Amy Wiggins, Careers and Employability Service
School of Arts
What we will be covering:
• CVs
• Covering letters
• Application forms
• Interviews

Curriculum Vitae (Latin: the course of one’s life)

An outline of a person’s educational and professional
history
What is the purpose of a CV?
•
•
To inform the employer about
your education, work
experience, skills and interests
To ‘sell’ these qualities and to
persuade the employer to invite
you to interview
When an employer asks for a CV
When an employer states ‘apply to…’
without specifying the format
 When making speculative applications


•
•
It is not ‘one size fits all’, you
need to tailor your CV to each
position you apply for.
Research the company. Do they have a mission
statement or core values? What will they be looking
for in you? Check the job description/person
specification.






Personal details
Education from GCSE level –institutions,
qualifications & dates (most recent first)
Relevant work experience
Work history
Other information (including your website if you
have one)
References

Name (as a heading rather than ‘CV’)

Address

Telephone number

Email address
 Make sure this is a professional email address, not
‘sexybeccy@hotmail.com’

Start with the most recent

Don’t forget your current study
 Mention relevant modules
 You might like to mention top marks

You don’t have to put your grades on if you
weren’t happy with them

Include the years of study

Primary school not needed
Education and Qualifications
2011 – Present
University of Kent
BA (Hons) Photography (Predicted 2:1)
Modules include: Creative photography, technical
equipment and business skills for photographers.
Highlights include:
• Winner of the College Photography Award
• Portfolio grade of 75%
2009 – 2011
Maidstone Grammar School
A-levels: Media Studies (A), Art (B),
Information Technology (C)
2005 – 2009
Wrotham School
GCSEs: 8 GCSEs grade A-C including English and
Mathematics

Dates, name of company, position, location.

Don’t just list your duties – sell your skills and
provide evidence. Which skills are relevant to
the position/company you are applying to?
April 2010 – June 2011
Sales Assistant
Museum of Kent Life, Maidstone
• Delivered excellent customer service as demonstrated by my mystery shop result of
91% and by receiving ‘Sales Assistant of the Month’ award three times.
• Achieved a sales result of 5% above my target illustrating my advanced selling skills,
as well as my determination to succeed.
created instructed analysed produced
negotiated designed calculated maintained
administered controlled reviewed
consolidated delivered founded increased
studied invented supplied detected
programmed recommended distributed
developed solved prepared installed
selected arranged formulated solved started
Choose interests and activities which can demonstrate
skills relevant to the job such as:
• Team work
• Organising
• Commitment
• Your intellectual abilities
• Your personality
• Your artistic ability

Ideally, one academic and previous/current
employer.

Ask permission from your referee and let them
know what position(s) you’ve applied for.

Use relevant references if possible.

You can say ‘references available on request’
rather than including contact details if you
wish.

The first visual impression of your CV is
important

For standard CVs, use plain white A4 paper

Do not double side

Keep your CV to two sides of paper

Check your spelling

Use bullet points and bold font but in
moderation

Formatting – make sure it’s consistent

Size 10-12 font (depending on font style)

Clear font e.g. Arial, Calibri

2:1, not Two One or 2,1

Use short, concise sentences

Be creative in design BUT ensure all relevant CV
information is included

See http://www.careers-creativeliving.co.uk/cv_gallery

See http://www.mikeclegg.co.uk/

See the creative CV guide for ideas & suggestions

Include a weblink to your portfolio/website
First Paragraph
•State the job you’re applying for
•Where you found out about it
•When you're available to start work (and end if it's a
placement)

Never send a CV on its own

1 side of A4 – similar to a UCAS
Second Paragraph
•Why you're interested in that type of work
•Why the company attracts you

Third Paragraph
•Summarise your strengths and how they might be an
advantage to the organisation.
•Relate your skills to the competencies required in the
job.
Final Paragraph
•Mention any dates that you won't be available for
interview
•Thank the employer and say you look forward to
hearing from them soon.
Yours faithfully (Sir/Madam) or sincerely (used name)
personal statement
Examples of possible formats:
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2: Why job/industry?
Paragraph 3: Why company?
Paragraph 4: Why you?
Paragraph 5: Conclusion
Yours sincerely/faithfully

RTFQ!

Read the question

Re-read and highlight the main points

Write your answer

Check you have covered each point
Please let us know why a career at
Deloitte appeals to you compared with
other career options? (max 100 words
in bullet point format).
For questions where you are asked to ‘explain a time when…’, it is useful to
use the STAR approach:

Situation – set the scene

Task - what needed to be done/achieved?

Action - this should take up about 80% of the answer, what action
did YOU take?

Result - this is the ‘proof’ that you succeeded, try and give evidence
such as statistics if possible

Always put your answers in Word first, as not all application
forms will spell check (and you can save your answers)

Use the word limit as a guide to how much you should write

Keep in mind the qualities the employer are looking for

Prepare for obvious questions (see our Top
Ten)

RESEARCH the company and role

Know your CV/application form

Consider your body language (even if it is a
telephone interview, smile, they can hear it!)
Interview questions may be:
▪ Hypothetical (what would you do if…)
▪ Competency based (describe a situation where you…)
▪ ‘Traditional’ interview questions (tell me about yourself)
In your answers, keep in mind the skills the employer will
be looking for. Be honest. Don’t forget to smile!
▪ Prepare questions for ‘do you have any questions?’

Get into pairs
5 minutes


Decide who is
the interviewer
and who is the
candidate
You have 5
minutes
End
Communication Masterclass Video – (First 3 minutes)

www.kent.ac.uk/ces

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/creative
-careers.htm

www.prospects.ac.uk

medwaycareers@kent.ac.uk