CV Workshop – Brand YouMichelle Fischer and John Chisholm

July 16th 2009

Aims

By the end of this session you’ll:

Have learned new tactics for creating a more compelling CV

Be clearer on the different formats of CVs and which one to use

Know what content to include and what to exclude

About you

Answer the following:? What are you proudest of?

? What is your career path for the next ten years?

? Describe an average weekend for you.

? What is an interesting fact about you that you’d be happy to share

Our Top Five CV Facts

Your CV should be: Interesting

Relevant

Personal

Targeted to the job you’re applying for

Accurate and honest

Your CV

? What makes a good CV?

? What makes a bad CV?

? What should be on your CV?

? What’s a CV for?

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Your Turn

• Put on your recruitment shoes

• Review a CV• What do you like about it?• What would you change?• What does it tell you about the person who wrote

it?• What sort of job should they apply for?

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Your CV

• What should be in it?

Political beliefs Personal Profile State of Health

Employment Weight & Height Responsibilities

Referees Salary Qualifications

Education Family information Training

Marital Status Interests Age/DOB

Driving LicenseAchievements Reasons for leaving

Religion Photographs Contact Details

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Your CV

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Your Profile Statement

• What’s a profile statement?

“An experienced account administrator who works well under pressure to consistently meet strict deadlines. Enjoys working as part of a team or on own initiative using effective communication skills to achieve objectives”

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Write your Own

Your Skills: _________________________________

Your Qualities: _________________________________

Your Characteristics: ____________________________

Your Strengths: _________________________________

Your Achievements: ____________________________

…Write your Own

CV Formats

• Reverse Chronological

• Functional

• Targeted

• Application Forms

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Reverse ChronologicalThe most common format, which demonstrates your career history in reverse order.

Reverse Chronological Format

• Name and Contact Details• Personal Profile and Key Skills• Company name, job title and dates of employment

• Responsibilities• Achievements

• Qualifications, Education and Training, including dates• Any other relevant information

• Driving License• Languages• System skills• Interests

FunctionalThis type of CV links your skills and achievements and is used when targeting specific jobs or in freelancing.

Functional Format

• Name and Contact Details• Profile and summary of Skills• Achievements• Company name, job title and dates of employment• Qualifications, Education and Training, including dates• Any other relevant information

• Driving License• Languages• System skills• Interests

Targeted

Focussed on a particular career goal or job

Targeted Format

• Name and Contact Details• Job Target• Capabilities• Achievements• Company name, job title and dates of employment• Qualifications, Education and Training, including dates• Any other relevant information

• Driving License• Languages• System skills• Interests

Application Forms

• Read the form before you complete it• If hardcopy, photocopy it and write in draft• Never substitute with your CV• Target your answers to the questions asked• Allow plenty of time to fill it in• Use key words• Sell yourself!• Never leave blanks • Get someone else to check it for you• Keep a copy

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Competency Based Questions

• Be specific

• What did you actually do?

• Spelling and grammar!

• Think about the competency – what are they looking for?

• Use the S-T-A-R model when answering the questions

• Think about why they are asking the question

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More Tips

• Would you interview you?

• Your name and contact details

• Use clean white paper

• Arial or Times New Roman Font, size 12

• Page numbers

• Your name on the header on page 2

• Spelling and grammar!

• Don’t fold it!

• More white than black

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Common Mistakes

• Not targeted to the job applied for• Too long• Spelling and Grammatical errors• Disorganised• Too sparse or over-written• Not focused on results or achievements• Incorrect email address or telephone number• Gaps in dates• Irrelevant or too personal information

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CV Summary

• Take care over how you present yourself

• Make it interesting – it’s a reflection of you

• Don’t forget to consider your audience

• Be honest about yourself

• Review it regularly23

Recap - Aims

Following this session you:

? Have learned new tactics for creating a more compelling CV?

? Are clearer on the different formats of CVs and which one to use?

? Know what content to include and what to exclude?

Any questions?