CV & COVER LETTER MINI GUIDE by LJMUCareers

CAREER PLANNING MINI-GUIDE

CVs & Covering Letters

LJMU CAREERS TEAM 0151 231 2048/3719 ❚ careers@ljmu.ac.uk

www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER MINI-GUIDE

Introduction Your CV is a personal marketing tool that should be structured in a way that best showcases your relevant academic achievements, skills and experience. There is no right or wrong format for your CV but there are certainly some guidelines you can follow to ensure you are selling your skills and experience and targeting the CV to the best of your ability. It is crucial that you spend time adapting and tailoring your CV for the role you are applying for – you should find out what skills, attributes and experience the employer is looking for and make sure your CV focuses on these. This guide will introduce you to some different styles of CV and will go through the different sections that you should include.

When Should I use a CV? ❙❙ When the job advert asks you to send a CV. Always include a covering letter to accompany it and check whether you have to fill out an application form as well. ❙❙ When you reply to an application that asks for applications in writing. Again, include a covering letter. ❙❙ When you are making speculative applications for a position that has not been advertised. Include a covering letter again explaining why you are interested in the company and what kind of position you are looking for. ❙❙ When you are at a Careers or Networking event. It is useful to be able to give your CV to employers you may meet on the day.

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How to Tailor your CV When it comes to sending out your CV to employers one thing to remember is that using a ‘one size fits all’ approach isn’t the best option. You should always find out what the employer is looking for and modify your CV to meet these requirements. This means that each time you apply for a position you should adapt the document so that it is tailored for the specific role and organisation. Always thoroughly research the role and company you are applying to. Find out exactly what skills and experience are required and evidence this in the CV. Check if there is a person specification for the position and look at the company’s website which may indicate what the employer wants. Consider using the terminology and key words from the advertisement or person specification in your CV. You will also find information about the skills required for different types of jobs in the job profiles on the Graduate Prospects website (https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles).

Get your CV checked Call into your nearest Careers Zone to book an appointment with an Employability Adviser to have your CV checked prior to submitting. Alternatively, we run both a workshop and webinar on CVs where you can learn how to sell your skills and experience effectively. Visit the Events System at https:// worldofwork.ljmu.ac.uk/events for details or to book a place.

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Different CV Styles The CV should be no longer than two sides of A4. If you have plenty of relevant work experience you should probably opt for the chronological or traditional CV format, where you can highlight this experience, focusing on key responsibilities, achievements and skills developed in these roles. If your relevant experience is lacking or you are changing career path, you may want to use a skills-based CV, which includes a ‘skills profile’ that focuses on the relevant skills required for the role. By drawing on examples from university, work and extracurricular activities you can demonstrate that you have what the employer is looking for. Examples of these styles can be found at the end of this document. Other styles include a Combination CV, which incorporates elements of both the skills-based and chronological CV, and the Academic/Research CV, which is used for professionals entering academic or research careers. Note: Other countries may have slightly different requirements when it comes to writing a CV. For example, in the USA, the ‘resumé’, containing very succinct, factual information, is usually just one page in length.

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What to include Regardless of the style you use you will generally need to include the following:

Name and contact details ❙❙ Make sure your name is in a clear, large, bold font at the top of the page – never use ‘CV’ as the title. ❙❙ Try and use just one contact address but if you do want to list two, make sure you indicate the dates you will be at each address. ❙❙ List one email address and make sure it sounds professional. For example, iamamazing@ljmu.ac.uk or partyanimal@ljmu.ac.uk wouldn’t be suitable!

Personal Profile / Career Objective (optional) ❙❙ Although not compulsory a personal profile or career objective can provide a concise introduction to your skills, experience and qualifications and should demonstrate the role or type of work you are looking for – make sure this section is clearly tailored for the role. If you have an interest in working in marketing but you are applying for a finance position, don’t mention your marketing interest on the CV! ❙❙ Try and stick to one or two sentences. For example, when applying for media work experience: “A proactive and creative Media Professional Studies student with the ability to integrate well in team environments and previous experience working in radio production. Keen to develop my production skills within television, particularly working on documentaries”. CVs & COVERING LETTERS 5

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Education/Qualifications ❙❙ List higher education and school/college qualifications in reverse chronological order ❙❙ Include the dates, full name of the institution, and full name of course. ❙❙ If relevant, you could provide some further details about your degree, e.g. a brief summary; details of some of the skills you developed; relevant modules/ projects; a brief outline of your dissertation. ❙❙ Include your degree classification/predicted result/ average grade. ❙❙ You can highlight A-Level subjects and grades but an overview of your GCSEs is sufficient, e.g. ’10 GCSEs grades A*-C, including English (A) and Maths (B)’. ❙❙ Highlight any other relevant qualifications or certificates under a separate heading ❙❙ If you have gaps in your education you can explain these in your covering letter. ❙❙ If you have changed courses identify this as well, e.g. ‘Completed the first year of a Politics degree at the University of Leeds before transferring to LJMU’.

Did you know? Employers spend about 30 seconds looking at your CV before deciding whether you are suitable for a position. If there are any spelling mistakes, grammatical errors or any other glaring problems it will give the employer the impression you do not take care and it is highly likely to end up in the bin!

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Work Experience and Voluntary Work Experience ❙❙ List the name of the company, the location (the full address is not required), the dates you worked there and your job title. ❙❙ If you have relevant work experience this should be highlighted in a prominent position on the first page of the CV, perhaps under the heading ‘Relevant Work Experience’ or under a heading that will stand out to the employer, e.g. ‘HR Work experience’ or ‘Engineering Experience’ – this can include shadowing opportunities, paid or unpaid work, volunteering, or temporary work that you may have carried out. ❙❙ Any other work experience can be outlined under the heading ‘Other Work Experience’. ❙❙ Demonstrate your achievements in previous positions and highlight the transferable skills you developed. Look at the list of action words on page 7. For nonrelevant positions provide a brief overview of the role. ❙❙ Try and pull out anything that is relevant to the job you are applying for and list the most relevant points first as these are more likely to be read by the employer. ❙❙ Voluntary work can be listed separately or, if it is relevant to the role, under the relevant work experience section. ❙❙ You don’t necessarily need to list every single job you have carried out but you do want to demonstrate how you have spent your time, avoiding gaps on the CV. If you have held lots of temporary positions or lots of similar non-relevant positions these could be grouped together, e.g. ‘Worked in a variety of temporary customer service roles, including...’

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Skills ❙❙ It is really important that you highlight the skills that are required for the role you are applying for but always ensure that these are substantiated with examples. ❙❙ Skills may be highlighted in amongst your work experience or under a separate heading depending on the style of CV you have opted for. ❙❙ It useful to include information about your IT skills, language skills and driving licence ❙❙ Provide information about your competence level, for example, ‘Competent with SPSS, which I used to carry out statistical tests and analyse data in my dissertation’.

Positions of responsibility / Achievements / Awards ❙❙ Employers often look for well-rounded individuals and this section can often help differentiate you from other candidates. You can include information about your, positions of responsibility, sports awards, society memberships, student membership of professional bodies, and achievements – particularly highlight anything relevant to the position/company and any activities that have developed relevant skills.

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Interests (optional) ❙❙ This section can reveal a lot about you and can tell the employer more about your personality. ❙❙ Try and give some detail about your interests, such as the skills you have developed and your level of commitment. ❙❙ Avoid listing generic activities such as ‘socialising with friends’ or ‘watching films’. Try and provide a little more detail, for example, ‘I am passionate about writing and enjoy going to literary festivals and writing in my spare time. I regularly contribute articles about music and events in Liverpool to an online magazine called Around the City and I am currently working on a collection of short stories, which I am looking to self publish by the end of the year.’

References ❙❙ List two referees, preferably one academic and one employer – state their name, position, organisation and email address. ❙❙ If you run out of space you can state ‘references available on request’.

Presentation The style and presentation of your CV is really important. Employers frequently have large numbers of CVs to read through so it is important that they are well-structured and easy to follow so that employers can easily find the relevant information. As the first page is the first thing the employer sees you should aim to include the most important information here, in an attempt to grab their attention.

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Layout ❙❙ Clearly list your name at the top of the document in a larger, bold font so that it stands out (never use the title ‘CV’ as this is self-evident!) ❙❙ Your CV should be no longer than two sides of A4. However, occasionally employers request a one page CV and longer CVs are often accepted in academia for academic or research jobs. ❙❙ Avoid using boxes and columns - these can sometimes look inconsistent on the page and can take up space. ❙❙ Be consistent in your style and layout.

Style and language ❙❙ Use a standard font consistently throughout the document in size 11 or 12. ❙❙ Avoid underlining and consider using bold font, subheadings and bullet points to highlight or break up information. ❙❙ Use a clear, concise writing style – employers typically spend 30 seconds reading the CV so you want to make it easy for them to get through! ❙❙ Avoid using large blocks of text – use short, succinct sentences separated, perhaps, with bullet points. ❙❙ Always check through your CV for spelling and grammatical errors or get someone to check through it for you (don’t rely on your computer’s spell-check!) – employers often use poor spelling and grammar mistakes to sift out applicants. ❙❙ Demonstrate enthusiasm and use positive language and active rather than passive language to describe previous skills and experience, e.g. “Implemented a new system...” rather than “I was asked to...” ❙❙ Look at the language used in the job/description/ person specification and utilise this in your CV – remember to always fully address the person specification so that the employer can see that you have the skills they require. ❙❙ Avoid using jargon and clichés.

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Structure ❙❙ Structure the CV to make the most out of your relevant skills and experience. If your degree programme is relevant to the role then list this on the front page and if you have previously carried out a similar role or worked on a project using applicable skills then these should be listed on the front page as well. ❙❙ If you have a person specification, make sure you address all relevant skills using examples to back up what you say.

Speculative CVs It is important to use as many strategies as possible when searching and applying for jobs. It is estimated that over 70% of jobs are never advertised so you should aim to speculatively contact companies and professionals with your CV. You may meet these professionals at networking events or via social media or you may approach organisations freely to enquire about job opportunities. For further advice about how to do this take a look at the ‘Hidden Jobs Market’ article in our Career Planning Guide. Although you may not be applying for a specific position, it is still important to tailor the CV and to do this you will need to research the company to find out what skills, values and attributes they look for in potential employees. Read through the company’s website, try and speak to people from the organisation, attend suitable networking events and speak to people who know the company or who have worked with the company. Also read through sector publications or try researching online to see if there have been any press releases or news articles that provide further insight into the organisation.

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Chronological CV - example 1 Brian Eastwood

9 Fleet Street, Ormskirk, L39 1XY Tel: 07912 121212, Email: b.eastwood@outlook.com

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Personal profile I am a motivated and knowledgeable Sports and Exercise Science graduate with extensive coaching experience and a thorough understanding of the academy system. Through relevant employment, voluntary work and my studies, I have developed an indepth insight into key psychological and physiological concepts as well as strong communication, teamwork and time management skills. I am keen to pursue a career in professional football coaching and am confident that the Academy Coach role at Bestkick United FC would be the ideal first step towards my career goal. Education and Qualifications 2014-2017  

Liverpool John Moores University BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science (2:1 – 68%) Relevant modules included: Psychology Principles; Sport and Exercise Biomechanics; Psychological and Developmental Issues in Sport; and Skeletal Muscle Physiology, Metabolism and Nutrition. During my final year, I completed a dissertation on “Is muscle strength a key factor for determining success among academy footballers in England?”

2007-2014 St Hilda’s High School and Sixth Form, Liverpool A-Levels: Physical Education (A), Biology (B) and Chemistry (B) 9 GCSEs including English (B), Maths (B) and Double Science (AA)

If you include a personal profile, keep it concise and focused, highlighting relevant experience, interests, knowledge and skills. You can personalise this introduction to your CV by including the organisation’s name and the job title.

List entries in this section in reverse chronological order, i.e. starting with details about your degree.

Highlight relevant modules you have completed as part of your studies.

You can also draw the readers’ attention to any relevant coursework or a final-year dissertation.

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You don’t need to list all of your GCSE subjects.

Relevant Work Experience

Including relevant work experience (paid or unpaid) in a separate section on the first page of your CV helps to highlight this to the reader. Briefly outline your duties in these roles and discuss what you have learnt in these positions. You can also make reference to any relevant skills you have used and improved.

Oct 2016-present Everton FC Academy, Voluntary Coach  Following the completion of an internship for my Applied Placement module at the academy, I was offered the opportunity to gain further experience as a voluntary coach. After initially shadowing and assisting coaches, I am now jointly responsible for leading pitch-based and gym-based training and pre-match warm-ups for U9s to U18s groups. I also design and deliver strength and conditioning sessions for individuals and groups.  Working with other staff, I have contributed to data collection for physiological aspects of training using Polar HR for heart rate monitoring and then entering data into Excel sheets. This role has not only strengthened my communication and teamwork skills but also further developed my understanding of the academy system.  Having built up a network of contacts within the academy, I was also able to attend training sessions and briefings with the senior team, which gave me an additional insight into performance and match analysis at senior level.

 From working with permanent staff in the academy, I gained an insight into the importance of collecting GPS data using Catapult Minimax software for post-match analysis to build a match report for coaching staff. Sitting in on pre-/post-match analysis and briefing sessions with players highlighted the sophisticated use of fitness, performance and match data at academy level.

May-Sept 2016 Rochdale AFC Academy, Summer Internship  I assisted coaches in delivering warm-ups and functional training sessions for all age groups within the academy, focusing on plyometric training to improve speed, strength and agility. I also supported players’ individual strength and conditioning programmes in the gym working on correct technique and collecting data to be able to evaluate players’ progress against their individual development plan.

You can provide some brief details for additional skills not already covered in other sections of your CV or highlight again any skills of particular relevance for the role.

If you have any interests that are relevant for your chosen role, make sure you highlight these first and then include some brief details for any additional interests.

If you have space, include details of two referees (preferably one academic and one employer reference). If you run out of space, you can state “References available on request”.

Not got a first draft of a CV? Try our online CV Builder If you are starting from a blank page and don’t have a first draft of a CV then we recommend you use our free CV Builder tool in the first instance. CV Builder will guide you through the process step by step and includes videos of employers offering tips and advice about the best way to approach it. CV Builder is available from the ‘Careers Zone 24/7’ section of the Careers website:

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Sept 2015-July 2016 St David’s College, Liverpool - Teaching Assistant  During my second year at university, I volunteered for one day a week as a teaching assistant. My duties included supporting key stage 3 and 4 pupils in the lower ability set during PE lessons and assisting teachers to deliver PE lessons. Towards the end of the school year, I also independently designed and delivered short activities.  I ensured I offered differentiated activities for pupils with physical disabilities or lower abilities to keep all pupils engaged. This role developed my ability to build effective working relationships with teachers and support staff. I also strengthened my session planning skills as well as my understanding of child protection and safeguarding. May 2015 Liverpool Ladies FC Centre of Excellence  During this week-long work shadowing placement, I gained an insight into performance testing and analysis, assisting staff in entering test results into Excel databases and observing coaches designing and delivering both individual and group training sessions to help players enhance their performance. Speaking with other staff like physiotherapists and nutritionists gave me a good understanding of how different professionals work together to develop and support players. Additional Employment 2014-2016 Sainsbury’s Local, Bold Street, Liverpool - Till Assistant Working as a till assistant in a busy Sainsbury’s Local branch further developed my communication skills as well as my ability to work under pressure in a busy environment. 2012-2014 The Hungry Horse, Ormskirk - Bar staff My duties included taking customers’ food and drink orders, cash handling, and assisting to serve on and clear tables during busy times. This role developed my teamwork, customer service and organisation skills to a high standard.

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IT Skills  Excellent working knowledge of all MS Office packages in particular Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.  I have demonstrated my ability to quickly familiarise myself with equipment like heart rate monitors, GPS trackers and related software during relevant work experience. Interests As a student member of BASES, I keep myself up-to-date with the latest research and developments in the field of sport and exercise science. In my spare time, I enjoy keeping fit by playing 5-a-side football and running. References Dr Lee Webster, Senior Lecturer at LJMU, 0151 231 1234, l.a.webster@ljmu.ac.uk Matthew Gibson, Head Coach, Everton FC Academy, 07987 987 987, mgibs@efc.co.uk

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Chronological CV - example 2

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Simon Monaghan Flat 5b, 12 Howard Street, Warrington, WA2 3AB Email: s.monaghan@outlook.com, Mobile: 07912 345123, LinkedIn Profile Personal Profile An ambitious and driven Business Studies graduate and Associate CIPD member with previous experience of HR and delivering workshops to staff. Thorough understanding of recruitment as well as HR systems and processes. Eager to put my excellent interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills into practice as a Graduate HR Adviser for Portlands Ltd.

If you have a LinkedIn profile, you can include a direct link to this in your personal details.

If you include a personal profile, ensure it is targeted at the role and organisation. Keep it concise and focused, using key words from the job advert.

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List entries in this section in reverse chronological order.

Briefly summarise your qualifications from secondary school.

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Education and Qualifications

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2005 – 2012 Warrington High School and Sixth Form College A-Levels: Maths (B), Spanish (C), Geography (C) 11 GCSEs including Maths (A) and English (C).

HR-Related Employment History

Separate your work experience into relevant experience and additional experience, then list entries in these sections in reverse chronological order.

Provide an overview of your key responsibilities, achievements and skills developed.

2013-2017 Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) BA (Hons) Business Studies (2:1)  Modules included Organisational Behaviour; Managing People; Employment Law in Context; and Managing Performance and Engagement.  Developed excellent teamwork and leadership skills through completing a range of group assignments as well as confident written communication skills through research and report writing. Gained a strong understanding of key HR issues and legislation.

2015-present Hayes Accountants, Liverpool – HR Assistant  After completing a full-time 12-month placement, I have been kept on during my final year on a part-time basis.  Delivered well-received equality and diversity workshops to staff, honing my training and presentation skills. Prepared carefully for each workshop by drawing up session plans and adapting sessions accordingly for different groups.  Advised staff on various issues, such as pay, performance, and health and safety.  Supported the recruitment process by helping to draft job descriptions, shortlisting candidates, and organising job interviews.  Excellent interpersonal skills developed by building a rapport with staff throughout the organisation, dealing with confidential information in a sensitive manner.  Demonstrated resilience when participating in meetings regarding staff grievances and disciplinaries; successfully dealt with issues using tact and diplomacy.  Developed strong commercial awareness by understanding the financial issues regarding the business and contributing to the organisation’s goals by developing staff. Jan-May 2015 Morley & Co Finance, Liverpool – HR Assistant (part-time)  Worked as part of the Training team with responsibility for new graduate recruits. Improved commercial awareness by gaining a thorough understanding of the organisation’s key strategy and how recruitment processes aligned with this.  Developed excellent interpersonal and listening skills liaising with staff from all levels of the organisation on a regular basis to establish training needs. Planning and organisational skills enhanced by putting together training plans and organising training days for new starters.

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Keep this section fairly short by providing a brief summary of the role.

If you have any interests that relate to the role, e.g. membership of professional bodies, include these in an Interests or Additional Information section at the end of your CV.

Include relevant content from your degree, e.g. individual modules you have studied. You can also draw the reader’s attention to any relevant skills or knowledge gained from your studies.

May-July 2014 Support Solutions, Warrington – Support Assistant (voluntary)  Assisted in the recruitment and training of volunteers, drafted advertisements to be placed in local publications and devised an induction plan. Organised payment of expenses for volunteers, enhancing my numeracy skills and attention to detail. Jan 2014 Office Solutions Limited, Liverpool (work experience)  Completed two weeks’ work experience in the HR department, shadowing HR staff to gain an insight into the recruitment and selection process as well as disciplinary and redundancy procedures. Improved my administrative skills by carrying out tasks such as data entry and filing, as well as typing letters and contracts for new staff. Additional Experience Summer 2016 Teaching English/School Building in Peru (voluntary)  Spending six weeks teaching and building a school improved my communication skills working with people from all over the world, many with minimal English language skills.  Worked closely with other members of the team sharing tasks, listening to others’ ideas and following a schedule to construct the building in a set period of time.  Devised a plan for the trip, which included a week’s Spanish language course followed by independent travelling around Bolivia and Peru for one month. 2012-2013 Evermore Solicitors, Manchester – Administrative Assistant  After completing my A-Levels, I worked full-time for a year. Effectively managed my workload and prioritised tasks providing administrative support to a team of solicitors.

If you have space, include details of two referees (preferably one academic and one employer reference). If you run out of space, you can state “References available on request”.

2010-2012 The Little Teapot, Warrington – Waiter (part-time)  Gained excellent customer service, communication and teamwork skills serving food and drinks in a busy cafe. Achievements

Get your CV checked To book an appointment with an Employability Adviser to have your CV checked prior to submitting. call into your nearest Careers Zone to make an appointment. Alternatively, we run both a workshop and webinar on CVs where you can learn how to sell your skills and experience effectively. For further details or to book a place visit the Events System at: https://worldofwork.ljmu.ac.uk/events

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Additional Information    

Captain of LJMU Cricket Team for 2016/17. Completed the Manchester Marathon in 2015.

IT Skills: Competent with Microsoft Office programmes, including Word and PowerPoint. I have also used Excel and Access to produce spreadsheets and databases in my HR roles. Languages: Good command of Spanish which I have used whilst travelling around South America. CIPD membership: held since 2015; I read newsletters and articles on the website on a regular basis to keep up-to-date with industry developments. Driving licence: Have held a full, clean licence since 2014.

References  

Dr Alison Bryan, Senior Lecturer, Liverpool Business School, LJMU Tel: 0151 231 9876 Email: a.bryan@ljmu.ac.uk Simon Jones, Managing Director, Hayes Accountants, Liverpool Tel: 0151 123 1234 Email: sjones@hayesacc.com

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Skills-based CV - example 1 Aoife Sheridan

3 Kingsway Garden, Liverpool, L1 7AT Email: aoifesheridan@hotmail.com Mobile: 07711 121824

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Personal Profile A motivated and hardworking Events Management undergraduate with a thorough understanding of key marketing theories as well as excellent organisation, project management and communication skills, keen to complete a summer internship as a Marketing and Events Assistant at Best Events.

If you include a personal profile ensure it is targeted at the role and organisation. Keep it concise and focused.

Education and Qualifications

List entries in this section in reverse chronological order.

Highlight any relevant knowledge developed on your course and briefly mention relevant modules.

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Don’t list all your GCSE subjects.

Use positive language and examples from university, previous work, volunteering, extracurricular activities etc. to demonstrate how you have used these skills.

2016-present Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) BA (Hons) Events Management (expected degree classification 2:1 or above, current average: 67%)  Studying relevant modules like Marketing for Events and Marketing Communications has helped me develop a thorough understanding of key marketing theories like the marketing mix, consumer behaviour and market segmentation and given me an insight into different marketing channels, including print media and social media. Modules like Event Planning and Risk Assessment or Conventions, Meetings and Exhibition Management have strengthened my knowledge about different kinds of events and their effective organisation. 2009-2016 St Matthew’s High School, Liverpool A-Levels: English (A), Business Studies (B), Sociology (C) 9 GCSEs including Maths (B) and English (B)

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Skills Profile Communication & Customer Service Skills  Excellent communication and customer service skills developed from four years’ experience in a number of customer-facing roles. As a sales adviser at LiverpoolSU, I deal with customer enquiries and complaints effectively, remaining calm under pressure and adapting my style of communication for different situations. As a member of the customer care team at Aintree Racecourse, I gained experience of liaising with high-profile race goers, like corporate guests and sponsors, which illustrates my confidence in communicating professionally across all levels.  Strong written communication skills demonstrated by completing a range of assignments at university. Feedback from my lecturers highlighted my concise writing style and confident use of appropriate terminology. I have also produced annotated floor plans and room layouts as part of work-related projects for my course.

Look at the job advert and include all the skills and attributes required for the role.

Project Management & Organisation Skills  For my Staging Events module, I organised a charity fundraising event with a group of three fellow students. After initial discussion, we agreed on staging a “Battle of the Bands” event in Liverpool City Centre. My task was organising the venue, which involved researching and contacting suitable venues to check availability and prices. I was also responsible for drawing up a project plan, on which I planned and recorded each team member’s responsibilities, our objectives and a timeline of tasks.  As a welcome assistant at LiverpoolSU, I organised a number of events and quizzes for both new and returning students. I used both LiverpoolSU and individual course social media pages to raise awareness of my events and conducted informal evaluations at the end of each evening to improve future events and collect ideas for new events. Commercial Awareness  I have attended a number of guest lectures delivered by experienced event industry professionals at LJMU, which I have found extremely beneficial to improve my understanding of the sector. I particularly enjoyed a recent master class by Bob Prattey, who gave us an interesting insight into the success of the Arena and Convention Centre (ACC) Liverpool.  Keep up-to-date with trends and developments in the marketing sector by subscribing to Marketing Week.

List entries in this section in reverse chronological order and provide a brief overview of the role.

Listing any achievements or positions of responsibility illustrates your leadership potential to prospective employers and can also provide some interesting talking points during an interview.

If you have any interests that relate to the role, include these at the end of your CV in an interests section.

Preferably use one academic and one employer reference. If you run out of space you can state ‘References available on request’.

Teamwork  Excellent teamwork skills demonstrated whilst working as a Camp Counsellor through Camp Leaders. Organised and planned a schedule of activities for children, working closely with other team members and sharing tasks out based on strengths. By listening to others’ ideas and building a rapport with everyone in the team, all tasks ran to schedule and we created a fun, educational environment for the children. IT and Social Media Skills  Competent user of Microsoft Office programmes, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, which I regularly use for assignments at university.  I have developed confident social media skills (Twitter and Facebook) from promoting events I organised for LJMU students as a welcome assistant for LiverpoolSU.

Work History 2016-present LiverpoolSU, Sales Adviser and Welcome Assistant In order to help fund my university studies, I have been working for the Student Union at LJMU in their retail outlets and since September 2015 as a welcome assistant during Freshers’ Week and throughout semester one, organising a number of events, quizzes and themed bar nights. April 2016/2017 Juvio Ltd, Liverpool – Customer Care Team Member at the Grand National Working as a member of the customer care team, I facilitated the entry of race goers into key areas of the racecourse, such as grandstand areas, corporate complexes and hospitality areas. This gave me excellent experience of working in a demanding and customer-focussed environment. Thanks to my hardworking attitude and excellent performance, I was invited to return the following year. Summer 2017 Summer Camp, San Diego, California, USA – Camp Counsellor Assisted in the design and delivery of a summer camp for 11-16 year olds. Coached swimming and tennis, put together an activity-based evening programme and also dealt with pastoral care. 2014-2016 Caffe Nero, Liverpool City Centre – Part-time Barista Worked effectively in a team in a busy café. Developed strong customer service skills, built a rapport with regular customers and dealt with complaints professionally and promptly.

Achievements and Positions of Responsibility   

Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, achieved in 2015. Certificate of Achievement awarded from St Matthew’s High School for two years of volunteering as a Learning Mentor and Reading Buddy. Raised £450 for local charities in “Battle of the Bands” event.

Additional information

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Interests: I am committed to developing my understanding of marketing and the marketing industry. In addition to subscribing to Marketing Week, I have also attended a recent career talk delivered by the CIM at LJMU to improve my understanding of marketing careers. I also enjoy running and yoga to keep fit. Travel: Have travelled extensively around Europe and North America. Put my strong organisational and time management skills into practice and immersed myself in different cultures. Driving licence: Have held a full, clean licence since 2015.

References  Dr David Clarke, Senior Lecturer at LJMU, Tel: 0151 231 5684, Email: d.e.clarke@ljmu.ac.uk  Mrs Danielle Hockney, Retail Supervisor at LiverpoolSU, Tel: 0151 231 4900, Email: d.hockney@ljmu.ac.uk

CAREER MINI-GUIDE

Skills-based CV - example 2 David King 123 High Street, Liverpool, L1 2AB, E-mail: david.king@outlook.com, Mobile: 07890 123 456

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For specific placement/graduate scheme applications, check requirements of the particular employer and amend your personal profile accordingly. You could include the employer name to personalise the opening of your CV.

List entries in this section in reverse chronological order, i.e. starting with details about your degree.

Highlight any relevant modules or content from your degree.

4 5

You don’t need to list all of your GCSE subjects.

Check this against the job advert and match your entries to the particular employer’s requirements. Try to use examples from a number of different contexts, e.g. study, work and unpaid work, extracurricular activities etc.

Personal Profile A technically-competent Mechanical Engineering undergraduate with a strong interest in developing a career in the automotive industry. My involvement in the Formula Student Team and previous employment have helped me develop confident problem-solving, communication, teamwork and IT skills. Strong AutoCad and Solidworks skills developed through project work. I am keen to gain practical experience alongside my studies and feel the industrial placement offered by Automobile Inc. would be an excellent opportunity to test and improve my skills in a real engineering environment. Education and Qualifications 2016-present  

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) MEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering (accredited by IMechE) First-year average: 68% Relevant modules studied: Mechanical Principles of Fluids and Solids 1 & 2, Engineering Problem Solving, Engineering Design Practice, Materials and Manufacture, Engineering Mathematics.

2009-2016 St Mary’s College and Sixth Form, Liverpool  A-Levels: Physics (B), Maths (C) and Chemistry (C)  9 GCSEs (grade C or above), including Maths (A) and English (B) Relevant Experience 2016 – present Liverpool John Moores University, Formula Student Team Being part of the Formula Student team has given me valuable experience of working within a team of Mechanical, Electrical and Design Engineering students. I was involved in manufacturing parts for the car and assisted one of the more experienced team members in redesigning the fuel tank according to set weight and cost specifications. On the race day at Silverstone, I was responsible for keeping the pit area clean and organised to avoid any delay in carrying out repairs and adjustments.

If you have any relevant experience (paid or unpaid), emphasise this by listing this entry early on in your CV and provide some brief details.

Skills Profile Design and Technical skills  Confident design skills developed from successfully working on a number of projects during my degree studies, including case studies provided by employers. I achieved high marks (2:1 or above) by ensuring that my designs adhered to the given specification and project brief and by using different techniques to generate ideas, such as morphological charts, check listing and brain storming.  Familiar with a range of methods to solve problems that might occur within the design process including French’s model and Pugh analysis.  Good skills using CAD software such as Solidworks and AutoCAD. I am also a confident user of MathCAD for mathematical modelling. Completing a number of assignments at university has helped me develop a good understanding of technical communication and the ability to use graphs, tables and drawings effectively in technical reports. In addition to engineering-specific software, I also have advanced skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, which I continue to improve on through attending relevant Study Support workshops at LJMU. Problem Solving  Working on projects and case studies at university has developed my analytical thinking, fault-finding and problem-solving skills. For a recent group assignment, we were given a problem by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers which was focused on designing a low-energy vehicle for a student competition. I researched different options of powering the vehicle and to consider alternative



Emphasise achievements or additional responsibilities in your part-time work.

It is a good idea to illustrate your interest in developing a career in your chosen sector through being a member of professional bodies or relevant student societies. Attending public lectures or reading relevant journals/free newsletters can also be useful to improve your understanding of this further.

Highlight any positions of responsibility to illustrate your leadership potential.

If you have space, include details of two referees (preferably one academic and one employer reference). If you run out of space, you can state “References available on request”.

methods to conclude a final design that would be feasible within the given budget. My group finished in the top three in the competition at LJMU, which meant that we represented the university at the regional finals in Manchester. As a customer service and technical assistant at Cycle Surgery Wirral, I have demonstrated hands-on skills in servicing and repairing bicycles, which has further improved my problem-solving skills and feel for tolerances. I have also gained experience dealing with customer enquiries and complaints effectively and professionally, listening and responding calmly to agitated customers and offering suitable alternative products where possible.

Planning and Time Management skills  Balancing my commitments from part-time work and full-time study requires me to be organised and to manage my time effectively. I use a weekly planner to record my shifts in work as soon as these have been confirmed and organise my revision, coursework and social activities around these. To manage my academic work and revision, I produce weekly to do lists, which allows me to monitor my progress and, if required, allocate additional time for revision or coursework.  Working as a team leader of a busy bar team at Wetherspoons, I am partly responsible for creating staff rotas and stock management. I always ensure that I keep myself up-to-date with any current promotions as well as events in the area to plan adequate staffing and stock levels. In this role, I have also demonstrated my initiative and ability to amend existing plans, e.g. by re-allocating members of staff to other areas. Communication skills  Strong written communication skills developed by completing various reports and essays at university. For example, for a recent report I discussed the differences in the micro structures of metal, fibre and ceramics and how these influence the choice of materials used in industrial applications. I presented arguments for and against each material to illustrate why some industries favoured particular materials and supported my findings through graphs and tables. Feedback from my tutor highlighted my professional and concise writing style as well as my confidence in using the appropriate technical terminology.  My role as a student representative has strengthened my communication skills and my confidence in dealing with senior members of academic staff. I attend board of study meetings to feed back any issues my fellow students have raised, ensuring that I use a diplomatic and professional approach at all times in order to build rapport with staff in the faculty to resolve any issues. Work History

2016-present The Welkin, Wetherspoons, Liverpool City Centre – Team leader After 6 months as a barman, I was promoted to team leader thanks to my work ethic and my willingness to learn. I am involved in recruiting and training new members of staff, which greatly developed my teamwork and leadership skills. 2014-2016

Cycle Surgery Liverpool – Customer Service and Technical Assistant

Additional Information

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  

Membership of professional bodies: As a student member of the IMechE, I enjoy keeping up to date with any developments in the engineering sector. I pay particular attention to any news stories relating to the automotive sector. 2015-2016 Student representative for BEng Mechanical Engineering course at LJMU Interests: I enjoy outdoor activities like mountain-biking, hiking and kayaking. References available on request

CVs & COVERING LETTERS 15

CAREER MINI-GUIDE

Covering Letter A covering letter, which should be no longer than a page in length, should always accompany your CV, and, as with the CV, should always be tailored for the role. Use a standard business letter layout with your address on the top right hand side, the company’s name and address on the left hand side, and, if you can, find out the name of the person to send the application to. The letter is your opportunity to draw the employer’s attention to key aspects of your CV, relating these to the job you are applying for. Rather than repeating from your CV, the letter should support and complement it. A good covering letter can set you apart from other candidates who have perhaps shown less enthusiasm and motivation so make sure you demonstrate that you have researched the organisation and explain why you want to work there. If there are any weaknesses in your application, for example, inconsistencies in your work history or poor grades, you can explain these within the covering letter. The structure you follow is your decision but you could use the following for guidance: ❙❙ Start by addressing the letter to a named person, e.g. ‘Dear Ms Mathers’. ❙❙ Briefly introduce yourself and qualifications, and identify the job you are applying for and where you have seen it advertised. ❙❙ Explain why you are applying to this particular company – demonstrate that you have researched the company. Look at the website, company values, case studies, news articles where the company may have been referred to, etc, and explain how it relates to your interests/experience/values, etc.

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CAREER MINI-GUIDE

Ms Anna Mathers Head of Graduate Recruitment Portlands Ltd 23 Dale Avenue Liverpool L3 4AE

Flat 5b 12 Howard Street Warrington WA2 3AB

1 September 2017

Dear Ms Mathers, I am writing to apply for the Graduate HR Adviser role as advertised on your website and enclose my CV for your consideration. My interest in your company initially arose after reading an article in the North West Business Insider last summer about your continued success and the focus the organisation puts on staff training and development. Through further research, and after meeting one of your HR graduate trainees at an employer event at my LJMU, I realised that Portlands Ltd is a company that I would really like to work for. The trainee emphasised the importance of commitment, teamwork and staff development within the organisation and I am confident I would be a good fit. You will see from my CV that I have gained a wealth of HR experience over the last few years. In addition to some voluntary HR work, I completed a full-time 12-month sandwich placement, where I used my strong organisational skills to implement a training plan for new recruits. I built strong relationships with staff by offering support and dealing with enquiries efficiently. My understanding of the HR environment has been further strengthened through my current part-time HR assistant role, where I have taken responsibility for managing employee records and advising staff on pay, performance, and health and safety. I also meet with the HR manager on a regular basis to discuss training needs for staff. I am confident that the in-depth knowledge I gained in this position would enable me to provide advice on a comprehensive range of HR issues to your staff and assist with the delivery of training. In addition, I also have good administrative and customer service experience. In these roles I focused on communicating effectively and working closely with other team members to carry out group tasks. I further enhanced my ability to integrate well in a team by volunteering in Peru to build a school and teach English to children. This exciting opportunity also enabled me to improve my Spanish language skills, which I hope will be useful when speaking with staff from your Madrid office, should I be offered the position. I thoroughly enjoyed completing my Business Studies degree and feel that the range of modules I selected provided me with a good grounding in understanding the commercial environment. I regularly read HR publications, such as Personnel Today, to improve my understanding of key issues and developments in the sector. I am passionate about pursuing a HR career and hope that on consideration of my CV, you will be persuaded of my ability to succeed in the graduate HR role. I can be available for interview at any time and look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely,

Simon Monaghan

CVs & COVERING LETTERSâ&#x20AC;&#x201A; 17â&#x20AC;&#x201A;

CAREER MINI-GUIDE

❙❙ Draw the employer’s attention to key points on your CV, such as relevant experience, expertise, and skills, and provide evidence of this. ❙❙ If necessary, discuss any issues but be positive as well. For example: “You will see from my CV that my A Level grades are lower than you require. Unfortunately during this period I spent two months in hospital and missed a lot of school. I was determined to fulfil my ambitions and gain a place at university to study Law so I worked as much as I could from hospital and managed to submit coursework and sit my exams once I returned to school’. ❙❙ Use a polite concluding paragraph and perhaps mention when you are available for interview. ❙❙ Sign off using ‘Yours sincerely’ or use ‘Yours faithfully’ if you have been unable to find out the name of the person to address the letter to.

Extra support You can get one-to-one support from our team of Employability Advisers, who can offer personalised advice on your CV and covering letters, helping you tailor them for specific roles. You can make an appointment by calling into your nearest Careers Zone. We also offer both workshops and webinars (online classes which are accessed remotely) on CVs and covering letters. You can find out more about them and book a place on our events system - https://worldofwork.ljmu.ac.uk/events.

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CAREER MINI-GUIDE

Action Words ‘Action words’ create a strong impression of accomplishment and provoke an approving reaction from the employer. For example, rather than saying “I was the captain of the university netball team”, you could say “In 2011 I was elected captain of the university netball team by my peers. I successfully led the team at sporting events by focusing on motivation and encouragement and we went on to achieve second place in the national league”.

Experience:

Responsibilities:

❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙

Demonstrated skills in… Extensive academic/practical background in… Experienced in all aspects of… Knowledge of/experienced as/proficient in… Provided technical assistance to…

In charge of… Supervised/delegated… Now involved in/coordinate… Familiar with… Employed to/handle… Assigned to… Project managed…

Ability:

Roles:

❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙

Trained in… Proficient in/competent at… Initially employed to… Expert at… Working knowledge of… Organised…

Analysed/evaluated… Established/created/designed… Formulated… Initiated… Managed… Presented…

Success:

Personal Attributes

❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙

❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙

Promoted to… Succeeded in… Proven track record in… Experience involved/included… Successful in/at… Delivered…

Committed to… Confident Enthusiastic user of… Actively sought…

CVs & COVERING LETTERS 19

Are you looking for a graduate job, placement, internship, voluntary work or part-time job?

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http://ljmu.prospects.ac.uk LJMU CAREERS TEAM

0151 231 2048/3719 || careers@ljmu.ac.uk

www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers