writing effective cvs and covering letters

Career Development and Employment Service

Department of Student Services 1

Writing Effective CVs and Covering Letters



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



Types of CV

Chronological Skills Mix of the two



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



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



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



CV Quiz



What do we know about CVs? 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!



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



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



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



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



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 …………….



Education Should be in reverse chronological order i.e. most recent first

- degree level study- pre-university education, generally back toGCSE 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



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.



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



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



Example of Work Experience:September 2009 – presentRecruitment 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



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



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


Transferable skills sought by employers Communication Team work Leadership Initiative Problem solving Numeracy

Interpersonal Self awareness Flexibility and

adaptability Commitment and

motivation


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




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



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.


Exercise

Choose a skill from slide 21 Based on the slide 23, “defining skills”, identify at

least 5 definitions for your chosen skill




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



Interests and Achievements

Committee Member of the University Computing SocietyWith other committee members, I organised a fundraising event and three careers evenings with presentations from alumni and employers.



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”



Exercise – comparing CVs



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?


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




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.



Covering Letters



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



Responsive applications i.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



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



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 …....



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



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.



Dear Sir or Madam = Yours faithfully

Dear Ms Johnson= Yours sincerely

24 Granger Road London

N3 6LP 10 February 20??

Ms. S JohnsonGraduate Recruitment Manager Carver Marketing Ltd6 Bridge LaneLondonW1 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



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



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


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/

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 2094City Campus: 8 Goulston Street, Tel: 0207 320 2380

email: [email protected]

Career Development & Employment Service (CDES)


writing effective cvs and covering letters

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