Presenting skills in CVs and applications Presentation by
Presenting skills in CVs and applications Presentation by Tanya-Louise Rose, Applications Adviser Careers Network
What is a CV? An outline of your educational and professional history typically used for job applications
What is a Covering Letter?
Research • Read the person specification and job description thoroughly Essential Desirable Excellent Communication Skills Strong knowledge of Excel Ability to work as part of a team Ability to speak multiple languages Organised approach to work
Where should I start? • • Identify key words from the job description & person specification Gather together your information bank. Think about how you match what they are asking for Research the company and ask yourself why them?
What makes a good CV? • • Choose your headings wisely Choose the order in which you want to present your information Ensure you have identified your achievements and successes. Provide evidence of your skills and the impact of these.
Writing Bullet Points Verb Action Value • No need to write full sentences or start each one with ‘I’ • Use strong active verbs eg: Managed, implemented, sourced • Keep detail short and snappy • Context about the environment or task • Why are you a better fit because of this? • Point where you bring in skills and behaviours
Will it pass the 30 second test? Choose what you want to include in the CV
What makes a good Cover Letter?
Writing Tips – The STAR Method
Example using STAR • • Situation: "We were due to be delivering a presentation to a group of 30 interested industry players on our new product and Stuart, the guy due to deliver it, got stuck on a train from Birmingham. " Task: "It was my responsibility to find an alternative so it didn't reflect badly on the company and we didn't waste the opportunity. " Action: "I spoke to the event organisers to find out if they could change the running order. They agreed so we bought ourselves some time. I contacted Susan, another member of the team, who at a push could step in. She agreed to drop what she was doing and head to the event. " Result: "Stuart didn't make the meeting on time but we explained the problem to the delegates and Susan's presentation went well – a bit rough around the edges but it was warmly received. Stuart managed to get there for the last 15 minutes to answer questions. As a result we gained some good contacts, at least two of which we converted into paying clients. "
Example using STAR • • Situation: "A customer rang up complaining that they'd waited more than two weeks for a reply from our sales team regarding a product query. " Task: "I needed to address the client's immediate query and find out what went wrong in the normal process. " Action: "I apologised, got the details and passed them to our head salesperson, who contacted the client within the hour. I investigated why the query hadn't been answered. I discovered that it was a combination of a wrong mobile number and a generic email address that wasn't being checked. I let the client know and we offered a goodwill discount on her next order. " Result: "The client not only continued to order from us but posted a positive customer service tweet. "
Things to remember • • Always tailor your CV and Covering Letter to the needs of the employer Only say things that you can back up with proof Never exaggerate or lie Keep things clear and concise Never undersell yourself Put in the effort, don’t get someone else to write it. Send your CV as PDF so that it appears how you see it.
Resources • Book a 1: 1 appointment with an Applications or Careers Adviser • Find out more about our full length Interactive ‘Apply Yourself’ Workshops • Access our ‘Apply Yourself’ Canvas Course and further Canvas resources https: //canvas. bham. ac. uk/enroll/3 LGR 9 C Don’t forget that you can book a one to one CV checking appointment through our website. You can also email a copy of your CV
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