CV Writing – Year 13 Stand out from the crowdMrs Michelle WilsonMrs Hannah Fehr

Careers Team

Aims & Objectives Understand the purpose and content of a CV

Undertake recruitment/selection exercise identifying factors that make a good CV

Appreciate the importance of evidencing skills from a job descriptions

Raise awareness of your existing employability skills

Acknowledge facilitating words/ phrases employer like to see within an application

Enhance your chances of being selected for an interview

What is a CV

A CV is a marketing document in which you are marketing something: yourself! You need to "sell" your skills, abilities, qualifications and experience to employers

When to use a CV When an employer asks for applications to be received in this format

When an employer simply states "apply to ..." without specifying the format

When making speculative applications (when writing to an employer who has not advertised a vacancy but who you hope my have one)

Personal Details Personal Profile ? Employment History / Work Experience Education & Training Hobbies/Interests References

Tasks Achievements Responsibilities Skills

Structure & Content

Lets take a look at some advice!!!!

Tips Grab the attention of the employer Demonstrate you have the skills for

the job and provide examples Easy to read/ Good Format Keep it brief & concise Write in the third person Tailor each CV to the job

Group Activity

Develop articulating/ communicating your employability skills

Provide Examples of what could be included within YOUR CV

So....review the statements and feedback a favoured example for the group

“I just flip burgers at football matches”

Hardworking individual at ease with busy working environments, fully competent in

adhering to food & hygiene and health and safety procedures. Offering excellence in customer service and potential to increase food orders by over 15% per quarter.

Stay Positive & Upsell

Conscientious, responsible and highly organised individual, who always strives to achieve the

highest standard possible, with excellent IT & communication skills (verbal and written) offering

great attention to detail and the ability to relate to wide range of people (Receptionist for local

newspaper)

Friendly and enthusiastic individual who is always eager to learn, works proficiently in a team and

supporting others. Offering excellent mentoring skills coupled with the ability to manage difficult

situations with patience and maturity. Seeking to work in a people centred organisation

(Social Care)

Personal Profiles - Examples

Automatic Rejections

Spelling mistakes or typos 61% Copied large amounts of wording from the job

posting 41% Inappropriate email address 35% don’t include a list of skills 30% More than two pages long 22% Printed on decorative paper 20% Detail more tasks than results for previous

positions 16% Including a photo 13% Large blocks of text with little white space 13%

Action Words Activity

Examined• Promoted• Trained

Discovered• Budgeted• Sold

Recommended• Assessed• Monitored

Action Words for your Application FOrm

Planned Devised Achieved

Developed Liaised (spell it right!) Evaluated

Supervised Co-ordinated Managed

Administered Controlled Selected

Created Instructed Negotiated

Designed Researched Analysed

Discovered Recommended Tested

Diagnosed Budgeted Monitored

Evaluated Examined Assessed

Promoted Sold Advised

Selected Trained Taught

Explained Presented Conducted

Distributed Organised Solved

Represented Persuaded Calculated

Completed Arranged Responsible for

Activity Who Would you Invite for Interview? Review job description

Review CV’s identifying Skills /Qualities/Education/Training

Assistant Accountant Plasterer

Know what the job involves

Be prepared to describe how you meet the requirements and what you have achieved. Provide examples of qualities and skills being asked for

DO NOT COPY JOB DESCRIPTION

Research the organisation

Prioritise your information – what is most important, catch the attention / Change the order of information to suite your advantage

Most Importantly

A historical document that stays the same once you’ve written it

A way of cramming as much information about you as possible

Acceptable without a covering letter

A CV is Not

First Impressions

Focus

Match

Provide the Proof

Summary

www.cvtips.com www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvexamples

Harlington Careers Team: positive interview success rate – Find us in Room SF7

Sources of Help