CVs The good, the bad and the ugly

Working in pairs Discuss what make a CV good, bad or ugly. Then in groups of eight pool your ideas and decide the subject headings/subtitles of your ideal CV and place them in the order they would appear. Then share them with everyone.

Additional CV tips Use good quality A4 paper (white or pale background). Keep it concise, be completely truthful and keep it clear and specific – simple language works best. Use positive active language. Highlight your selling points clearly. Career history and education - usually most recent first. Consider a small picture of yourself Include a personal profile stating strengths and personal qualities. Include hobbies and interests and describe how you use these skills in your work. Explain any gaps in employment history. Remember, time out for parenting adds to your CV e.g. life experience, multitasking - make it positive. Always type or word process your CV and get it checked for spelling, grammar and ease of understanding. Do not include names and addresses of referees in the body of the document -add these on a separate sheet. Amend your CV each time to make it appropriate for the job that you are applying for Include a covering letter.

Producing a CV which is easy to photocopy or scan The original should be printed in letter quality. Use a standard typeface in a font size of 10 to 14 points. Use standard spacing; letters should not touch. Avoid using italics, underlining, lines, graphics, two-column format, or boxes.  Emphasize using bold or full capitalization. Your name should be at the top of the first page, followed by your address beneath it.  Each phone number should be on a separate line.  Successive pages should have your name in the header text. Footer of each page should include page number and total number of pages Do not fold or staple. Post in A4 envelope

Working in pairs Write a covering letter Then in groups of eight share pool the letters and produce the gold standard which can be shared with everyone.

The covering letter Take as much care over the covering letter as over the CV itself Use good quality plain white paper and type it so it can be easily read Where you have a named contact, address the letter to that person Include your postcode, telephone number and date Use a strong opening statement Keep it brief and to the point - no more than one page Don't repeat what is in the CV Keep it clear and concise - use short, direct sentences. Make the content reflect you so the reader can get a flavour of how you approach things Include what you would bring to the organisation Finish on a positive note Print your name under the signature Check spelling, grammar and ease of understanding – also use someone else Check it thoroughly before posting and use a quality envelope Don’t forget to include your CV! Consider sending it by registered post

References Choose your referees carefully. Make sure they are clear why you chose them and the particular areas you expect them to cover. Choose your referees to show your strengths. Referees should be from recent jobs that are relevant to the job you are applying for. Ensure your referees know they have been asked. You may need to remind them.

CV maker and other downloads http://www.pennine-gp-training.co.uk/Example-CV-template.doc Don’t forget the spokesperson for each group needs to e-mail me their version of the covering letter and the contents of the ideal CV

Coffee time!