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    Year 1 CV Writing Workshop

    Uploaded by

    Ana-Maria G
    The document provides guidance on creating an effective CV for a professional training placement. It emphasizes that the CV is the first impression for employers and needs to showcase the applicant's relevant skills, experience, and motivation. It offers tips on structuring the CV in a logical way across 2 pages, with key sections including education, employment, skills, and interests. Examples of effective content and formatting are provided to help students create a CV that will stand out to potential employers.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Year 1 CV Writing Workshop

    Uploaded by

    Ana-Maria G
    109 views49 pages
    The document provides guidance on creating an effective CV for a professional training placement. It emphasizes that the CV is the first impression for employers and needs to showcase the applicant's relevant skills, experience, and motivation. It offers tips on structuring the CV in a logical way across 2 pages, with key sections including education, employment, skills, and interests. Examples of effective content and formatting are provided to help students create a CV that will stand out to potential employers.

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    The document provides guidance on creating an effective CV for a professional training placement. It emphasizes that the CV is the first impression for employers and needs to showcase the applicant's relevant skills, experience, and motivation. It offers tips on structuring the CV in a logical way across 2 pages, with key sections including education, employment, skills, and interests. Examples of effective content and formatting are provided to help students create a CV that will stand out to potential employers.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    109 views49 pages

    Year 1 CV Writing Workshop

    Uploaded by

    Ana-Maria G
    The document provides guidance on creating an effective CV for a professional training placement. It emphasizes that the CV is the first impression for employers and needs to showcase the applicant's relevant skills, experience, and motivation. It offers tips on structuring the CV in a logical way across 2 pages, with key sections including education, employment, skills, and interests. Examples of effective content and formatting are provided to help students create a CV that will stand out to potential employers.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    of 49
    At a glance
    Powered by AI
    The key takeaways are that professional training at Surrey helps develop students professionally and personally, enhances future job prospects, and leads to higher degree classifications. It also attracts students to the university.

    The text lists several benefits of doing a placement year including enhancing future job prospects, building a great CV, acquiring new skills, earning money, improving final year performance, having a better idea of one's career path, and applying classroom knowledge in a work environment.

    The text suggests improving prospects by starting placement searches earlier, improving one's CV and cover letters, doing more online applications and research, and performing well in interviews. It also recommends getting involved in extracurricular activities, volunteering, and building work experience.

    Professional Training at

    Surrey

    The University has one


    of the highest graduate
    employment rates in the
    country
    Professional Training
    develops students
    professionally and
    personally
    Attracts students to the
    University

    finding and getting the right


    placement

    year 1 workshop

    why should I do a placement year?

    The killer reasons why

    enhance your future job prospects


    build a great CV
    acquire new, transferable = marketable skills
    learn how to succeed in an organisation = soft skills
    earn some money
    improve your final year performance
    have a better idea what career to pursue
    apply the mathematics you have learned
    have fun

    why wouldnt you want to do a


    professional training placement?

    the competition is fierce


    The placements are there but you have to find them and
    compete for them
    The more effort you make the stronger your prospects
    You can improve your prospects
    the earlier you start
    the better your CV and covering letters
    the better your on-line applications
    the more research you do
    the better you perform in interviews

    What can you do?


    You can improve your prospects

    The
    The
    The
    The
    The

    earlier you start


    better your CV and covering letters
    better your on-line applications
    more research you do
    better you perform in interviews

    Its not too late to build your CV!


    volunteer, interests, societies,
    languages.

    Some Recent Placements


    Pharmaceutical - GSK/Pfizer/ Quintiles/
    Roche
    Finance Bank of England/Lloyds
    TSB/HSBC/HFC/Goldman Sachs/Disney
    Actuarial RSA/AXA/Mercer/AVIVA
    Computing Microsoft/IBM/ Intel
    Education HEFCE/AQA
    Government Civil Service/Customs
    and Excise/DTI/ONS/DSTL/
    National Vetinary Labs/LOCOG
    Car Industry Rolls-Royce/ Ford/
    Peugeot/Citroen
    Marketing - Marks and Spencer/
    Reuters/Nestle/Kimberley Clark
    Statistical/Mathematical - Datalytics/
    Broventure/NATS

    Professional Training Results


    July 2012 degree classifications:

    (29)

    All students (84)

    Prof. Training

    First class

    43%

    55%

    Upper second

    31%

    38%

    Lower second

    24%

    7%

    Third/Ordinary

    2%

    0%

    what is the process of finding a


    professional placement?

    attend workshops and other sessions designed to help you


    complete the PTY form and give it to Steph Evans in PTY Office
    on BB 04 or give it to her today
    write your CV and e-mail it to John Rayman for comments
    use the resources available to research sectors/companies and
    placements
    be ready to start applying late summer 2014

    complete the professional training form

    information youll need for your CV


    information for the professional training office

    creating your CV

    the purpose of a CV
    structure
    content
    cover letter
    resources to help you

    assess this CV
    would you select this applicant for interview?
    how many mistakes can you find?

    spelling

    spelling

    purpose of a CV

    from your point of view


    to get the interview, not the job
    demonstrate in the CV that you have the skills,
    experience and motivation
    to sell yourself
    from the employers point of view
    weed out unsuitable candidates quickly
    make a short list

    imagine that you are the product


    and the CV is your advertisement
    get your unique selling propositions (USPs) across
    only have a few seconds attention from the reader

    your particular strengths


    unique combinations of attributes
    what do you have that the competition doesnt?

    things to think about

    first impressions are critical in job hunting as in life.


    the CV and the covering letter are your first contact with a potential
    employer.
    your CV is competing with all the other CVs
    the CV needs to show immediately that you have

    the relevant aptitudes, skills and knowledge


    the necessary experience
    the motivation

    these features can be demonstrated by your CV

    how the CV is written is as important as what it contains

    structure

    Up to you its your CV


    must be logical and easy to follow
    no repetition
    everything the reader needs must be clear and easy to find
    typical example
    education
    employment (work experience, volunteering)
    skills and aptitudes
    interests
    bio data
    references
    two pages of A4 also be able to produce a one page version
    explore internet for examples/templates

    style

    sharp, positive and focussed


    most space given to most important aspects
    make every word count
    reverse chronological order for education and
    employment
    bullet points short and punchy, not prose
    active verbs e.g. organised, managed, presented
    dont use the word I
    dont repeat yourself

    education
    give your overall marks for first semester (then year 1
    when you have them), dont list modules studied
    individual module marks if very good and relevant to
    the job
    A levels and year
    list GCSEs briefly but mention specifically English and
    foreign languages
    awards, scholarships and prizes (most emphasis on
    university)

    possible education template


    Education
    2012 present

    University of Surrey

    BSc Mathematics

    2010 2012
    A level

    2005 2010
    GCSE

    year 1 first semester mark 68%

    St Johns College, Wigan


    Maths (A*) Biology (B) Physics (A)

    Templecourt School, Warrington


    7 A, 3 B, 1 C including English (A),
    French (B)

    employment
    company name, location (not address), job title, dates
    e.g. 6/11 9/11
    describe companys business
    list what you did and the results you achieved and any
    achievements
    describe any training given
    include volunteering or internships in same detail
    briefly mention short work experience
    dont cover skills used or developed
    employment experience is probably the most
    important elements employers are looking for

    possible employment template


    Employment
    4/10 -9/10 Courtaulds Ltd, Coventry
    Artificial and Synthetic Fibres Division
    Laboratory technician
    o
    o
    o
    o

    set up apparatus for preparation of novel compounds


    carried out syntheses and tested resulting products using mass
    spectrometry
    wrote up reports of work carried out
    presented verbal report on work at weekly meetings

    skills and aptitudes


    developed from studies, employment,
    volunteering, interests
    either integrate into sections with the activity - but
    risk of repetition
    or a specific section

    give evidence for each claimed skill


    no clichs
    select your key strengths
    where you think you are better than most

    skills and aptitudes


    that employers want most

    verbal communications
    team working
    integrity
    intellectual ability
    self-confidence
    organisational skills
    interpersonal skills
    writing ability
    numeracy
    analytic skills/decision making

    interests

    demonstrate breadth of personality


    if you dont have interests get some!
    socialising with friends doesnt count
    current/recent most important
    sports, clubs, charities, cultural activities..
    interesting travel, projects
    be specific what, when, what level, where
    be aware of current affairs

    listen to radio 4, Today programme


    read a quality newspaper

    bio data
    addresses, phone (mobile) and non-quirky e-mail
    [email protected] ?
    much better [email protected]

    d.o.b., nationality optional


    two referees
    academic, employment/volunteering
    not references supplied on request

    a reader friendly CV

    logical structure
    all key information clear and easily available
    no jargon, no acronyms
    professional looking presentation

    text balanced over 2 pages


    good use of white space
    very good quality paper if printed
    single conventional font e.g.

    verdana
    ariel
    times new roman

    11 or 12 point size, but headings can be larger, use bold, italic and underline
    appropriately CAPITALS CAN BE UGLY

    putting the CV together


    sweet spot middle of first page should have
    your best aspects
    get someone else to check it before you send it
    especially if English is not your mother
    tongue
    never rely on spell check e.g. hobbit
    never tell lies
    everything on the CV must be true
    not everything that is true must be on the
    CV
    blow your own trumpet but no hyperbole

    some signs of a bad CV


    more than 2 pages long, poorly word processed
    or printed, section breaks over page
    gaps in chronology
    spelling or grammar mistakes
    irrelevant, trivial details
    gimmicky fonts
    quirky presentation

    some employers pet hates

    typos
    inappropriate e-mail addresses
    no section on key skills
    more than two pages
    decorative paper
    with a photo

    61%
    35%
    30%
    22%
    20%
    13%

    personal statements?

    I have a real passion for learning and I approach all tasks with
    great enthusiasm. I am a responsible and reliable student who
    is willing to work hard in order to develop my career.
    actual statement from a student with 72% overall

    I have a real passion for learning (obvious you got a


    first) and I approach all tasks with great enthusiasm (where
    is the proof?). I am a responsible and reliable student
    (repeated what you just said in the first sentence) who
    is willing to work hard in order to develop my career (can you
    imagine someone saying that they are not willing to
    work hard to develop their career?).

    use the not test


    I am a hardworking and honest individual and
    an excellent timekeeper
    I dont work hard, Im not particularly honest
    and I am a poor timekeeper
    but when might these three attributes be worth
    putting down?

    sending CVs to employers


    use original print hard copies not photocopies
    electronically use a PDF, not Word document
    send/e-mail to named individual with cover
    letter

    cover letters
    grab the readers attention and interest
    highlight the relevant skills and experience in
    your CV
    show you have done your research on the
    job/activity and employer
    demonstrate why you want to work for that
    employer
    Could be applying for a vacancy or speculative

    writing the cover letter


    no more than of a page of A4
    addressed to a named individual
    specific for particular application even with a
    template
    written in formal business style
    well laid out, clear and easy to follow
    perfect spelling and grammar
    good quality paper

    cover letters are formal


    written English is not spoken English written down
    some words to avoid

    dont, cant, Id, Dad, shouldnt, its (which only means it is!)

    dont start sentences with and, but


    typed, not handwritten but signed by hand
    short sentences each with a verb, subject and object
    not bullet points

    typical structure of cover letter


    Your address and the address of the company
    subject e.g. professional placement/ job title
    para 1 introduce yourself, what you are applying for,
    where you saw it
    para 2 why do you want to work in this job/activity?
    para 3 why do you want to work for this company?
    para 4 why you are a suitable candidate, what relevant
    skills and experience you bring
    positive ending
    your signature
    your name

    can I improve what goes into my CV?


    during the semester

    get actively involved with clubs/societies


    develop an existing interest or take up new interests
    go to evening classes to learn something useful
    volunteer

    use the long vacation this summer

    get a paid job


    do an internship
    volunteering at home or overseas
    major project
    learn to drive
    travel somewhere interesting, do something useful there

    dont just sit back, your competitors are on the case already

    resources summer activities

    http://www.exeter.ac.uk/careers/research/sector/vacation
    workandworkexperience
    http://www.careers.cam.ac.uk/sectors/Vacwork/index.asp

    http://www.prospects.ac.uk/work_experience_vacation_
    work.htm
    http://www.lboro.ac.uk/service/careers/experience/place
    ments/vacation-work.html

    what should I do now to prepare for


    applying for a placement?
    fill out the PTY form and return to Steph Evans
    get your CV written and send it to John
    Rayman

    useful resources

    www.surrey.ac.uk/careers/current/leaflets/index.htm
    www.surrey.ac.uk/careers/current/work/cv/index.htm
    www.prospects.ac.uk/cvs_and_cover_letters.htm
    www3.surrey.ac.uk/destinations/units/unit-cv005.shtml
    http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/job-huntingtools-downloads

    applying for jobs abroad:


    www.surrey.ac.uk/careers/current/work/abroad/index.ht
    m

    more useful resources

    http://www.milkround.com
    www.work-placement.co.uk
    www.gradjobs.co.uk
    www.studentemploymentservices.co.uk
    www.RateMyPlacement.co.uk
    http://www.gradcracker.com/
    http://www.allaboutcareers.com/jobs
    www.Wikijob.co.uk
    www.fledglings.net

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