Careers Education Is Your Future Mapped Out?

1. ? ? ? University Employment ? ? ? Careers Education Is Your Future Mapped Out? 6th Form College ? Apprenticeship ? ?

2. Curriculum Vitae

3. What is a CV? • A CV (curriculum vitae) is a short list of facts about you and your work history, skills and experience. A good CV is essential when looking for work and it is worth spending time getting it right so it sells you to an employer.

4. Your CV should: • be neat, typed if possible and to the best standard you can achieve in content and layout • be short, two sides of a sheet of A4 paper is normally enough • be positive, it should emphasise your achievements, strengths and successes. • make a good impression, this means presenting the facts about yourself in a clear and positive way

5. What to include… There is no set format. How you present your CV is up to you. However, you should include at least the following: • your name • your address • your phone number • your email address (if you have one) • your qualifications • Your career history • Put your most recent job first and include dates. Employers will be more interested in what you have done recently. • If you don’t have much work experience, you could include temporary, holiday, part-time or voluntary jobs too. Emphasise the skills and experience you have gained (for example, dealing with customers or communication skills).

6. Here are some examples you may want to include: A personal profile • This is a short statement at the beginning of your CV to sell yourself, to show your skills, experience and personal qualities. You could include positive words such as ‘competent’, ‘adaptable’, and ‘conscientious’.  • Tailor the statement to the requirements of each job/course that you apply for. Make it clear that you’re the right person for the job/course. Achievements • Mention things you did well in your past jobs which could be relevant to the job you’re applying for. Qualifications and training • Include any qualifications and training (for example, training in health and safety or a certificate in food hygiene). Put the most recent first, and put down your predicted grades.

7. Interests • These can support your application if your hobbies and leisure activities highlight responsibilities and skills that are relevant to the job/course you’re applying for. Perhaps you belong to a club or society which you organise activities for, or you use leadership skills or teamwork as part of the activity. References • It’s good to have two or more people who can provide a work or personal reference. Ideally, one should be your most recent employer or school teacher. Or it could be someone who has known you for a long time. It should be someone who can comment on your qualities in relation to the job/course. You should ask the person to agree to this beforehand. • Ask a friend or relative to read through your CV to make sure it's accurate and shows your skills in a positive way.

8. Personal Statement

9. Personal Statement What is a personal statement? • A chance to reflect on what you have achieved and learnt. • A chance to say what is special about you. • It is used on Post 16 applications to school, college or employment.

10. Did you know? • A major employer dealing with responses to a job advertisement in a newspaper will look at applications for: • 15 seconds on the first sift........ (reject most) • 1 minute per application on the next sift....(keep 15-20) • 5-10 minutes per application on the final sift before short-listing for interview. (4-10 called to interview)

11. Why Bother? • All of you will be wanting a job at some point in the future. Your Personal Statement is… • The first point of contact with a potential employer. • A personal, targeted marketing tool • A means of highlighting your academic qualifications, skills, abilities and work experience. • A means of demonstrating your suitability for the position you are applying for. • The first step towards obtaining an interview.

12. Top Tips • What is your USP (unique selling point)? • if you don’t have one yet, start working on one. You need to stand out from the crowd. • Don’t lie • Update your CV and personal statement regularly. • Ask someone else to check it before sending it out. First impressions are everything!

13. Your personal statement is divided into paragraphs. Introduction Involvement in school life Interests and hobbies Positions of Responsibility showing Personal Qualities Something extra-What makes you stand out? It should be written as an extended piece of writing about yourself. Use the planning sheet to draft out what you might include in each section.

14. “I am a student in Year 11 at Swanwick Hall School and my target grades for GCSE’s are mainly C’s and D’s. I am hoping to go on to do a course in beauty therapy at Chesterfield College “I am a student in Year 11 at Swanwick Hall School and my target grades for GCSE’s are all A’s and A*’s. I am hoping to go on to do A-levels in possibly Art, Economics, Music and Geography. Paragraph 1-Introduction This is a brief background about yourself – for example:

15. Throughout my time at school I have been a member of the Drama club and have been in productions such as The Little shop of Horrors. I have also represented the school at Football and our team recently won the Regional Finals. I have made contributions to the School magazine and during Year 10 was a member of the Year Council. Paragraph 2 -Involvement in School Life This is to show you have been involved in extra curricular activities- for example: • Sports teams • Drama productions • Music performances • Organising events • Assisting at open evenings • School magazine • Environmental projects • Taken part in school trips

16. Outside school I spend my time socialising with friends. I enjoy watching films and playing computer games. I have a part time job which offers some responsibility, in a local shop. This has given me an insight into how small businesses work and is an area I am interested in. When I can , I like to… Paragraph 3-Interests and Hobbies This is about what you are interested in outside school– for example: • Playing or watching sport • Drama classes • Walking • Reading • Charity work • Computer games • Fishing • Keeping fit

17. I am a responsible person and have shown this through my involvement in Cadets. In school I spent a period of time as a ‘Buddy’ to younger students. I was identified as someone with… Paragraph 4 -Positions of Responsibility and Personal Qualities for example: • Team captain • Form representative • School council member • Role within any other school group • Member of any organising committee (ROA) • Assist with any younger youth group e.g. scouts • Examples where you can show you have been reliable, responsible, hardworking well organised, able to meet deadlines sociable, good sense of humour, caring and helpful, honest and helpful

18. My greatest achievement, to date, was running in the Race for Life and raising £300 for charity. I enjoyed the challenge of the race , but realised how important it is to try and support good causes and work with other people. Final Paragraph-“Something Extra” Achievements you’re most proud of – what makes you stand out! – for example: • Involvement in charity fundraising • Organised a major event • Gained outstanding sporting, music or drama achievements • Managed a special achievement like running a marathon or the 3 peaks walk

19. Finished? • There are lots of useful links on the school website for you to take a look at…

20. By the end of the lesson you must….. Have compiled a Careers Action Plan. (as a Word document) Updated your Personal Statement from last year (Yr. 10). This can be done on-line in Routes Ahead or as a Word document Save all your work in Routes Ahead or your Record of Achievement Folder in your area of the student drive.