CURRICULUM VITAE CV Latin for story of your

CURRICULUM VITAE (CV) Latin for story of your life

What is a CV? • A summary of your education, working life and key achievements “An accurate, concise account of your relevant skills, experiences and qualifications in relation to the specific job or occupational area being canvassed”

Why do you need a CV? • Job adverts may ask for them • They can be sent instead of a long rambling letter • They act as a useful reminder of key dates, achievements, etc when completing application forms

What goes into a CV? • • • Name Education Hobbies/Interests/Achievements Address Employment Personal Profile E-mail Telephone number Referees Skills/Abilities Qualifications

Producing a CV • Keep it short, no more than 2 sheets of A 4 paper • Use a simple layout • Easy to read • Simple direct language – break information into subheadings • Ensure there are no spelling/grammar mistakes

Producing a CV • Use Good quality white A 4 paper • Use a clear font – Times New Roman or Arial • Space out information and embolden or underline subheadings • List your achievements clearly, so a potential employer can skim your CV and pick up vital information quickly

Most importantly • Match your skills and achievements to those needed in the job you are applying for. (Look at the job description) • There is no such thing as a standard CV • Always amend to fit the job applying for

Skills Mapping

Skills and Abilities This is your opportunity to make a potential employer aware of the skills you could bring to a position in their organisation. It gives an employer an opportunity at interview to ask you to expand on these areas. If you have achieved a qualification relevant to the job, it might be worth listing this first. EG – Possesses good communication and interpersonal skills.

Personal Profiles Summarise your main strengths, useful experiences and skills that would be valuable in the job you are applying for. ‘I consider myself to be a well-presented, organised person. I am confident in my ability to mix and communicate with people in general. I am hard working, trustworthy and have many qualities to offer and a desire to help others. ’

Final Thoughts • Appearance – Does it look good before I even read it? • Accuracy – Has it been checked for spelling/grammatical errors? • Length – Is it a reasonable length? • Format – Does the style reveal my full potential

Final Thoughts • Appropriate – Is the content right for this particular job? • Clarity – Is the content clear and concise? • Honesty – Is the content true and accurate? Could I back it up at interview? • Focus – Is it easy to see what type of work I’d be good at?

ANY QUESTIONS? ?