CV writing

Eng.P.A Gamini De Alwis

B.Sc(Eng), C.Eng., F.I.E.(SL),MPRI, MEIZ, MAES
How to Write a Great CV
with No Work Experience
but with a degree
 Your CV should create the right
impression and help yours get to
the top of the pile with the result
that you are much more likely to
be called for an interview.
 How to Write a Great CV…..

• What Makes a Good CV Stand Out?

• What personal details should be on
your CV?
• Key Skills that all CVs Need
• Other relevant details
 Out line of a CV – 01 : CV format

• Most CVs begin with your personal details and

then progress to an opening personal
statement.
 What personal details should be on my CV?
Your name
Write your name in a larger font than the rest of your CV to make it
stand out.
Marital status and family
You don't have to include details about your marital status or
information about whether you have a family or not. However, you
can if you think your status will make your application become more
attractive. For example, being single might make unsociable working
hours more feasible, whereas having a family may mean you're in a
more stable situation and likely to be loyal to the company.

Date of birth
You may include your birth date if you wish.. If you're having issues
getting interviews, try removing it from your CV to see if it has a
positive impact.
 
 What personal details should be on my CV?

Nationality
With the exception of government positions, which may require this
information, your nationality should be omitted.

Contact details
Don't include your work phone number or email address. Use your own
personal email address or create a new account specifically for your job
search.

Be sure to add the phone number that will make it easier for potential
recruiters or agencies to contact you, most likely your mobile phone.
And double check you've got the right number on there!

If you're worried about getting calls while you're at work, you may wish
to put some times on there when it's better for you to be contacted.
 
 Other information

• If the job you're after requires you to drive

then you will probably want to assure them
about your clean driving license.
• If you are going for a web design role, you may
want to direct them to a website you have
created.
• Whatever you decide to include, just be sure it
helps, not hinders your application.
 your educational background -02
• add a section about your educational
background. This should include the most
relevant professional courses and training you
have been on and only then move on to
university, college and school qualifications.
Degrees are a great source of transferable skills.

Play up your degree

 Degree holder …….
• you can write about your research abilities.
• If you gave presentations as part of your
degree, you can claim to have experience
pitching.
• Your project details and what you have gained
from the project activities.
• About your Industrial training
 Degree holder …….
• You could also mention skills gained through
group project work,
• independent organization and planning,
• and any specific knowledge relevant to the
role.
Skills and abilities -03
 Degree holder …….
• List skills rather than roles
• Don’t forget “obvious” skills
• Treat your extra-curricular activities like jobs
Most key skills fall into one of three categories:
• Transferable skills. These are skills which have
been acquired in one setting but can be used in
many different sorts of businesses.
• Job-related skills. These skills are specific to a
certain line of employment or trade and may
require you to have received training to perform.
• Adaptive skills. These sorts of aptitudes are
sometimes less obvious and harder to quantify
because they rely on personality traits rather
than learning.
 Transferable skills

• Everyone has transferable skills even if they don't recognize

them as such. Sometimes, your current employer won't
make it obvious that the skills you have acquired with them
are transferable because they don't necessarily want you to
realize how employable you are elsewhere.
.
• Think of them as aptitudes that can function equally well in
multiple industrial sectors. Mention them in your CV as you
have picked them up throughout your employment history
 Typical transferable skills you may already possess are:

• Reading or writing related skills. This means

being able to digest written information and
present it in written form as well.
• Computer skills. If you have aptitude with
computers and common office programmes
then consider this to be a transferable skill.
• Management experience. If you have managed
people before then you could transfer this
experience to benefit another type of employer.
 transferable skills
• Commercial skills. People who can negotiate and
handle figures like turnover and gross profit often
possess the sort of business acumen which is
sought after in many organizations.
• Deadline success. Being able to work to
deadlines is something that doesn't happen in all
jobs, but if you are used to it then this is a key
transferable skill desired in many companies
 Job-related key skills

• More specific than transferable skills, job-related ones can

get you work with another employer who needs them.
Despite this, transferable skills won't necessarily be of use
to employers outside of the sector you already work in.
Examples of job-related skills are:
• Mechanical engineering. Being able to work and repair
engines is a job-related skill. It may mean you can transfer
into related sectors but probably only within similar roles
unless you have other transferable skills to offer.
 job-related skills
• Although there are nearly as many job-related skills as
there are jobs, try not to think of them as restricting what
you can do. If you do feel trapped by your job-related
skills and have trouble breaking out into new areas of
work, then acquire some new ones by enrolling on a
training course.
• Remember that many job-related skills imply transferable
ones so they are always worth mentioning. It is best to
add any courses or qualifications that are pertinent to
your job-related skills in education section of your CV.
 Adaptive skills
• Ideal skills for CV personal statements or even
a cover letter, adaptive skills can also be listed
in your work experience if you prefer. Think
about the sort of personality you have when
discussing your adaptive skills. Some of the
key ones to look out for include:
 Adaptive skills
• Team working. Not everyone is a team player, but
team working is an important adaptive skill that
many employers are looking for.
• Loyalty. Been in your job for a long time and seen it
through thick and thin? This is an adaptive skill to
mention on your CV.
• Positivity. If you are the sort of person who sees the
glass as half full and not half empty, then this shows
your positivity. Employers tend to favour positive
people so mention this as an adaptive skill.
 Adaptive skills
• Creativity. Some jobs cry out for creative people. If you
paint, play music or are even good at telling jokes, then
this may show off your creative skills.
• Adaptability. Being flexible is something we all need in
the workplace from time to time, but some are better at it
than others so don't discount your adaptability as a skill.
• Tenacity. Taking ownership of problems and seeing them
through is a key skill in many organisations. If you can
demonstrate this from your past career, then include it on
your CV.
 Adaptive skills
• Although adaptive skills may seem like the least
important ones to mention because they are not
specific to the job you are applying for, they can
often mark you out from another candidate.
Don't overlook the importance of your blend of
adaptive skills which is as unique as you are.
• Be proud of the skills that you have and see
each and every one as a way to progress in your
career.
Once you have completed the writing of your
CV,
• it is time to look at the ways in which you
might present it. To make your CV stand out,
consider the following:
• The layout
• The typeface
• The font size
• The most suitable CV format for the particular
post/job
 Few points to keep in your mind..

• Stand out. Your CV should demonstrate your

unique blend of skills and experience. Make
sure you include examples of commercial
success, problem resolution or management
achievements.
 Few points to keep in your mind..

• Keep it simple. Your choice of font and layout

are key to making sure a would-be employer
carries on reading your CV. Simple formats
work best.
 Few points to keep in your mind..

• Don‘t be generic. Work out who or which

industry sector your CV is destined for and
tailor it to highlight the right aspects of your
experience for them.
 Few points to keep in your mind..

• Check and check again. Avoid errors at all

costs. This means spelling mistakes, dates
which conflict with one another and incorrect
email address and phone number. Update.
Firing off an old CV will look unprofessional,
so make sure that yours is regularly updated
to meet the requirements of any jobs you see
advertised.
Few points to keep in your mind..
• Use a template.
Few points to keep in your mind..
• Identify the right personal details to include.
Learn what to add and what to leave out, such
as whether to include your marital status or
nickname.
Few points to keep in your mind..
• Add a personal statement. Find out what one
is and how it can be used to focus a potential
employer's attention on your best attributes.
Few points to keep in your mind..
• Know what to include in the skill section.
Discover how to bring your skills to the fore
and make sure you understand the difference
between transferable, job-related and
adaptive skills.
Few points to keep in your mind..
• . Keep it up to date. Find out the best ways of
keeping your CV up to date so that it is ready
to go at a moment's notice.
 After having your experience …..
• Mention former jobs. Brush up on the best
ways to present former or current
employment in a way that shows you in the
best light.
After having your experience …..
• Don’t forget your qualifications. Learn what
to include, how to select relevant
qualifications for a particular CV and why not
listing everything exhaustively is crucial.
 After having experience …..
• Tailor it to the application. Gain skills with
writing a CV that is adapted to an individual
employer or a particular sector of industry to
get the best results
 After having experience …..
• Add some personality
 After having experience …..
• Illustrate your direction in the professional
field and
• your personal goal.
 Conclusion
• A good way of bringing a CV to a conclusion is
to list a few personal interests and hobbies.
• Especially sports activities
• Don’t be exhaustive here. A few bullet points
are enough to give an indication of your
personality.
• Two referees with their contact details and
profession/ post
All the best!