1. Preparing a CV and Covering Letter Click through this presentation with your mouse

2. The next steps… Now, for those of you who do not have an up to date CV, let’s look at producing one. Now, for those of you who do not have an up to date CV, let’s look at producing one. To begin, you need to open WORD software, to run at the same time as this Powerpoint show. To begin, you need to open WORD software, to run at the same time as this Powerpoint show. WORD will be used to create your CV, whilst Powerpoint will talk you through different stages of the document at the same time. WORD will be used to create your CV, whilst Powerpoint will talk you through different stages of the document at the same time.

3. The “Alt-Tab” combination… To switch between Word and Powerpoint, you can use the “Alt-Tab” combination of keys. To switch between Word and Powerpoint, you can use the “Alt-Tab” combination of keys. This is explained below… This is explained below… The “Alt” key is found here. And the “Tab” key is found here.

4. First press the Alt key and keep it pressed down. Next, BRIEFLY press and release the Tab key AT THE SAME TIME. Keep the Alt key pressed down. First press the Alt key and keep it pressed down. Next, BRIEFLY press and release the Tab key AT THE SAME TIME. Keep the Alt key pressed down. This box will then appear in the centre of your screen, showing all the current programmes you have running. Each time you press and release the Tab key, the square box around the programme icons will advance until you see the programme you wish to open, e.g. W for WORD. Release the Alt and Tab keys together at this point and the highlighted programme will open. Please note, you will be expected to email the CV to your tutor at the end of the session. This is how you will switch between Word and Powerpoint in the following pages, as you progress through your CV.

5. CVs Some important things to remember…. Some important things to remember…. There is no such thing as the perfect CV There is no such thing as the perfect CV The goal of a CV is to make you seem interesting to the person reading it….. interesting enough to want to interview you The goal of a CV is to make you seem interesting to the person reading it….. interesting enough to want to interview you It should be short (no more than 2 pages), to the point and informative. It should be short (no more than 2 pages), to the point and informative.

6. Stage One: Personal Details Start your CV with your Personal Details. Start your CV with your Personal Details. You do NOT need to put the title “CV”, or “Curriculum Vitae” on the document. You do NOT need to put the title “CV”, or “Curriculum Vitae” on the document. Begin with your name, address, contact telephone(s) and email address at the top. Begin with your name, address, contact telephone(s) and email address at the top. Put these in the centre of the lines, and use a larger font/Bold for your name to make it stand out. Put these in the centre of the lines, and use a larger font/Bold for your name to make it stand out. You do NOT need to put your age, date of birth or gender if you do not want to. You do NOT need to put your age, date of birth or gender if you do not want to. Be sure to use a sensible email address – remember, you are trying to make a good impression. Be sure to use a sensible email address – remember, you are trying to make a good impression. Use Alt-Tab to switch to WORD and complete this section before going any further. From now on, you will see the following symbol whenever you should switch: , but of course, you can switch at any time.

7. Stage Two: Personal Profile Imagine how many people send in their CV’s when a job is advertised: lots and lots! Imagine how many people send in their CV’s when a job is advertised: lots and lots! These CV’s often end up in a pile on the desk of someone in a Personnel/Human Resources Department and they “sift” through them to choose who will be interviewed. These CV’s often end up in a pile on the desk of someone in a Personnel/Human Resources Department and they “sift” through them to choose who will be interviewed. It is likely that this person will spend only a brief amount of time considering each CV, and they are unlikely to scrutinise every detail of each page. It is likely that this person will spend only a brief amount of time considering each CV, and they are unlikely to scrutinise every detail of each page. The “Personal Profile” is an attempt to give a “snap-shot summary” of you that can be read quickly, and hopefully help to encourage a company to offer you an interview. The “Personal Profile” is an attempt to give a “snap-shot summary” of you that can be read quickly, and hopefully help to encourage a company to offer you an interview.

8. The Personal Profile Begin by writing the heading, “Personal Profile” Begin by writing the heading, “Personal Profile” This section needs to be only 3 sentences long, and all should be written in the third person. That means writing as though your are writing about someone else. This section needs to be only 3 sentences long, and all should be written in the third person. That means writing as though your are writing about someone else. So, do not use words like “I” or “me”, but do write things like, “A hard working individual” So, do not use words like “I” or “me”, but do write things like, “A hard working individual” So what do you write in the 3 sentences? So what do you write in the 3 sentences? Well, they deal with the past, present and future and the next page gives some examples. Well, they deal with the past, present and future and the next page gives some examples.

9. Personal Profile continued… Sentence one is about your past and should indicate what level of education you have achieved… Sentence one is about your past and should indicate what level of education you have achieved… “A hard working individual educated to GCSE standard.” “A hard working individual educated to GCSE standard.” Sentence two explains your current situation… Sentence two explains your current situation… “Currently looking for a challenging position in [whatever], whilst waiting for his/her A level (or alternative) results.” “Currently looking for a challenging position in [whatever], whilst waiting for his/her A level (or alternative) results.” Sentence three looks to the future… Sentence three looks to the future… “Ideally, would like a position that offers training and scope for continued development through promotion, or qualifications, or travel etc.” “Ideally, would like a position that offers training and scope for continued development through promotion, or qualifications, or travel etc.” Alt-Tab to your Word document and complete the Personal Profile section. Remember to give it an appropriate heading and try to keep the sentences short and to the point. 

10. Stage Three: How do you want to best sell yourself? Let’s imagine your CV has been set aside during a sift, and is to be considered in more detail with some others. How can you increase your chances of being offered an interview? Let’s imagine your CV has been set aside during a sift, and is to be considered in more detail with some others. How can you increase your chances of being offered an interview? This may depend upon how you structure the rest of your CV. So, it is important to sell yourself as well as you possibly can. This may depend upon how you structure the rest of your CV. So, it is important to sell yourself as well as you possibly can. To do this, stop a moment and think – Which of the following says the most about you, and which one will make you more appealing to the company you have applied to? Is it your Work Experience, Qualifications, or Achievements outside of College? To do this, stop a moment and think – Which of the following says the most about you, and which one will make you more appealing to the company you have applied to? Is it your Work Experience, Qualifications, or Achievements outside of College?

11. Stage Three: Let’s imagine your Qualifications are your strongest point Begin with the heading “Educational History” Begin with the heading “Educational History” Next, list the name(s) of your school(s)/college since the age of 11, starting with the earliest. Next, list the name(s) of your school(s)/college since the age of 11, starting with the earliest. Next, put the address and the dates you attended. Next, put the address and the dates you attended. Try to write this in a way that uses up the space across the whole page. Try to write this in a way that uses up the space across the whole page. Click to see an example. Click to see an example. Jo Bloggs 17 Sea View Cambridge CB99 0NE Tel: 01223 444 555, Mob: 07766 999999 Email address: Jbloggs@yahooplah.co.ukJbloggs@yahooplah.co.uk Personal Profile A hard working individual educated to GCSE standard. Currently looking for a challenging position in Dolphinology, whilst waiting for A level results. Ideally, would like a position that offers training and scope for continued development through appropriate specialised qualifications. Educational History Begin with the name of your first school The Netherhall School, Follow this with the address and dates of attendence Queen Ediths Way, Cambridge, CB1 8NN 09/03 to 06/08 Next, list your Qualifications, Subject and grade or estimate, across the page GCSEEnglish LanguageA GCSEEnglish LiteratureB GCSEMathsD GCSEScienceC  Now, use Alt-Tab to switch to your CV and add the details. If you don’t know information like addresses, leave that for now. It can be added later. DON’T FORGET: list each School/College with the details of what you studied there, starting with the earliest

12. The story so far… Click to see an example of how your CV should look so far… Click to see an example of how your CV should look so far… Jo Bloggs Address Tel numbers Sensible email address Personal Profile 3 Sentences, Past Present and Future Educational History School/College 1 (earliest first)AddressDates Attended GCSESubjectGrade School/College 2, e.g. Long Road Sixth Form College, AddressDates Attended A LevelSubjectGrade/predicted Grade Notice the larger font size to make the name stand out It is important to keep your email contact sensible Notice there is a school and college in this example, with the school listed first Try to make qualifications, subjects and grades at the different school/college line up directly underneath each other, whilst spreading out across the page.

13. Stage four: let’s imagine that your next strongest point is your Work experience. Many people think that this section must include paid work. That is not true. Any work experience you have gained in your previous schools, this college, or even delivering papers etc, is appropriate. Many people think that this section must include paid work. That is not true. Any work experience you have gained in your previous schools, this college, or even delivering papers etc, is appropriate. Begin stage four by choosing a title: “Employment History,” if you have done paid work, or, “Work Experience” if you have not. (Use the first title if you have done both). Begin stage four by choosing a title: “Employment History,” if you have done paid work, or, “Work Experience” if you have not. (Use the first title if you have done both).

14. Stage four: Employment History continued… Type address information and dates you worked with the organisation in the same format as the Educational History of the previous section. Type address information and dates you worked with the organisation in the same format as the Educational History of the previous section. On the next line, type, “Position:” and follow this with the job title you had. On the next line, type, “Position:” and follow this with the job title you had. For the next section, giving details of the responsibilities you had, try and list no more than 4 or 5 bullet points. For the next section, giving details of the responsibilities you had, try and list no more than 4 or 5 bullet points.

15. Employment History: Job responsibilities and bullet points If you want, you can give the details of your job responsibilities in a paragraph, however bullet points are much easier to read. If you want, you can give the details of your job responsibilities in a paragraph, however bullet points are much easier to read. Each should be one sentence long and identify something really positive about you that is relevant to the job you are applying for. Each should be one sentence long and identify something really positive about you that is relevant to the job you are applying for. If you can, try to include some “proof” of your responsibility in your bullet point, for example… If you can, try to include some “proof” of your responsibility in your bullet point, for example… Educational History School/College 1 (earliest first)AddressDates Attended GCSESubjectGrade School/College 2, e.g. Long Road Sixth Form College, AddressDates Attended A LevelSubjectGrade/predicted Grade Employment History Jonah’s Leisure Centre, 23 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB1 3FF 9/08 to 10/08 Position: Part-time Receptionist Due to my excellent communication skills, I was given responsibility for giving tours to potential new clients I had responsibility for meeting and greeting customers, and was asked by management to make recommendations about fitness programmes based upon my personal expertise. Notice how company name, address and date details all line up with the previous Educational History section. Notice how the first bullet point could have been written as, “I have good communication skills.” Adding information regarding how these skills are used, ie giving tours, “proves” how good these skills are and makes this a much better bullet point.  Now Alt-Tab and complete the Employment History/Work Experience section of your CV and be sure to keep your points relevant to the job you are applying for.

16. Stage Five: Achievements Of course, for many people, the qualifications they have gained and work experience they have undertaken are not the only attributes they have to “sell” themselves. You may well have other achievements that demonstrate positive skills you have to offer. Of course, for many people, the qualifications they have gained and work experience they have undertaken are not the only attributes they have to “sell” themselves. You may well have other achievements that demonstrate positive skills you have to offer. This could include, voluntary work, passing a driving test, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, being a Carer for someone, sports achievements, mentor roles, teaching someone a specific skill, arranging an activity in private time, e.g. a holiday This could include, voluntary work, passing a driving test, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, being a Carer for someone, sports achievements, mentor roles, teaching someone a specific skill, arranging an activity in private time, e.g. a holiday Try to aim for 3 or 4 bullet points and once again, aim to include some proof of why it demonstrates a useful attribute that would be useful for the job role applied for. Try to aim for 3 or 4 bullet points and once again, aim to include some proof of why it demonstrates a useful attribute that would be useful for the job role applied for. A LevelSubjectGrade/predicted Grade Employment History Jonah’s Leisure Centre, 23 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB1 3FF 9/08 to 10/08 Position: Part-time Receptionist Due to my excellent communication skills, I was given responsibility for giving tours to potential new clients I had responsibility for meeting and greeting customers, and was asked by management to make recommendations about fitness programmes based upon my personal expertise. Main Achievements Whilst attending college I have managed to hold down a part-time job baby- sitting, helping me to finance active sports and social activities without being a burden on my parents I passed my Driving Test last year on my first attempt and I am now saving to buy my own car and generate more independence For the last 3 years, I have managed to successfully raise over £50 per year for Red Nose Day charities, helping me to put something back into society whilst having some fun. This demonstrates a mature approach to working for financial security, whilst managing both college and work. It also represents a position of responsibility and how this person is trustworthy. This person can clearly deal with the pressure of a driving test and all that entails, whilst also demonstrating an independent spirit – a skill that many employers value. Finally, this is a good example of someone who thinks of others too and considers his impact on others in society. This “considerate, non-selfish” quality is attractive to employers too.  Now Alt-Tab and think of what you would consider to be valuable achievements you have made. Remember, there are no right or wrong pointers in this section. It’s more about what you feel proud of, and what that says about you

17. Stage six: References It is quite usual to finish a CV with a References section. It is quite usual to finish a CV with a References section. Your CV should be no more than 2 pages long, so putting full Referee contact details (usually for 2 people) can sometimes take the document over 2 pages. Your CV should be no more than 2 pages long, so putting full Referee contact details (usually for 2 people) can sometimes take the document over 2 pages. In these instances, it is perfectly acceptable to simply write, “References available on request” In these instances, it is perfectly acceptable to simply write, “References available on request” This one line saves a lot of space and you can pass on details in the future, should a company request them. This one line saves a lot of space and you can pass on details in the future, should a company request them. I had responsibility for meeting and greeting customers, and was asked by management to make recommendations about fitness programmes based upon my personal expertise. Main Achievements Whilst attending college I have managed to hold down a part-time job baby-sitting, helping me to finance active sports and social activities without being a burden on my parents I passed my Driving Test last year on my first attempt and I am now saving to buy my own car and generate more independence For the last 3 years, I have managed to successfully raise over £50 per year for Red Nose Day charities, helping me to put something back into society whilst having some fun. References References available on request. Ideal if you are running out of space

18. References continued… Of course, if there is plenty of space, two Referees should be supplied. One can be a College representative e.g. a Course Tutor, whilst the second should be someone in a professional role, e.g. a Doctor, or Accountant, HOWEVER, this person must not be simply a friend or member of your family and you should ask for their permission before submitting a CV. Of course, if there is plenty of space, two Referees should be supplied. One can be a College representative e.g. a Course Tutor, whilst the second should be someone in a professional role, e.g. a Doctor, or Accountant, HOWEVER, this person must not be simply a friend or member of your family and you should ask for their permission before submitting a CV. I had responsibility for meeting and greeting customers, and was asked by management to make recommendations about fitness programmes based upon my personal expertise. Main Achievements Whilst attending college I have managed to hold down a part-time job baby- sitting, helping me to finance active sports and social activities without being a burden on my parents I passed my Driving Test last year on my first attempt and I am now saving to buy my own car and generate more independence For the last 3 years, I have managed to successfully raise over £50 per year for Red Nose Day charities, helping me to put something back into society whilst having some fun. References Mr Noel LotteDr Foster Long Road Sixth Form College1 Puddle Lane Long RoadGloucester CambridgeGL11 4PK CB2 8PX 01223 507 40001255 888 888 Once again, use the same formatting for both names and addresses, with telephone numbers clearly marked afterwards.  Now, please use Alt-Tab to switch to your Word Document and add your final, References section.

19. To finish… Click to see the final example CV… Click to see the final example CV… Jo Bloggs 17 Sea View Cambridge CB99 0NE Tel: 01223 444 555, Mob: 07766 999999 Email address: Jbloggs@yahooplah.co.ukJbloggs@yahooplah.co.uk Personal Profile A hard working individual educated to GCSE standard. Currently looking for a challenging position in Dolphinology, whilst waiting for A level results. Ideally, would like a position that offers training and scope for continued development through appropriate specialised qualifications. Educational History School/College 1 (earliest first)AddressDates Attended GCSESubjectGrade School/College 2, e.g. Long Road Sixth Form College, AddressDates Attended A LevelSubjectGrade/predicted Grade Employment History Jonah’s Leisure Centre, 23 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB1 3FF 9/08 to 10/08 Position: Part-time Receptionist Due to my excellent communication skills, I was given responsibility for giving tours to potential new clients I had responsibility for meeting and greeting customers, and was asked by management to make recommendations about fitness programmes based upon my personal expertise. Clearly, this is Page one. Page two follows when you click

20. Final CV continued… Main Achievements Whilst attending college I have managed to hold down a part-time job baby-sitting, helping me to finance active sports and social activities without being a burden on my parents I passed my Driving Test last year on my first attempt and I am now saving to buy my own car and generate more independence For the last 3 years, I have managed to successfully raise over £50 per year for Red Nose Day charities, helping me to put something back into society whilst having some fun. References Mr Noel LotteDr Foster Long Road Sixth Form College1 Puddle Lane Long RoadGloucester CambridgeGL11 4PK CB2 8PX 01223 507 40001255 888 888 As a final point, remember that you may wish to improve the look of your CV by using the formatting facilities available. For example, make each heading stand out by underlining them. Emphasise dates by using BOLD. Put the names of schools/colleges/employers in italics etc.

21. Thank you Remember, if any of you are worried that you may end up out of college and out of work, and would like more help, you can go to the Careers Department and request an interview with one of our Advisers. Remember, if any of you are worried that you may end up out of college and out of work, and would like more help, you can go to the Careers Department and request an interview with one of our Advisers.