CV WritingPesewa Presentat ions

CV Writing

• No one correct style.• Has to suit you and the jobs for which you’re

applying.• Differences between countries.• Advice and suggestions only.

CV Layout

• CV Length• Key sections – Personal Details, Education, Employment,

Interests, Referees• Any order – needs to suit your information.– Key information on front page– Choose whether your education or your work experience is

the stronger selling point• Can use alternative titles if they suit your information better

eg. Relevant Experience or Professional Experience.• Can choose whether to include hobbies and interests

Some CV Design Ideas

• Heading: Curriculum Vitae or Name?• Clear sections with headings help the reader to

navigate• Look at the white space as well as the text• LONG SECTIONS IN CAPITALS OR BOLD CAN BE

DISTRACTING• Bullet points can be a useful way of breaking up

long paragraphs• Be consistent with the date order you use in

your sections

CV Content

• Must put personal contact details but can choose where to put them

• Marital status not generally required• Avoid unexplained gaps – dates are important.• Give Company / Institution name but not full

address. Job / course title.• Either “References available upon request” or

full contact details for 2 or 3 referees.

The Employer’s Perspective

• One advert – many responses.• Needs somebody “yesterday”.• Limited time to review a large number of CV’s.• How much time per CV? Somewhere between 30

seconds and 2 minutes.• Clear picture of what they’re looking for in their

successful candidate.• Looking for CV’s which demonstrate a match with

those criteria

• So what can you do to make your CV stand out?

Communicating your skills and achievements

• Vocabulary– Active words: negotiated; co-ordinated;

developed; initiated; liaised with– Responsibilities– Achievements– Don’t be afraid to quantify: “I managed a budget

of $100,000……”– Think about the difference you made in a

particular role.

Communicating your skills and achievements (2)

• Examples– Avoid making unsubstantiated claims.– Use examples to offer evidence of your suitability for the

role.• Two common formats:

1. Including information about your skills under the relevant chronological section of your CV.

2. Skills Profile – picking some skills headings which represent the requirements of the job and presenting two or three examples which demonstrate that you have that skill.

Describing your work experience

• Try to explain why you will be good at the job you’re applying for………

• …. Rather than why you were good at the last job you did.

• Prioritise your information to highlight the knowledge, experience and skills of relevance to the post for which you’re applying.

• Remember that CV’s can be checked and verified so don’t exaggerate!

Personal Profile

• Optional!• Usually appears at the beginning• Summarises:– Key fields of experience– Your unique qualities– The job you seek next

• Be brief• Adapt the profile to suit each application• Don’t try and target too many types of work with

one profile.

Covering letter

• Introduction• Why you are interested in that company and

that role• A summary of your key selling points• Optimistic ending• Usually one page of A4 unless the company

ask for more• Assume that your CV may get separated from

your letter

To finish

• Go back to your group and review your key points about CV writing. Add up to 4 other points then stick your poster up on the board or the window.

• Take a wander round the room and look at the key points from other groups.

• If you have time, have a look at your own CV and write yourself some reminders about the changes you intend to make