CVs and Covering Letters

Claire Ward & Helen Gorman,

Careers & Employability Advisers

How do I write my CV?

• Appreciate the function of a CV

• Learn about good practice in content and style of CV

• Understand how to select relevant details for the job

• Make connections between experience and employer’s

requirements

• Understand the purpose and content of covering letters

What is the purpose of a CV?

• Demonstrates both suitability and potential for the

job/sector

• Promote yourself – with particular emphasis on recent and

relevant experiences

• Tell your story

• To get an interview

Consider who is going to read your CV?

• What is the employer is looking for?

• What is different about being an undergraduate?

• Employers want work related skills –

people skills, initiative, problem solving, team work

• Plus experience of any kind

CV guidelines

• Effective layout and presentation• Right amount of detail• Tailored to a particular job - relevant• Interesting – makes you want more

What to include

Personal Information

Profile

Education – what do you have to offer?

Work Experience – paid and unpaid

Interests – what else do you do?

Additional skills – languages, IT literacy

Referees

Length?

Checklist

• Have you dissected the job details and researched the job

and organisation?

• Have you written a list of the essential skills, qualities and

experience required and the matching evidence you can

offer?

• Are you using the right language?

Different styles

•Chronological/traditional

•Skills based/targeted/functional

•Academic

•Different – to attract attention

Cover emails and letters

•Effective presentation and layout

•Not repeating what’s in the CV

•Explains interest in the job/why applying

•Shows understanding of organisation

•Appropriate language/register

What to include

•Why writing?

•Why you?

•Why the employer/organisation?

•What next?

Further help

Short interview with a careers adviser Mon-Fri 10-5pm

Briefing sessions – every lunch time!

Employer Events

Vacancies – part time, work experience, graduate jobs

Website www.sussex.ac.uk/cdec