1. Marketing yourself on paper “Effective CVs”
Karl Fraser
Careers Consultant

2. What is a CV? The first point of contact with a potential employer.
A personal, targeted marketing tool (what’s your USP?!).
A means of highlighting your academic qualifications, skills and work experience.
A means of demonstrating your suitability for the position you are applying for.
The first step towards obtaining an interview.
Remember more applicants are weeded out at this stage than any other during the selection process!

3. Before you start your CV
Research what the employer is looking for.
Use job description, website and company brochures.
Think about what you have to offer an employer.
Give yourself plenty of time.

4. A sobering thought
A major employer dealing with responses to a newspaper ad. will spend about:
15 seconds per CV on the first sift
1 minute per CV on the next sift
5-10 minutes per CV on the final sift before short-listing for interview.
Before we begin to look at graduate employment statistics Iit’s important to be aware of the changing face of HE and organisations
DEARING yet further expansion??
Gone is the job for for life with it’s planned career structure and company training and the clear functional identity with a progressive rise in income and security
Instead there is a world of cutomers and clients adding value and life-long learning, portfolio careers, self-development and an overwhelming need to stay employable
Routes into employment are also changing. Gone are the days of a national of a large graduate recruiter taking on 300 graduate through a national millk round .
The Milkround however still exists alongside graduate training schemes

5. CV presentation Concise and clear content – don’t waffle
“Attention to detail is essential.. Bad grammar and spelling mistakes will ensure your CV goes to the bottom of the pile!”
Recruitment Manager, RM – ICT for schools.
Concise and clear content – don’t waffle
Use simple, positive English
Use correct spelling, punctuation and grammar
Well laid out and split into sections – i.e.
Skills Profile
Education
Work Experience
Interests/Achievements
No less than size 10 in a normal font, i.e. Arial or Times New Roman, try Verdana font for a change!
Maximum of 2 pages
Use a computer and top quality paper

6. 2 main types of CV
Chronological
Provides all the information most employers want in a familiar format and demonstrates steady development in education and career.
Lists education and work experience by date with most recent information first.

7. Chronological CV – Lay out e.g.
Personal Details
Career Objective
Education (Most recent 1st)
Key modules
Key skills / abilities developed demonstrated - evidence
Work Experience (Most recent 1st)
Duties – what did you do, how did it develop you
Key skills/abilities demonstrated – evidence
Additional Skills
Achievements
Interests / Activities
What do they say about you – evidence of skills / abilities
References

8. 2 main types of CV
Skills-based
Same headings, different lay-out with targeted approach through skills matching.
Work experience details kept to a minimum
Useful for highlighting particular skills enabling the selector to understand the relevance of skills and experience and for distracting away from a varied career history

9. Skills Based CV – Lay out e.g.
Personal Details
Career Objective
Key Skills / Skills Profile / Skills & Achievements
List Skills relevant to opportunity and evidence from education work experience activities etc your ownership of them – you then need less emphasis on skills developed in the other sections.
Education (Most recent 1st)
Key modules
Work Experience (Most recent 1st)
Duties – what did you do, how did it develop you
Achievements
Interests / Activities
What do they say about you – evidence of skills / abilities
References

10. CV content – Personal Details
Standard
Name
Address
Telephone number
address (personal pref.)
*think about voic /ansaphone messages and appropriateness of address!
Optional
Date of Birth
Nationality & Gender (unless you are an international student)
Not required
Marital status
Photograph

11. CV content – Career Objective (optional)
Short, snappy opening statement to set the scene for the employer.
Provide a summary of your current status, previous experience, relevant skills and career ambition.
If uncomfortable with this type of ‘sales pitch’ or are short of space include the above in the covering letter.

12. CV content - Education
Start with your most recent qualification first.
Include dates and results – as you have not received your degree result yet, write ‘expected’ next to the result.
The amount of detail you write about your degree may depend on its relevance to the position you are applying for. It is up to you how you market your degree.
You may not need to list all your Standard Grades, instead providing a summary, e.g. Standard Grades: 7 subjects, grades 1-3 including English (1) and Mathematics (2).

13. CV content – Work Experience
Include:
Employer’s name
Location
Your job title
Description of duties involved

14. Skills Profile
If you decide to do a skills-based CV it may be helpful to create a Skills Profile by drawing on your experience, knowledge, skills and qualities and matching them to those required for the position you are applying for.
Some common headings are:
Communication/Interpersonal
Team Work
Leadership
Problem solving
Using initiative
Organisational
Be explicit but concise when demonstrating evidence of your experience and skills.
You can draw upon extra curricular activities if they demonstrate relevant skills.

15. CV content – Additional Skills/Information
Indicate level of competence:
Driving licence
IT (name packages)
Language Skills
CV content – Achievements/Positions of responsibility (optional)
If you have a number of achievements that you wish to highlight

16. CV content – Interests
This section enables you to let your personality show through.
Include:
Leisure activities both within the university and the community.
Positions of responsibility and voluntary work
Membership of clubs or societies.
Do not just write a list. Give enough details to entice the employer wanting to know more.

17. CV content - Referees
Some choose to write ‘References available on request’ if they are running out of room.
Make sure you gain a referee’s permission before citing their name.
If you have space and choose to include references’ details then you need:
Name
Job title
Address
Telephone number
Fax number or address

18. Covering Letter Purpose: to market yourself and your motivation
to highlight that you have what they are looking for
The covering letter gives you the opportunity to get recruiters interested in you and your CV
so every CV needs one!

19. Covering Letter Address it to a named person if possible Include:
Why you are writing
What interests you in the job
Your key selling points related to the job, i.e. key skills, qualifications, experience
Why you want to work for their company
Positive, enthusiastic ending expressing your willingness to discuss your application at interview

20. Covering letter tips: Style
Word-processed, unless requested otherwise
Consistent font with your CV
One page of A4 only
Three or four paragraphs
Keep to the point
Use clear language
Yours faithfully/Yours sincerely

21. The Final Check Spelling and Grammar Is the CV/letter neat and clean?
Is all your evidence relevant?
Is all your time accounted for?
Have you followed all instructions?
Ensure distinct file name for CV e.g. ‘GayleScott CV 07’
Take a photocopy for future reference!

22. Last but not least...
Make sure you get your CV checked before sending it out.
If you have any queries about your CV content or layout make sure you use the resources e.g. ‘Making Applications’ available at the Careers Centre.
Once you are in the final draft stages of the CV, book an appointment with Careers Consultant to look over it.
Careers Centre, Blackfriars Building, Schoolhill or InfoZone+, Garthdee, - sign in via RGU: JOBSHOP