Final Year Job Search Programme Session 2

1
Final Year Job Search ProgrammeSession 2

• Ann Doris
• Careers Placement Adviser
• for the School of Computer Science

• Thursdays 10-11am
• Room 209 Peter Froggatt Centre
• Weeks 3,5-10 S1 2003/04

2
Final Year Job Search ProgrammeContact Details

• Ann Doris
• Careers Placement Adviser
• for the School of Computer Science
• Tel [phone]
• Email a.doris_at_qub.ac.uk
• Website http//www.cs.qub.ac.uk/yearout
• http//www.qub.ac.uk/careers

3
Making Applications Part 1Session 2 Overview

• Targeting Employers
• Curriculum Vitaes
• Covering Letters
• US Resumes

4

Targeting Employers
5
Targeting EmployersGuidelines

• ? Identifying Potential Employers
• ? Most companies, particularly small and medium
  sized enterprises have at least one project that
  needs attention, but lack the resources to
  tackle it.
• ? Managers are usually fully stretched in
  their day-to-day business operations and have
  little time to think far ahead.
• ? The organisation may not have the sorts of
  skills that undergraduates already have,
  particularly in IT, language, technical areas
  and marketing.

6
Targeting EmployersGuidelines

• ? Work experience students can undertake jobs
  that might not otherwise be done within the time
  and resources available.
• ? Bright and enthusiastic students can
  therefore contribute significantly to the
  organisation's performance at rates the company
  can afford.
• Both employer and student have the opportunity
  to see whether they would like to make the
  arrangement a permanent one, without committing
  themselves immediately.
• ? Work experience can lead to a full time job
  on graduation.

7
Targeting EmployersGuidelines

• Research the company you are contacting to find
  out - what they do - the name of their Chief
  Executive or MD

8
Targeting EmployersGuidelines

• ? Prepare a targeted CV with covering letter,
  addressed to the Chief Executive or Managing
  Director to ensure they understand- why you
  are interested in them- why you are interested
  in getting work experience - what you have to
  offer them, in terms of technical skills such as
  IT and personal qualities- the benefits to
  their company if they take you on, e.g. a
  completed task or project- the relevance of
  your course of study, and any other experience-
  don't forget that your choice of hobbies,
  voluntary work and interests can also assist in
  determining your suitability for the job.

9
Targeting EmployersGuidelines

• ? Follow-up all letters with a telephone call one
  week later if there is no response.
• ? Always be positive - it is important to sound
  enthusiastic and to show you have something to
  offer
• ? Be pro-active - suggest a meeting/ interview to
  discuss the job further

10

Curriculum Vitaes
11
Curriculum VitaesOverview

• Curriculum Vitaes
• What is a CV?
• CV Content Layout
• Personal Statement
• Career Objective

12
Curriculum VitaesOverview

• To help employers make an objective assessment
• most will search CVs against very specific
  criteria.
• These are always job related and will include

evidence of appropriate knowledge, experience,
interests, skills and achievements
13
Curriculum VitaesCV Content

• Must contain
• Personal Details
• Education Qualifications
• IT/Technical Skills
• Work Experience
• Activities Interests
• Referees

• Optional
• Personal Profile
• Career Objective

14
Curriculum VitaesCV Layout
Page 1 Personal Details Career Objective /
Personal Profile Education Qualifications IT
/Technical Skills
Page 2 Work Experience Achievements Activities
Interests Referees
15
Curriculum VitaesSamples
Refer to Overhead Projector
16
Curriculum VitaesGuidelines on Compiling a CV

• Your CV should be word processed so that it can
  be tailored for individual employers. Use good
  quality white paper.
• Try to keep your CV concise, two pages is the
  norm. Your CV should be structured with clear
  headings to make it easy to find what the
  selector is looking for.
• Allocate space in accordance with the importance
  of the information - normally your degree the
  best place is in the middle of the front page
  and your work experience the best place is in
  the top of the second page .

17
Curriculum VitaesGuidelines on Compiling a CV

• Avoid wide margins and over-spaced text
• Use a header or footer with your name on it so
  that
• should the pages become separated it will be
  clear
• to whom they belong eg CV Ann Doris
• Avoid fancy fonts, computer graphics, colour,
  white
• on black etc. Your CV will be photocopied so
• clarity is important

18
Curriculum VitaesGuidelines on Compiling a CV

• Consider using bold to highlight the names of
• well known employers in your Work Experience
• section.
• Try to include active verbs when describing your
• activities
• eg achieved, arranged, contributed,
  established, implemented, initiated, negotiated,
  organised, persuaded, planned

19
Curriculum VitaesGuidelines on Compiling a CV

• Avoid gaps. Dont discuss academic failure on a
  CV. Include exam marks for Level 1 Modules.
• Use correct grammar, spelling and punctuation
• be aware that some words have more than one
• correct spelling eg driving licence not
  license.
• Target your CV to the job specification
• Be sure to include a covering letter

20
Covering Letter
21
Covering LetterGuidelines

• When you are sending a CV to an employer it
• should always be accompanied by a covering
• letter.
• The purpose of the letter is to make sure your
• application is
• seen by the relevant person
• to draw attention to key points on your CV
• to highlight your suitability for the job

22
Covering Letter Structure

• Paragraph 1
• Introduce yourself
• Identify the job you are applying for
• How you found out about the job
• Explain what other documents you are enclosing eg
  CV
• Paragraph 2
• Explain why you are attracted to the job and
  organisation
• How your qualifications match up

23
Covering Letter Structure

• Paragraph 3
• Show your knowledge of the company, its culture
  and ethos and how you can relate it to your own
  interests
• Paragraph 4
• Thank the employer for taking time to consider
  your application
• Mention when you are available for interview

24
Covering Letter Guidelines

• Appearance is critical
• Use an A4 envelope and good quality white paper
• Use a suitable font e.g Times New Roman min 10
  point
• Keep it short and to the point - one A4 page
• If possible, send it to a named individual
• Use the letter to personalise your application
  and tailor it to the company
• End on a positive note
• Proof read it spelling and grammar checks

25
Covering Letter Samples

• Refer to Overhead Projector

26
Job AdvertSample

• Refer to Overhead Projector

27
US Resumes
28
US Resumes Overview

• Much more summarised and key point fashion than
  CV
• One page in length
• Always word processed
• A job objective is usually included in US resumes
  as a matter of course eg

To obtain a position with a major software
developer which will utilize my educational
background and develop my expertise in web
design.
29
US Resumes Overview

• Proceed with caution when including personal
  details such as age, date of birth, sex and
  family status or to include a photograph
  contravene States laws on employment rights
• In America the focus is very much on your work
  experience as opposed to UK CV starts with
  educational qualifications. Begin with your most
  recent work experience and work backwards.

30
US Resumes Overview

• Indicate US equivalent of educational
  qualifications eg A-levels equate to High School
  Diplomas. Only include actual grades if they are
  As or Bs
• Check your resume for mistakes that will make it
  look unprofessional

31
US Resumes Overview

• Always include a covering letter as a matter of
  course as it allows you to make a better sales
  pitch than the resume alone. The covering
  letter should be brief, clear, direct and follow
  a logical structure e.g.

? Why you want the job show what you know
about them ? What qualifications and experience
you have highlight the most relevant
sections of your resume ? How you would measure
up to the requirements of the position
32
Useful Books

• 1. The Perfect CV
• Tom Jackson and Ellen Jackson
• Ref No 014.065
• 2. The Global Resume CV Guide
• Mary Anne Thompson
• Ref No 014.066
• Available at
• Careers Service, 14 Malone Road, Belfast