Post on 25-Feb-2016
description
MA TranslationEffective CVs, jobsearch and
networkingJanet Woolnough
Purple Door Careers and Recruitment
Session overview Effective CVs Cover letters What are your options? Looking for opportunities Networking and social networking Useful contacts and resources Help from Purple Door Careers and Recruitment
Effective CVs – general points Length - max 2 pages You can decide what to include/ordering Format - clear, easy to access Language style - concise, use active words (eg
organised, developed), avoid use of I Targeted towards a particular job
There is no right way to do a CV!
What is your message?
How to target effectively What are the
requirements of the job?
What evidence do you have?
Show the match
Look at advert, job description, person specification
Identify relevant skills and experience
Ordering of information Balance of information How you describe your
experience
In or out?
Personal profile Photo
Date of birth Hobbies
Nationality GCSE subjects
Marital status A level grades
Professional memberships SkillsReferences
Testimonials
Freelance translator - your marketing package
CV
Database profile entry – eg ProZ.com
LinkedIn Profile
Website / online portfolio
Logo? Business identity?
Freelance translation CVs – key issues Why are you sending the CV? Who is it sent to? What is your USP – your identity as a translator Accuracy – spelling and grammar Ease of reading – fonts / size Relevance of information No more than 2 pages No photo (UK) For CVs held online – protect personal information
Freelance Translation CVs http://translatorslife.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/applying-for-translation-jobs-your-freelance-translator-cv-resume
http://www.slideshare.net/MartaStelmaszak/how-to-write-a-translators-cv
Contact details – your Brand – company/logo, link to website?
Profile Languages Professional
training/education and memberships
Specialist areas
CAT tools / other specific skills Summary of translation
projects Education Work experience Other interests/achievements References – quotes?
Employer feedbackA translation background is essential. We normally look for someone with attention to details but capable of keeping up with pre-set targets. Wiggle – a regular recruiter of in-house translators
Accuracy – not a single mistake. The smallest of typos on a CV is unacceptable in a world where accuracy at all times is important.Relevance – if you can’t be bothered to tailor the information on your CV then you clearly don’t want the job that badly.Intonation – Translation Agency
What do you think of these?http://
www.slideshare.net/anzingerd/curriculum-vitae-englisch-2-2517562
Personal detailsIf your CV is held online, be careful about
including too much personal information – e.g. address
Photo / Date of birth/ Number of children or dogs not needed
Provide a range of contact options, e.g. Skype, LinkedIn, link to website / online portfolio.
Rate this profileMature and high achieving postgraduate translation student with excellent communication and language skills. Able to work effectively in a team or on own initiative.
Create your own profileWork with a partner to create a profile.
Remember it is your headline so be clear about:
What you can offer What you want
Languages, specialist areas and project experience
LanguagesTranslation language pairs; other languages and levelsAreas of specialism Translation summary / project portfolioInclude language, field, description of project, client? (careful about confidentiality)Specialist trainingReferences /testimonials
Other areas to includeOther educationOther work experienceInterests and activitiesReferences /testimonials
For these sections think how you can show evidence of relevant skills or specialist knowledge
Your website / online portfolio How much detail should be provided - confidentiality issues? Use www.proz.com for links to translator websites / profiles
to generate ideas e.g. http://www.plumetranslations.co.uk/
Useful sites for advice on translator portfolios http
://www.mtmtranslations.com/4/post/2014/02/how-to-create-an-effective-portfolio-for-your-translation-business.html
http://rmttranslation.com/portfolio/ http://websitesfortranslators.co.uk/webdesign/portfolio/
CVs for other language jobsExample jobsTarget to meet the needs of the employersBroader skills and experience are likely to be
needed – not just your language skillsPurple Door CV guide
Marketing your educationDegree
How relevant is the content?
Overview or detail
Skills developed
Dissertation/relevant projects
Other education
A level grades – in or out?GCSEs – 10 GCSE C+ including Maths, English and Science
Marketing your experience
Outline key responsibilities and achievements
Consider clustering your experience e.g. Relevant experience – other experience
Make ‘unrelated jobs’ relevant by showing skills developed
Lots of similar experience? - cluster and analyse together
Other interests and achievements
Can include, voluntary work, positions of responsibility – e.g. course rep, other interests
Don’t just state – analyseWhat did the role involve?Bring out skills
What impression are you creating?Reading, chess and needlework
Socialising with friends?
CV Formats
Chronological CV • Qualifications and experience in reverse chronological order• Especially useful if your degree or previous work experience
relates closely to the jobs for which you are applying.
Skills Based CV• Use to highlight important technical and
transferable/interpersonal skills acquired and demonstrated in various contexts
• Especially good if you want to draw attention to important skills.
Covering lettersUse a business style
and be concise Use the correct form of
ending -Yours sincerely or Yours faithfully
Aim for 3 – 4 paragraphs on one side of A4 paper
Suggested layoutPara 1 - Who you are and why you are writingPara 2 - Why interested in role/organisation Para 3 - What you can offerFinish with - Positive ending
Applying Outside UK Check conventions for country concerned –
www.prospects.ac.uk Handwritten letters the norm in some European
countries Photos? Europass CV and Language Passport? Check regulations e.g. visa rules
Translation – finding opportunities Speculative approaches to agencies Use of professional body registers and jobsites http://www.translationjobs.co.uk/ www.proz.com – good portal for translation jobsobs
EU roles - http://europa.eu/epso/index_en.htm- General administrator or translation
competitions- Paid traineeships
Other language jobs Wide range of jobs require language skills in wide
range of sectors: banking/finance; sales/marketing; customer service …
Level of experience needed will vary Roles may be varied, possibly including some
translation Could help you develop ‘specialist area’ for use in
translation later Look for opportunities with specialist recruitment
agencies/jobsites (see previous slide)
Language specialist jobsites Specialist recruitment agencies/jobsites- www.eurolondon.com- www.languagebusiness.co.uk- www.toplanguagejobs.co.uk- www.coriniumlanguage.co.uk- www.multilingualvacancies.com
Graduate Training Schemes With large companies and organisations In wide range of job functions – training provided Language skills could be useful – company could be
operating globally www.prospects.ac.uk www.targetjobs.co.uk www.port.ac.uk/careers www.eurograduate.com
Professional membership Directory of members for speculative applications Register of linguists Training / networking events Mentoring / advice e.g. ITI Orientation Course, ITI
Professional Support Group Evidence of commitment to profession www.iti.org.uk, www.iol.org.uk
Creative jobsearch Research companies using business directories/professional
bodies Create targeted speculative applications Use your networks and contacts Use social networking techniques – Twitter and Linkedin
increasingly used in Jobsearch
One in four graduate jobs gained through networking and internships
Speculative approach See speculative application guide Professional Directories and Business Directories e.g.
Hampshire Business Directory www.yell.com What do Portsmouth Graduates Do?
www.port.ac.uk/intranet/employability - intranet only
Word of mouth recommendation
Benefits of networking
"Networking can be scary, but about 70% of jobs are found through networking. Students who spend their time trolling job boards should instead spend that time making solid connections with people who are respected and involved in the workforce, industry experts and alumni, and spend only 30% of their time looking at job listings.’’
Lindsey Pollak
It’s not just the person you are talking to – it's all the people they know
Never underestimate anyone. You never know who they used to be, who they are connected to now and who they might go on to be.
Network with the intention of helping other people, not yourself.
http://www.4networking.biz/Pages/Tips
Build your confidence in networking
Where / how can you network?
What skills and techniques help to make networking effective?
Who’s in your network? Try this suggestion from the University of the
Arts, London:
http://www.careers-creative-living.co.uk/images/resources/new_community_map.pdf
Who can you network with?
My Networ
k
Social contacts
Neighbours
Their friends
Their friends
University Friends
Their work colleagues
Clubs/ societies/
sport conatcts
Work Colleagues
School / college friends
Family
Their contacts Professional
contacts
Their friends
Their work colleagues
Their work colleagues
Their work colleagues
Their friends
Their friends
Their friends
Voluntary work
contacts
Acquaintances
Their friends
Growing and maintaining networks
Networking using (professional) social media
Networking using social mediaGoogle yourselfBe professionalManage your online presenceUse to search for jobs
http://careers.guardian.co.uk/how-to-get-on-employers-radar?goback=%2Egde_4146677_member_177877468
.Build a professional profileMake connectionsAsk for recommendationsFollow people and companiesJoin groupsJoin in discussionsBe proactiveBe an expert
The LinkedIn profileElements in your profile: Basic info: title, summary, specialities, experience, education,
links to blogs/Twitter/websites etc, honours and awards, interests, personal info., contact settings,
Additional info: recommendations, groups, blog feed, Amazon reading list, Slideshare presentations etc
Example profile: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/carleycummings
LinkedIn groups Joining groups will help you expand your network of contacts Can automatically view most profiles of (and send message
to) people in same group
Tips: See if groups are UK specific (no location search yet but can
enter ‘UK’ as a keyword) Look for high membership groups Change your settings for the group to ‘weekly digest’ or de-
select the Digest email box
In addition to this leaflet, LinkedIn has produced a range of leaflets and short films outlining how to use LinkedIn effectively. http://students.linkedin.com/
TwitterTweet responsibly and professionallyFind people outside your networkFollow people and talk to them!Link to your own contentFollow companies and recruitment
companies/agencies
BloggingBlog about your subject or career passionFollow and comment on the blogs of others
that interestBe professional Be informedBuild a positive professional reputation
Remember Be proactive
Be professional
Manage your online presence – Google yourself – what impression do you create
Stay focused and positive!
Help from Purple Door
Drop in for help with CVs Book an appointment for help with application forms Workshops and events Lots of useful information at www.port.ac.uk/careers Online jobsboard for graduate jobs, part-time jobs and
volunteering In-house recruitment service finding graduate opportunities and
volunteering in the local area
EnterpriseHave you got an idea for a business or social enterprise? Meet our Student Enterprise Team, they offer: Drop-in clinics for advice on your ideas Workshops to help you develop your ideas further A Social Start-up programme for those interested in
social enterprise
facebook.com/purpledoorcareersandrecruitment
Careers and Recruitment Social Media
Linkedin: Purple Door Careers Recruitment UoP
Find out what’s happening
twitter.com/PurpleDoorCR
Over 30 FREE events a month! Visit our Facebook events page to find out what’s happening!
Contact us:Purple Door Careers and Recruitment
Purple Door28 Guildhall Walk
Portsmouth02392 842684
www.port.ac.uk/careers