Careers Service 1 How to write a winning CV Katie Dallison Careers Adviser

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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How to write a winning CV

Katie Dallison

Careers Adviser


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Aims of a CV

• To get an interview!• Snapshot of who you are• Quickly show you meet job

criteria• Capture employers interest


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Would you hire you?

Be the employer:1. Why does this person want to

work in this job? 2. What makes this person unique?

What can they bring me that is different from others?

3. Why do they want to work for me?


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So you have to think about…

Why do I want this job?

What have I done in the past that gives me an advantage to getting this job? What are my USP’s?

Why do I want to work for this company?


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Use all info available

Expecto provide staff of the highest quality for a wide range of corporate, public and private events. We specialise in supplying highly trained and experienced bar staff, waiters and waitresses.

Need cash to finance your student fees or your social life, but worried about sacrificing time to your studies?

Expecto provides solutions to those issues and consequently offers:

• £7.50 an hour and personal control of your work schedule

Please visit www.exspecto.co.uk to apply!


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Use all the available information

– A strong academic background, preferably to degree level

– Genuine interest in developing a career in business journalism

– Excellent research, analytical and writing skills – Eligibility to work in the UK on a permanent basis – To apply, please email your CV and Covering

Letter. If you have any journalism or writing experience (however small) please attach writing samples to your application.


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So you have to think about…

– Evidence of an interest in current affairs and/or business journalism

– An ability to write in a clear, easy to understand style – An appreciation of the part of publications play in the

business activities of our audience – An ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines – Determination and persistence – Demonstrate as much passion for a career in journalism as

possible in your Covering Letter and CV. Include experience in journalism (however small), writing samples, links to any blogs or writing on the web and relevant practical or academic applications. Explain why you are interested in developing a career in journalism, your relevant skills and experience as well as why you are attracted to working for Incisive Media.


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The Basics

• Personal Details

• Tailored Personal Statement

• Education

• Work Experience

• Interests

• References


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Practicalities

• Two A4 sized pages with all relative info on first page

• Think about where the eye is drawn to

• Space allocations

• You could use bullet points for clarity

• Use CAPITALS, bold print or italics

• 5 Second Test!


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Personal Statement

• Write a new one for every job you apply for

• Keep it short and direct – 3 point rule

• Use it to direct readers to the most important parts for them

• Get it checked


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Incisive Media Personal Statement

• Final year student at Queen Mary studying Economics and Finance

• Great desire to work in business journalism proven through work on student newspaper and blog

• Determined and able to meet deadlines as proven by high University grades, expected 2.1 degree


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The Basics

• Personal Details

• Tailored Personal Statement

• Education

• Work Experience

• Interests

• References


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How do I write it?

• Match your CV to the job description, person description, job advert

• State skill and provide evidence of any statement


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Evidence top tips

Use action verbs- analysed; developed; evaluated; increased; initiated; implemented; led; liaised; organised; planned; presented; supervised

Use concrete quantities- “500 items”; “£60,000”; “team of six”

Use real-world results - “4 weeks before deadline”; “20% increase”;“excellent feedback”; “successful implementation


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Transforming your evidence

Pizza shop assistant

• Chopped tomatoes• Took orders• Added pizza toppings


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Transforming your evidence

Pizza King, Senior Team member

• Dealt with many types of people efficiently meeting strict deadlines, in a busy pressurised environment.

• Responsible for writing Pizza Kings marketing information, including a 1,000 word review of The Gazette (local newspaper)

• Understanding of business world gained as often deputised to manage shop


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Other examples

• Retail Sales Assistant – dealing with a wide range of people (including the ‘difficult’ customer), knowledge of the sector

• Supermarket - team work, dealing with customer enquiries, stock control

• Bar work - handling cash, working under pressure

• Family business – commercial awareness, customer care, financial management


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The unbreakable rules

• Rule 1: Target your CV

• Rule 2: The more relevant something is, the more detail

• Rule 3: The more relevant something is, the easier it should be to find

• Rule 4: Check your spelling


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Further support

www.careers.qmul.ac.uk – Online and books in the Careers Service– We can check CVs / Applications for you

www.careers.lon.ac.uk/sortit– Implementing and Self Marketing

www.prospects.ac.uk – Jobs & Work → Applications & Interviews


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How we can help

Mock Interviews

CV Checking

Job boards and folders

Advice

Open Monday – Friday

10.30 – 5pm (4pm on Friday)

Drop in sessions

Monday - Thursday

10.30 – 12.30 and 2 – 4.30

Documents

Careers Service 1 How to write a winning CV Katie Dallison Careers Adviser