduate Accountant Trainee”

• If you are responding to an advert, say where you saw it

• Always note that your CV is attached or included

Motivational Content• This paragraph is going to have several sentences

beginning with “I…” That’s fine; this is your letter where you explain what you’ve done and why it’s relevant to the application

• But be specific. It’s not enough to say “I think this is a really exciting job. ” Much better to say “This job appeals to me because it combines my interests in the retail sector with the opportunity to use my skills in relationship building, persuasion and analysis.”

• If you’re referring to previous experiences, try to say why something was useful or why you learned something: “Working in the charity shop helped me understand issues like stock management and the importance of effective product presentation, which I think are particularly relevant in this role.”

Employer Content• Writing about the employer can seem very clichéd

and awkward, so stick to facts but be interpretative:• “The growth your company has shown in online

retailing in the last twelve months (Annual Report 2016) shows that this is a significant area of your development, and I would be interested in getting involved in that aspect of the business.”

Conclusion• Mention again your desire to work for this

organisation• Add “I look forward to hearing from you.”• End “Yours sincerely” if you have addressed the

letter to a specific person, or “Yours faithfully” if it’s to Sir/Madam

• Type your full name at the end

Top Tips on Layout and Style• Keep it short, no more than one side of A4• Try to address it to a specific person in the company• If you’re sending your CV and covering letter by

email attach them as separate PDF files• How you write is as important as what you write:

employers are looking for employees who are self-aware and can express themselves effectively

• Tailor each cover letter to the role. It is easy to spot when a cover letter is generic, especially when you see them daily

• Break up the paragraphs so the letter is easy to read

• Proofread really carefully before sending• Spelling and grammatical mistakes will probably

get your letter rejected. Typos show a lack of attention to detail

• Don’t forget to put the date on your letter Try to avoid using exactly the same phrases which appear on your CV

Core Principles of Great Cover LettersA covering letter or letter of application is the ‘flesh’ which adds the context and detail to the ‘bare bones’ of your CV. A good covering letter should convince the employer that you are motivated, enthusiastic and have the skills and experience required to do the role you are interested in, as well as an interest in their organisation specifically.

• The letter is the opportunity to show the themes of your experience and motivation that join the skills and achievements of your CV together

• It is the layer of information that makes it your application and your life, rather than a set of neutral facts

• Putting yourself in the reader’s shoes is really important though: this is your motivation but seen through the framework of what they are looking for

• Giving evidence of your suitability and relevant experience is really important; connect together the essential details of your CV with your motivation

Your letter has three main questions to answer in the content you write. You don’t have to structure the paragraphs like this, but your letter should answer:

Why me?• What in my background has brought me to the point of applying for this

job? What are the themes in my motivation and previous activities that connect to this role?

Why this role?• What suitability do I have for this role? What relevant skills, knowledge

and experience? How can I show that I really understand the function of this job and what is required to do it?

Why you (the employer)?• What have I learned about what makes you (the employer) distinctive

that means I want to work for you and would fit well? Dig deeper into the company’s profiles, into sector knowledge and news reports for more detail; try to be original here

Be explicit when you make links. If you are

talking about your problem-solving skills, specifically

refer to them.

Never leave the reader to ‘join up the dots’ and guess how everything you’ve done

connects together.

Research the department and role

so you know what you are talking about. They will be passionate about their

service or project. You should demonstrate

that you are too.

Explain what factors attract you to

the employer but don’t just repeat information from their

website. Dig deeper and wider, research news stories, marketing

information, their social media feed, and show that you

understand what they actually do.

Use key words to show you have read the job

description and thought about how your experience

links to the criteria.

Top Tips on Content


A speculative covering letter is used when you want to create a job or internship opportunity, or want them to keep you in mind for future vacancies. You need to show your skills and experience as relevant for a type of job, for the sector or for the company’s business, rather than for a specific role.

Michelle Peakley69 Lords Lane,

Chester, CH1 5SH

[email protected] 0795 347895

Ms Jodie SmithEmployability Enhancement Team Leader Careers and Employability University of Chester Parkgate Road Chester CH1 4BJ

Dear Ms Smith 8th March 2016

I am writing following a conversation with Millie Henderson yesterday who suggested I should send my CV to you. Although I know you are not currently advertising for any positions, I am writing to express an interest in working for Careers and Employability, and to ask if you would consider taking me on as an intern for three months this summer. I would welcome the opportunity to work for you as I have used the service as a student, and really appreciated the quality and quantity of advice and support available. The combination of careers work in degree programmes and the services offered directly to students helps students understand how their degree is going to help them get a good job after graduation.

Work experience with Careers and Employability would be a useful step in my goal of a career within student services in the HE sector. I am seeking a number of internship experiences to complement my experience as a student, but I bring a range of skills that I think would be an asset to your team. I have excellent customer service skills from working in a café and as a Student Academic Representative as outlined on my CV. Being a first point of contact for students using the services of the Enhance Your Employability team and Careers and Employability means being able to build rapport quickly, identify students’ needs and communicate effectively. I am welcoming and friendly when speaking with customers and students and am informative about what I can do to help.

As you can see from my attached CV, I also have strong marketing skills, and experience of event management and using social media to engage clients and generate traffic to websites or blogs. I could use this to help you engage students to attend the EYE Training programme, and also in working with colleagues across Careers and Employability on helping students understand the importance of marketing themselves effectively. I also understand how students use social media, and I could really add value to the team’s communications approach in this area. I have experience using Photoshop and understand the various functions available for creating promotional materials, and use Powerpoint creatively to make presentations. All these skills would be particularly helpful for supporting the team in engaging with students and encourage them to use the services on offer.

I would welcome an opportunity to come and talk to you about possible internship opportunities in Careers and Employability, but would also value a chance to find out more about student services jobs as part of my career development plans. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Yours sincerelyMichelle Peakley

Mention the name of any contact you have already made in the organisation.

Again, it’s important to demonstrate a genuine interest in the employer and your reasons for wanting to work for them. This letter shows both a personal connection and something more objective.

In this paragraph, the writer is being a bit more creative in suggesting how they may be able to add value in new ways.

Here the writer is saying that even a conversation would be helpful to them; this enables you to build your network even if a job opportunity doesn’t occur.

Michelle Peakley69 Lords Lane,

Chester, CH1 5SH

[email protected] 0795 347895

Ms Jodie SmithEmployability Enhancement Team Leader Careers and Employability University of Chester Parkgate Road Chester CH1 4BJ

Dear Ms Smith 8th March 2016

Application for the role of Employability Enhancement Assistant in Careers and Employability

I enclose my CV as application for the above role which I saw advertised on the University of Chester website. I am looking to build a career in student services and this would be an ideal first step.

My customer service skills working in a café and as a Student Academic Representative are outlined on my CV. Being a first point of contact for students using the services of the Enhance Your Employability team and Careers and Employability means being able to build rapport quickly, identify students’ needs and communicate effectively. I am welcoming and friendly when speaking with customers and students and am informative about what I can do to help. These skills would be particularly helpful for supporting the team in engaging with students and encourage them to use the services on offer.

This role would also be the perfect opportunity to apply my experience in marketing that has been developed through my degree. There are two key areas in the role where I could particularly use this: in engaging students to attend the EYE Training programme that this team manages, and also in working with colleagues across Careers and Employability helping students understand the importance of marketing themselves effectively. I have extensive experience of using social media tools and as a former student I understand how students use social media, and I could really add value to the team’s communications approach in this area. I also have experience using Photoshop and understand the various functions available for creating promotional materials, and use Powerpoint creatively to make presentations.

Careers and Employability at the University of Chester plays an essential role in helping students get ready for life after their degree. I would love to work for Careers and Employability as I have used the service as a student, and really appreciated the quality and quantity of advice and support available. Its combination of careers work in degree programmes and the services it offers directly to students helps students understand how their degree is going to help them get a good job after graduation.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Yours sincerelyMichelle Peakley

This is an example of the type of letter you would send in response to an advertised vacancy.

STANDARD COVER LETTERS SPECULATIVE LETTERS

Note how this sentence puts the job in context for the applicant’s career plans.

Always put the name of the role you are applying for, and any code or reference number given for it.

This is a main area of focus for the role, and the applicant has highlighted the relevant skills, evidence of their use and an understanding of why they are important in the job.

This is an area to show extra strengths you have that are not explicit in the job description. This shows understanding of how the applicant can add value.

This is an effective application of a specific quality or experience the student has to the job.

It’s worth considering your use of language; words like “passion” and “relish” can seem slightly insincere. You could say “I would really value the opportunity… ” instead of “love” here.

It’s important to demonstrate a genuine interest in the employer and your reasons for wanting to work for them. This letter shows both a personal connection and something more objective.

In this paragraph, the writer explains specific skills they have that show an understanding of the type of work the organisation does, and how they can be useful.


LinkedIn is a global website, so it’s a great place to start looking at job options, employer profiles or individual career journeys. Make sure your own profile is up to date (see pp.20-21), so that if you are looking at jobs or potential connections you look ready to work and are clear about your objectives. Have a look at https://students.linkedin.com/uk and book a place on our LinkedIn workshops via https://careers.chester.ac.uk/students/events for advice on getting the best out of LinkedIn. LinkedIn will also offer you opportunities to build and develop your network, so look out for alumni groups at school or university level, and if you are looking to return to your country of birth to work, look for professional networks in your sector or preferred geographical region to join too.

Opportunities • Look at the Resources on p.35 of this Guide• Have a look at http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information–Advice/Working/Working-after-studies for information on

working in the UK after your studies, including visa information• If you’re looking for work in China, Bangladesh, Africa, India, Canada, or South East Asia, gradlinkuk.com has

country-specific advice, vacancies and employer profiles• International Graduate: Opportunities for international graduate programs, country guides

http://www.internationalgraduate.net/• InterGrad: Opportunities for international graduate jobs

http://www.intergrad.co.uk/pages/index.php• iHipo: CV tips, advice, job opportunities, internships, graduate programs

http://www.ihipo.com/• Graduate-jobs.com: International job opportunities

https://www.graduate-jobs.com/uk/international• EURES: EU official job opportunities, advice with CV and skills passport

https://ec.europa.eu/eures/public/en/homepage

CVs and Applying for Roles• Work out which industries, roles and organisations you want to target

before you start applying for vacancies: look through lists on sites such as http://www.ratemyplacement.co.uk/ or http://www.milkround.com/

• You may also find it useful to arrange an appointment with a Career Consultant to help you focus your ideas

• You can find information on application and CV etiquette for different countries on https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/working-abroad

• Jobsite: Tailoring your CV for different countries http://www.jobsite.co.uk/career/advice/tailoring_foreign_cvs.html

• ELM: Culturally tailored CVs http://www.labourmobility.com/culturally-tailored-cvs/

• All About Careers: International CVs http://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers-advice/cv-tips/international-cv

• Europass: CV and European Skills Passport (recommended by EU) https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/home

• Guardian: Adapting your CV for Europe http://www.theguardian.com/careers/emplois-beschaftigung-job-applications-europe

International Students and International Job Markets

Completing Application FormsIn some cases you won’t send a covering letter with a CV, but will have to fill in an application form, and write some sort of personal statement. But in practice, the techniques you would use to tailor your CV and covering letter for a vacancy are very similar to those you would use when you answer questions on an application form. Employers often use targeted questions on an application form so they can assess evidence of competencies (skills), motivation and relevant experience.

For example: • Can you give an example of your problem-solving skills?• Please explain why you want to work for us • What would you describe as your greatest achievement?

There is usually a word limit (often 250 words for these types of questions), so it’s important to address the question directly by giving evidence of your experience.

Key Tips for Answering Competency questions • Competency questions usually start with ‘Give me an example of a time when you…’ and then go on to reference

a transferable skill or competency, such as ‘persuaded someone to do something’ or ‘analysed data’ or ‘organised a new project’

• Choose an example as closely related to the role as possible: it’s usually best to pick an example from the workplace if possible

• Use the STAR framework to structure your answer: Situation, Task, Action and Result • Don’t use too many words to set up the Situation and Task; the employer is interested in what Action you took,

so how you actually used the skill. The Result should also be quite short

Examples:Explain how you have used your customer service skills (175 words).During my part-time job at a high street retail store I am often asked to staff the Customer Services desk. Much of the work involves helping customers locate items, collect or return items, or in answering queries about our services. But customers do sometimes complain about an item or service, so the most important thing is to listen carefully and patiently, make an accurate note of the issues the customer wants to raise, and show understanding of their frustration or disappointment. Making a note helps me to identify the different actions I’m going to take to resolve their problems, so I then explain what I’m going to do, and any steps the customer needs to take themselves. I also try to build rapport by being friendly and calm, which helps when a customer is very upset. While the store always wants issues resolved, it is important to me that a customer leaves the desk feeling that their problem has been solved and that their concerns have been heard.

Give an example of when you have had to provide information effectively.I am 3rd year Psychology undergraduate and during my last academic year I was required to present findings from a number of research papers to my peers. Ensuring I used the appropriate formal and technical language, I made the information clear and easy to understand. I also structured the presentation into sections, outlining at the start and finish what the main points were. I also volunteer as a student ambassador where I am required to provide tours to large groups of prospective students and parents. That requires me to make sure I am up to date on all the new courses the university is offering, and that I know the answers to the most common questions. I also know who to refer visitors to if I can’t answer a question.

This answer gives two contrasting examples to show a range of different skills. STAR is used less obviously, but the answer still shows how the student uses the key skills.

Result

Action

Task

Situation

You can find information on

application and CV etiquette for different

countries on https://www.prospects.ac.uk/

jobs-and-work-experience/working-abroad


Careers and Employability• CareerHub (vacancies, appointments, training and event booking, resources) - http://careers.chester.ac.uk• Portal - https://portal.chester.ac.uk/careers• Careers and Employability training videos - http://bit.ly/26ucuSO • Corporate Website - www.chester.ac.uk/careers

Further CV ResourcesNewspaper Careers sitesCV Tips for Graduates - http://careers.theguardian.com/cv-tips-for-graduatesMake sure your CV says the right things about you - http://careers.theguardian.com/careers-blog/how-do-you-write-cv-saying-right-things-about-you Keeping your CV to two pages - http://www.theguardian.com/careers/2015/jul/06/how-to-keep-your-cv-to-two-pagesThe Telegraph’s CV advice - https://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/careers/cv-writing-advice/Getting your CV noticed - http://www.theguardian.com/careers/2016/may/04/how-to-get-cv-noticed-recruitmentCV mistakes you might have missed - http://www.theguardian.com/careers/2016/mar/23/cv-mistakes-you-might-have-missed-but-could-cost-you-the-jobTen tips on writing the perfect CV - http://www.theguardian.com/careers/cv-advice-expert-tipsTop tips for the perfect CV - http://www.independent.co.uk/student/career-planning/getting-job/top-tips-for-writing-a-perfect-cv-8682884.html

Graduate Careers SitesProspects - https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/cvs-and-cover-letters/how-to-write-a-cvTarget Jobs - https://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/applications-and-cvs Inside Careers (finance and consultancy sectors) - http://www.insidecareers.co.uk/career-advice/All About Careers - http://www.allaboutcareers.com/Milkround - http://www.milkround.com/

Online Videoshttp://www.careerplayer.com/tips-and-advice/general-advice/polish-up-your-cv/

Academic Jobs Jobs.ac.uk - http://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/cv-templatesUniversity of Chester Careers and Employability - https://careers.chester.ac.uk/docs/121/Academic-CV-Example-for-PhDs.pdf

LinkedIn https://students.linkedin.com/uk - video to help you create a strong LinkedIn profile

Resources• International Student: Guides on how to find work in USA, UK, Europe, Australia and Canada.https://www.internationalstudent.com/jobsearch/work-guides/

• UK Council for International Student Affairs: Working after studies in UKhttp://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Working/Working-after-studies

• Target Jobs: International students’ guide to job hunting in the UKhttps://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/international-students/417084-international-students-guide-to-job-hunting-in-the-uk

• Target Jobs: Visas and permits for international students who wish to work in the UKhttps://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/international-students/417088-visas-and-permits-for-international-students-who-wish-to-work-in-the-uk

• Target Jobs: Tips for international students seeking work outside the UK https://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/international-students/416884-tips-for-international-students-seeking-work-outside-the-uk

• Target Jobs: Getting work experience as an international studenthttps://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/international-students/417078-getting-work-experience-as-an-international-student

• Euro Graduate: The European graduate career guidehttp://eurograduate.com/index.asp

• EU: Finding a job abroadhttp://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/work/finding-job-abroad/index_en.htm

• EU: Working abroadhttp://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/work/work-abroad/index_en.htm

• EU: Getting professional qualifications officially recognisedhttp://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/work/professional-qualifications/index_en.htm

Networking• Network for International Law Students

http://www.nilsinternational.org/• University of Manchester Careers: LinkedIn (contains international LinkedIn groups that can be joined)

http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/findjobs/networking/linkedin/

You may also find it useful

to arrange an appointment with a Career Consultant to help you focus your

ideas.


Send us a message: Ask a Question on CareerHub - https://careers.chester.ac.uk/students/questions#/ or email us at - [email protected]

Find us online:CareerHub (vacancies, appointments, training and event booking, resources) - http://careers.chester.ac.uk University of Chester Portal - https://portal.chester.ac.uk/careersUniversity of Chester Website - www.chester.ac.uk/careers

Follow us:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ChesterCareers/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/chestercareers

Wordpress Blog - https://universityofchestercareers.wordpress.com/

Thornton(term time only)Dunham Building TDU10201244 514647

HOW CAN CAREERS

AND EMPLOYABILITYHELP YOU?

Please visit us at:

Chester CampusCareers and Employability Centre(opposite the Binks Building)01244 513066

Kingsway(term time only, Tuesdays and Thursdays)Learning Resource Centre01244 515729

Warrington CampusCareers and Employability Centre(Martin Building WMA025)01925 534235

Queen’s Park(term time only, Wednesdays)Churchill House CCU00301244 512893


cv and cover letter guide

Documents