Criminology and the Professions

CV Writing

Good habits for Criminology Students…

• Know the skills required for the job• How will you demonstrate• Public sector and third sector organisations commonly

select through competency testing• 1 or 2 sides • Consistent layout and font • Readable• Free of errors• Templates?• CV Furniture & Photos?• Different Types Skills Based/ Chronological

What it shouldn’t be but often is…

• A list of everything you have ever done

• Lazy effort as you know you can blag it at interview

• A one-off CV to be produced for all jobs you ever go for, let the employer figure out what they need!

Putting Together Your CV

• Header: Name, Address, Contact Details – Don’t need age, date of birth, marital status, Religion etc

• Objective/ Personal Profile: Clear and concise statement detailing what career path you intend to follow… setting the tone

Putting Together Your CV (2)

• Education: Clearly your degree is the main focus:

• Talk about the skills/programmes• Give examples of how you have used them in

projects• Final year project: What it involves• Pre-university qualifications

Putting Together Your CV (3)

Employment History

• If you have relevant experience - showcase it

• You can split experience into ‘Relevant’ and ‘Additional’.

• Don’t underestimate part time jobs and voluntary work – link to skills

Putting Together Your CV (4)

• Additional skills – relevant to the job

• Positions of Responsibility

• Activities/Interests/Hobbies – NOT socialising!

• References – Available on request

Skills Profile – Skills based CV

• Look more broadly than your degree

• Focus on the skills required for the job

• Choose headings wisely

• Prioritise examples & give detail

• Focus on job relevant skills first

What skills do employers want?

• Communication Project Management• Report Writing Problem Solving• Team Working Leadership• Customer Focus Making & Accepting

Decisions• Commercial savvy Cross Cultural

Sensitivity• Planning & Organisation Enterprise• Capacity to develop at every stage of career• Reflection

4 Steps to all Good Applications & CVs

1. Understand the role or your interests2. Keep it relevant and targeted3. Highlight all your relevant skills and experience4. Provide lots of examples of your skills

www.prospects.ac.uk/links/AppsInterviews