Writing Effective CVs and Covering Letters

1. Writing Effective CVs and Covering Letters Department of Student Services

2. Learning Objective By the end of this session, you should be able to: • identify different types of CVs and the rationale for choosing one or another • understand how to produce an effective CV and cover letter for a range of different purposes Department of Student Services

3. Types of CV • Chronological • Skills • Mix of the two Department of Student Services

4. Chronological CV • Traditional approach • Can be useful if you have work experience directly related to the job/sector you’re applying for • Skills should be referred to in various sections of the CV • There is a danger that the chronological CV can be dry to read Department of Student Services

5. Skills based • Includes a separate skills section • Focuses on the skills and attributes you have which are relevant to the job • Useful if you have limited or unrelated work experience • Can be more dynamic and interesting to read than a chronological CV • May result in minimal details in other sections, therefore creating an imbalanced structure Department of Student Services

6. Mix of the two • Choose the best and most relevant elements of chronological and skills-based CVs • Includes a separate but shorter skills section than in pure “skills” CV • Allows space to include some commentary within the work experience section Department of Student Services

7. CV Quiz Department of Student Services

8. Two sides of A4 Promote yourself and your suitability for the role Different CVs for different objectives – be clear about purpose Clear layout and logical structure Concise No such thing as a general CV Targeted to the sector, the employer, the job Avoid ready-made templates Relevant – be selective about information you give Skills must be included Positive language Spelling and grammar do matter! What do we know about CVs? Department of Student Services

9. Possible contents of a CV • Personal details • Personal profile/career objective or ...... • Other headings… summary, achievements… • Education and qualifications • Work experience • Skills profile • Interests/extra curricular activities • References Department of Student Services

10. Structure of a CV Start with your personal details………………….. ? – you need to make informed choices about how you want to structure the rest of the CV. ……………………………and end with your references Department of Student Services

11. Personal Details • Name • Address – use only one correspondence address if possible • Telephone number • Email –using an appropriate address • Nationality – no obligation to include this but may be useful to clarify work permit status • Date of birth – not needed • Gender – not needed • Photographs – not normally included on CVs in the UK Department of Student Services

12. Personal profile • Optional • Might also be called “career objective” or “summary” • Purpose is to highlight key points that you want an employer to know about you (e.g. skills, experience, career objective) • Less is more. 1 – 3 sentences, maximum of 4 lines • Strong, positive language • Avoid a list of superlatives Department of Student Services

13. Personal profile Examples: • A highly motivated BA/BSc ______ student looking for a work placement in……………. . I have strong problem-solving skills and a logical and analytical approach. • A ______ undergraduate with substantial work experience in ……………, looking for an opportunity to develop a career in ……………. Department of Student Services

14. Education • Should be in reverse chronological order i.e. most recent first - degree level study - pre-university education, generally back to GCSE level/age 16. If information is very old, you have the discretion to omit it • For overseas qualifications, show the name of the qualification and indicate a UK equivalence Department of Student Services

15. Education Things to consider: • Relevance – no need to include a comprehensive list of every topic studied • Including some modules may be helpful when applying for jobs where there is a link between it and your studies • Give grades if they are good ones! • The older the qualification, the less detail you give. Department of Student Services

16. Work Experience • Include full time, part time and voluntary work and work placements • Generally list in reverse chronological order (most recent first)… • …. or, group into “related” and “other” work experience • Show dates you were there and your job title • Show the employer/organisation name, broad location and if helpful, the nature of their business Department of Student Services

17. Work Experience • Avoid giving a list of mundane duties e.g. tidying shop floor, photocopying. Focus on the skills you used and your achievements • Use positive language • If you have had several similar jobs, you can group these together to avoid repetition of duties • Consider using bullet points rather than lengthy paragraphs Department of Student Services

18. Example of Work Experience: September 2009 – present Recruitment administrator (part-time) – NHS Trust, London • Drafting letters ensuring clarity, accuracy and clear presentation • Organising interview schedules and liaising with external agencies regarding work permits and criminal record checks • Communicating effectively both face to face and on the telephone • Accurately maintaining office information systems Department of Student Services

19. Skills profile • Skills-based and combination CVs will have separate skills sections • Chronological CVs need to include references to skills throughout the CV i.e. in all or some of the education, work experience, interests sections • Include skills which are relevant and of interest to the job/employer/sector • Always provide evidence for skills • Make links between your skills and the job – show how you are a good match with the job requirements Department of Student Services

20. Identifying relevant skills This can be determined through: • The job description • The person specification • The job advert • The organisation’s website • Occupational research e.g. accountancy • Sector research e.g. finance Department of Student Services

21. Communication Team work Leadership Initiative Problem solving Numeracy Interpersonal Self awareness Flexibility and adaptability Commitment and motivation Transferable skills sought by employers

22. Providing evidence for skills • This is essential. A list of skills is not persuasive or convincing • Involves two elements- giving an example (broad or specific) of when you have used the skill - defining the skill in a way that is relevant to the job or employer concerned Department of Student Services

23. Defining skills e.g. communication • Speaking (oral), writing, presenting • Expressing ideas clearly • Effective listening, questioning and clarifying • Different writing styles e.g. brief and concise compared to developing a rationale • Gathering, analysing and organising information in a logical sequence • Adapting language and complexity of information to the audience • Awareness of body language, tone and pace Department of Student Services

24. Presenting a skill in a CV • Good communication skills, both oral and written, gained from delivering clear presentations and producing well-structured academic assignments whilst at university. • Whilst working as a retail sales assistant, I demonstrated my ability to listen effectively and to give customers information in a clear and appropriate way. Department of Student Services

25. Exercise • Choose a skill from slide 21 • Based on the slide 23, “defining skills”, identify at least 5 definitions for your chosen skill Department of Student Services

26. Interests and Achievements • Optional. Don’t include this section for the sake of it. Think about what the information adds to your CV – what are you trying to get across?; how will it help to persuade an employer to interview me? • Avoid using the heading “hobbies” • Avoid a simple list • Only include things which you are happy to be questioned about in an interview • Convey your skills, attributes and/or personal development Department of Student Services

27. Interests and Achievements Committee Member of the University Computing Society With other committee members, I organised a fundraising event and three careers evenings with presentations from alumni and employers. Department of Student Services

28. References • Often used only in the final stages of selection • Provide the contact details of your referees ( name, address, job title, telephone no. and email address) rather than a “standard” reference letter • It is usual to provide two referees – one academic and the other preferably work related • Out of courtesy, always check with referees first • If you prefer not to include details on your CV, you can say “References available on request” Department of Student Services

29. Exercise – comparing CVs Department of Student Services

30. Comparing CVs Comment on the following: • Visual impact • Layout and use of headings • Effectiveness with which skills have been highlighted • Effectiveness in promoting the person concerned • Which CV is more interesting to read? • Which person would you interview and why? Department of Student Services

31. CV summary Check that your CV is: - • Easy to read – logical, clear, organised • Focused – targeted at the opportunity • Prioritised – it gives the most important and relevant information towards the beginning • Positive – it includes pro-active language • Correct – free of spelling mistakes and other errors Department of Student Services

32. Each job is different and each employer will be looking for different things. You need to find out what these are and emphasise the relevant parts of your CV. This will obviously take more of your time but can make all the difference”. Anand Patel, Resourcing Support Manager, Tube Lines. Department of Student Services

33. Covering Letters Department of Student Services

34. What is a covering letter? • A covering letter generally accompanies a CV • An important part of an application – not just a formality • Highlights your key skills and suitability for the job clearly, concisely and positively • It is targeted at the job/sector you are applying for • It complements and develops the information in the CV rather than duplicates it Department of Student Services

35. Responsive applicationsi.e. applying for a specific vacancy • Why you are writing • Why do you want to work for this organisation? • What is your motivation for wanting the job? • Illustrate your understanding of the job role • Provide evidence of your relevant skills/experience Department of Student Services

36. Speculative applications • State why you are writing • Be clear about what you are asking for • Needs to be convincing - convey a genuine interest in that organisation and sector • Make links between your skills/experience and the job/sector/organisation Department of Student Services

37. Opening paragraph • Why are you writing? Responsive - name specific job vacancy and where advertisedSpeculative – state broad type of work you are interested in, on what basis (e.g. work placement, full time) and when you are available • Who are you? A xxx undergraduate looking to develop work experience in ….... Department of Student Services

38. Middle paragraphs • Why that orgnaistaion and why that job/industry?- demonstrate knowledge of and interest in both- make links through your degree subject if appropriate • Why you?- why should they consider you?- what key skills/strengths can you offer?- support your statements/assertions with evidence Department of Student Services

39. Closing paragraph • Polite ending – convey interest and enthusiasm in the role • May be indicate any times available/not available for interview. • For speculative approaches, say that you will follow up your letter with a telephone call within a certain period e.g. within a week. Department of Student Services

40. Dear Sir or Madam = Yours faithfully Dear Ms Johnson = Yours sincerely 24 Granger Road London N3 6LP 10 February 20?? Ms. S Johnson Graduate Recruitment Manager Carver Marketing Ltd 6 Bridge Lane London W1 7YU Dear Ms Johnson, Re: Application for Position of Graduate Marketing Trainee Opening Paragraph ……………………………………………………….. Middle Paragraph 1………………………………………………………… Middle Paragraph 2………………………………………………………… Closing Paragraph…………………………………………………………. Yours sincerely, Abdul Hafiz Department of Student Services

41. How should I present my covering letter? • Maximum 1 side of A4, word processed • Consistent font size and type (and consistent with your CV) • Send to a named person where possible • Correct spelling and grammar • Formal “business letter” layout • E-mailing – send the letter as an attachment with your CV Department of Student Services

42. Resources for writing CVs and cover letters • http://intranet.londonmet.ac.uk/studentservices/careers • www.prospects.ac.uk - Jobs and Work /Applications and Interviews • www.targetjobs.co.uk - Careers Advice – Applications and CVs • See a Careers Consultant in CDES, Student Services Department of Student Services

43. Career Development & Employment Service (CDES) This service has a presence at both City and North campuses and offers guidance and support to all students and to graduates for up to 3 years after they leave. This includes: The opportunity for individual discussion on areas such as career planning and job/work experience search Workshops on a variety of job search topics Information on careers events and activities For more details on the services offered and on how and where to access them please refer to the website: https://intranet.londonmet.ac.uk/studentservices/careers/ Department of Student Services

44. Career Development & Employment Service (CDES) The University Employment Service provides access to vacancy information for full time and part-time opportunities, vacation work and internships. For details on how to register go to: https://intranet.londonmet.ac.uk/studentservices/careers/the-employment-service/home.cfm CDES Contact information: North Campus: 1st Floor, Tower Building, Tel: 0207 133 2094 City Campus: 8 Goulston Street, Tel: 0207 320 2380 email: careers.studentservices@londonmet.ac.uk Department of Student Services