CVs and Covering Letters

Phil Harrison

Careers Advisor

Importance of Well-Targeted Applications

NATWEST UNILEVER

Number of Applications Received 5,096 2,800

Number of First Interviews 1,926 1,400

Number of Second Interviews 726 750

Number of Job Offers 261 195

What Graduate Employers Are Looking ForAnalytical Skills

- Flexibility/Adaptability

- Oral and Written Communication Skills

- Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines

- Problem Solving Skills

- Ability to get on effectively with a wide variety of people

- Capacity for hard work

- Self-reliance and Initiative

- Motivation, Vitality and Enthusiasm

- Leadership

- Ambition

- Clarity and conciseness of expression

A C.V. IS YOUR PERSONAL MARKETING DOCUMENT

• ACHIEVEMENTS

• STRENGTHS

• CONTRIBUTIONS

• TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

• EXPERIENCE

YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS

• Consider everything you have done academically, socially and in your work experience.

• Things you did well

• Things you were proud of

• Successes

• Roles you performed well

• Tasks and jobs you enjoyed

Achievements

• NOW TRY LISTING YOUR 6 KEY ACHIEVEMENTSGIVE EACH A MEANINGFUL HEADING/TITLE

• HEADING:• WHAT DID YOU ACTUALLY DO?• RESULT/OUTCOME YOU ACHIEVED:• KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS WHICH YOU USED:• KNOWLEDGE EXPERIENCE SKILLS• This will help to focus on all factors –• Achievements• Strengths• Contributions• Experience• Transferable Skills

Types of CV

There are several!

Most popular:

- Chronological/C.V.

- Reverse Chronological

- Skills Based

Reverse Chronological CV

Focuses reader’s attention on most recent, significant information.

- Degree in reasonable detail.

- Bullet point style most common.

Example CV

Date of Birth: 26 August 1978

Nationality: British

University Address: 14 Bottom End Road, Manchester M14 4GF

Home Address: 218 Vicarage Road, Leyton, London E10 5GH

Email: Hughjass@msm.umist.ac.uk

Telephone: 0161 224 2224

EDUCATION

1996-2000 Manchester School of Management, UMIST

BSc (Hons) International Management with French

Expected degree class: 2.1

Subjects studied include:

Marketing; Market Research; Human Resource Management; International Business; Economics; Finance; Operational Research and Law.

Final Year Project:

My final year project – A study of the key differences between the UK and French markets for luxury chocolate products – involved working closely with major confectionery manufacturers both in the UK and in France. I had to present a summary of the finished report to representatives of the UK and in France. I had to present a summary of the finished report to representatives of the participating companies. As well as the discipline needed to write the report, the project required me to conduct more than 30 interviews, analyse the data and incorporate the findings in the finished research.

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Other Skills:

My French is now fluent thanks to the year I spend in a Paris business school. I also have experience of the following computer packages: Excel, Word, Powerpoint and Paradox.

1998-99 BLP Business School, Paris

I studied at BLP for a year as part of my degree. As well as learning more about French industry, commerce and management theory, I was also able to improve my French. I attended all the course options that dealt with the European Union and spent one week in Brussels shadowing a French Commission official.

1994-96 St Ignatius College, Tottenham, London

3 ‘A’ Levels – Maths (B), Politics (B), History (C)

1989-94 Leyton High School, London

8 GCSEs – grades A-C (including English and Maths)

WORK EXPERIENCE

Summer 1999 Market Research Interviewer, Skellet and Raymond, Manchester

- Interviewed people on the street and in their homes

- Helped to create new database

- Entered data and produced reports

- Assisted firm in their presentations to clients

1998-99 English Teacher, LingoScope, Paris

- Taught English to French business people four evenings per week

- Prepared lesson plans and teaching material

- Organised cultural trips to Paris museums

Summer 1997 Retail Assistant, WH Smith, Walthamstow, London

- Served the public, answered enquiries, ordered books

- Helped with stock control

- Assisted merchandisers with window displays

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INTERESTS

- Keen member of the University Canoe Society. Was President in mysecond year. Organised social and sporting events including an inter-university competition for over 50 competitors.

- Member of AIESEC, the student business society. Participated in case studies and simulations run by Arthur Andersen, Unilever and Mars.

- Love travelling. Have visited most European countries, South America and Thailand. Hope to spend two months in Quebec aftergraduation.

- Enjoy healthy outdoor pursuits. Currently learning rock-climbing and caving with the University Outdoor Society.

OTHER SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Computer literate, having taken courses at the University Computing Centre on data bases, spreadsheets and word-processing. I recorded and analysed the data for my final year project using Paradox. I am currently learning how to use the WWW, program in HTML and intend to construct my own home page.

Fluent French. Some German and Spanish. Can learn languages quickly.

Clean driving licence.

The names and addresses of two referees are available on request.

Example Of Skills Based CV

Amanda Hugginkiss

Date of Birth: 26 August 1978

Nationality:British

University Address: 14 Bottom End Road, Manchester M14 4GF

Home Address: 218 Vicarage Road, Leyton, London E10 5GH

Email: Hugginkiss@msm.umist.ac.uk

Telephone: 0161 224 2224

CAREER AIM:

Management Studies, with fluent French and relevant work experience, looking to begin a career in Marketing or Market Research with an international organisation.

EDUCATION:

1996-2000 Manchester School of Management, UMIST

BSc (Hons) International Management with French

Expected degree class: 2.1

1998-99 Business School, Paris

1994-96 St Ignatius College, Tottenham, London

3 ‘A’ Levels – Maths (B), Politics (B), History (C)

1989-94 Leyton High School, London

8 GCSEs – grades A-C (including English and Maths)

WORK EXPERIENCE:

Summer 1999 Market Research Interviewer, Skellett and Raymond, Manchester

1998-99 English Teacher, LingoScope, Paris

Summer 1997 Retail Assistant, WH Smith, Walthamstow, London

RELEVANT SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

- IT Constructed a database in Paradox to handle the data for my final year project. Attended courses at the University Computing Centre in Word, Excel, Access, Paradox, PowerPoint.

Helped colleagues at Skellet and Raymond to design a new database.

- Market Research/Marketing.

- Worked for 12 weeks in an international Market Research firm. Conducted interviews. Entered data. Helped to analyse data and produce reports.

- With two colleagues, I assisted in three presentations to clients.

This involved a formal presentation (using PowerPoint) and a question and answer session.

- My final year project - A study of the key differences between the UK and French markets for luxury chocolate products – involved over 30 interviews, the analysis of complex data and the presentation of the executive summary to company

representatives.

RELEVANT PERSONAL SKILLS:

Project Management

In my twelve weeks with Skellett and Raymond I was given real responsibility. Fortunately I was the only student they employed that summer (two others let them down) so I was able to take a more critical role in the work they were doing for three clients. I had to schedule the series of interviews (phone, street and home) and check that the schedule was being kept. I also had a small role in managing part-time interviewers. I was also responsible for putting together one of the presentations that we gave to a client.

Creativity

While working with LingoScope in Paris, I soon discovered how difficult it was to teach English using the text books that the school provided. Jaded and tired business people, learning in the evenings, needed stimulation and excitement. I therefore designed a completely new range of teaching materials using UK newspapers, television programmes and videotapes of film extracts. Although it was extra work, it was worth the effort as my classes received better evaluation and better marks than all the others.

OTHER SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

- Computer literate, having taken courses at the University Computing Centre on data bases, spreadsheets and word- processing. I recorded and analysed the data for my final year project using Paradox. I am currently learning how to use the WWW, program in HTML and intend to construct my own home page.

- Fluent French. Some German and Spanish. Can learn languages quickly.

- Clean driving licence.

The names and addresses of two referees are available on request.

Format of CVs

• Personal Details

(Career Aim/Personal Statement Optional)• Higher Education

• Secondary Education

• Vocationally Relevant

Work Experience or Placement• Other Work Experience

• Skills

• Interests/Extra-Mural Activities

• References

CVs Do’s and Don’t’s

DO:- Be concise and relevant

Aim for maximum of 2 sides of A4 (exceptions)- Personal- Complete and accurate – check dates- Legible and neatly laid out

Check spelling and grammar- Positive – use key action words- Stress accomplishmentsDON’T:- Lie- Include salary requirements- Get someone else to write it

Key Action Words

- Achieved

- Built

- Co-ordinated

- Directed

- Established

- Facilitated

- Generated

- Headed

- Improved

- Justified

- Led

Key Actions words continued

• - Managed

• - Negotiated

• - Organised

• - Prepared

• - Responsible

• - Streamlined

• - Transformed

• - Unified

CVs – What To Look For

PRESENTATION

Type Face - 12 point recommended

Use of BOLD for emphasis (beware of over use)

Layout - As already mentioned common sections

Personal Details, Education, Work Experience, Interests, References

Personal Statement (Optional)

Covering Letter

Covering letters should comprise details of:

• Who you are and what you are currently doing

• The post applied for

• Your reasons for applying for the post

• Your interest in working for the organisation

• The personal skills and qualities you have to offer

NB. In concluding your letter, remember the conventions:

Dear Sir…… Yours faithfully

Dear Mr/Ms X… Yours sincerely

How The Careers Service Can Help

CV checking service (Quick Query System)

- Reference Books

- Making wizard applications

- Ready made CVs

- Preparing your own CV

- From CV to short list

- Ready made job search letter

- The Perfect CV

What Next?

▪Attend other seminars / presentations / events

▪See What’s On Programme

▪Handouts

▪Use resources in the Careers Resource Centre

▪Discuss your plans with a Careers Adviser

▪Quick Query Interview (15-mins)

▪Guidance Interview (40-mins)

Careers Service Number 36 on map opening hours Mon-Fri 10-4.45 Tuesday 10-6.30