CVs and Covering Letters

1. CVs and Covering Letters Bruce Woodcock University of Kent Careers and EmployabilityService You can download a copy of this presentation at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

2. Research by forum3 found: • The average graduate will send out 70 CVs when looking for their first graduate job. The average number of responses is 7 including 4 rejections and the remainder inviting the graduate to interview or further contact. • The more CVs you send out the more interviews you get. • Applicants who included a covering letter with their CV were 10% more likely to get a reply. • Applicants who addressed their application to the correct named person were 15% more likely to get a letter of acknowledgement and 5% more likely to get an interview. • Applicants sending CVs and letters without spelling mistakes are 61% more likely to get a reply and 26% more likely to get an interview. The most common mistakes not found in a spell check were: fro instead of for, grate: great, liased: liaised, stationary: stationery.

3. How not to do it …. Working on a farm has improved my communication skills which are especially important when working with large livestock. Applying for job at biscuit company: my life-long love of chocolate biscuits, is the main reason for my interest in the company It's best for employers that I not work with people On an application for a position requiring considerable people skills - My hobbies include watching television, computer chess, stamp collecting and walking my 2 spaniels. Reason for leaving last job: my employers insisted that all employees get to work by 8.45 am and I could not work under those conditions. I am seeking challenges that test my mind and body, since the two are usually inseparable. I have an excellent track record, although I am not a horse.

4. Brian O'dea- the author of this received about 600 responses.Having successfully completed a ten year sentence, incident-free, for importing 75 tons of marijuana into the United States. I am now seeking a legal and legitimate means to support my self and my family.Business Experience - Owned and operated a successful fishing business - multi-vessel, one airplane, one island and processing facility. Simultaneously owned and operated a fleet of tractor-trailer trucks conducting business in the western United States. During this time I also co-owned and participated in the executive level management of 120 people worldwide in a successful pot smuggling venture with revenues in excess of US$100 million annually. I took responsibility for my own actions, and received a ten year sentence in the United States while others walked free for their cooperation.Attributes - I am an expert in all levels of security; I have extensive computer skills, am personable, outgoing, well-educated, reliable, clean and sober. I have spoken in schools to thousands of kids and parent groups over the past ten years on "the consequences of choice", and received public recognition for community service. I am well-traveled and speak English, French and Spanish. References available from friends, family, the U.S. District Attorney, etc.

5. PRESENTATION OF YOUR CV • Use short sentences & concise phrases • Use bold type and bullet points, but in moderation • BSc. And MSc. Not Bsc or MSC! • Don’t use lower case I: “i am ……”

6. Choose a sensible email address for your CV: Such as: • eek_eek_i_am_dieing_eek_arg_errrg@milk.com • death_metal_kitty@milk.com • demented_bovine@gnumail.com • platypus_mcdandruff@mail.com • flockynockyhillipilification@gnumail.com • virgin_on_the_ridiculous@hotmilk.com • yourmywifenowgraham@gnumail.com • original_madcow_jane@gnumail.com • rage_against_the_trolley_fish@gnumail.com • sexylikewoaaaah@hotmilk.com

7. Investment bank CV scorecard Finance firms often use ‘scorecards’ to rank CVs and decide who to interview. Here is an example scorecard. • 15% Class of your degree and ‘rank’ of university you went to. • 10% Grades achieved at A level or equivalent. (more weighting given to ‘classic’ A level subjects: economics will score higher than business studies, for example.) • 20% Amount of relevant work experience. • 10% Speaking foreign languages. • 20%. Extracurricular activities.(A high score requires high achieving, exciting and multiple, extracurricular achievements.) • 15% Presentation of your CV. • 10% Demonstrating conviction about the role you’re applying for.

8. What is wrong with this?

9. Why you need to use a spell checker • I am a prefectionist and rarely if if ever forget details. • Proven ability to track down and correct erors. • I have good writencomunication skills. • Lurnt Word computor and spreadsheet pogroms. • Develop an annual operating expense fudget… And why you must read it carefully as well • Extra Circular Activities • At secondary school I was a prefix • Over summer I worked for an examinations bored. (Kent BA English graduate!) • In my spare time I enjoy hiding my horse • I hope to hear from you shorty • I am a conscious individual. • Reason for leaving last job: maturity leave • I have a desire to work with commuters • Dear Madman (instead of Madam)

10. WORK EXPERIENCE Summer 2013 Sainsbury's, Canterbury Checkout assistant This job developed my ability to deal with the public and work under pressure Don’t feel you have to include every job “In addition to the above, I have held a variety of temporary jobs during school and university vacations, including fruit-picking, factory work, bar work and waiting on tables”

11. INTERESTS • Reading, cinema, travel • Travel: traveled through Europe by train this summer in a group of four people, visiting historic sites and improving my French and Italian • Reading: helped younger pupils with reading difficulties at school • Cinema: member of the University Film-Making Society

13. Action Verbs created instructed analysed produced negotiated designed calculated maintained administered ……. www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/actionverbs.htm

14. THE COVERING LETTEROne side of A4 maximum First Paragraph • State the job you’re applying for. • Where you found out about it. • When you're available to start work (& end if it's a placement) Second Paragraph • Why your interested in that type of work • Why the company attracts you (if it's a small company say you prefer to work for a small friendly organisation!) Third Paragraph • Summarise your strengths and how they might be an advantage to the organisation. • Relate your skills to the job. Last Paragraph • Mention any dates that you won't be available for interview • Thank the employer and say you look forward to hearing from them soon.

15. CAREERS WEB SITE • Help with applications and interviews www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm • Example CVs and Covering Letters www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cvexamples.htm

16. The Careers Employability Award www.kent.ac.uk/careers/moodle.htm

17. DUTY CAREERS ADVISER • Ask a careers adviser’s opinion if you have any doubts or queries about your CV • A Duty Careers Adviser is available to help with queries between 10.30 am to 12.30 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. every day. • No appointment needed - just drop in.

18. CVs and Covering Letters You can download a copy of this presentation at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm Follow us on Twitter: @unikentemploy Visit our Facebook page: University of Kent Careers and Employability Service

20. Types of CV Reverse Chronological • outline your career history in date order, normally beginning with the most recent items. The "conventional" approach and the easiest to prepare. Skills-based • highly-focused CVs which relate your skills and abilities to a specific job. • work well for mature applicants and for those whose qualifications and work experience are not directly relevant to their application. • P 14 Applications Booklet

21. EMAILING CVS • Many employers are happy to accept CVs as an attachment to an email. • Put your covering letteras the body of your email.Format it as plain text (use the format heading on Outlook Express to do this), so it can be read by any email reader. • Your CV is then sent as an attachment, in MS Word format, Rich Text (.rtf) or html format are acceptable. Say you'll send a printed CV if required. • Email it back to yourself first to check it.

22. What is the purpose of a CV? To informthe employer about your: • education • work experience • skills • interests To persuade the employer that you are potentially suitable for the job and are therefore worth Interviewing.

23. Quiz! • How long should a CV be? • How long should a covering letter be? • What is the sweet spot of a CV? • What is a reverse chronological CV?

24. Use spelling and grammar checker carefully • Can cut and paste sentences from CV examples to make sure English is correct. www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvexamples.htm

25. Think about the job • CVs are normally targeted on a particular job • What tasks would the daily routine involve? • What skills would the job call for? • What type of personality would suit the job? • Answers for 300 jobs on: www.prospects.ac.uk/links/occupations

26. PROVING YOUR ABILITY • There are four main things employers look at in CVs: • Education - ability to think clearly, analyse and assess information, draw conclusions, work independently, research, etc • Work experience - ability to get on with people, work under pressure, meet deadlines, etc • Leisure interests - ability to plan and organise, co-operate with others, compete, work hard to achieve results ... • Specific skills – e.g. driving licence, computing or foreign language skills

27. SKILLS-BASED CVs Examples of evidence of skills: • Verbal Communication - assisted visitors of many nationalities as a seasonal Tourist Information Assistant, advising on places of interest, transport and accommodation and helping resolve any problems • Time Management - have successfully combined studies with a part-time job and involvement in a number of drama and music productions

28. Competencies • Good attitude to teamwork. Friendly and cheerful personality • Proactive: able to use initiative. “No problem, I’ll do it!”Problem solvers, not problem creators! • Flexible and adaptable: learns new skills quickly. • Enthusiastic, motivated Excellent communication skills – dealing confidently with students, take phone messages • Organised and efficient. Able to plan and organise their own workload. Work to strict deadlines • Microsoft Office: ECDL. Familiarity with databases, Excel and the web

29. VIDEOS • APPLICATIONS • INTERVIEWS • ON-LINE APPLICATIONS • SELECTION CENTRES • All last about 25 minutes and are excellent! www.kent.ac.uk/careers/IntVid.htm

30. When should a CV be used? • When an employer asks for applications to be received in this format • When an employer simply states "apply to ..." without specifying the format • When making speculative applications (i.e. when writing to an employer who has not actually advertised a vacancy but who you hope may have one)

31. Making applications using STAR http://prezi.com/your/ www.kent.ac.uk/careers/compet/skillquest.htm