The Art and Craft of a Great CV and Cover Letter€¦ · CV Review • In pairs in breakout rooms...

The Art and Craft of a Great CV and Cover Letter

Postgraduate Skills Development Summer School

June 2020

Orlaith TunneyCareers ConsultantCareers Service

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin CAREERS ADVISORY SERVICE

Set up Job Alerts


In Your Opinion What Constitutes a Great CV?


The S.T.E.P.S to an effective CV

Structured

Targeted

Evidence Based

Professional

Succinct


CV structure

1. Personal details

2. Personal Profile (Optional)

3. Skills profile (keep it technical)

4. Education

5. Experience/ Projects

6. Achievements and/or Interests and/or Extra-curricular activities(Optional)

7. References


Academic CVs…..

Publications: these should be listed in the citation style appropriate for your discipline.

Conference presentations: include both posters and papers if applicable.

Teaching experience: include the nature of your role, the level of students you were teaching and teaching activities.

Professional activities: this could include committee or society membership, conferences attended or editorial activities.


Academic CVs continued

Funding awards & grants: Details of any funding received -e.g. Irish Research Council or Studentship awards.

Research experience: detail all dates and give a description of your work.

Research interests: these could be in addition to the work you are doing now.


Tailoring Academic CVs

▪Research-Led

– Education

– Awards & grants

– Research experience

– Research interests

– Publications

– Conference presentations

– Teaching experience

▪Teaching-Led

– Education

– Awards & grants

– Teaching experience

– Teaching interests

– Research experience

– Publications

– Conference presentations


Does the candidate offer what the recruiter needs?


• Carefully review the job description and highlight the selection criteria

• Reflect on your experience and what you have to offer this role and this organisation

• Ensure these are demonstrated in your CV.

• EVIDENCE is key

Targeting your CV to the role


Job DescriptionJob Title: Research Associate, Community EnterpriseGrade: Research AssociateReporting to: Director, Policy Institute

Job Purpose

Responsible for the day-to-day research and activities to monitor and evaluate the impact of the University’s contribution to innovation and sustainability of the Social Economy sector within Ireland.

The post is 2 year fixed term.

Key Job Responsibilities

•To develop a research plan for the project.•To identify all activities within the University in relation to the social economy sector (baseline assessment).•To develop appropriate research instruments and methodologies.•To carry out a county wide audit of outcomes of the University’s contribution to innovation and sustainability of the Social Economy sector within Ireland through a quality audit and best practice case studies.•To be responsible for writing progress reports, contributing to publications and presentation of results.•To develop and implement other work as agreed by the Director.

Requirements•First/second class Hons degree in business studies/social sciences or related discipline (essential)•PG qualification in business studies or social sciences (desirable)•At least 2 years relevant research experience (essential)•Extensive knowledge of the Irish social economy sector (essential)•Experience of using computer packages to facilitate research (desirable)•Experience of writing research proposals and reports (essential)•Experience of having completed written research reports (essential)•Evidence of project management (desirable)•Experience of delivering or participating in research seminars or conferences (desirable)•Ability to work independently and as part of a team as required (essential)•Good written and oral communication skills (desirable)•Experience of working to tight deadlines (desirable)•Evidence of knowledge of research methods (essential)•Evidence of using qualitative and quantitative research techniques (desirable)•Access to transport and willingness to travel to meet the needs of the post (essential)

Submit CV and Cover Letter by email to …… by ………


CV Review

• In pairs in breakout rooms review the sample CVs

• one targeting a STEM postdoc position in a research centre

• one targeting a research associate in a policy institute

• Together agree two aspects of each CV that make a positive and a negative impact

on you

• Type in your summary in the document provided in the breakout room and save

• Agree who will share your findings in the main room

• In the main room share your positive and negative aspects in the chat facility

Structured Targeted Evidence Based Professional Succinct


Positive and Negative Aspects of CVsType in your notes in the chat or unmute your mic


Personal Details

Full Name

Postal Address

Email

Mobile

Add LinkedIn Profile, WordPress, Github or other


Career Objective/profile (optional)

Research professional with four years experience in developing literature reviews, gathering and analysing qualitative data, with project management skills gained through professional associations and working groups, with expertise in mental health and social care experience interested in applying these skills in x role in y company.


Skills Profile- Example

Skills:

Languages: French- mother tongue; English- fluent

Design: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, AfterEffects

Coding: C/C++, Java, C#, PHP, Javascript, HTML, CSS, SML

Drivers Licence: Full, clean


Trinity College Dublin MPhil in Children’s Literature 2019-2020

Relevant modules (optional)

Trinity College Dublin BA English Literature 2015-2019

Final grade: 2.1 Second Class Honours

Education : Example Layout


Information Management Project 2019

Created a MySQL database using PHP based on videogame metadata

Software & Design Implementation Group Project 2018

Created an Android game app with 3D graphics using OpenGL 2 libraries in

Android Studio

**Make it clear WHAT the project was and HOW you implemented it**

Projects- Example


Experience

Trinity College Dublin Researcher 2015-2019

– Designed an econometric model to track correlations between inward investment & the growth of rural economies in Ireland and the UK.

– Managed and analysed complex statistical data using range of software including x, y, z

– Surveyed and interviewed a range of stakeholders including local authorities, employers, government departments and funding agencies

– Secured €3,000 from department to attend major annual FDI conference in Beijing


Achievements/Interests/ Extra - Curricular


What you can include:

– Societies / Clubs in College/ other organisations and activities

e.g. student publications, hackathons

– Display skills, experience and achievements gained

– Show Teamwork, Leadership, Organisational skills in action

– Any other relevant information not mentioned earlier


Display skills and competencies

Trinity Football Club Team member 2018 - present• Attend two three-hour training sessions per week and compete in

weekly matches throughout term time. Won 3 of 4 intervarsity competitions

• Organise one social event per term including sourcing venues and securing discounts and deals. Successfully secured 2,000€ from corporate sponsors for annual club ball.


References

Can be a great way to lend credibility to your application

Two references: academic and/or professional

OR

Available upon request


Spell check AND proof read!


Cover Letters

28


Good Covering Letters

Make a connection e.g. “It was a pleasure to meet you last month at

the workshop on critical thinking in Trinity” or “I am applying for x job

advertise on y website”

Evidence that you can do this job and what you can contribute.

Include your unique strengths

Say why you are interested in this employer i.e. Show knowledge of

sector, motivation & enthusiasm

End positively


Trinity Careers ServiceCV & cover letter resources

CVs for all postgraduate students:

• Trinity Careers Service CVs & Applications web pages. Sample CVs

https://www.tcd.ie/Careers/students/applying/index.php/

• Prospects.ac.uk www.prospects.ac.uk/cvs.htm

• International applications https://www.expatica.com/working/finding-a-job/cv-tips-for-different-countries-105713/

CVs for PhD candidates:

• https://www.findaphd.com/advice/finding/phd-cv.aspx (good for USA/Canada specific tips)

• https://www.vitae.ac.uk/researcher-careers (login with Trinity email address)

https://www.tcd.ie/Careers/students/applying/index.php/

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cvs.htm

https://www.expatica.com/working/finding-a-job/cv-tips-for-different-countries-105713/

https://www.findaphd.com/advice/finding/phd-cv.aspx

https://www.vitae.ac.uk/researcher-careers


Vault Career Insiderhttps://www.tcd.ie/Careers/students/online-tools.php


Book into a CV/LinkedIn Clinic or a Next Step

Appointment on MyCareer

Trinity Careers Service www.tcd.ie/careers

Questions and Comments

Orlaith TunneyTrinity Careers Service

Presenting your Best Self at InterviewPostgraduate Skills development Summer School

June 2020

Orlaith TunneyCareers Consultant


Today we will cover:

• Determine how best to prepare for interviews

• Distinguish between the many types of interview

• Analyse a range of different types of interview question

• Know how Trinity Careers Service can help

• If time, draft and share an answer to an interview question


Basics of Selection

Personality

‘I WILL’‘WILL YOU’?

‘I’LL FIT’‘WILL YOU FIT’?

‘I CAN’‘CAN YOU’?


“They need…. I offer….”


Your Objective at Interview

Candidate

Colleague


What can you do to present your best self at interview?

Include your responses in the ‘chat’ facility


Interview Preparation


Remember, interviewers will ….


Attitude & Behaviour

• The selection process may be broader than the interview e.g. technology set up for interview

• Plan your main messages (job spec) What do you want them to remember?

• Be enthusiastic / confident

• Listen carefully to the questions

• Clarify/ Give yourself time

• Give evidence/ refer to your experiences

• Create opportunities to display your strengths


Interview Types

Panel Interview—2-10 people, can be more difficult to establish rapport

—Popular in public sector (e.g. Education & local government)

—Each interviewer focuses on different topic:

▪ Chairperson to co-ordinate questions

▪ Specialist who knows job in detail

▪ HR Manager


Telephone/ Audio only—Tone of voice

—Beware of over-familiarity

—Beware of yes/no answers

—Consider “dressing” for the occasion

—Keep a copy of your application, CV, pen, paper, diary, list of questions

with you

Skype/ Zoom- Camera on—Dress the part

—Think about your physical location/space

—Use a headset if possible

—Make eye contact

—Handle tech glitches beforehand

—Eliminate interruptions

Interview Types


Interview Types

Automated Interview- Receive email in advance with briefing, tips and link. Usually 3-4 days to

complete

- Complete online checks- audio & camera

- Employer indicates number of questions asked, typically six

- Length of time to read each question before you have to start answering (between 30 – 60 seconds)

- Length of time to answer each question (usually between 1 to 2 minutes per answer). Keep an eye on the countdown timer on the screen

- Answers to practice questions can be recorded and replayed by you multiple times. Your answers won’t be viewed by the employer.


Sample recruiter selection criteria used in Interviews

NAME SELECTION CRITERIA

FORENAME SURNAMEQualifications

(/10)

Motivation and attitude

(/10)Attention to detail (/20)

Communication skills - written

and verbal (/20)

Technical knowledge and

skills (/20)Analytical skills (/20)

Score (/100)

Additional Notes

MARIE KELLY

CHRIS BOYD

MILLIE CARLEY

MARLENA GRONDZEWSKA

SIMON POWER


The First Question

• Can you give me a brief overview of your CV/Career to-date?

• Bring me through your CV highlighting why we should offer you this job.

• Why are you here today?


Questions, Questions!! What Category?

Type A• Why did you choose to do a PhD?• Why do you want to work in this sector?• Why do you want to work in this organisation?

Type B

• Describe what you did to manage a situation where something unexpected happened.

• Provide an example of a time where you displayed a skill in planning and organising and describe the results.

• Describe a situation where others you were working with on a project disagreed with your ideas. What did you do?

Question Category

1. Competency based

2. Situational

3. Strengths based

4. Motivational

5. Personal Qualities/ Self-Awareness

6. Academic


Questions, Questions!! What Category?

Type C• What are your strengths / weaknesses? • Give me three words to describe yourself

Type D

• Your line manager approaches you at 5.30pm to complete a task by 9am the next day. What do you do?

Type E

• What gives you energy?

Type F

• Where do you see your research fitting in with the interests/priorities of the Department?

• What is your teaching philosophy?

Question Category

1. Competency based

2. Situational

3. Strengths based

4. Motivational

5. Personal Qualities/ Self-Awareness

6. Academic


Questions Type A

• Why did you choose to do a PhD?

• Why do you want to work in this sector?

• Why do you want to work in this organisation?

• Where do you see yourself in five/ ten years time?

• How does the current contractual position fit into your plans?

Motivational Questions • You are asked about the choices/plans you have made and why you made them

• Helps a potential employer determine whether there's a good 'fit' between the candidate’s interests and the position on offer

➢ N.B. Research the role, interview panel, organisation and sector


Questions Type C• What are your strengths / weaknesses?

• Give me three words to describe yourself

Personal Qualities/ Self-Awareness

• Aimed at finding out how much you reflect on your own qualities and skills, insight into how others see you, do you listen to feedback

➢ Show evidence of reflection on strengths and “areas for development”

➢ Identify a perceived weakness that may be common to other applicants

➢ Identify a real weakness, that you have already worked on, and that doesn’t interfere with your ability to carry out the role


Questions Type B

• Describe what you did to manage a situation where something unexpected

happened.

• Provide an example of a situation where you displayed a skill in planning and

organising and describe the results.

• Describe a situation where others you were working with on a project disagreed

with your ideas. What did you do?

• Describe a situation where it was especially important that you possessed

interpersonal sensitivity. What role did you play? How did you handle the

situation?


Competency Questions

Competencies- areas of personal capability

Combination of knowledge, skills and attitudes applicable to position

Predicts someone's future on their past pattern of behaviour

–Know the competencies necessary for the role

–In the interview your responses need to be specific & detailed

How?

– Arm yourself with a small “arsenal” of examples

– Mainly from most relevant but can be from all aspects of your life – try to stay relatively recent

– Briefly describe the situation, what task was at hand, what action you took, and the positive result or outcome

** STAR(D) – situation, task, action, result (do differently)


General ExamplesQuestion: Can you give me an example of a time when

successful collaboration improved results for you?


S.T.A.R. – A useful approach

ituation

ask

ction

esult


Sample S.T.A.R. story “Can you give me an example of a time when successful collaboration improved results for you?”

– Situation: I’m on the committee of the Trinity Postgraduate Review Journal. Advertising revenue had been falling off in more recent years, and long-term advertisers were no longer renewing annual advertisements

– Task: To address the crisis with an innovative solution, devise a plan, and ensure it was executed successfully

– Action: I suggested we get together and spend some time brainstorming ideas to improve revenue. We took each idea and discussed its feasibility, finally agreeing to offer advertisers a package to include our website, reducing the price of certain ads and giving a discount to repeat advertisers. We each took responsibility for one aspect of the project and agreed to evaluate each at the end of the process.

– Result: All together we signed contracts with 5 former advertisers for our web/journal package and gained 3 new advertisers. We found the new web/journal package was most successful in gaining advertisers (which was my idea and my project!)


Questions Type D - Situational / Scenario• ‘How would you ……?’

• You are asked to respond to a specific situation you face on-the-job

Examples

Order of handling two different cases

Given a specific scenario (often in written form) and asked how to deal with it

Your Strategy

• Designed to draw out your client-support /analytical/problem-solving skills

• To see how you handle situations with short notice & minimal preparation

➢ Focus on process of what you would do and why

➢ Make reference to similar situation in past if you can


Questions Type E – Strengths-basedExamples

• Describe a successful day. What made it successful?

• When do you feel most inspired?

• When did you achieve something you’re really proud of?

• How would your close friends describe you?

Your Strategy

• Minimal time to prepare

• Go with your natural response

• Identify strengths relevant to your studies/additional experience

• Strengths based questionnaires e.g. www.viacharacter.org (free)

http://www.viacharacter.org/


Questions Type F: Academic

Sample Questions

• Where do you see your research fitting in with the interests/priorities of the Department?

• What ideas do you have for further research and what are the potential sources of funding?

• Where do you see your research going in the next few years?

• How will you manage the pressures of teaching and research?


Sample Assessment Matrix for academic interviews

Source: Dean of Research, Trinity


Questions YOU might ask towards end of interview…

• Is there anything else you need to know about me at this

stage?

• Training/ongoing development in the role

• From my research, I’ve answered any questions I had, but I

would like to add that am very enthusiastic about the

role/have the necessary skills to bring to this role/add

anything you left out earlier…


Choose one question and use STAR to write the answer

• Tell me about a time when you worked as part of a team and things went well. How did you contribute to this success?

• Can you tell me about a time when you had to work under pressure toachieve an important goal?

• Describe a situation where you held a position of leadership and what you achieved in the position.

• Describe some research you did and its impact.

Task: 5mins to draft a written answer. One/ two people will be invited to share with the group by audio

Remember STAR – Situation, Task, Action, Result


Reviewing Your Performance

• Who interviewed you?

• What information did you gain?

• How did you feel after the interview…would you like to work here?

• What aspects of the interview went well? What might have been

better? and why?

• If at first you don’t succeed – ask for feedback!


Resources


Trinity Careers Service- Interview Resources

• https://www.tcd.ie/Careers/students/applying/interviews/index.php

• https://gradireland.com/careers-advice/interviews-and-tests

• https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/interview-tips

• PhD students: https://www.vitae.ac.uk/researcher-careers/pursuing-an-academic-career/applying-for-academic-jobs/academic-job-interviews

• ‘Great Answers to Tough Interview Questions’ – Martin John Yate

• Attend a practice/video interview at Trinity Careers Service

Coming Soon. Self-serve online Practice Interview Software called Shortlist.me

https://www.tcd.ie/Careers/students/applying/interviews/index.php

https://gradireland.com/careers-advice/interviews-and-tests

https://www.vitae.ac.uk/researcher-careers/pursuing-an-academic-career/applying-for-academic-jobs/academic-job-interviews


Vault Career Insiderhttps://www.tcd.ie/Careers/students/online-tools.php


Trinity Careers Service www.tcd.ie/careers

Book into a Practice Interview or a Next Step Appointment

on MyCareer

Shortlist.me practice interview software coming soon!

Questions and Comments

Orlaith TunneyTrinity Careers Service

The Art and Craft of a Great CV and Cover Letter€¦ · CV Review • In pairs in breakout rooms...

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