Why choose The Open University?

INSPIRING LEARNING

Your guide to

applying for jobs

Writing a brilliant CV and covering letter

The secrets to filling in applications forms

Nailing your interview to get the job

Inside: your questions answered…

Why choose The Open University? 2

Don’t let anything hold you back this yearThis guide is for everyone who wants to know how The Open University can help you stand out from the crowd in an increasingly competitive job market.

ContentsHow to write a CV 3–6

The covering letter 7

Filling in application forms 8

Applying online 9

Interviews 10

What’s stopping you? 11

What next? 12

Many people can’t afford to stop everything to get the career and qualifications they need. With us, you don’t have to. We help ordinary people achieve extraordinary things, with affordable part‑time courses delivered in a way that lets you study flexibly in and around your family and work commitments.

Now’s the time to change your life with The Open University• Highly-respected Employers really value a qualification from The Open University,

both for the quality of education it represents and the commitment and motivation it takes to get one.

• Widely-recognised 75% of FSTE 100 companies have sponsored staff on our courses.

• Affordable We can show you how learning is more affordable than you might think – in some cases, it’s free.

Why choose The Open University? 3

How to write a CVYour CV is one of the main ways to convince someone it’s worth interviewing you. The advantage of a CV, over say an application form, is that you get to decide what information to include and what to leave out. Plus, your CV doesn’t need to conform to a set format, so you have more control over the impression it will create. You can tailor the style, content and design to show off your strengths and present yourself in the most positive light.

The importance of tailoring your CVUnless you’re applying for the same jobs in very similar companies, a one‑CV‑fits‑all approach won’t work. You’ll have a much better chance of being asked in for an interview if you adapt your CV to suit the particular organisation or job.

Employers expect you to show that you’re responding to their own advertisements, not sending out a batch of identical CVs to a list of companies you found in the Yellow Pages. Even if that’s exactly what you are doing, make it look as though you’re targeting their individual company. And you can reinforce this impression by tailoring the covering letter.

What style of CV?The style of your CV should depend on the sector or organisation you’re sending it to. For example, applications to marketing organisations or the publishing industry can be a little more creative and show your flair for lively prose or graphic design. However, the same approach for a financial institution or a local authority won’t be very well received at all. Bear this in mind when you design your own CV.

Preparing your CVHow you organise and present information about yourself will tell any potential employer a lot about you. Be prepared to spend some time on creating and reworking your CV. It’s important to make sure that you present yourself positively and accurately.

So, when it comes to preparing your CV, you need to ask yourself a few key questions:

• What kind of work are you after?

• Which employers or organisations are you approaching?

• What messages do you want to tell people – your strengths and qualities?

• What experiences should you emphasise?

• Does the style of your CV match the culture of the organisations you’re sending it to?

Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to write a CV. The right one is the one that works for you in your situation and gets you interviews.

Why choose The Open University? 4

What to include (and not to include) in your CVYour CV is uniquely yours in style, content and layout, but you may find the following ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ helpful.

Personal data• Name Initials or middle names are unnecessary at this stage

and may confuse matters.

• Address Give your full address with postcode and your email address if you have one.

• Telephone It’s important to give a number where you can be reached or where a message can be left. Include your mobile number if you have one.

• Other personal details There’s no need to include details such as date of birth, nationality, gender, marital status or number of children.

Employment experienceYour aim here is to stress your achievements at work. Include the nature and place of your employer’s business if it isn’t obvious from the name, but don’t give the address or the name of your manager at this stage.

There are different opinions about whether you set your experience out in forward or reverse chronological order. But everyone agrees that the most relevant job should appear at the top of the list, so that the reader is encouraged to read on. Some possible sequences are:

• Put your present or most recent job at the top of the list, with appropriate detail, then the rest of the employment history in backward or forward chronological order.

• Start with the most relevant work experience, even if it’s not the most recent, then work backwards or forwards chronologically.

• Divide your experience under the headings ‘Related’ and ‘Other’. This allows you to highlight the experience the employer is likely to be most interested in, and play down other, less important jobs.

• If you had a series of short‑lived jobs and you want to abbreviate the list, you could say something like ‘In the five years 1995–2000 I worked in various temporary positions in the catering industry’.

Whichever system you use, make sure it’s clear and that the way you present starting and leaving dates is consistent. Don’t leave any unexplained gaps.

Why choose The Open University? 5

EducationConsider how far back you should go. School or young college‑leavers should be quite explicit about their education since age 11, but it’s more appropriate for senior managers to include a brief résumé of schools attended and exams passed. There’s no need to include the full address of each school or college – condense the information to dates, names and towns.

If the job requires a degree or diploma it’s best to start with that, enabling the employer to see straightaway that you meet the requirement.

TrainingDon’t give an exhaustive list of all the training courses and seminars you’ve attended. Include useful information about training and development – courses of a week or more, or training in relevant specialist skills.

Interests, activitiesThis section has various uses. It can show that you have a well‑rounded life and don’t live for work alone, that you’re a sociable person who gets on with others and that you keep yourself fit. Your hobbies may have given you opportunities to tackle roles and develop skills that you haven’t had scope for at work – perhaps you’ve been a school governor, run a computer club, done voluntary work that demonstrates organisational and management skills. An unusual hobby such as skydiving or genealogical research can be worth mentioning, even though it has no obvious relevance to the job. It gives your CV an interesting feature and makes it memorable.

Additional skillsInclude details you think a prospective employer really ought to know – driving licence, additional skills such as foreign languages (if possible, give an indication of your level of competence), first aid training, and so on. It is also important to outline your level of IT and keyboard skills, including software you are familiar with e.g. Word and Excel.

Career aims, personal profileIncluding career aims and a skill profile can be particularly effective if you’re changing career, you’re a mature graduate, you have an unconventional record or you’re applying for a job for which the competition is particularly keen.

ReferencesYou’ll usually need two referees, one from your present or last employer. Give their names, addresses and telephone numbers, and their status or relationship to you (e.g. line manager, course tutor). If you don’t want your employer approached at this stage, say so in your CV or covering letter. You might prefer to omit referees on the CV and put ‘References available on request’.

Why choose The Open University? 6

Top 10 tips for a brilliant CV

1 Make it easy to read and follow. Yours will be one of many that the employer has to go through. Use an ‘easy‑to‑read’ font and size, such as Arial 11 point.

2 Be consistent in how you present the information and in your layout. Have headings in the same style (capital letters, bold, underlining). Use bullet points to make reading quicker.

3 Two sides of A4 is usually the right length and don’t cram too much on each page.

4 Put the most important information on the first page and as near the top as possible. The employer may not bother to read on if there’s nothing of interest to begin with.

5 The space you give to each section should reflect its importance. Concentrate on the aspects that are most important for the employer to know.

6 Avoid long, complicated sentences. Don’t use clichés, jargon and abbreviations the reader may be unfamiliar with. Write the words out in full the first time you use them and put the abbreviation in brackets – after that you can use it on its own.

7 Ask for other people’s views on your draft, and proofread the final version carefully.

8 Your CV should be produced to a high standard, typed and printed or copied on good‑quality white or cream paper. Make sure the copies are sharp and clear. If you need to demonstrate an interest in design (e.g. for some media jobs) more elaborate graphics and perhaps coloured paper might be appropriate.

9 Make sure that your CV arrives looking like a quality document. Don’t fold it. Use an A4 envelope with cardboard reinforcement.

10 And of course, get an OU qualification on your CV – employers really value the commitment and motivation it takes.

Why choose The Open University? 7

The covering letterYour covering letter is your opportunity to market yourself. It introduces your application and draws attention to the main factors that make you suitable for the job. It will usually be read first, so make sure that the reader will want to find out more about you. It should enhance your application, not repeat what’s on the application form or CV. Always include a covering letter unless the employer specifically tells you not to.

Application forms often allow you reasonable scope to sell yourself and may need only a brief covering letter. A CV will usually require more of an introduction.

Make it relevantMention the job title your applying for (including any reference number), and say where and when you saw the vacancy. Highlight your strongest selling points, such as a relevant degree, appropriate qualification and related experience. Stress how you think the organisation can benefit from employing you. Add some other detail to reinforce your suitability, without duplicating what’s on the application form.

Drafting your letter• If possible, type your letter (unless the employer asks for it

to be handwritten)

• Use plain, good quality paper

• Keep it brief – usually no more than one side of A4

• Put your name, address, telephone number and date at the top right‑hand corner and, on the left‑hand side, the name, job title and organisation of the person you’re writing to

• Address your letter to an individual person by name and job title. Switchboard staff can be very helpful in supplying this information if it isn’t otherwise available

• When writing to a named individual, end ‘Yours sincerely’. If you do have to resort to ‘Dear Sir or Madam’, end ‘Yours faithfully’

• Although you should be business‑like, steer clear of stilted expressions like ‘re: your advertisement of 29th July’ and ‘I beg to remain’

• Make sure your spelling and grammar are correct, and that you’ve expressed yourself clearly. Ask someone else to read it – don’t rely on your computer’s spelling check, especially as it may be based on US spelling

• Print your name clearly below your signature

• You can use your covering letter to give additional information such as reasons for an unusual change in career or highlight aspects of your CV which you feel are particularly important.

If there are any special circumstances not covered in the application form or CV, such as a disability and how you overcome potential difficulties, mention them in the letter.

Keep a copy of your letter. If you haven’t received an acknowledgement within two or three weeks, send a brief follow‑up letter or telephone to make sure that it’s been received.

Why choose The Open University? 8

Filling in application formsIt’s always worth putting in the effort to make your application form is as good as it can be. Most candidates are screened out when employers receive application forms.

Before completing the form:• research the employer and the work role to make sure

you understand what you are applying for

• draw up a list of key skills required to do the job – often these appear in the advert or job specification

• organise the information you are going to provide to demonstrate that your skills match the required skills

• give examples to illustrate that you possess these skills.

Application form questions Employers may ask different types of question on an application form and it’s important to understand what answers will get the best response.

General questions• How would you describe yourself?

• What are your leisure interests?

• Describe any positions of responsibility you have held.

Think about what the employer is looking for in your answer.

Competency based questionsThese are open‑ended questions about your achievements or setbacks which have no right or wrong answers.

But remember, the problem or situation is of far less importance than how you resolved it and what you learned from the experience.

Structure your answer using CARA:

• Context (20%) – set the scene

• Action (50%) – what you did or the skills used

• Result (20%) – the outcome

• After (10%) – what you learned from the experience.

Make sure you focus on your actions, not those of the group, even if the question asks about working as part of a team.

Additional or further information sectionsThe key questions to answer here are ‘Why are you applying?’ and ‘What makes you suitable?’

• Make sure you describe the skills, achievements, personal qualities and experience you have that match the person specification

• why you want the job

• why you want to work for that employer.

Why choose The Open University? 9

Applying onlineIt’s important to make sure your online application is up to scratch. What you say and how it looks are just as important as if you were filling in a conventional application form.

Tips for applying online• Check to see if any online help is offered or if there are

written guidelines

• Check that you can save your answers and amend them, or complete the form later ‑ if not, download or print off the questions and draft your answers first

• The form may allow you to copy and paste your answers from a Word document – this can save time and decrease errors

• If the text goes into an expanding box, check how far it stretches and whether you can change the font size

• Don’t use symbols in the text as they can cause problems

• Consider the content of your answers carefully and spend plenty of time on drafting

• Some employers scan applications to see if you have used key words and phrases, so think carefully about how you describe your activities and skills

• Use action words such as ‘organised’, ‘responsible’, ‘lead’, ‘planned’ – and try to match these expressions to the job description or the key skills referred to in the section headings

• Print and save a copy so you can look at it again before the interview

• Only send in your application when you are completely satisfied with the result and have proofread it.

Sending CVs by email• Always send a covering email, similar in content

to a covering letter

• Use the subject line to make clear you are sending a job application

• Use a formal style (e.g. Dear Mr Smith), and pay attention to spelling and grammar

• Include your CV as an attachment to the email.

Why choose The Open University? 10

InterviewsPreparation for an interview is absolutely essential. You need to:• check in advance what the format of the interview will be

• know what the job entails and think about how your skills and experience suit the role by checking the job description

• try to predict what you may be asked and draft suitable answers

• read through your CV or application form and covering letter thoroughly

• prepare some questions to ask the interviewer.

For an academic interview you should also:

• familiarise yourself with the entry criteria and requirements for your further study

• be prepared to talk in more detail about the content of your degree, including knowledge and skills you have acquired

• for a vocational course, identify specific examples of experience you have gained through related employment

• if possible, find out more about the people who will be interviewing you, identify their areas of interest, which may influence the questions they ask.

Body languageFirst impressions are extremely important. You will be assessed from the moment you enter the interview room, so be aware of how you walk in.

Keep your head up and shoulders back, take deep breaths to calm any nerves and smile as you breathe in. Above all be natural and be yourself.

Remember to

• Shake hands firmly and smile when you meet the interviewer(s) and, in moderation, during the interview

• Make eye contact. If it is a panel interview make sure that you include each member when you answer by looking at them as well, but spend most of the time directing your answer to the person who asked the question

• Sit upright but comfortably, rather than leaning forward or backward – and don’t be afraid to shift position from time to time

• Try not to fidget – keep your hands on your lap but do use them to illustrate an answer where appropriate

• Keep hand movements under control and don't make them too flamboyant.

Telephone interviewsIncreasingly, employers are using this method for first‑round interviews.

Challenges of telephone interviews:

• It can be difficult to gauge the interviewer’s reaction to your answers because you have no body language or visual signals to interpret

• The interviewer can’t see you either, so it is important that you make your voice as expressive as you can in order to demonstrate enthusiasm and interest in the job

• It can be easy to say too much, so when you have said what you want to say, just stop – you can always ask whether it is enough or if they want you to say more.

Why choose The Open University? 11

What’s stopping you?Criminal recordIt is illegal for an employer to refuse to employ you or to dismiss you on the grounds of a spent conviction. It is also illegal for anybody to reveal information about your conviction after the end of the rehabilitation period.

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 allows for some convictions to become ‘spent’ after a certain amount of time. There are, however, certain exceptions to this depending on the sentence you were given and the type of work you want to do.

Disability or additional requirementsThe Disability Discrimination Acts (DDA) of 1995 and 2005 make it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against you whether you are applying for a job or are in employment. Discrimination is outlawed in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, promotion, training and selection, redundancy or dismissal.

GenderThe Equal Pay Act 1970 (EPA) gives an individual a right to the same contractual pay and benefits as a person of the opposite sex in the same employment.

The Sex Discrimination Acts 1975 and 1986 (SDA) prohibit sex discrimination against individuals in the areas of employment, education, the provision of goods, facilities and services, and in the disposal or management of premises. They also prohibit discrimination in employment against married people. Victimisation because someone has tried to exercise their rights under the SDA or Equal Pay Act is also prohibited.

RaceThe Race Relations Act 1976 (which was amended in 2000 and 2003) makes it illegal to treat a person less favourably than others on racial grounds. These cover grounds of race, colour, nationality (including citizenship), and national or ethnic origin. In practice, most racial discrimination in Britain is against people from minority ethnic groups, but people of every background, race, colour and nationality are protected by the law.

Sexuality and sexual orientationThe Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 ban discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in employment. This relates to England, Scotland and Wales.

In May 1999, the Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations 1999 came into force in the UK. The amendments, which apply to the Sex Discrimination Act (1997), formally made illegal a whole catalogue of discrimination against transsexual people in employment.

Religion or beliefThe Employment Equality Regulations 2003 (Religion or Belief) were introduced to protect against discrimination in employment and vocational training in England, Scotland and Wales, and similar regulations were also introduced in Northern Ireland.

Under the new regulations it is unlawful to discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on the grounds of religion or belief, unless the employer can show that there is a legitimate business need. It is also unlawful to harass or bully someone because of their religion or belief.

Part Two of the Equality Act 2006 boosts protection against discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, and makes it illegal to discriminate because of a lack of religion or belief.

Why choose The Open University?

What next?So now it’s time to put what you’ve just learned into action. But you’ll need to persevere.

What works for you will depend on many different factors, from the demand within the industry you’d like to work in to your experience and qualifications.

And while we can’t create jobs in a particular sector, we can help with the qualifications. Speak to us about how flexible learning with the OU can fit in and around your other commitments – and how affordable it can be.

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Improve your prospects with the OU

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