Today’s lecture...

CVs and Cover Letters

Contact me:

Colman McMahon

cajmcmahon@gmail.com

Module Homepage:

www.comp.dit.ie/dgordon/courses/communications/index.html

http://modulecatalogue.hosting.heanet.ie/catalogue/modules/BUSN1110/

Contact me:

Colman McMahon

cajmcmahon@gmail.com

Last lecture...

How does it work...?1. Random slide

2. 10 seconds to view it

3. Describe the picture

4. Short discussion the image

No right or wrong answers

Can be factual, historic, humourous, made up, etc.

Benefits of Powerpoint Karaoke

Experience presenting

Experience public speaking

“Improv”/comedy reduces pressure

Practice for assignment presentation

CV’s & Cover Letters

“Hire for character,

train for skills”

http://www.dit.ie/careers/

DIT Aungier Street (Room 2038), Dublin 2

Tel: 01 402 3082. Email: careers@dit.ie

Introduction & Overview

Quote

“Apart from your basic details and qualifications, we are most interested in what motivates you. Tell us why you’re interested in this career and include examples of how you’ve developed and pursued that interest”

Jon Rennie, Development and Recruitment Manager, WesternGeco Training (Schlumberger)

Guide to create your graduate CV

Step 1: Preparation

Research the job and company you are applying for and think about the right kind of language to use on your CV.

Step 2: Self-analysis

Do you meet the recruiter’s criteria? If so, focus on achievements and include plenty of evidence on your graduate CV to back up your claims.

Step 3: CV layout

What should a CV look like, and how long should it be?

Step 4: Revise your CV

Before you send it out to recruiters, make sure you’ve checked over your CV to make sure it only includes essential information.

A good CV should...

There is no single "correct" way to write and present a CV, but a good one should...

Attract attention

Create a good impresion

Present your relevant skills and qualities clearly and concisely

Promote the skills, knowledge and experience an applicant can bring to a job.

The aim of a graduate CV

To get you an interview

To sell your attributes to graduate recruiters effectively

To show you have the necessary qualities and qualifications to do the job you’re applying for

CV demonstrates that you have...

The specific skills needed for the job

The right sort of experience for the job

The personal qualities for the position

A clear understanding of the specific requirements for the job

Obviously, being a graduate, employers won't expect you to possess years of experience on your CV, rather that you can demonstrate enthusiasm, motivation and a positive attitude.

Keep it simple

Keep it short

No more than 2 pages

Keep it clear

Make it easy to read (layout, margins, font, etc.)

Keep it relevant (employer)

Is this person able to do the job?

Will this person fit in with the rest of us?

Create a professional impression

Business-like and professional

Plain white or cream paper

Good quality – 100gsm weight

Good, clear typeface (Arial, Calibri, or Verdana)

Use bold or italics to emphasise text (like job roles) rather than underlining

Use bullet points, numbering and dashes to format content

Aim for two pages in length

Plain black ink

Fonts TIMES NEW ROMAN is the standard windows "serif" font. A safe bet - law firms seem to like it.

A more interesting serif font might be GEORGIA.

ARIAL is the standard windows "sans" font. Sans fonts don't have the curly bits on letters. As you can see they're cleaner and more modern than Times or Georgia and also looks larger in the same "point" size (the point size is simply how big the letters are on the page.) However, Arial and Times Roman are so common that they're a little boring to the eye.

A more classy choice might be VERDANA which has wider letters than most fonts.or GENEVA - these are both common sans fonts.

FONT SIZE is normally 12 points for the normal font with larger sizes for subheadings and headings.

or 10 points. My favourite CV body text font is 10 point Verdana or Lucida Sans with 12 or 14 points for sub headings.

14 points is too big for the normal body font - wastes space and looks crude. and 8 or 9 points too small to be easily readable by everyone, especially in Times New Roman which should not be used in sizes less than

11 points

Although many people use 12 points, some research on this suggested that smaller point size CVs (within reason) were perceived as more intellectual!

Most CVs are now read on screen rather than on paper. It's no coincidence that Serif fonts are rarely used on the web - they are much less readable on screen (Times Roman was first used on Trajan's column, 2,000 years ago!), and some fonts, such as Verdana, were designed with screen readability in mind.

Avoid...

Gimmicks (unless in entertainment biz)

Sending photocopies (unless v. quality)

Spelling and grammatical mistakes

Alterations and amendments (always print a fresh, correct copy)

Include

Your skills and experience, knowledge and capabilities

relevant experience and competencies

Skills and qualifications that feature in the job advertisment

Use the description in the ad

Your achievements

Don’t be modest

Spell out your achievements clearly (see at a glance)

Put the most important on the first page (if 2 pages)

Most interesting and highlights your key points

Exclude The words “Curriculum Vitae” at the top of the page

Out-of-date and irrelevant information

Fussy, unnatural language

Plain, clear, unambigous statments

Anything that sounds desparate

i.e. “I’ll do anything!”

Negative information

Don’t lie but don’t include information that may diminish your chance of an interview

References

Supply details later, if asked for

Exclude (cont/...)

Unnecessary personal details

Marital status Religious affiliation

Maiden name Political affiliation

Number of children Age (and/or DOB)

Ages of children Previous salary

Nationality Reason for leaving last job

Gender Photographs

Partner’s occupation

Put in... or leave out...?

Two basic questions...

1. Will it encourage them to interview me?

2. Will it discourage them from interviewing me?

Checklist (1)

Your finished CV should be...

Easy to read

Easy to understand

Attractive

Present your skills, strengths, and achievements clearly

Encourage the reader to want to interview you

Layout

Wide margin

Clear spacing

Discreetly used capital letters and bullets points to emphasise information

Short, clearly headed, easy to read sections

Checklist (2)

Is the layout clear

Do the relevant points stand out?

Is the language clear and understandable?

Are your skills and achievments emphasised?

Can the employer see the key points at a glance, or does the information have to be searched for and guessed at?

Is it free of irrelevant details?

Is it free of qualifying words such as “fairly”, “usually” and “hopefully”

Does a positive picture of you emerge?

Is is well presented, smart and professional looking?

Finally...

Try to always send your CV to a named inidivual within the compnay, not just to “The HR Deparment”, “The Hiring Manager” or “The Recruiter”

Include a covering letter written specifically to match the requirements of that job

The letter should be as well presented as your CV and typed on matching paper

Send CV and letter unfolded in white or cream A4 envelope

If there is a closing date, make sure your application is sent off in good time.

Sections of a Graduate CV

Sections of a Graduate CV

1. Contact details/header

2. Personal statement

3. Education

4. Work experience

5. Interests, achievements, references

Header

Education

Personal statement

Work Experience

Interests, achievements, referees

1

2

4

5

3

Section 1 - Contact details/header

Basic information:

Name

Postal address

Email address

Telephone number(s)

Don’t include your date of birth, marital status or gender.

Don't include the words 'curriculum vitae'

Section 2 - Personal Statement

Short statement (2-4 sentences) outlining your personal characteristics

who you are, what you’ve done, or what you hope to do

Helps focus the rest of your CV, making what you have to offer stand out more clearly.

Give an overview of your current situation

"I have just graduated with a degree in ..."

Specifically indicate what it is you want to do

"I am looking for a job as a ... in the field of ..."

Tailor to each job application

Example – personal statement

A bilingual postgraduate – hardworking, self-motivated and responsible, with an articulate and outgoing personality. Enjoys meeting new challenges and seeing them through to completion, while remaining confident and good-humoured under pressure. An individual who adapts well to new situations and has consistently worked effectively as a team member.

Example – personal statement

An engineering graduate with a keen interest in computers seeking a career in computing, especially in a scientific or industrial field, where a background in problem-solving would be an advantage.

Personal statement qualitiesPersonal qualities

Self-motivated OrganisedCreative AdaptableInnovative Etc.

Experience

10 years in sales managment An excellent track record in...Wide experience of... An extensive background in...A good working knowledge of... Etc.

Skills

Management skills Design skillsCommunications skills Administrative skillsProblem-solving skills Etc.

Personal strengths

Works well under pressure An effective, disciplined worker...An eye for detail

Good sense of humour Etc.

Section 3 - Education The employer wants a snapshot of you as an academic in this section - not a summary of 15

years' worth of your school reports (so start with university).

Focus on your university grades, specialisation and extra-curricular experiences to start with

A term that is often used in relation to the graduate employment market is 'transferable skills'

e.g. leadership, project management, communication and presentation skills.

Essentially the education section should contain:

All qualifications in reverse-chronological order

The dates you attended each establishment

Degree subject, type, grade and establishment

Detail on specialisation/university experience

2nd Level grades and establishment (subjects not necessary, unless otherwise specified)

Other skills - computer literacy, languages (this could also be in a separate 'skills' section towards the end of the CV if necessary

Emphasise and highlight areas of your course that are particularly relevant for job offering

Section 4 - Work Experience Use your CV to draw attention to your career skills

Transferable skills, such as organisation, teamwork and time-management, are important, but always use evidence to back up your claims, rather than simply listing lots of skills.

Use proactive words, such as “negotiated” and “organised”, to explain your role in different activities.

Can be in any field

Shows employer that you are familiar with a working environment

Punctuality, taking instruction, responsibility, etc.

Paid and/or voluntary

Work placements, internships, work experience programmes

For each entry, include:

the name of the company

dates you worked there

job title or position

main responsibilities of postion

your key achievements during your time there

Section 5 – Personal Section Interests and activities

Brief details of anything that will add to or support the picture of yourself you are presenting

Don't put many passive, solitary hobbies (reading, watching TV, stamp collecting) or you may be perceived as lacking people skills.

Show a range of interests to avoid coming across as narrow : if everything centres around sport they may wonder if you could hold a conversation with a client who wasn't interested in sport.

Anything showing evidence of employability skills such as teamworking, organising, planning, persuading, negotiating etc.

Achievements

Highlight any special duties or responsibilities undertaken in college, e.g. class rep, programming competitions, sporting victories, etc.

Can include some 2nd level items if particularly noteworthy, e.g. Young Scientist, class prefect, sporting accolades, debate team, musical prowess, scout/guide leader, etc.

Convince your future employer that you have qualities useful to them in the workplace

References

Two references are ample for your entry-level graduate CV.

One can be academic and the other from a period of work experience.

You can choose to omit the contact details -“Available on request”

Proof-reading and final notes What overall tone does your CV take?

Has it conveyed all of your accomplishments as well as an idea of you as a person?

Have you missed anything glaringly obvious? e.g. degree, grade, subjects, etc.

Leave it overnight - fresh eyes spot new mistakes

Spellcheck – computer and manual

Read it out loud - this can help identify tone, check the flow and ensure you haven't just constructed a wordy list

Ask everyone you can to have a look - peers are good, but professionals in the industry are even better.

Be prepared for a little criticism because, after all, you want the best possible CV

Do not be tempted to 'stretch the truth' in your CV.

Getting your foot in the door would be worthless if, once you are at interview, you can't back up your claims.

Christopher Jones

24 Mansfield Drive, Chedlee,

Manchester, M23 4DJ.

Tel: (0161) 234 1234

chrisj@email.com

PROFILE:

A Mathematics graduate who is keen to find a position as a Trainee Accountant. Reliable, trustworthy, numerate and meticulous. Worked for a firm of chartered accountants last Summer and gained a good understanding of what is required of an accountant. Able to work on own initiative or as part of a team and can deal with administrative duties competently.

EDUCATION:

2006 - 2009 BSc (Hons) 2.2 in Mathematics at the University of Warwick.

Subjects studied: Business Studies, Computer Studies, Calculus, Geometry & Topology and Catastrophe Theory.

1999 - 2006 Chedlee High School.

3 GCE A Levels: Mathematics [A], Economics [A], Chemistry [A].

6 GCSEs: Mathematics [A*], English Language [A*], Chemistry [A*], Economics [A*], Physics [A], Geography [A].

EXPERIENCE:

Summer 2008 JOHNSON & STEVENS Administrative Assistant A vacation job working for a large firm of accountants. Responsibilities and

achievements: Assisted the Senior Partner who was conducting audits on major

companies in the area. Handled incoming telephone calls to the Senior Partner from other

companies and members of the public. Organised and maintained the Senior Partner's filing system. Typed reports on an IBM Compatible PC using the WordPerfect word-

processor. Devised a new filing system to maintain the files held by the

department. Solved users PC problems including sorting out spreadsheets,

explaining how to use complex features in word-processing packages.

Page 2 of 2

Summer 2007 CHEDLEE COMMUNITY CENTRE Co-ordinator A vacation job at a community centre for the elderly. Responsibilities and

achievements: Organised a local advertising drive that increased the number of elderly

people coming to the centre by 20%. Organised games for people attending in the afternoons. Escorted some of the elderly people to and from the centre.

COMPUTER SKILLS:

Microsoft Windows XP / Vista, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access), programming (ASP, HTML, JavaScript).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Driving Licence: Full, clean.

INTERESTS:

Interests at the University of Warwick included organising a charity quiz for RAG, which raised £5000. Badminton, cinema and theatre.

REFEREES:

Professor William Jackson, Department of Mathematics, The University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL.

Mr Jack Lord, Personnel Manager, Johnson & Stevens, 124 High Street, Chedlee, Manchester, M23 3LD.

J OE BLOGGS Address: 100 Street Name

Townville County

SW0 0WW Tel: 01888 888888

Mobile: 07777 777777 Email: name@gmail.com

Personal Statement Personal Statement/Career Aim – this is optional, but if you do include it, don’t waste space by writing anything generic. Keep it brief (three or four lines max). Tailor this section to the role and company you are applying to. Education & Qualifications Date from – Date to University Name Undergraduate Degree Title (Class) (Grade) Modules Studied (if relevant to the job application) Module name Module name Module name

Module name Module name Module name

Module name Module name Module name

Final Project/Dissertation: Include this if relevant to the job application Date from – Date to School/ College Name Leaving Cert: Subject (A) Subject (A) Subject (A) Subject (A) Skills I T Proficiency List computer applications and level of competency Driving Full Clean Licence Languages Any additional languages and level of proficiency

Work Experience Date from – Date to J ob Title Employer, Location

Duties, responsibilities, skills Duties, responsibilities, skills Duties, responsibilities, skills

Date from – Date to J ob Title Employer, Location

Duties, responsibilities, skills Duties, responsibilities, skills Duties, responsibilities, skills

Date from – Date to J ob Title Employer, Location

Duties, responsibilities, skills Duties, responsibilities, skills Duties, responsibilities, skills

Professional Training Date from – Date to Training course/professional exam, grade (if applicable) Administrator of the course Date from – Date to Training course/professional exam, grade (if applicable) Administrator of the course I nterests/ Activities/ Positions of Responsibility List of hobbies, leisure pursuits, sports etc. you are involved with outside of

work and education. Also include any positions of responsibility (non-academic) at

university/college/school. Include any volunteering work and/or involvement with the community.

References Available on Request.

CV Word Optimisation

Optimise the Words in Your CV

Finding the right words is often one of the hardest parts of writing a CV

Use words that contain:

Postitive characteristics

Action words

Positive descriptions

Benefits and achievements

Desireable qualities

Positive Characteristics (examples)

Able

Accurate

Adaptable

Alert

Ambitious

Analytical

Calm

Capable

Competent

Consistent

Co-operative

Creative

Decisive

Dedicated

Dependable

Diligent

Educated

Efficient

Energetic

Enthusiastic

Expert

Experience

Flexible

Friendly

Hardworking

Honest

Imaginative

Independent

Innovative

Informed

Motivated

Organised

Proficient

Qualified

Reliable

Responsible

Skilled

Smart

Strong

Tactful

Thorough

Witty

Action words (examples)

Achieved Budgeted Created Distributed

Acquired Calculated Delegated Edited

Administered Checked Designed Effected

Advised Completed Designed Established

Analysed Conceived Developed Evaluated

Appointed Conducted Devised Examined

Arranged Conducted Devised Executed

Assessed Contributed Diagnosed Explained

Assisted Controlled Directed Facilitated

Attended Coordinated Discovered Formulated

Action words (examples)

Generated

Guided

Handled

Helped

Identified

Improved

Increased

Initiated

Instituted

Instructed

Invented

Liaised

Managed

Monitored

Motivated

Negotiated

Organised

Participated

Planned

Promoted

Recommended

Represented

Researched

Responsible for

Resulted

Selected

Sold

Solved

Supervised

Taught

Tested

Trained

Visualised

Won

Action Phrases (examples) Analysed problems and developed solutions

Excellent interpersonal and people management skills

Able to analyse and interpret data

Able to exercise good judgement and sound reasoning

Good interpersonal skills

Able to concentrate and pay attention to detail

Can work well on own initiative

A good communicator

Experienced, self motivated and energetic

Ability to organise and motivate staff

A good planner

Careful and methodical approach

Able to work accurately under pressure

A good organiser with an eye for detail

A good team worker

Patient, tolerant and able to communicate

A good listener with a common sense approach

Persuasive but tactful

A flexible approach to changing situations

A manager of change

Determination and drive to see projects to successful completion

An active decision maker

An effective time manager

Highly numerate and computer literate

Adaptable to team or individual roles

Produces to deadlines

Extensive visual memory

Graduate CVs

References

“Readymade CVs” - ‘Sample CVs for every type of job’, The Times ©2004

Prospects UK (http://www.prospects.ac.uk)

University of Kent, Career Services (http://www.kent.ac.uk)

MyNextRole.co.uk (http://www.mynextrole.co.uk)

Alec’s CV (http://www.alec.co.uk)

GET (http://www.get.hobsons.co.uk/advice/job-applications-cv-workshop)

Graduate Recruitment Bureau (http://www.grb.uk.com/cv_makeover.0.html)

International Graduate (http://www.internationalgraduate.net/cv-layout.htm)

Women in Technology UK (http://www.womenintechnology.co.uk/graduate-cv-advice)

That’s all for today...

Sumo bene

(make good choices)