APPLICATION ESSENTIALS
CVs
The goal of a CV and its cover letter is to get you to an interview; for a speculative application, it is to encourage the reader to respond positively. Remember, recruiters usually review CVs very quickly – perhaps only 10–20 seconds – and so CVs have a certain style all of their own. The primary challenge is to make it easy for the recruiter to find exactly what they are looking for. Focus on their core requirements and adjust or adapt your CV for each specific application.
Getting ready to create your CV
• Create your long list of all your experience,
achievements and key dates. Transferable skills are developed and demonstrated in diverse situations, so include: Educational achievements, prizes, awards. Voluntary, paid and unpaid work experience. Involvement in societies, sports and clubs. Additional interests and skills (eg. languages; IT skills; music). For each application, identify the skills and competencies required. Select your most relevant experiences to demonstrate the skills and competencies required for the role. Select your format – for most graduate positions, a standard reverse chronological format is recommended (see Siân Magellan’s CV). Consider which headings are most useful to present your experience most effectively: EDUCATION will normally be at the top. EXPERIENCE rather than ‘Employment’. Headings such as ‘POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY’ or ‘AWARDS’ can signal other important information. INTERESTS or OTHER INTERESTS AND SKILLS should be included to indicate extra-curricular activities and diverse talents. This section might include sub-headings such as Languages; IT Skills; Sports; and Music.
• • • • • • • •
• • • •
www.careers.ox.ac.uk
There are four key characteristics of CVs that work well Relevance Content is relevant to the position applied for – this is not a list of everything that you’ve done. Content highlights your personal contribution.
• •
Clarity A well laid-out CV is inviting to read and easy to scan quickly. Use simple language – avoid jargon, acronyms and technical details that may not be understood or provide too much detail. A standard reverse chronological format helps recruiters as they know where to find what they are looking for.
• • •
Evidence-based Provide evidence of your contribution and impact. Focus on ‘actions taken’ rather than ‘responsibilities’ to showcase your skills. Use numbers, percentages and values to quantify your impact and give a sense of scale to your actions. Avoid unsupported assertions or opinions.
• • • •
Brevity Avoid paragraphs, as these are slow to read. Use bullet points to package information succinctly. Avoid too much context, excessive detail or unfocused material that will dilute the impact of your most relevant messages.
• • •
51
