Creating a good CV Marion Gerson, Jeff Waldock February 2009.
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Transcript of Creating a good CV Marion Gerson, Jeff Waldock February 2009.
Creating a good CV
Creating a good CV
Marion Gerson, Jeff Waldock
February 2009
Creating a good CV
Creating a CV - why do it now?
60 points out of 1000 for this module
Put it in your professional portfolio
Have it ready if you look for a job or work camp in the summer if you want to try and get a placement next year if you want teaching experience
And ............
Creating a good CV
Use it to think about your life
What have I done?
What do I want to do?
What else do I need in order to get from here to there?
Creating a good CV
Write down
(You will NOT be expected to read this out!)
1. Something important or interesting or fun that you have done quite recently
2. What you want to do after you leave university
Creating a good CV
Was that difficult?
No
Preparing your CV is largely a matter of making sure layout & grammar are good
Yes
You are going to have to work much harder at your CV, but it will be well worth doing
Creating a good CV
Let's have a look at a CV
C1 This is for a 2nd year maths student who
is trying to get a placement now.Try to look at this as if you were an employerMark the things that stand out What is not so good about this CV?
Creating a good CV
What makes a good CV?
Content
Good grammar
Layout
Creating a good CV
Layout
There are no fixed rules except (for the UK)
2 pages
But as a guideline try to make itNice to look atNot too crowdedKey information seen easily
Creating a good CV
Look at another CV
C2
Do you like the way this is laid out?
Quickly underline or circle the key information or selling points on this CV
Were they easy to find?
Look at another CV
Take a quick look at C3. Is it well laid out? What message does
this give the potential employer?
Creating a good CV
Creating a good CV
Layout (cont)
This is your shop window, so put anything you see as important in a prominent position
Put your most recent job or education first But this is not an absolute rule
White space is important. Compare C4 and C5. Don't use small font or reduce the margins to make everything fit in. Use size 11 font.
Use bold or highlighting sparingly
Creating a good CV
Good grammar
Why do you think this is so important?
Creating a good CV
Good grammar
Try to write short sentences. Use punctuation correctly. Decide whether you want
Bullet points and phrases (e.g. reverse of C5)Proper sentences
DON'T trust the spell checker Get help with proof-reading
Creating a good CV
Problem words
IFind different ways of starting a sentence
AlsoUnderline all examples in your CV then work to
eliminate some of them
Extensive, highly, extremely, etc.Use VERY sparinglyOverstating your skills can backfire (C1, C4)
Creating a good CV
Useful words (Use sparingly and only if you mean them)
enjoy, like, passionate about
analytical, logical, problem solving
accurate, careful, systematic, on time
enthusiastic, keen, interested in
develop, learn, experience, new, open to
Creating a good CV
CONTENT - essential
Contact details Education and qualifications
Most up to date, including marks for 1st year IT Skills Work experience (paid and unpaid) Personal and professional skills Activities and interests 2 References (Wendy Jackson + A N Other)
Creating a good CV
CONTENT - optional
A personal statement which might includeWhat kind of person you areA summary of your personal qualitiesWhat ambitions you haveWhat kind of job you are looking for
SHORT - Maximum 4 or 5 lines
Likely to be on the front page – C1, C4, C5What do you notice about these statements?
Creating a good CV
Leaving things out - 1
Don't try to cover up poor resultsEmployers can guess what these are
If there is a big gap in your CV the employer will see it. A brief explanation may be useful, perhaps in
the personal statement
Creating a good CV
Leaving things out - 2
"Do I have to tell them about my disability?"
No But you might want to. Seek advice to help you decide
what and how to disclose.
Creating a good CV
Leaving things out - 3
"Do I have to tell them about my marital status or family responsibility?"
No Not unless you want to Think about what this tells
the employer
Creating a good CV
Leaving things out - 4
"Do I have to tell them my age?" Or sex, race, nationality or religion?
No A few companies are even
asking for CVs without dates on! Decide what you want the
employer to know
Creating a good CV
Leaving things out - 5
"I have too much to go onto 2 pages"
You may look back in pride at that swimming certificate, but will it help you get a job?
Remove what has been superseded
A brief reference to an interesting job, hobby or experience can be used as a 'hook' to get them to ask you more in the interview
Creating a good CV
Making the most of what you have
Tell them what you put into an experience and what you learned – C5 not (just) details of what you did
Choose what you think will 'sell' you you are looking for a professional job
Create 'hooks' - C5
Creating a good CV
"I don't have enough to put in"
You won't be alone!But that doesn't help you
This is an important reason for starting to think about this NOW
Creating a good CV
Improving the content
Work at getting good grades "90% of success is just showing up" Woody Allen
Take your IT and programming skills seriously SAS Visual Basic
Use the summer to Get a job Organise a trip Do some voluntary work or help other people Develop an interest (new or existing) Or all of the above
Creating a good CV
What to do NOW
Prepare your CV
Use the standard header You can easily take it off or change it later
Include 1st and 2nd year modules Leave a space for 1st year results (or put in guesses!)
Check grammar and layout
Ask for help/advice from Jeff or myself Marion Gerson Harmer 2212
Creating a good CV
Sending it in
Name it SurnameFirstnameCV v1.doc e.g. GersonMarionCV v1.doc
Send it to [email protected]
To arrive by midnight of Thursday 5th March
Otherwise you get 0 marks
Creating a good CV
When you have sent it in
It will be graded and points awarded A - 60 Employer will definitely want to see you B - 40 Employer will probably want to see you C - 20 Interview only if few qualified applicants D - 10 Serious problems with this CV E - 5 Definitely don't interview
If you want to improve your mark, you can come and ask me for help (room 2212) resubmit by midnight on Thursday 19th March
Creating a good CV
Finally
The CV is your personal statement
People like us can give you advice
But in the end it is YOUR decision and YOUR responsibility what you put in it and how you set it out
It should change and develop along with you Don't use something that is out of date