HOW TO PREPARE A WINNING CV www.kent.ac.uk/ces/

Tim Reed

Head of Careers and Employability Service

Introduction

• What is a CV?

• When is it used?

• What does it contain?

• Who do you send it to?

• What about the covering letter?

What is a CV?

• One of many ways to apply

• Your marketing tool

• A4 – sized

• Flexible & targeted

• Stylized: Chronological/Skills-based

• Different in other countries

http://www.prospects.ac.uk

http://www.eurograduate.com/planning.asp

When is it used?

• As the main tool for on-spec applications

• When requested by an employer

• In support of other application information

• Never without a letter/message

• via email as attachment

• When your Referee needs more info

What does it contain?

• Personal details

• Academic background

• Work Experience

• Interests & achievements

• Additional information

• References

John Michael Andrews (5/11/90)33 Union Street, Manchester, M6 3AE. Tel. 0161 351 4039 Nationality: British

Email: J.Andrews@hotmail.com Mob: 07727374619

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

2009 - 2012 University of Kent at Canterbury BA (Hons.) Economics and Accounting 2:1.

Final Year Subjects: Economics, Business Law and Taxation

Project: "Economic Consequences of the Decline in the Kent Mining Community".

2007 - 2009 Manchester Community College.

A Levels: Mathematics B, History B, Economics C. AS Level: Geography D

2002 - 2007 St. John’s Boys School, Manchester.

8 GCSEs (grades A*-C) including Mathematics, English and French.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Summer 2011 Tourist Information Office, Canterbury.

Helping tourists, working in Bureau de Change, booking theatre and concert tickets.

Summer 2010 Canterbury City Council.

Accounts Clerk in Treasurer’s office. Dealing with enquiries, using computerised systems.

2009 - present Simple Simon’s Public House, Canterbury.

Bar work throughout the year serving food and drinks to customers and cashing up.

ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS

Secretary of the Accounting Society, involved booking speakers.

Organised a charity fun run for Rag Week – raised £175.

Enjoy competitive sport and play for the University football team.

Other interests include current affairs and studying the Stock Market.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

IT Skills: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Email, WWW etc.

Good level of spoken French.

Full, clean driving licence.

REFERENCES

Available on request

John Michael Andrews (5/11/90)33 Union Street, Manchester, M6 3AE. Tel. 0161 351 4039 Nationality: British

Email: J.Andrews@hotmail.com Mob: 07727374619

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS2009 - 2012 University of Kent at Canterbury BA (Hons.) Economics and Accounting 2:1

Final Year Subjects: Economics, Business Law and TaxationProject: "Economic Consequences of the Decline in the Kent Mining Community".

2007 - 2009 Manchester Community College.A Levels: Mathematics B, History B, Economics C. AS Level: Geography D

2002 - 2007 St. John’s Boys School, Manchester.8 GCSEs (grades A*-C) including Mathematics, English and French.

WORK EXPERIENCESummer 2011 Tourist Information Office, Canterbury.

Helping tourists, working in Bureau de Change, booking theatre and concert tickets.Summer 2010 Canterbury City Council.

Accounts Clerk in Treasurer’s office. Dealing with enquiries, using computerised systems.2009 - present Simple Simon’s Public House, Canterbury.

Bar work throughout the year serving food and drinks to customers and cashing up.

ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS Secretary of the Accounting Society, involved booking speakers. Organised a charity fun run for Rag Week – raised £275. Enjoy competitive sport and play for the University football team. Other interests include current affairs and studying the Stock Market.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONIT: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Email, WWW etc. Good level of spoken French. Full, clean driving licence.

REFERENCESAvailable on request

Tailoring your application

• Emphasize relevant qualifications

• Highlight key text/information

• Focus on relevant skills

• Research employer requirements and insert key phrases into your application

• Cherry pick what you include!

For example:

• specific course module titles, work experience, voluntary activities, individual achievements, travel, IT skills, languages, sporting honours, positions of responsibility & egs of leadership, teamwork, flexibility, meeting/surpassing targets, communication, taking the initiative, problem-solving etc…

• Keep a comprehensive list of all of these!

CV styles

• Standard/Chronological

• Skills-based

• Computing/Online

• Media

• Legal

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvexamples.htm

Hints on wording

• Avoid personal pronouns - No “I’s”

• Start with verbs wherever possible

• Use short sentences & concise phrases

• Focus on accomplishments

• Refer to specific projects with quantifiable results

• Use personal power words

Personal power words

created instructed analyzed produced

negotiated designed calculated maintained

administered controlled reviewed observed

consolidated delivered founded increased

studied invented supplied detected

programmed recommended distributed

developed solved prepared installed selected

arranged formulated solved started

Who do you send it to?

• Named company representative

• Director/Manager of Personnel

• Referees

• OTHERS WHO REQUEST IT

eg. Recruitment agencies, Postgraduate courses, Sponsorship/Funding bodies

Common Mistakes!

• Too long

• Untargeted

• Disorganised

• Contains errors/missspellings

• Not accomplishments focused

• Error examples www.createyourcv.co.uk/CMS/191_CV-Bloopers!.asp

CV Nightmares

“Received a plague for employee of the year.”

“As indicted, I have over five years experience of analysing research statistics.”

“I am loyal to my employer at all costs …. Please feel free to respond to my CV on my work voice mail.”

Cover letter: "Thank you for your consideration. I hope to hear from you shorty!"

What is a good application?

• Well-researched

• Targeted

• Accurate (content, speling, grammar)

• Informative

• Interesting

• Easy to read

• Enthusiastic

What about the covering letter?

• One side of good quality A4 paper

• Formal/conventional layout

• Addressed to a named person

• State position applied for & where advertised

• Explain why applying

• Convince the reader of your interest & suitability (egs!)

• Give dates when available/can start

• Sign off “Yours sincerely” (if sent to named person)

John Andrews33 Union Street

Manchester M6 3AE

123rd May 2012Ms Verity WiseGraduate Recruitment ManagerGreat Big Bank Co.Anywhere StreetLondonSW1

Job Reference Number 12345 (state this if it is mentioned in the advert)

Dear Ms. Wise

I am writing in response to your advertisement in “Prospects Finalist" for Graduate Trainees and enclose my CV for your consideration.

I first became interested in retail banking through talking to a Kent graduate, currently in the second year of your Management Training programme, at the University Careers Fair. Since then, discussion with my careers adviser and with management staff at my local branch has confirmed my decision to aim for a career in this field.

Through my degree course, I have been able to develop my interest in business together with my numeracy skills. While at University, I have also been able to utilise my skills in working with people through a variety of vacation jobs. My work at the Tourist Information Office was valuable in teaching me the importance of ascertaining customers’ needs and providing clear and accurate information.

I will be available for interview if required at your convenience. I can be contacted at my home address (above) and look forward to hearing from you.

Yours Sincerely

John Andrews

Further Information

• CES website www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm

• CES booklet “Making Applications”

• AGCAS Booklet

• CES Reference Files (013 series)

• Example CVs (013)

• Quick Queries at the CES

• Reference Books (eg. CVs for Graduates)