Applications, CVs and Covering Letters

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Applications, CVs and Covering Letters

• Nicola Sutherland
• Careers Advisers

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The Career Service

• 166 Nethergate Opposite Tower Building
• Open Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri 9am 5pm
• Thurs 10 am 5pm
• Drop In or Make An Appointment
• T 01382 384017
• E careers_at_dundee.ac.uk
• Wwww.dundee.ac.uk/careers

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During the session we will

• Examine your skills and discuss how to evidence
  them in application forms.
• Look at how to create an effective CV.
• Find out how to write a concise
• Covering Letter.

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Closing Dates

• Apply asap even if the closing date is in June
  2010.
• Internships fierce competition, a good way to
  secure grad job, will close before Christmas.

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Your Skills

• Employers Interested in Skills they show you
  can do the job.
• Use the Job Description Person Specification to
  Identify Skills Required.
• They NEED to be TAILORED to Reflect the Skills
  Needed in the Role.

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How To Evidence Skills

• Look at the skills listed on the Skills Audit
  handout.
• Do you think you have some, most or all of these
  skills?
• Think about ALL areas of your life activities,
  achievements, experience, not just academic
  attainment!
• Think about how you can evidence the skills you
  have.

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Soundbytes

• Develop a Soundbyte of your evidence for it.
• A short sentence or two explaining your evidence
• Use only positive language. Be concise!!!
• Example Team Work Skills
• My part time role as a waitress has helped to
  develop my team working skills. When we have
  been busy or short staffed, Ive contributed to
  the team by carrying out additional roles to
  ensure a smooth service to customers.

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STAR

• S Situation
• T Task
• A Action
• R Result

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Typical Application Form Questions

• Give an example of a time when you
• have gone that extra mile.
• Why have you decided to apply to
• What is your biggest achievement to date?
• Name a Scottish firm you are interested in and
  what service would you provide them with?
• Where do you see the future of
• Give details of a time when you have successfully
• worked as part of a team, what role did you
  play and
• what did you achieve?

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What Not to Write!

• I am someone who knows my own destiny, but I have
  no definite long term plans
• On an application for an accountancy position - I
  was closely involved in every aspect of my former
  company, right up to its bankruptcy
• Here are my qualifications for you to overlook
• Suspected to graduate early next year
• If called to interview I would like to discuss
  the salary, pensions and sickness benefits
• From a student member of a sky diving club -
  dealing with fear and being able to follow orders
  under terrifying conditions

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Remember!

• Keep Answers CONCISE
• Ensure you Answer the Question
• Use STAR
• Check your Spelling
• Dont Copy and Paste in other Employer Names!
• Get Someone to Look Over it
• Dont Leave it till the Day Before the Closing
  Date

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What is a CV?

• Literally means a Record of Life
• Your personal marketing tool.
• Shows the recruiter that your skills and
  attributes meets their requirements.
• Must be focused on and targeted to each
  application.

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10 Deadly CV Sins

• Poor spelling and grammar (77)
• Exaggerating or lying (34)
• Poor presentation of CV (31)
• Non-targeted CV/Covering Letter (19)
• No relevant work experience listed (19)
• No Covering Letter with CV (14)
• Hand written CV or application (11)
• No evidence of extra-curricular activities (10)
• Incorrect/incomplete details for referees (10)
• Statements in CV not supported by evidence (8)

Source Univ. of Hertfordshire Survey of 500
employers
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Golden Rules For Finance CVs

• Ensure it is achievements/evidence focused.
• Use lots of action verbs.
• Make sure you quantifying everything you claim!
• Focus the CV to the job/sector.
• Ensure it is short maximum 2 pages of typed A4.
• Avoid long paragraphs use bullet points.
• Be consistent in your style.
• Include only RELEVANT information.
• Dont use Abbreviations.
• Avoid gimmicks.
• Include a Covering Letter

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Different Types of CVs

• 2 Styles of CV
• Chronological CV
• Skills Based or Functional CV

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Chronological CV

• Lists by date - most recent first
• Easy to organise - uses bullet points
• Shows progression
• Maybe not suitable for those who have changed
  jobs frequently or those who have gaps in history

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Chronological CV Example
1993 2000 Stockport High School June 2000
A-levels History (B), Mathematics (B),
Geography (D) June 1998 GCSEs 8 subjects,
grades A-C including Mathematics (A), French
(A) WORK EXPERIENCE October 2001 Present
Glebe College Students Union, Position Team
Member (shop) 8 hours per week Work under
pressure to a high level of accuracy, while
maintaining good customer relations. Summer
2001 Direct Northern, Manchester Underwriting
Assistant Strengthened spoken and written
communication skills for business. Dealt
efficiently with the public and improved IT
skills. Summer 2000 Tesco, Stockport Sales
Assistant/Accounts Assistant Handled large sums
of money. Adapted to different roles at short
notice. ADDITIONAL SKILLS Word processing and
spreadsheets used ongoing in course work
Computing and during work experience. Gained
ECDL (European Computer Driving
Licence). Languages Have maintained French
since GCSE through annual grape-picking visit
there and attended Spanish classes since last
year. Driving Licence Full clean UK
Licence INTERESTS ACHIEVEMENTS Music Piano
Grade 7 enthusiastic member of several informal
groups. Successful time management to combine
music with study and part-time
employment. History Society Elected Membership
Officer (2000) Contributed to 20 rise in
membership over previous year Jointly managed a
budget of 1,200 and negotiated sponsorship from
the local newspaper. Referees Dr Jane Macintyre,
Lecturer in Ms Barbara Smithson Modern History
(Tutor) Assistant Personnel Manager Glebe
College, 283 Mile Post Lane, Tesco Stores Plc,
London E4 6SZ Tel [phone] Arden
Walk Fax [phone] Stockport SK1 1PT Email
I.j.macintosh_at_glc.ac.uk Tel [phone]
9500

• SABINA MAYAT
• Email sabinam_at_webmail.com
• Term Address Home Address (from 10/6/03)
• 483 Mile Post Lane 63 Smithsonian Street
• London E4 6DZ Stockport SK3 2DJ
• Tel [phone] Tel [phone]
• Mobile [phone]
• CAREER OBJECTIVE An enthusiastic individual with
  an interest in moving into management training
  which will allow further development of my
  leadership and communication skills. Committed
  to working in a fast moving environment, which
  will provide challenges.
• EDUCATION
• 2000 - 2003 Glebe College, University of London
• BA Modern Contemporary History
• Due to be awarded June 2006 Expected result
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• 2002 2003
• Final year - Main Courses World War II Campaigns
  and Leaders
• Italian Cities since 1950s
• 2001 2002
• 2nd year - Main Courses The Rise of Fascism in
  the 1930s.
• France Political Parties in the 5th
  Republic

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Skills Based / Functional CV

• Highlights your skills and achievements - rather
  than work/education history
• Shows you have considered recruiters needs - and
  how you might meet them
• More difficult to organise
• Needs to convey what is relevant concisely

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Skills Based CV - Example

• EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
• 2000 - 2003
• University of North Birmingham BA (Hons)
  Combined Arts in English and
• German (2.2 expected).
• (2001 2003 SOCRATES programme)
• 1995 - 2000
• Allinton Comprehensive 3 A-levels - English (B),
  History (C),
• German (C). 8 GCSEs.
• WORK EXPERIENCE
• 2002 - 2003
• Aquasports Ltd. Rotherham Shop assistant and
  acting shop manager during
• summer vacations.
• July-Sept 2000
• Camp America Camp counsellor to 11-19 year-olds
  during
• summer vacation.

• EMMA BURTON
• Email emb_at_arts.nbham.ac.uk
• D.O.B 12.01.80
• 25, Vicarage Close 23, Pershore Road
• Rotherham Edgbaston
• South Yorkshire Birmingham
• Tel [phone] Tel [phone]
• (Home Address) (Term Address)
• PERSONAL PROFILE
• A keen individual seeking a career in
  International marketing or Market research.
  Possessing
• excellent verbal and written communication skills
  and the ability to relate to a wide range of
• people. I am capable of achieving personal
  objectives as demonstrated by successful
  completion
• of my degree and my commitment to work experience
  activities. I have displayed ambition and
• goal orientated performance within my studies at
  university.
• SKILLS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
• Communication
• Good communication skills gained from giving
  presentation at seminars. Issuing clear and
  concise instructions to suppliers, chairing
  meetings and dealing with customers tactfully and
  diplomatically.

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CVs Should Include

• Biographical Information
• Personal Profile/Career Objective
• Education
• Work Experience
• Responsibilities, Achievements, Interests
• Additional Skills
• References

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Biographical Information

• Name
• Contact Details
• Date of Birth
• Nationality
• Gender
• Marital Status
• N.I Number

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Career Aim

• Optional
• Focuses CV
• A succinct statement of your goal/direction and
  your most marketable skills

• CV Aim Graduate Trainee Retail Management
• Good understanding of sales and marketing,
  gained through 4 years part-time work at the
  Carphone Warehouse, as well as final year project
  on marketing and consumer behaviour
• Excellent communication and interpersonal
  skills, as demonstrated by
• role as Secretary of University Debating society.
• Commercial awareness, appreciation of customer
  care and understanding of retail purchasing
  demonstrated in additional responsibilities at
  the Carphone Warehouse. Have developed a keen
  awareness of business environments through my
  final year project

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Education

• Reverse Chronological Order
• Concentrate on Higher Education
• Allocation of space denotes importance
• Give details of RELEVANT aspects, e.g. modules,
  dissertation etc

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Work Experience

• Reverse Chronological
• Relevant and Additional
• Detail skills used and highlight relevance to
  job applied for
• Use I not We

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Interests Achievements

• Space to list skills not already listed
  elsewhere, e.g. personal characteristics
• Can include positions of responsibility, awards
  scholarships gained, leisure activities
• Keep it brief and RELEVANT
• Be specific dates etc

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Additional Skills

• Do not include if repetitive
• Mention Languages, IT Skills and Driving Licence
• Ensure it is Brief Factual

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References

• At Least Two
• 1 Academic, 1 Employer
• Ask permission keep informed

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Covering Letters
Purpose Essentials

• Link your CV to the particular job
• Introduce your CV
• Direct your letter to the correct application
  and person
• Highlight your strengths and Unique Selling
  Points
• Mention administrative points, e.g. availability
  for interview

• Keep it brief max. 1 side of A4
• Well presented, typed document
• Check thoroughly for spelling and grammar
• Use Your sincerely and Yours Faithfully
  appropriately
• Address to a named person where possible

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Covering Letters
Include all addresses, i.e. if you will be moving
home after a certain date.
Write to a specific person - name, job title,
etc. If not possible, specify title/ depart

• Your Address
• Employers Name date
• Address
• Dear.
• Heading (if appropriate)
• Main Text
• Why you are writing
• Why Organisation/role?
• What you can offer the employer - give evidence
• Administrative information. End Positively
• Yours..
• Signature
• Your Name

A Heading - such as Marketing Assistant Vacancy
- can show the reader instantly what the letter
is about
Dear Mr. Mrs, Miss or Ms (if unsure) Otherwise D
ear Sir/Madam
The ending depends on how you began - Dear
Mr.Yours sincerely Dear Sir..Yours faithfully
It is a good idea to type your name legibly
beneath your signature
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Covering Letters

• Introduction
• Why you are writing
• - to apply for a CA training position with
  Henderson Loggie
• Where you saw it advertised
• - as advertised on the ICAS training
  directory.

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Covering Letters

• Why the Organisation/Role?
• Target the application.
• Why are you applying to the organisation?
• - What impresses you about the organisation?
• - Their reputation? Their clients? Type of work?
• Why do you want this post?
• - Does it match your interests, skills
  experiences?

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Covering Letters

• Why You
• Highlight the best bits of your CV the parts
  you really want the selectors to read
• 3 or 4 of your best skills, experiences and
  abilities
• Remember to match to the job specification

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Covering Letter

• Ending
• Be positive confident
• Offer to supply further details or invite
  contact with referees
• Show eagerness I look forward to meeting with
  you to discuss my application further

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Thank you

• Any Questions?
• Useful Websites
• www.prospects.ac.uk
• www.efinancialcareers.com
• www.targetjobs.co.uk
• www.passmagazine.com
• http//www.fssc.org.uk/highstreet2.html