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


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


Research the job and company you are applying for and think about the right
kind of language to use on your CV.
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


Keep it clear


No more than 2 pages
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


Skills and qualifications that feature in the job advertisment



relevant experience and competencies
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


Anything that sounds desparate


i.e. “I’ll do anything!”
Negative information


Plain, clear, unambigous statments
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
1
Header
2
Personal statement
3
Education
4
5
Work Experience
Interests, achievements, referees
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


Specifically indicate what it is you want to do


"I have just graduated with a degree in ..."
"I am looking for a job as a ... in the field of ..."
Tailor to each job application
Example – personal statement

A bilingual postgraduate – hardworking, selfmotivated 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 qualities
Personal qualities
Self-motivated
Creative
Innovative
Organised
Adaptable
Etc.
Experience
10 years in sales managment
Wide experience of...
A good working knowledge of...
An excellent track record in...
An extensive background in...
Etc.
Skills
Management skills
Communications skills
Problem-solving skills
Design skills
Administrative skills
Etc.
Personal strengths
Works well under pressure
An eye for detail
Good sense of humour
An effective, disciplined worker...
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.
1999 - 2006
Subjects studied: Business Studies, Computer Studies, Calculus, Geometry &
Topology and Catastrophe Theory.
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 wordprocessor.
 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.
JOE 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
Subject
Subject
Subject
(A)
(A)
(A)
(A)
Skills
IT 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
Job Title
Employer, Location
 Duties, responsibilities, skills
 Duties, responsibilities, skills
 Duties, responsibilities, skills
Date from – Date to
Job Title
Employer, Location
 Duties, responsibilities, skills
 Duties, responsibilities, skills
 Duties, responsibilities, skills
Date from – Date to
Job 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
Interests/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
Co-operative
Expert
Motivated
Thorough
Accurate
Creative
Experience
Organised
Witty
Adaptable
Decisive
Flexible
Proficient
Alert
Dedicated
Friendly
Qualified
Ambitious
Dependable
Hardworking
Reliable
Analytical
Diligent
Honest
Responsible
Calm
Educated
Imaginative
Skilled
Capable
Efficient
Independent
Smart
Competent
Energetic
Innovative
Strong
Consistent
Enthusiastic
Informed
Tactful
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
Invented
Recommended
Tested
Guided
Liaised
Represented
Trained
Handled
Managed
Researched
Visualised
Helped
Monitored
Responsible for
Won
Identified
Motivated
Resulted
Improved
Negotiated
Selected
Increased
Organised
Sold
Initiated
Participated
Solved
Instituted
Planned
Supervised
Instructed
Promoted
Taught
Action Phrases (examples)

Analysed problems and developed solutions

A good organiser with an eye for detail

Excellent interpersonal and people
management skills

A good team worker

Patient, tolerant and able to communicate

Able to analyse and interpret data


Able to exercise good judgement and sound
reasoning
A good listener with a common sense
approach

Persuasive but tactful

Good interpersonal skills

A flexible approach to changing situations
Able to concentrate and pay attention to
detail

A manager of change

Can work well on own initiative

Determination and drive to see projects to
successful completion

A good communicator

An active decision maker

Experienced, self motivated and energetic

An effective time manager

Ability to organise and motivate staff

Highly numerate and computer literate

Adaptable to team or individual roles

Produces to deadlines

Extensive visual memory


A good planner

Careful and methodical approach

Able to work accurately under pressure
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)