Plan your career - build your CVJanice MontgomerySenior Careers Adviser

Aberdeen Business Enterprise Society

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the session you should..

• Have broadened your knowledge of potential areas of employment

• Have increased your self knowledge with a view to a more informed choice of career

• Understand what employers look for in a CV and why.

• Have gained very practical skills in writing CV’s.

• Understand the difference between a good CV and a bad CV.

• Be aware of how to construct a covering letter.

Interesting facts…..

• There are 4.2 million people in the UK who are self employed

• 4.8% of graduates in 2010/11 classed themselves as self employed

• Wilson Report 2012 – E and E

• 2350 new graduate start ups in 2010

• 8.6% of graduates over 40, start their own business

Discipline% of total students from that discipline

Art and Design 17.5

Performing Arts 15.4

Computing Science 5.4

Physics 4.8

Business and Management 4.4

English 3.7

Sports Science 3.5

Architecture and Building 3.0

History 2.4

Psychology 2.1

Source: What Do Graduates Do? 2012 HECSU

Employability skills 78%

Positive attitude 72%

Relevant work experience 54%

Degree subject 41%

Degree result 28%

Confederation of British Industry Future Fit April 2009

What do employers look for?

Employability skills? Self managementTeamworkingBusiness and customerAwarenessProblem solvingCommunication and literacyApplication of numeracyApplication of ITPositive attitudeEnterprise/entrepreneurship

Lab skills,techniques, processes

Typical destinations

• Librarians

• Archivists

• Accountants

• Civil servants

• Editors

• Marketing and PR

• Social researchers

• Training officers

• Financial analysts

•Investment banker

• Production manager

• Process engineer

• Secondary teacher

• Actuary

• Financial analyst

• Conservation officer

• Geophysicist

• Management consultant

• Oil and gas engineer

•Financial Analyst

•Chartered accountant

•Scientific information officer

•Health service manager

•Technical author

•Secondary teacher

•Biological Scientist

•Research and development scientist

•Management consultant

Think!

• What are you looking for?

• What are your career goals?

• What are your interests?

• What motivates you?

• What is your ideal job?

• What can I offer? (Strengths, achievements etc)

• Where and how will I look now?

Who can help? (networking..)

• Friends• Known contacts• Colleagues’ contacts• Business contacts• Raise your profile• Attend networking events• Help other people• Use social media

How to decide Know yourself• Skills• Attributes• Values• Aspirations

Prospects- Prospects PlannerTarget Jobs Career ReportCareers Service – Career Planning

Social media

• Get involved• Be selective• Raise profile through

discussion• Share useful information• Help others• Blog/chat• Ask questions• Easy for them to find you

Deconstructing job vacancies

In pairs, review the job description you have been

given highlighting skills, qualifications and experience

required.

Discuss evidence you might provide to show that you match the description.

What’s the Point?

A CV has only one chance to impress and one purpose- to get you to an

interview.

Content – Practical Exercise

You have been given an assortment of cards.

In the opinion of your group, what should

a) Always be on a CV?

b) Never be on a CV?

c) Might sometimes be appropriate on a CV?

Ultimate aim?

• Clarity

• Relevance

Layout:

Name

Personal details

Education

Skills

Work Experience

Hobbies/ Interests

Referees

Other tips?

Clarity:

Font size (12)

Clear headings using capitals/bold font

Bullet points

Clear examples

Logical sequence

Black on white

Good quality paper

2 sides of A4

Spelling and grandma! (grammar!)

Relevance:

The CV is a response to specific skills and experience being sought by the employer.

Vague claims won’t cut it.

If you don’t provide evidence they won’t be convinced

CV Exercise

You have been approached by a final year business student at the University of Aberdeen. They have applied for a number of positions but so far have not received an interview. List five things which you think might improve their CV and increase their chances of interview.

Covering letter

Purpose: To introduce your CV in three paragraphs:

1) Why you are writing and who you are.

2) What you know about them and what you want them to know about you.

3) Concluding information

Further assistance• Quick query slots

bookable online e.g CV checks (15 mins)

• Careers Appointments– 30/45 mins

• Online resourceswww.abdn.ac.uk/careers

www.prospects.ac.uk

• 2nd Floor 273601