Career Development and Employment Service
Writing Effective CVs and
Covering Letters
Department of Student Services
1
Career Development and Employment Service
Learning Objective
By the end of this session, you should be able to:
u
identify different types of CVs and the rationale for
choosing one or another
u
understand how to produce an effective CV and
cover letter for a range of different purposes
Department of Student Services
2
Career Development and Employment Service
Types of CV
u
Chronological
u
Skills
u
Mix of the two
Department of Student Services
3
Career Development and Employment Service
Chronological CV
u
u
u
u
Traditional approach
Can be useful if you have work experience directly
related to the job/sector you’re applying for
Skills should be referred to in various sections of
the CV
There is a danger that the chronological CV can be
dry to read
Department of Student Services
4
Career Development and Employment Service
Skills based
u
Includes a separate skills section
u
Focuses on the skills and attributes you have which
are relevant to the job
u
Useful if you have limited or unrelated work
experience
u
Can be more dynamic and interesting to read than
a chronological CV
u
May result in minimal details in other sections,
therefore creating an imbalanced structure
Department of Student Services
5
Career Development and Employment Service
Mix of the two
u
Choose the best and most relevant elements of
chronological and skills-based CVs
u
Includes a separate but shorter skills section than in
pure “skills” CV
u
Allows space to include some commentary within
the work experience section
Department of Student Services
6
Career Development and Employment Service
CV Quiz
Department of Student Services
7
Career Development and Employment Service
What do we know about
CVs?
u
u
u
u
u
u
Two sides of A4
Promote yourself and your
suitability for the role
Different CVs for different
objectives – be clear about
purpose
Clear layout and logical
structure
Concise
No such thing as a general
CV
Department of Student Services
u
u
u
u
u
u
Targeted to the sector, the
employer, the job
Avoid ready-made
templates
Relevant – be selective
about information you give
Skills must be included
Positive language
Spelling and grammar do
matter!
8
Career Development and Employment Service
Possible contents of a CV
u
u
u
u
u
u
u
u
Personal details
Personal profile/career objective or ......
Other headings… summary, achievements…
Education and qualifications
Work experience
Skills profile
Interests/extra curricular activities
References
Department of Student Services
9
Career Development and Employment Service
Structure of a CV
Start with your personal details…………………..
?–
you need to make informed choices about
how you want to structure the rest of the CV.
……………………………and end with your references
Department of Student Services
10
Career Development and Employment Service
Personal Details
u
Name
u
Address – use only one correspondence address if possible
u
Telephone number
u
Email –using an appropriate address
u
Nationality – no obligation to include this but may be useful
to clarify work permit status
u
Date of birth – not needed
u
Gender – not needed
u
Photographs – not normally included on CVs in the UK
Department of Student Services
11
Career Development and Employment Service
Personal profile
u
u
u
u
u
u
Optional
Might also be called “career objective” or “summary”
Purpose is to highlight key points that you want an employer
to know about you (e.g. skills, experience, career objective)
Less is more. 1 – 3 sentences, maximum of 4 lines
Strong, positive language
Avoid a list of superlatives
Department of Student Services
12
Career Development and Employment Service
Personal profile
Examples:
u
A highly motivated BA/BSc ______ student looking
for a work placement in……………. . I have strong
problem-solving skills and a logical and analytical
approach.
u
A ______ undergraduate with substantial work
experience in ……………, looking for an opportunity
to develop a career in …………….
Department of Student Services
13
Career Development and Employment Service
Education
u
Should be in reverse chronological order i.e. most
recent first
- degree level study
- pre-university education, generally back to
GCSE level/age 16. If information is very old, you
have the discretion to omit it
u
For overseas qualifications, show the name of the
qualification and indicate a UK equivalence
Department of Student Services
14
Career Development and Employment Service
Education
Things to consider:
u
Relevance – no need to include a comprehensive
list of every topic studied
u
Including some modules may be helpful when
applying for jobs where there is a link between it
and your studies
u
Give grades if they are good ones!
u
The older the qualification, the less detail you give.
Department of Student Services
15
Career Development and Employment Service
Work Experience
u
Include full time, part time and voluntary work and
work placements
u
Generally list in reverse chronological order (most
recent first)…
u
…. or, group into “related” and “other” work
experience
u
Show dates you were there and your job title
u
Show the employer/organisation name, broad
location and if helpful, the nature of their business
Department of Student Services
16
Career Development and Employment Service
Work Experience
u
Avoid giving a list of mundane duties e.g. tidying
shop floor, photocopying. Focus on the skills you
used and your achievements
u
Use positive language
u
If you have had several similar jobs, you can group
these together to avoid repetition of duties
u
Consider using bullet points rather than lengthy
paragraphs
Department of Student Services
17
Career Development and Employment Service
Example of Work
Experience:
September 2009 – present
Recruitment administrator (part-time) – NHS Trust, London
u
Drafting letters ensuring clarity, accuracy and clear
presentation
u
Organising interview schedules and liaising with external
agencies regarding work permits and criminal record checks
u
Communicating effectively both face to face and on the
telephone
u
Accurately maintaining office information systems
Department of Student Services
18
Career Development and Employment Service
Skills profile
u
Skills-based and combination CVs will have
separate skills sections
u
Chronological CVs need to include references to
skills throughout the CV i.e. in all or some of the
education, work experience, interests sections
u
Include skills which are relevant and of interest to
the job/employer/sector
u
Always provide evidence for skills
u
Make links between your skills and the job – show
how you are a good match with the job
requirements
Department of Student Services
19
Career Development and Employment Service
Identifying relevant skills
This can be determined through:
u
The job description
u
The person specification
u
The job advert
u
The organisation’s website
u
Occupational research e.g. accountancy
u
Sector research e.g. finance
Department of Student Services
20
Career Development and Employment Service
Transferable skills sought by
employers
u
Communication
u
Interpersonal
u
Team work
u
Self awareness
u
Leadership
u
u
Initiative
Flexibility and
adaptability
u
Problem solving
u
u
Numeracy
Commitment and
motivation
Career Development and Employment Service
Providing evidence for
skills
u
This is essential. A list of skills is not persuasive or
convincing
u
Involves two elements
- giving an example (broad or specific) of when
you have used the skill
- defining the skill in a way that is relevant to the
job or employer concerned
Department of Student Services
22
Career Development and Employment Service
Defining skills e.g.
communication
u
u
u
u
u
u
u
Speaking (oral), writing, presenting
Expressing ideas clearly
Effective listening, questioning and clarifying
Different writing styles e.g. brief and concise compared to
developing a rationale
Gathering, analysing and organising information in a logical
sequence
Adapting language and complexity of information to the
audience
Awareness of body language, tone and pace
Department of Student Services
23
Career Development and Employment Service
Presenting a skill in a CV
u
Good communication skills, both oral and written,
gained from delivering clear presentations and
producing well-structured academic assignments
whilst at university.
u
Whilst working as a retail sales assistant, I
demonstrated my ability to listen effectively and to
give customers information in a clear and
appropriate way.
Department of Student Services
24
Career Development and Employment Service
Exercise
u
Choose a skill from slide 21
u
Based on the slide 23, “defining skills”, identify at
least 5 definitions for your chosen skill
Department of Student Services
25
Career Development and Employment Service
Interests and Achievements
u
u
u
u
u
Optional. Don’t include this section for the sake of it.
Think about what the information adds to your CV –
what are you trying to get across?; how will it help
to persuade an employer to interview me?
Avoid using the heading “hobbies”
Avoid a simple list
Only include things which you are happy to be
questioned about in an interview
Convey your skills, attributes and/or personal
development
Department of Student Services
26
Career Development and Employment Service
Interests and Achievements
Committee Member of the University Computing
Society
With other committee members, I organised a
fundraising event and three careers evenings with
presentations from alumni and employers.
Department of Student Services
27
Career Development and Employment Service
References
u
u
u
u
u
Often used only in the final stages of selection
Provide the contact details of your referees ( name,
address, job title, telephone no. and email address)
rather than a “standard” reference letter
It is usual to provide two referees – one academic
and the other preferably work related
Out of courtesy, always check with referees first
If you prefer not to include details on your CV, you
can say “References available on request”
Department of Student Services
28
Career Development and Employment Service
Exercise – comparing CVs
Department of Student Services
29
Career Development and Employment Service
Comparing CVs
Comment on the following:
u Visual impact
u Layout and use of headings
u Effectiveness with which skills have been
highlighted
u Effectiveness in promoting the person concerned
u Which CV is more interesting to read?
u Which person would you interview and why?
Department of Student Services
30
Career Development and Employment Service
CV summary
Check that your CV is: u
Easy to read – logical, clear, organised
u
Focused – targeted at the opportunity
u
Prioritised – it gives the most important and relevant
information towards the beginning
u
Positive – it includes pro-active language
u
Correct – free of spelling mistakes and other errors
Department of Student Services
31
Career Development and Employment Service
Each job is different and each employer will be
looking for different things. You need to find out
what these are and emphasise the relevant parts of
your CV. This will obviously take more of your time
but can make all the difference”.
Anand Patel, Resourcing Support Manager, Tube
Lines.
Department of Student Services
32
Career Development and Employment Service
Covering Letters
Department of Student Services
33
Career Development and Employment Service
What is a covering letter?
u
A covering letter generally accompanies a CV
u
An important part of an application – not just a
formality
u
Highlights your key skills and suitability for the job
clearly, concisely and positively
u
It is targeted at the job/sector you are applying for
u
It complements and develops the information in the
CV rather than duplicates it
Department of Student Services
34
Career Development and Employment Service
Responsive applications
i.e. applying for a specific vacancy
u
Why you are writing
u
Why do you want to work for this organisation?
u
What is your motivation for wanting the job?
u
Illustrate your understanding of the job role
u
Provide evidence of your relevant skills/experience
Department of Student Services
35
Career Development and Employment Service
Speculative applications
u
State why you are writing
u
Be clear about what you are asking for
u
Needs to be convincing - convey a genuine interest
in that organisation and sector
u
Make links between your skills/experience and the
job/sector/organisation
Department of Student Services
36
Career Development and Employment Service
Opening paragraph
u
u
Why are you writing?
Responsive - name specific job vacancy and where
advertised
Speculative – state broad type of work you are
interested in, on what basis (e.g. work placement,
full time) and when you are available
Who are you?
A xxx undergraduate looking to develop work
experience in …....
Department of Student Services
37
Career Development and Employment Service
Middle paragraphs
u
Why that orgnaistaion and why that job/industry?
- demonstrate knowledge of and interest in both
- make links through your degree subject if
appropriate
u
Why you?
- why should they consider you?
- what key skills/strengths can you offer?
- support your statements/assertions with evidence
Department of Student Services
38
Career Development and Employment Service
Closing paragraph
u
Polite ending – convey interest and enthusiasm in
the role
u
May be indicate any times available/not available
for interview.
u
For speculative approaches, say that you will follow
up your letter with a telephone call within a certain
period e.g. within a week.
Department of Student Services
39
Career Development and Employment Service
24 Granger Road
London
N3 6LP
10 February 20??
Ms. S Johnson
Graduate Recruitment Manager
Carver Marketing Ltd
6 Bridge Lane
London
W1 7YU
u
Dear Sir or Madam
= Yours faithfully
Dear Ms Johnson,
u
Dear Ms Johnson
Re: Application for Position of Graduate Marketing Trainee
= Yours sincerely
Opening Paragraph ………………………………………………………..
Middle Paragraph 1…………………………………………………………
Middle Paragraph 2…………………………………………………………
Closing Paragraph………………………………………………………….
Yours sincerely,
Abdul Hafiz
Department of Student Services
40
Career Development and Employment Service
How should I present my
covering letter?
u
Maximum 1 side of A4, word processed
u
Consistent font size and type (and consistent with
your CV)
u
Send to a named person where possible
u
Correct spelling and grammar
u
Formal “business letter” layout
u
E-mailing – send the letter as an attachment with
your CV
Department of Student Services
41
Career Development and Employment Service
Resources for writing CVs
and cover letters
u
http://intranet.londonmet.ac.uk/studentservices/
careers
u
www.prospects.ac.uk - Jobs and Work /Applications
and Interviews
u
www.targetjobs.co.uk - Careers Advice –
Applications and CVs
u
See a Careers Consultant in CDES, Student
Services
Department of Student Services
42
Career Development and Employment Service
Career Development &
Employment Service (CDES)
This service has a presence at both City and North campuses and offers
guidance and support to all students and to graduates for up to 3 years after
they leave. This includes:
The opportunity for individual discussion on areas such as career
planning and job/work experience search


Workshops on a variety of job search topics

Information on careers events and activities
For more details on the services offered and on how and where to access them
please refer to the website:
https://intranet.londonmet.ac.uk/studentservices/careers/
Department of Student Services
43
Career Development and Employment Service
Career Development &
Employment Service (CDES)
The University Employment Service provides access to vacancy information
for full time and part-time opportunities, vacation work and internships.
For details on how to register go to:
https://intranet.londonmet.ac.uk/studentservices/careers/the-employmentservice/home.cfm
CDES Contact information:
North Campus: 1st Floor, Tower Building, Tel: 0207 133 2094
City Campus: 8 Goulston Street, Tel: 0207 320 2380
email: careers.studentservices@londonmet.ac.uk
Department of Student Services
44