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CAREER LEADERSHIP SEMINAR SERIES
Creating a Powerful CV & Cover Letter Date: Friday, Oct. 14 Time: 15:00 – 17:30 Place: ESEI
Presented by Mitch Berman BERMAN ADVANTAGE
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL CV Purpose
To present yourself, your experiences, and your qualifications in the best light possible in order to secure an interview or meeting.
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL CV Principal Elements
Heading
Job Objective
Summary of Qualifications
Professional Experience
Education
Relevant Additional Information
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL CV Create the right heading
Name, address, contact information, and possibly URL.
Show off your credentials if they can set you apart in a positive way (e.g., MBA).
Use a mini-heading for identification on the top of the second page, if you have one.
List only phone numbers where you wish to be contacted.
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL CV Job Objective (is it really necessary?)
States what role you are seeking and want to play for your next employer.
Should be concrete, concise, direct, and relevant.
Consider using job title in response to a specific posting.
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL CV Kick-start with a Summary of Qualifications
Emphasize top 3 or 4 reasons you’re qualified for the job you’re seeking.
Highlight any of the following:
* Experience * Credentials * Expertise * Background
* Work Ethic * Personality * Personal Values
Prioritize by most relevant and impressive.
Consider using powerful testimonials from colleagues/managers.
Use punchy phrases rather than full sentences.
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL CV Kick-start with a Summary of Qualifications
Be remarkable and memorable; avoid trite phrases such as o “Excellent written and oral communication skills”
o “Outstanding organizational abilities”
o “Goal-oriented individual”
If changing careers/functional focus, highlight the following: o Experience in the targeted field/position.
o Required skills and motivation.
o Competitive competencies (what sets you apart).
P.S. Great for 30-second networking pitch
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL CV Structure to maximize strengths and impact
WITH MORE WORK EXPERIENCE, FUNCTIONAL FORMAT IS EFFECTIVE
Focus on skills, expertise, and achievements
Minimizes choppy career progression
FOR RECENT GRADUATES, CHRONOLOGICAL FORMAT IS BEST
Starts with most recent experience.
Emphasizes advancement within the same company.
Ideal if targeted job is within the same industry as most recent experience.
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL CV Show your best past – General philosophies
Don’t lie; you can be creative as long as you’re honest.
Clearly and strongly reflect stability, skills, experience, and fit.
Maximize strengths, minimize weaknesses.
Don’t emphasize aspects of past experiences that you don’t enjoy doing.
Highlight achievements, NOT job descriptions.
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL CV Show your best past
Try not to refer to personal illness, unemployment, or rehabilitation in your work history.
Address gaps in work history by presenting some type of forthright activity relevant to your job objective, if possible. o Independent Study
o Personal Travel
o Volunteer
o Consultant
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL CV Show your best past
Bundle temporary or short-term assignments. o List name of employment agency.
o Use professional title of “freelancer,” “contractor,” or “consultant.”
Highlight advancement within one company by using a heading and bullets; o General responsibilities with heading.
o Specific accomplishments within each bullet.
For lesser-known companies/organizations, include a short overview statement beside or under the company name.
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL CV Use effective formatting and style
Communicate points with bullets, not in paragraph form.
Use action verbs at the beginning of each point; avoid “Responsible for.”
Avoid repetition and redundancy with action words (managed, supervised, oversaw).
Write in first person without pronouns.
Use words with which you are reasonably comfortable.
Be consistent in presenting date ranges (1998 – 1999 or ’98 – ’01).
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL CV Create a proper Education section
Typically positioned at end of CV unless o Your education is highly relevant to your new position.
o You’re a new graduate and want to show off your degree.
o You have no employment in your targeted field but have a relevant degree or training.
List only classes/workshops that support your job objective.
Relevant life experience, education, and training can compensate for lack of a degree, even if this is a stated job requirement.
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL CV Create a proper Education section – Degrees
List only the schools where you obtained your degree or completed a program.
If you haven’t yet received your degree, consider using one of the following phrases:
o Currently enrolled
o Anticipated completion: Spring 2001
o In progress
o Six months completed
Be able to explain gaps in study.
Academic work should be listed only if it is relevant to your job objective.
Abbreviate degrees where possible (BS, MBA).
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL CV Include relevant additional information
Volunteer/Community Service – reflects dedication, character, social awareness
Professional Affiliations – including offices held
Honors and Awards – indicate if individual or team based
Computer, Technical, and Language Proficiency
Other (Publications, Exhibitions, Research, Lectures, Licenses, Certifications)
Personal Interests – should be included only if they o Add to your qualifications as a candidate for your job objective.
o Say something about your character that might be valued on the job.
o Avoid potential conflicts of interest with the prospective employer/hiring manager.
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL CV What NOT to put on your CV
Salary history/requirements
References (unless specifically requested and space is available)
Personal/Physical Data (unless expected or relevant)
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL CV General presentation
Use a clean, easy-to-read font with tone reflecting that of your targeted industry (e.g., Times Roman, Arial, Verdana, Corbel).
Body text: 10 to 12 point Name: 12 to 18 point
Create optical division between sections for easier reading
Apply ample white space and strategic use of lines
Use variation in type face: Bold, underline, UPPER CASE, Upper and Lower-case
Right/left margins minimum 2,5 cm
Top/bottom margins minimum 1,25 cm
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL CV Alternative CV Formats
Video CV
Visual CV (visualcv.com)
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL COVER LETTER Purpose
To motivate the reader to review your entire CV and support your case for securing an interview.
How? By effectively interpreting and synthesizing your factual, data-oriented CV while adding a personal touch and creating a strong first impression.
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL COVER LETTER Introduction – Why you are writing
Refer to any personal leads
If responding to a job posting: o Indicate where you learned of the position and title.
o Express enthusiasm and match between credentials and needed qualifications.
If writing a prospecting letter, inquiring about possible opportunities: o State specific job objective.
o Capture reader’s attention.
If writing a networking letter, make your request for information clear.
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL COVER LETTER Body – What you have to offer
Responding to an advertisement: o Refer specifically to qualifications listed.
o Illustrate how your particular abilities, experiences, and training relate to position.
In a prospecting letter: o Express potential to fulfill employer’s needs, don’t focus on what can be done for you.
o Give evidence that you have thoroughly researched the organization and have valuable, needed skills.
In general: o Emphasize achievements and problem-solving skills rather than responsibilities.
o Show how education and work skills are transferrable and relevant to position.
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL COVER LETTER Conclusion – How you will follow up
Repeat interest.
Express thanks for consideration and cooperation.
Provide contact data and request feedback and/or take initiative to follow-up personally.
Make best effort to confirm materials received/application complete.
Cover Letter Samples: http://jobsearch.about.com
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
CREATING A POWERFUL COVER LETTER Email guidelines
Formatting: o Send your CV as a PDF document to protect formatting.
o If attachments are not accepted, paste your CV into your email message.
o Do not use HTML. Use a simple font and remove the fancy formatting.
List in the subject line the position for which you are applying.
Include a signature with your contact information.
Send a test message to yourself first to check that the formatting works.
Make sure you double-check spelling and grammar.
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
THE SPANISH JOB MARKET
Unemployment rate above 20%.
Among lowest average graduate salaries in Europe.
Spanish language skills critical.
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
WHERE CAN YOU WORK?
Major Industries: retail/wholesale, manufacturing, construction, real estate, transport, tourism
Foreign grads might have more luck in Spain’s consulting, industry, and computer science sectors.
Recent growth areas: service sector, hotels/restaurants, IT and Hi-tech
Industries in decline: construction, real estate, agriculture
Major companies: Santander, Telefonica, Repsol YPF, BBVA, Endesa, ACS, Cepsa, Ibedrola, Ferrovial, FCC, Mapfre
Source: www.prospects.ac.uk/spain_job_market/htm
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BERMAN ADVANTAGE 14 October 2011
BERMAN ADVANTAGE coaching | training | consulting
Phone: +34 644 482 433 Skype: mitchberman Email: [email protected]
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