UCL CAREERS SERVICE

Selling yourself on paper

Dave Carter

UCL Careers Service

Aims of a CV

• get an interview by showing what you have to offer– can do the job, will do the job, will fit in

• evidence to back-up your claims– academic, work experience, interests

• level of content and focus: – needs to pass: the scan test/ in-depth read – tailor to the type of role you are applying for

• BUT…..CV’s are subjective: no right/ wrong way

CV/ Applications - preparation• Research - them

– recruitment literature inc. job specification and description

– company website– trade press– current practitioners:

employers/ alumni/ networks

• Research - you– self-audit: examples from

education/ work experience, volunteering and leisure

– vary examples as far as possible – shows ‘well-rounded’

– focus on aspects of the role and competencies required

CV’s - basics

Generally 2 sides of A4 to cover (order in terms of relevance):

• personal details• career/ personal profile (optional)• education• employment history• skills profile (optional)• extra-curricular activities / interests• references

CV’s - basics• personal details

– Name not CV at top

– professional e’mail address

– Nationality optional (consider work permits)

• career/ personal profile (optional)– targeted and concise/ evidence-based

– Is this?• A polished, articulate individual who is committed to a career

in management consultancy. I am motivated and possess excellent time-management, teamworking and presentation skills.

CV’s - basicsTraditional– To develop a career in IT consultancy based on my strong

academic background, ability to construct and use databases and experience of managing staff in an online environment.

Film trailer:- UCL Geography undergraduate taking relevant IT modules with

award-winning academics in maths- broad and advanced database experience and programming ability

including C++ and Java- Team working and leadership skills gained managing up to 3 staff

in local online community volunteering project- presentational and negotiation skills gained as member of UCL

Geography department staff/ student committee

CV’s - education and qualifications

• give details– reverse chronological order – institutions/ courses/ dates/ context/ grades/ modules/

projects if relevant/ academic prizes

• relevance/ pitch– give prominence and detail where relevant– pitch language/ technical content appropriately

• skills you have gained• summarise your schooling

Where your degree is in some way relevant to the job you are applying for……University College London 2002-2005BA Geography Expected Grade 2.1

My degree has dealt with the impact of human beings on the environment especially in relation to consumer behaviour and how it can be influenced.

relevant final year options: Quantitative research techniques; Project management; Impact IT

on post industrial economies; UK economic development. final year project: researched attitudes of East End residents to growth of refugee

numbers within local community. Activities included compiling a questionnaire and analysing around 200 responses using complex computing and statistical techniques incorporating the supporting results into a 40 page report.

Where your degree has no direct relevance to the job you are applying for……School of Oriental & African Studies 2002-2005BA Geography Expected Grade 2.1Skills gained:• communication: delivered presentations to audiences of up to

20 on my research and project findings including handling questions. Presented key issues affecting students on the staff/ student committee (3rd year). Achievements include the negotiation of a complete overhauling of lecture/ seminar timetabling;

• numerical: the ability to problem-solve and manage analysis and interpretation of complex experimental data;

• organisational and time-management: ability to manage final year project with academic exams, part-time and voluntary work.

CV’s - work experience

• consider everything you’ve done• think about most appropriate format

– reverse chronological/ grouped in terms of relevance/ summarised

• give details– name/ position/ dates/ context

• responsibilities and achievements• skills you have gained

Work Experience exampleUniversity of London union (UoL) bar 2003-datePart-time bar worker – (approx 9 hrs/ week term time) The union bar is open to students from the diverse colleges of UoL

providing live entertainment, food and drinks to over 5000 customers per week.

My responsibilities include:• taking orders and payments, co-ordinating with kitchen staff

and restocking supplies;• liaising with the union events team to ensure live entertainment

bookings run smoothly.Skills gained:• teamwork: working with up to 8 bar staff under pressure

especially during periods when the bar is under-resourced;• persuasion: dealing tactfully but firmly with difficult customers

especially at closing time;• stamina: working on physically demanding shifts of up to 8

hours.

CV’s -basics

Key skills:– languages/ computing & keyboard/ driving/ other

Interests and Activities:– think about clubs/ societies/ travel/ hobbies– use to further demonstrate skills & qualities– think how it reflects on you

References:– full details or ‘available on request’– 1academic/ 1employer– give referee copy of job description

Cv’s - skills profile (optional)

• positioned after work experience• provide evidence (facts) of 4/5 key skills required for the

role– try to use different examples to illustrate different skills– be specific, give supporting evidence, outcome-

orientated

Persuasion: Responsible for on-campus publicity for charity fund raising event. Involved negotiating sponsorship and advertising with local companies, arranging poster displays and collecting student donations. Attended by over 800 students and raised over £1,000.

• widen profile as part of a skills-based CV

CV’s - making the right impression

• 2 sides A4 unless specified – separate sheets. Some Investment banks (especially US) prefer 1 page.

• no photos• use appropriate formatting/ highlighting

– distinct sections, use headings, keep sections together

• omit pronouns and articles, use active verbs (achieved, controlled)

• keep to the point, use bullets, keep paras to 4 lines or less

• ensure most relevant is most prominent

CV’s checklist

• targeted & relevant

• logical structure

• evidence-based

• positive

• correct spelling/grammar

• well presented

• appropriate writing style and language eg active verbs

• appropriate length

Powerful covering letters

Formal business letter: 500 words to fit on 1 page – order is subjective…

• try and address to a named individual• heading• introduction : who you are, what you are applying for,

where you saw the job (para 1)• why you want the job: interest and research carried

out (para 2)• what you have to offer: highlight skills and experience

relevant to the job and evidenced by the CV (para 3)• why that company: distinguishing features (para 4)• conclusion – positive close and goodbye (para 5)

Your Application form

Why do employers use them?• deters unsuitable applicants• creates focus on areas relevant to job• comparable information - who stands out?

Applications - types of question• biographical:

– What work experience have you got the most out of? (50 words)

• career choice and motivation:– Why do you want to work for this organisation? (100

words)– Tell us what steps you have taken to clarify your career

choice. (100 words)• Competency:

– Please give a recent example of a team in which you have been involved. What was your role? What challenges did you face? (100 words)

– Describe a recent situation where you have demonstrated motivation and initiative. (75 words)

Application forms clinic….Motivation examples

Why do you want to work as an account manager for our marketing agency?(150 words)Your organisation is a leader in its field. It has an international reputation and is also one of the most respected agencies in the UK. It is important for me to work for a successful organisation and I would welcome all the different opportunities available to me. I would also like to work abroad at some point and so the global nature of your organisation appeals to me. Finally, I’d like to work for the organisation because the role matches my skills. I am interested in developing new skills and believe that your graduate account management scheme would help me to achieve my goals. (100 words)

Question Strategy

• Prepare a draft then ask yourself does it…– answer the question by providing the relevant

information/ deal with the qualities the employer is looking for?

– provide a personal perspective with specific examples rather than regurgitating readily available information

Better….

Why do you want to work as an account manager for our marketing agency? (150 words)

Firstly, I am familiar with the products of your client-base including Riva and Viva, and having spent an internship period with Diva, I am excited by the thought of working alongside these prestigious organisations. I’m also attracted to the ‘creative hot-house’ reputation of the agency as described in a recent ‘Campaign’ magazine agency profile. I have been involved with the innovative re-branding strategy of the student union through a diverse range of media channels including online and outdoor. After examining your website and attending your 2007 SOAS presentation, I understand the value of good organisational skills in order to successfully manage client campaigns. This appeals since I have worked on simultaneous research projects whilst balancing union commitments and a part-time job (15 hours/week). I have also been impressed by the honesty and enthusiasm of recently recruited trainees of the organisation I met at this year’s Careers Group LGRF (150 words)

Application forms clinic…..Competency examplesDescribe a time when you instigated change to solve a

problem.” (75 words)

During my Masters, I discovered that lab times didn’t suit everyone as many of my classmates were missing slots due to timetable clashes with other academic and extra-curricular activities. These included optional seminars that many felt the need to attend and Wednesday afternoon sporting commitments. I undertook research and found that there needed to be a more flexible arrangement for students to carry out their lab work and consequently a greater number of slots were made available’. (82 words)

Competency Question Strategy

• STAR– S Situation– T Task– A Action– R Result

Better...Describe a time when you instigated change to solve a problem.” (75 words)

During my Masters, I identified the need for a change in laboratory times since my year group were missing slots due to time-table clashes. I put my case in writing to two academic staff, explaining the situation and suggesting more convenient times. I followed this up in person and was invited to the next staff meeting. After protracted negotiation, a revised timetable was introduced and students were consequently able to complete projects on time. (74 words)

Applying online• download the form and assess requirements• plan your approach/ do your research• complete the more straightforward areas• break down the harder questions• brainstorm possible examples and decide on

most appropriate• draft - evaluate – refine..to keep to wordcount• get a second opinion• apply early but submit only when ready

Need more help?

• get it checked by a UCL careers adviser• ‘How to Write a CV/ How to complete an application

form’ – CareersGroup publications available in careers library

• employer led skills workshops - Autumn Programme 06/07: ucl.ac.uk/careers– BT: CV and apps - 31 Oct 2pm– Various: Seven deadly skills - 1 Nov 12moon– JP Morgan: Interview skills – 13 Nov 5.30pm

• thecareersgroup.co.uk/ ucl.ac.uk/careers• look at CV/ application form examples on the net:

– www. prospects.ac.uk; www.doctorjob.co.uk– www.ucl.ac.uk/careers; www.thecareersgroup.co.uk