Cass Business School

CV Workshop

Penna Meridian

in Partnership

with the

Penna Meridian

Penna Meridian is the leading international partner of choice in human capital management. We help organisations to improve their performance through their people.

What we do:Search & SelectionInterim ManagementExecutive CoachingChange ManagementHR StrategyCareer Consulting

Curriculum Vitae (CV) Preparation Workshop

Purpose of a CV?

What should it look like?

What to include?What not to include? ‘Optional extras’?

Style / layout / impact

Examples of good and bad CVs

When and how to use a CV?

Covering letters

Q & A

Curriculum Vitae (CV) Preparation Workshop

Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resumé

translates to

‘The course of your life’

A couple of questions …

Who has sold anything before?

Who likes selling?

What have you done with your life over the last 20 or so years?

How many things are you proud of?

2 Issues to Resolve …

A CV is a summary sales document

1. We’ve agreed we don’t like selling

2. Summarising our life is difficult

Marketing Tool Generate interest Open the door to an interview Career Review / Planning Tool

Purpose of a CV?

Job search is a marketing exercise where you are both the product and the salesperson.

The CV is your prime marketing tool – its aim :

Cass

CV Script Writer

summarise your qualifications and experience

highlight how your skills and achievements benefited your previous employer

project your personality

show what problems you solved, rather than “I am good at …….”.

A CV should …

Choosing your CV Format

Two main types:

1. a historical format … factual steps back through your job history (starting with your most recent position)

2. a functional / skills format concentrating on key skill areas and expertise.

CV - 2 Main Areas:

Content – your words

Style – your layout

Content

What Should be Included?

Name

Contact details

Career achievements

Education

Nationality / Work permit

Copies of references or qualifications

Referees’ names

Last or expected salary

Over elaborate presentation methods (e.g. binders)

What Should Not be Included?

Photographs (unless requested)

Over-embellishment, distortion or avoidance of facts.

Abbreviations or jargon

Height, weight or state of health

What Should Not be Included? (continued)

What Can be Included? (Optional)

Career / Personal Profile

Date of birth

Marital status / Family

Interests / Hobbies

Style

Style / Layout

Length ( Always an emotive subject!)

Should look balanced in layout

If historical, easy to see dates, companies and roles

Achievement Adjectives

AnalysedAccomplished

AppliedAchieved

CalculatedCompiled

CommunicatedCo-ordinatedConducted

ConstructedConsultedComposedCompletedDesigned

DevelopedDemonstrated

DefinedDiagnosedDelivered

EstablishedEstimatedExplainedEvaluatedExceeded

FacilitatedIntroduced

ImplementedImproved

InterpretedInfluencedInstalledLaunchedLearned

LedManagedMonitoredMaintainedNegotiatedObservedOperatedPresented

ParticipatedProposed PreparedProduced

RecognisedReleased

RecommendedResearched

RevisedReorganised

ReportedRepairedReviewedSecured

SucceededScheduledSupervisedSimplifiedSelected

SavedStrengthened

SolvedTrained

TransferredWrote

Style / layout (continued)

Career progression

10 Second rule (working out what and how well you achieved objective)

Tangible examples

Easy to read and identify achievements quickly (Avoid wordy descriptions)

When and How will I use my CV?

Responding to an advert

Recruitment agency

Direct approach

Networking

When and How will I use my CV? (continued)

Application forms

Preparing the way for the interview

During the interview

CVs …….

“the good, the bad

and the ugly”

CURRICULUM VITAECarla Bloggs, Ash Court, East Green, Sussex RH9 0XX

Tel: 01234 515555 Mobile: 07771 123456

An adaptable senior Operations Manager with experience in a variety of service industries.

Career History Major Employer Plc 1993 to present

One of the UK’s leading general insurersUK Customer Service Manager, Commercial Partnerships 1996 to presentMember of the Commercial Lines Operations team generating in excess of £150m sales in 1998.Selected to establish a UK Customer Service function from the newly-restructured division. Applied change management skills to create a customer-focused culture which was a key to success in this role. Managed teams in Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, London, Reigate and Worthing, servicing national brokers and key accounts.

Responsibilities include:-· performance management, motivation, training and personal

development of four Team Managers and their reports (58 staff in total)

· management of budgets in excess of £1m· setting, meeting and maintaining demanding service levels· balancing costs against quality, productivity, and service levels· forecasting, planning, monitoring and setting key performance

indicators · innovation and continuous improvement in conjunction with both

external and internal customers

CURRICULUM VITAE

Carla BloggsAsh Court, East Green

Sussex RH9 0XXTel: 01234 515555 Mobile: 07771 123456

An adaptable senior Operations Manager with experience in a variety of service industries.

Career History Major Employer Plc 1993 to present

One of the UK’s leading general insurersUK Customer Service Manager, Commercial Partnerships 1996 to presentMember of the Commercial Lines Operations team generating in excess of £150m sales in 1998.Selected to establish a UK Customer Service function from the newly-restructured division. Applied change management skills to create a customer-focused culture which was a key to success in this role. Managed teams in Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, London, Reigate and Worthing, servicing national brokers and key accounts.

Responsibilities include:-· performance management, motivation, training and personal

development of four Team Managers and their reports (58 staff in total)

· management of budgets in excess of £1m· setting, meeting and maintaining demanding service levels· balancing costs against quality, productivity, and service levels· forecasting, planning, monitoring and setting key performance

indicators · innovation and continuous improvement in conjunction with both

external and internal customers

Career History

Major Employer Plc 1993 to present

UK Customer Service Manager, Commercial Partnerships 1996 to presentMember of the Commercial Lines Operations team generating in excess of £150m sales in 1998.Selected to establish a UK Customer Service function from the newly-restructured division. Applied change management skills to create a customer-focused culture which was a key to success in this role. Managed teams in Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, London, Reigate and Worthing, servicing national brokers and key accounts.

Responsibilities included; · performance management, motivation, training and personal

development of four Team Managers and their reports (58 staff in total)

· management of budgets in excess of £1m· setting, meeting and maintaining demanding service levels· balancing costs against quality, productivity, and service levels· forecasting, planning, monitoring and setting key performance

indicators · innovation and continuous improvement in conjunction with both

external and internal customers

Carla BloggsAsh Court, East Green

Sussex RH9 0XXMobile: 07771 123456

An adaptable senior Operations Manager with experience in a variety of service industries.

Covering Letters/emails

Responding to Adverts

Direct targeting

Recruitment professionals

Thank you letters

Curriculum Vitae (CV) Preparation Workshop

Purpose of a CV?

What should it look like?What to include?What not to include?‘Optional extras’?

Curriculum Vitae (CV) Preparation Workshop

Style / layout / impact

Examples of good and bad CVs

When and how to use a CV?

Covering letters

Questions & Answers