JOBSHOP
CVs and covering Letters Introduction Your CV is a fact-based document, a concise summary of your skills, experience and education. Your CV is an employer’s first impression of you and on average they will make up their mind within 6 seconds. So first impressions really do count!
Types of CV There are different types of CV, the most common are: Chronological CV
Skill Based CV
Academic CV
The Chronological CV is the easiest to create and a good place to start.
The skill based CV is particularly useful when you are applying for a specific job as it highlights relevant skills and experience.
The academic CV is particularly useful if you are applying for research roles
CV Content Style and Grammar § Be concise and adopt a professional tone. § Be consistent with your font choice and size. Use bold, spaces, indents. Be careful not to use too much italics or underlining as this can make the CV looked cluttered and difficult to read. § Do not reduce your font size below 10. § Check your spelling and grammar. Guides to spelling and grammar are available from Learning Developments; free guides also available from the Plain English Campaign - www.plainenglish.co.uk Implement Key Words Employers have a check list and you need to ensure you ‘tick’ each box. As with an application form, you need to make your CV specific to the job/type of job you are applying for. Be specific when talking about your skills or qualifications. Editing § Leave enough time for editing. § Your CV should be no more than two sides of A4. Choose carefully your examples and use your language to convey concisely your skills and abilities. § Spell check. § Ask someone else to re-read and check for errors.
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Structure Personal Details
Name, Address, Telephone Number, Email Address You could also include: link to an online pdf, a blog, a LinkedIn profile.
Personal Profile
A short paragraph and/or list giving a brief overview of relevant experience, skills, achievements and career objectives. Keep it factual and short (no more than six lines). The personal profile is a really vital part of your CV and needs to capture an employer’s attention so they continue to read the rest of the CV. This section can be written in the third person. See the useful links section for links to more information on writing the personal profile.
Education
Start with your most recent or most relevant education first. List the institution you studied with relevant dates. Degree - You should list your degree with your qualification and grade or expected grade. Relate your degree to the job you are applying for. ‘A’ levels - List the subjects and grades. GCSE - You do not need to list all your GCSE’s unless they are required for the job. You would normally say 10 GCSE’s. You can list your English and Maths grades as these are relevant to most jobs.
Work Experience
You can list both paid and voluntary work here or you can have two separate sections for each of these. Start with your most recent or most relevant experience. List the organisation, relevant dates, your job title. Focus on your strengths, what you did for the organisation, use examples that are relevant to the job you are applying for and highlight relevant transferable skills.
Additional skills and experience
List here anything else you think is relevant such as languages, IT, clean driving licence.
References
‘Referee details available upon request’ You do not need to give out the names of your references on your CV, unless the application details request you to do this. You should however, ensure you know who you will name as a referee and that they have given their consent. Referees are usually a current or former employer or a teacher or lecturer.
Other sections to consider including: Key Skills section (Bullet pointed list of key skills and attributes) Interests (Keep it brief, perhaps use bullet points)
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CV format You will use your CV in a number of ways and you will change the format depending on whether you are handing the CV to an employer in person or posting it online. Printed Copy These are useful for speculative applications, where you drop off your CV in person. You may also use a printed CV in response to a job advert or to take with you to an interview. Electronic Copy Reasons employers ask for an electronic version To scan the document - Using technology to scan CVs has become common place and it is important to ensure your CV is using key words. Some employers will receive hundreds of CVs, especially for graduate jobs. Employers will scan for key skills or qualifications and they discard any that do not match their criteria. Electronic CVs can be either via email or via an online template. Formats for your electronic CV Many employers will require you to complete an online template; however, others will ask you to send them the CV. You can do this in a number of ways: PDF
Online link
Shortlinks QR Code
If you are sending an email version, you should first convert it to a pdf document. Why? Everyone uses different versions of word and if the employer can’t open the document, it is likely your application will be rejected. A pdf version is reader friendly and every potential employer will be able to read your document. Instead of including an attachment you could create a link directly to your CV. You can set up an account and ‘store’ your CV. You can then create a link to a document you have saved. Gmail Account https://accounts.google.com Bitly account. https://bitly.com/a/tools If your link is long you can make it smaller via this website www.tinyurl.com. You could also include a link to your blog, LinkedIn account, video CV if it is relevant. Create your own code to link to your CV. You could include a code on the paper version of your CV, to give the employer the chance to easily view it electronically. You could also use it to link to a blog or a video CV if relevant. Use https://bitly.com/a/tools to upload your document and create a QR code. You will need to download an app to ‘read’ a code from your phone.
Alternative formats Prezzie Infographic Video
Design a CV on Prezzie. You can use this easy to use, free tool to create an ‘alternative CV’ that flows. Take a look at this guide, http://tinyurl.com/URprezzieblog Take a look at this article from Guardian Careers to find out more about this type of CV - http://tinyurl.com/bvrrkr8 These are often used to enhance a traditional CV. Here is a link to a guide https://www.pinterest.com/pin/422001427560162714/
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Examples of CVs § § § § § §
Graduate Prospects - www.prospects.ac.uk/example_cvs.htm TARGETjobs – http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/applications-and-cvs National Careers Service - http://tinyurl.com/c67l9ck Guardian CV-templates - http://www.theguardian.com/careers/cv-templates Business Balls - www.businessballs.com/curriculum.htm Alec – www.alec.co.uk
CV – Quick Checklist ü ü ü
Contact details – correct and the email address is appropriate for applying for jobs Education and work experience in reverse chronological order Content § Concise and relevant to the job you are applying for § Use words that illustrate your skills and attributes ü Use positive language. Do not be negative or self-depreciating. ü Have some referees lined up, so that you can forward the contact details promptly when asked. ü Remember to check your spelling and grammar and ensure you are honest.
Covering letters You should always send a covering letter with your CV. The covering letter will contain information similar to the personal statement part of an application form. If an employer asks for a CV and covering letter, opposed to an application form, then this is your opportunity to match yourself closely to the role by highlighting relevant skills and experience. Covering letters should complement your CV, but not duplicate it. A covering letter should ‘flesh out’ more relevant points on your CV.
How to write a covering letter Your covering letter should be broken down into the following sections: First paragraph – The opening statement should set out why you’re writing the letter, what position you are applying for and where you saw it advertised. I wish to apply for the role of Sales Manager currently being advertised on propsects.ac.uk. Please find enclosed my CV for your consideration. Second paragraph – Explain why you are suitable for the job, what attracts you to this type of work and why you are interested in working for the company. You could mention your professional and academic qualifications that are relevant to the role here.
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As you can see from my enclosed CV, having recently gained a BA (Hons) Business degree, I believe I have the knowledge and skills necessary to be an ideal candidate for the role. Along with two years’ experience working in a sales environment as a Team Leader I have the ability to motivate a team and exceed targets set driving sales forward. I am confident the techniques I have mastered through my work and education would make me a perfect fit in an innovative and fast moving company such as … Third – fifth paragraph – In these paragraphs highlight relevant experience and demonstrate how your skills match the specific requirements of the job description/person specification. Summarise any additional strengths and explain how these could be of benefit to the company you are applying to. Your person specification states that you desire a candidate who is able to work well as part of a team, and I am an excellent team player. My role as a Team Leader at xxx required me to not only work as part of a team, but also to lead a team in achieving sales targets. I did this by listening to the employees and identifying their strengths and weaknesses in order to establish any training needs. Communication and listening skills are an integral part of being an effective team player and I know these, along with the skills and knowledge gained through my degree in sales techniques and management would allow me to succeed as a Sales Manager. Last paragraph – Use the closing paragraph to round up your letter. Reiterate your interest in the role and indicate your availability for a personal interview. Remember to finish the letter by thanking the employer and that you look forward to receiving a response. I am confident that I can bring a high level of success with me to your company and help XXX build upon their reputation as (insert fact, figure of similar about company here). With my previous experience and expertise, I believe I can hit the ground running and start to actively contribute to the business as soon as possible. Thank you for your time and consideration, I look forward to meeting with you to discuss my application further.
Covering Letter – Quick Checklist ü ü
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Your covering letter should be no more than one A4 page in length (around 3-5 paragraphs). Like your application statement, always write your covering letter with the position you are applying for in mind. Don’t just repeat everything in your CV. If you are emailing, put your covering letter in the body of the email. If you attach it, it may be misidentified as spam. Double check your spelling and grammar.
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For examples of covering letters go to: Graduate Prospects - www.prospects.ac.uk/cvs_and_cover_letters.htm TARGETjobs - http://tinyurl.com/csxehuz National Careers - http://tinyurl.com/aexwc72
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Useful links §
Graduate Prospects - www.prospects.ac.uk. Select ‘Careers Advice’ and then Job Application Advice This section of the Graduate Prospects website contains tips and information including what skills employers want, advice on personal statements, online applications and more. CVs and Covering Letters This section of the Graduate Prospects website contains Sample CVs, information on CV content and covering letter.
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TARGETjobs - www.targetjobs.co.uk Select Careers Advice and then scan down the page to select Application Advice for Graduates
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Education Personnel Management - http://www.bishopg.ac.uk/docs/careers/Teaching/EPM%20NQT.pdf Applying for your first Teaching Post - a guide to writing a teaching CV & covering letter.
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National Careers Service - https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/Pages/Home.aspx Go to ‘Careers Advice’ and then to ‘CVs and Covering Letters’
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CVrite - https://www.cvrite.co.uk/login This website has a good template. However, there is a small charge to download your CV.
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Talent Cupboard - www.talentcupboard.com Create an online CV free of charge, includes the chance to embed a video
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Business Balls - www.businessballs.com/curriculum.htm This site has a number of example CVs
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Alec – www.alec.co.uk This site has a number of example CVs
Blogs § Tips on how to match the job requirements by Guardian Careers http://tinyurl.com/ckorpet § How to write a personal statement for your CV by Guardian Careers www.pinterest.com/pin/422001427555679727/ § Worried students guide to creating a graduate CV www.pinterest.com/pin/422001427556078752/
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Double check your CV or application These are taken from real CVs and cover letters, printed in the July 21, 1997 issue of Fortune Magazine (USA). 1. "I demand a salary commiserate with my extensive experience." 2. "I have lurnt Word Perfect 6.0 computor and spreasheet progroms." 3. "Received a plague for Salesperson of the Year." 4. "Wholly responsible for two (2) failed financial institutions." 5. "Reason for leaving last job: maturity leave." 6. "Failed bar exam with relatively high grades." 7. "It's best for employers that I not work with people." 8. "Let's meet , so you can 'ooh' and 'aah' over my experience." 9. "You will want me to be Head Honcho in no time." 10. "Am a perfectionist and rarely if if ever forget details." 11. "I was working for my mom until she decided to move." 12. "Marital status: single. Unmarried. Unengaged. Uninvolved. No commitments." 13. "I have an excellent track record, although I am not a horse." 14. "I am loyal to my employer at all costs...Please feel free to respond to my resume on my office voice mail." 15. "I have become completely paranoid, trusting completely no one and absolutely nothing." 16. "My goal is to be a meterologist. But since I possess no training in meteorology, I suppose I should try stock brokerage." 17. "I procrastinate, especially when the task is unpleasant." 18. "Personal interests: donating blood. Fourteen gallons so far." 19. "As indicted, I have over five years of analyzing investments." 20. "Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a Midwest chain store." 21. "Note: Please don't misconstrue my 14 jobs as 'job-hopping'. I have never quit a job." 22. "Marital status: often. Children: various." 23. "Reason for leaving last job: They insisted that all employees get to work by 8:45 am every morning. I couldn't work under those conditions." 24. "The company made me a scapegoat, just like my three previous employers." 25. "References: none. I've left a path of destruction behind me."
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BG Futures: Careers, Employability and Enterprise Services Application and CV help About this service: Careers Advisers are able to give advice on your CV or job application How to use the service: You will need to book an appointment with an adviser. Please email bgfutures@bishopg.ac.uk to obtain a booking form. Limitations of service Staff aim to contact you about your CV within 5 working days. Please note that due to the demands on this service that it is unlikely they will be able to check it at short notice, you are therefore advised to forward it in good time.
Resources Resource Centre You should go to the Resource Centre, located in the Hardy Building with your initial enquiries. The Jobshop section of the Resource Centre holds information and advice on completing CVs and applications. Blackboard The BG Futures module of Blackboard has lots of resources on applications and CVs including links to online advice and guides.
BG Futures: Careers, Employability and Enterprise Operates in accordance with the University College’s Diversity and Equality Policies. If you require this document in an alternative format, for example in large print, please email us at bgfutures@bishopg.ac.uk For up to date opening times and more information go to Blackboard or www.bishopg.ac.uk/careers