CV Tips

Louise Bach-Nielsen

How to write your CV?

© Colourbox

Questions:

• How do you prepare your application?

• What is the purpose of the CV and cover letter ?

• Do you include other documents?

• What does the reader read first ? CV ? Coverletter?

• How long will the reader spend on your application?

• Do you have a standard CV?

• Do you use templates?

From: Rekrutteringsanalysen 2015 Konsulenthuset Ballisager

• 72% were unprepared for the job interview – Lack of research

• 65% CV and cover letter were standardised – not customised to job

• 33% focused too much on what they would gain from being hired

1. Personal details

• Name

• Nationality

• Contact information: address, phone, email

• Date of birth (optional, but helpful)

• Photo: professional and up to date

• Never include your CPR number

© Colourbox

Personal details

Name Sofie Gallagher

Address Stavnsgade 34, 4, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark

Tel. +45 2020 2020

Mail sofie@gallagher.com

Marital status In a relationship with Jens

Date of birth March 3rd 1985

Nationality British

Linkedin www.linkedin.com/profile

2. Personal Profile

• Short and targeted summary about yourself

• What are your main professional, personal & social skills?

• Think in keywords

• Be specific

• Target the content

• Keep it short and to the point © Colourbox

3. Work experience

• List your most recent experience first

• Dates of employment, Name of the company, job title, tasks and achievements

• Well known employers in your country may not be known in Denmark – explain

• Use an appropriate job title if the one you actually have is misleading

• You may include internships, volunteer work, student jobs

– as long as they are relevant

Work experience (cont.)

Volunteer work

2008 Student induction supervisor at University of Birmingham

Tasks:

- Planning of induction week with team building and social events

- Responsible for the induction of 45 students

Key learning:

- Experience in management of major events

- Training in communication

2004-2006 Handball coach at Birmingham Handball Club

Tasks:

- Organized practice and matches for a youth team

Key Learning:

- Experience in communicating with others and how to handle conflicts

- Learned about being a team leader and structuring practices and matches

4. Education

• Start with your most recent education first

• Dates, Name of the school, faculty and subject

• Relate to Danish educational standards - www.ufm.dk

(Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education)

5. Other skills

• Language proficiency– Clearly and honestly state your level

– Avoid the use of A2, B1, modul 3.3. etc.

• IT skills: clearly and honestly state your level

• Possession of a driving license and car may be included

• Etc.

6. Interests

Employers will often look at the interests listed in your CV

• gives a more comprehensive picture of you

• can give an indication of your personality and motivation

Particularly relevant to mention activities in which you had

• leadership responsibilities

• teaching skills

• or which involved relating to others in a team

7. References

Two options:

1. Use the generic statement 'References are available on request’, which means that the future employer has to ask permission for access to your references;

2. Include the names and contact information of your references on the CV, if you have approval.

Foto

Points to remember

• Max. 2 pages

• Use simple language

• Documentation: do not send documentation unless specifically mentioned in the job ad

• Print your CV and have someone read it

• Do a spell check! (“I speak fluent Englesh, Inglish, Eniglish” does not really instill confidence)

• Always send your CV in pdf

The Structure of the Cover Letter- for solicited applications

Complex sentences, style, grammar, your writing style

• Header: address and contact information

• Headline

• Introductory paragraph

• Motivation for applying – what is your interest in the job + knowledge that supports this

• Professional / personal background – explain your skills that specifially match the job. Do not repeat your CV

• Closing

Guidelines

• Future oriented and targeted

• Short and sharp – max. one A4 page

• Customise – every time

• Use an example

• Pick the 1-2 essential requirements from the advertisement and answer them carefully

• Which advantages will the company gain from hiring you?

• Positive closing

• Same font and size as CV