Maggie BamfordEmployment

Advisor

Advertising Yourself Your CV is your advert - it is used to help

you sell your skills

Today's Aims... • Why have a CV?

• What an effective CV should include

• The different types of CVs – and when to use them

• Targeting CVs– How to address and demonstrate the

points on a job description

What is a CV For?• NOT just a list of things you have done

• A tailored and relevant picture of your experience and qualifications

• A tool for advertising yourself and your skills to an employer

Different Types of CV• Chronological/Traditional

• Skills Based

• Hybrid

Before You Begin....

The Job Description should write your CV

Look at the job description:

• What skills would you highlight for this role?

• What experience do you have that you think would be relevant?

• What type of person are they looking for?– How could you find this information out?

Research, Prepare, Research, Prepare• Before putting fingers to keyboard or pen to paper, do

your RESEARCH:1. Job2. Company3. Sector

• And.....research YOURSELF: Know your SAKE• Skills • Abilities• Knowledge • Experience

Preparation makes perfectReflect on what you have to offer:

Research what they want:– what does the company require? – Check their websites, news items & recruitment websites. – Are they coming on campus soon?

Understand the specific job role:– the job description & the person specification

Plan– enough time before the closing date

Remember...CVs:

– are subjective

– should be tailored to each job description

– should be no longer than 2 pages

– should communicate effectively to all audiences.

There is no right or wrong way• Use your own style depending on the role• Don't copy examples

What to include in your CV...

Contact DetailsYour Name

at the top - this is your heading (Not 'CV')

• Address/Email/Telephone• Blog or websites - great way to highlight skills and

abilities • LinkedIn/Twitter - if relevant to the role & will remain

clean

• No need for status/age/gender/nationality etc.

Personal StatementsYou don't have to have a personal statement but if you want one it needs to be:

– Punchy • no more than 2-3 lines

– Attention Grabbing• Achievement focused, relevant work experience

– Unique to you• If you could copy and paste it to another student then you haven't

been specific enough

Example: 'Final-year journalism student with particular interest in ....... seeks graduate role in radio. 2 years experience in industry and winner of/ particularly skilled in......

Education and QualificationsKeep it relevant

• Your Degree– full course title – relevant modules (4-8 and grades if you want)– overall predicted grades (e.g. Predicted 2.1)– information about particular projects if they are relevant

• Reverse chronological order – e.g. from your degree back to A-Levels, then GCSEs– With different or international qualifications, show equivalents (9/10, equivalent to 280

UCAS points etc.)

• No need to list all GCSEs – just how many taken and grades obtained – e.g. 9 GCSEs grade A-C or 1A, 6Bs, 3Cs

Work ExperienceInclude ALL relevant history & experience

• Reverse chronological order

• Focus on responsibilities and achievements,mention your duties briefly but highlight the skills you have gained

• Use STAR method as a guide to ensure you are being detailed in your examples

Work Experience (2) – can include projects in your degree and

volunteering

– projects are a great way to show off experience (particularly if you have less relevant work experience)

– Can include separate sections e.g. "Relevant Experience" then later "Additional Work Experience"

Work Experience & Transferable Skills

You need to be specific about your work experience • If not directly relevant to the role, you need to identify 'Transferable Skills' & qualities

"

Think about skills & competencies you have gained through your:

Work Experience

Placements

Internships

Volunteering

Societies

Clubs

Hobbies

...and so on

These could include:Communication

Teamwork

Analytical skills

Prioritisation

Initiative

Creativity

Interpersonal Skills

...and so on

Employer Tips

• Your degree will get you to the table, but its the extra things you can offer that will get you through the door"

• "We are looking for the 'right people' - what else can you offer us beyond your degree?"

Employer Tips 2

• "It is particularly impressive if you have been developing blogs, professional use of social media in your own time"

• "Use key words relevant to our industry - make it clear you are right for us"

• Situation & Task

• Action

• Result

• BRIEF outline

• Specific details of what, how and why you took action you did

• What was the outcome? Quantity? Quality? What did you learn?

The STAR MethodHow to use STAR for CVs

Be Brief

'Cleaning the Kitchen' - A brief STAR example

S: My family were visiting me for the weekend

T: I needed to clean my kitchen

A: I scrubbed the floors, diligently cleaned the hob, wiped the surfaces, took out the bins, covered the burn mark on the floor with a rug...

R: My family were very pleased and took me to lunch for my efforts.

Awards and Achievements• Any academic awards• Any recent or particularly interesting achievements • Skills you have gained from other areas that are relevant

to the job you are applying for

• Member of any relevant professional societies

Interests• Any interests that may be relevant to the

employer

• A great way to:– show your personality– show that you are a rounded candidate– be memorable

• Don’t just list them – give more details for each

Employer Tips

"Keep it brief but intriguing; I'm interested in your interests, but not that interested"

"Something to attract attention - makes them an individual. I once had two candidates with very similar CVs; one of them said he did Skydiving in his spare time and I thought, great, that’s interesting, I'll interview him".

References• Include one academic and one professional referee

• Include their contact details including:– Name, job title, company, email address and telephone number

• It is usually acceptable to put ‘Available on Request’ if you have run out of space – But if you have good, relevant referee, include him/her -ASK THEM FIRST!

Attention to Detail • Accuracy and professionalism is vital for 1st impressions• Most employers will reject CVs that contain any errors• It is vital that you proofread and get it checked.

Employer Tip • "If I see even one spelling error it goes in the bin - if they can't be

bothered to perfect their CV, how do I know they will have attention to detail when working for me - I can't take that risk."

Remember to keep it...

RelevantRecent

Creative Concise

A Brief Guide to Cover Letters

Cover LettersOverall• No more than A4 page• Tailored to the job• Be specific about your skills and experience • Be specific about the company

Layout• Include your address (top right), their address (top left) and

the date. • Try to send it to a named person (or Dear Sir or Madam)• End formally

– Yours Faithfully for Dear Sir/Madam – Yours Sincerely for named person

Cover Letter Example Layout

Employer's Address

Your Address

Employer's Name (or Dear Sir or Madam)

Date

All in ONE A4 page

Use the 4 paragraph Structure 1. Positive Introduction

– Tell them what you are applying for and give a brief overview of yourself.

2. Why you?– Why should they hire you? What about you is great? What skills and

experience do you have that are relevant to the role?

3. Why Them?– Why have you picked them of all the companies out there? Do your

research - What appeals / excites you about them? What projects have they done in the past? Relate your own skills to these - Be specific.

4. Positive Conclusion– Leave them with a good final impression of yourself.

Why are CVs rejected?• Not tailored to the job• Spelling mistakes, typos and poor

grammar• The initial impression of your CV• Incorrect contact details• The way your information is organised • Poor layout and presentation• Length (too long or too short)

Summary• Your CV is an advert for you• Focus on your achievements • It needs to be tailored to each different job

description• Include relevant skills and experience• All CVs require a cover letter• Get it checked

Some Good Resources

CV Builder SoftwareSoftware that can help give you in setting up your CV - but you will need to get

it checked by an Adviser

SHUspace → Employability Tab → Careers and Employment (lefthand Side) CV → Help with CVs → CV Builder Software

Preparation ResourcesReflect on what you have to offer: use online resources e.g.

– Careers Central - Skills: http://careerscentral.shu.ac.uk/topics/skills/emp-star/ – Prospects What jobs would suit me? http://www.prospects.ac.uk/myprospects_planner_login.htm – TargetJobs Career and Skills report: http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-report

Research what they want: Check their websites, news items and recruitment websites

– Prospects Company Profiles: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/graduate_employers.htm– TargetJobs Employer information: http://targetjobs.co.uk/employer-hubs – SHU Jobs & Events (is the company on campus soon?) https://

careerservice.shu.ac.uk/BrowseOrganisations.chpx

Understand the specific job role:– Focus on the job description & the person specification

Plan:– Plan enough time before the closing date and to get it checked

CV and Cover Letter ResourcesSHUspace → Employability Tab →

Careers and Employment (left Side) → Help with CVs

Target Jobs Great for industry specific support

The Guardian Careers WebsiteGreat for articles, news, live chat

Doing a Creative CV?CV ParadeCreative CV Guide

CV Action Words• Ability • Achieved • Analysed • Administered • Arranged• Budgeted • Calculated• Completed • Conceived• Conducted• Created• Designed• Determined • Developed• Devised• Enthusiasm• Enhanced • Evaluated• Formed • Guided• Guaranteed

• Implemented • Instigated • Introduced • Ingenuity • Initiative • Judgement • Lasting • Launched • Liaised• Maintained • Managed • Merit • Negotiated • Organised • Performed • Persuaded• Planned • Presented • Progress • Promoted • Recommended

• Redesigned• Represented• Researched• Stability • Stimulated • Supervised• Surpassed • Thorough • Trained

• Successfully....• More than...years extensive

experience in..• In charge of...• Instrumental in...• Constant interaction with...• Responsible for...• Excelled in....• Competent at....• Established...• Promoted...

Faculty based one to one interviewsMaggie BamfordEmployment Adviser

Where? Cantor 9300

When? Wednesday 1.30 - 4.00 Thursday 9.30 - 12:00 (alternate weeks)

Friday 1.15 - 3.45

How? Cantor Reception 0114 225 6777

Any Questions?