HOW TO PREPARE AN IMPRESSIVE CV

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HOW TO PREPARE AN IMPRESSIVE CV

• Tim Reed T.M.Reed_at_kent.ac.uk
• Careers Advisory Service
• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/

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Introduction

• What is a CV?
• When is it used?
• What does it contain?
• Who do you send it to?
• What about the covering letter?

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What is a CV?

• One of many ways to apply
• Your marketing tool
• A4 sized
• Flexible targeted
• Stylized Chronological/Skills-based
• Different in other countries
• http//www.prospects.ac.uk
• http//www.eurograduate.com/planning.asp

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When is it used?

• As the main tool for on-spec applications
• When requested by an employer
• In support of other application information
• Never without a letter/message
• via email as attachment
• When your Referee needs more info

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What does it contain?

• Personal details
• Academic background
• Work Experience
• Interests achievements
• Additional information
• References

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John Michael Andrews (5/11/89) 33 Union Street,
Manchester, M6 3AE. Tel. [phone]
Nationality British Email J.Andrews_at_hotmail.com
Mob [phone] EDUCATION AND
QUALIFICATIONS 2008 - 2011 University of Kent at
Canterbury BA (Hons.) Economics and Accounting
21. Final Year Subjects Economics, Business Law
and Taxation Project "Economic Consequences of
the Decline in the Kent Mining Community". 2006 -
2008 Manchester Community College. A Levels
Mathematics B, History B, Economics C. AS Level
Geography D 2001 - 2006 St. Johns Boys School,
Manchester. 8 GCSEs (grades A-C) including
Mathematics, English and French. WORK
EXPERIENCE Summer 2010 Tourist Information
Office, Canterbury. Helping tourists, working in
Bureau de Change, booking theatre and concert
tickets. Summer 2009 Canterbury City
Council. Accounts Clerk in Treasurers office.
Dealing with enquiries, using computerised
systems. 2008 - present Simple Simons Public
House, Canterbury. Bar work throughout the year
serving food and drinks to customers and cashing
up. ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS
Secretary of the Accounting Society, involved
booking speakers. Organised a
charity fun run for Rag Week raised 175.
Enjoy competitive sport and play for
the University football team.
Other interests include current affairs and
studying the Stock Market. ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION IT Skills Word, Excel, PowerPoint,
Email, WWW etc. Good level of spoken French.
Full, clean driving licence. REFERENCES Availabl
e on request
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John Michael Andrews (5/11/89) 33 Union Street,
Manchester, M6 3AE. Tel. [phone]
Nationality British Email J.Andrews_at_hotmail.com
Mob [phone] EDUCATION AND
QUALIFICATIONS 2008 - 2011 University of Kent at
Canterbury BA (Hons.) Economics and Accounting
21 Final Year Subjects Economics, Business Law
and Taxation Project "Economic Consequences of
the Decline in the Kent Mining Community". 2006 -
2008 Manchester Community College. A Levels
Mathematics B, History B, Economics C. AS Level
Geography D 2001 - 2006 St. Johns Boys School,
Manchester. 8 GCSEs (grades A-C) including
Mathematics, English and French.
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WORK EXPERIENCE Summer 2010 Tourist Information
Office, Canterbury. Helping tourists, working in
Bureau de Change, booking theatre and concert
tickets. Summer 2009 Canterbury City
Council. Accounts Clerk in Treasurers office.
Dealing with enquiries, using computerised
systems. 2008 - present Simple Simons Public
House, Canterbury. Bar work throughout the year
serving food and drinks to customers and cashing
up.
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ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS Secretary of
the Accounting Society, involved booking
speakers. Organised a charity fun run
for Rag Week raised 175. Enjoy
competitive sport and play for the University
football team. Other interests include
current affairs and studying the Stock
Market. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IT Word, Excel,
PowerPoint, Email, WWW etc. Good level of spoken
French. Full, clean driving licence. REFERENCES
Available on request
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Tailoring your application

• Emphasize relevant qualifications
• Highlight key text/information
• Focus on relevant skills
• Research employer requirements and insert key
  phrases into your application
• Cherry pick what you include!
• For example
• specific course module titles, work experience,
  voluntary activities, individual achievements,
  travel, IT skills, languages, sporting honours,
  positions of responsibility egs of leadership,
  teamwork, flexibility, meeting/surpassing
  targets, communication, taking the initiative,
  problem-solving etc
• Keep a comprehensive list of all of these!

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CV styles

• Standard/Chronological
• Skills-based
• Computing/Online
• Media
• Legal
• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvexamples.htm

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Hints on wording

• Avoid personal pronouns - No Is
• Start with verbs wherever possible
• Use short sentences concise phrases
• Focus on accomplishments
• Refer to specific projects with quantifiable
  results
• Use personal power words

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Personal power words

• created instructed analyzed produced
• negotiated designed calculated maintained
• administered controlled reviewed observed
• consolidated delivered founded increased
• studied invented supplied detected
• programmed recommended distributed
• developed solved prepared installed
  selected
• arranged formulated solved started

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Who do you send it to?

• Named company representative
• Director/Manager of Personnel
• Referees
• OTHERS WHO REQUEST IT
• eg. Recruitment agencies, Postgraduate courses,
  Sponsorship/Funding bodies

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Common Mistakes!

• Too long
• Untargeted
• Disorganised
• Contains errors/missspellings
• Not accomplishments focused
• Error examples www.createyourcv.co.uk/CMS/191_CV-B
  loopers!.asp

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CV Nightmares

• Received a plague for employee of the year.
• As indicted, I have over five years experience
  of analysing research statistics.
• I am loyal to my employer at all costs . Please
  feel free to respond to my CV on my work voice
  mail.
• Cover letter "Thank you for your consideration.
  I hope to hear from you shorty!"

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What is a good application?

• Well-researched
• Targeted
• Accurate (content, speling, grammar)
• Informative
• Interesting
• Easy to read
• Enthusiastic

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What about the covering letter?

• One side of good quality A4 paper
• Formal/conventional layout
• Addressed to a named person
• State position applied for where advertised
• Explain why applying
• Convince the reader of your interest
  suitability (egs!)
• Give dates when available/can start
• Sign off Yours sincerely (if sent to named
  person)

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John Andrews 33 Union Street Manchester M6
3AE 16th June 2010 Ms Verity Wise Graduate
Recruitment Manager Great Big Bank Co. Anywhere
Street London SW1 Job Reference Number 12345
(state this if it is mentioned in the
advert) Dear Ms. Wise I am writing in response to
your advertisement in Prospects Finalist" for
Graduate Trainees and enclose my CV for your
consideration. I first became interested in
retail banking through talking to a Kent
graduate, currently in the second year of your
Management Training programme, at the University
Careers Fair. Since then, discussion with my
careers adviser and with management staff at my
local branch has confirmed my decision to aim for
a career in this field. Through my degree course,
I have been able to develop my interest in
business together with my numeracy skills. While
at University, I have also been able to utilise
my skills in working with people through a
variety of vacation jobs. My work at the Tourist
Information Office was valuable in teaching me
the importance of ascertaining customers needs
and providing clear and accurate information. I
will be available for interview if required at
your convenience. I can be contacted at my
college address (above) and look forward to
hearing from you. Yours Sincerely John
Andrews
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Further Information

• Careers Advisory Service website
  www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm
• CAS booklet Making Applications
• AGCAS Booklet
• CAS Reference Files (013 series)
• Example CVs (013)
• Quick Queries at the CAS
• Reference Books (eg. CVs for Graduates)
• DVDs Your Jobs online Looking Good on Paper