At the Careers Information Day, it will be possible to visit CV Doctors.
The advisers all cover mainstream careers such as business, finance, public sector, jobs using languages and creative areas. To book a session, simply sign-up at the CID reception desk on the day - don't forget to bring your CV with you!
If you're writing your CV at the moment, the CV Doctors have the following advice:
TEN STEPS TO A TOP CV
It's quality not quantity of applications that counts. Following these steps to get your CV right will be time well spent.
- Identify the skills needed for the job. A crucial first step as recruiters assess and often actually score your application against these criteria. A lot of recruitment literature states quite clearly what is required; where it doesn't, read the job description and careers literature about the area of work to identify the tasks involved and the skills and personality that would suit the job.
- Brainstorm all your experience. This includes casual jobs, voluntary work, work experience, education and interests - a good CV draws on all aspects of your life. Talk to friends and colleagues about what you do well - you might take for granted the skills that come naturally.
- Select your best experience in relation to the job (keeping your brainstorm list to help with other applications).
What you choose will depend on your own background but try to include plenty of recent examples and get a balance between your academic, work and extra-curricular experience.
Develop your skill stories - these provide hard evidence that you fit the job requirements. Be specific. For example, don't say, "Law Society membership gave me excellent communication skills" but, "As a member of the Law Society I regularly take part in moots and debates. This has taught me to present arguments persuasively, think on my feet and anticipate opposing views." - Identify your problem areas and select a CV format to minimise them. Few people have perfect grades, ideal work experience and managed to climb Everest in their spare moments. The order in which you present your information, the headings you choose and the basic CV format (chronological CV or skills based) can all highlight your strengths and minimise your weaknesses (and different employers have different preferences). The permutations are too many to detail here, so use the references below and see a Careers Adviser to decide what's best for you.
- Edit. Imagine yourself as a newspaper editor and be prepared to shorten or even delete material. Being a library monitor in the 4th form might have been riveting at the time, but don't let it muddy the water if you've done more relevant or impressive things since.
- Choose appropriate CV length. Normally 1 side or 2 (but never one and a bit). It depends on:
a) How much relevant information you have to include
b) Why you are using a CV
As a general rule, 1 side may be better for speculative applications or early in your degree for casual work/vacation placements. Academic CVs may be 3 sides to include publications, conference input and professional affiliation. - Use an attractive font and layout - easy to read, some white space, appropriate use of emphasis, i.e. avoid too much bold, underlined or in boxes. Typically recruiters spend only a minute or two on each CV in the initial sift - make it easy for them to find what they want.
- Don't tell, persuade. Remember your CV is about what you've achieved, not what you've done. It should go without saying that your CV is not the place for confessions - you don't need to put down all your exam failures, health problems, etc. You've gone a long way already if you have selected relevant experience and shown what you've gained from it. Your choice of vocabulary can make a big difference too.
Use direct and active language which reflects the job spec. without seeming hackneyed - an employer might not believe that you really have initiated everything or that your whole life has been challenging. Maybe a thesaurus can help here (see power words, below). - Choose referees with care and brief them. Applying for jobs at university, you will normally include one academic referee and another - ideally an employer or someone else who can substantiate your skills stories. Give your referees a copy of your CV (your tutor may not known about all your interests and work experience) and tell them what you are applying for so they can target their comments appropriately.
- Before you send your CV, do the arm's length test. Does it look attractive, does it tell someone who hasn't met you what they need to know, does it persuade them to invite you to interview? Try asking friends, employer contacts or your Careers Adviser what they think.
POWER WORDS - USE THESE TO MAKE YOUR CV DYNAMIC!
Created, Instructed, Negotiated, Planned, Sold, Completed, Designed, Consulted, Evaluated, Calculated, Identified, Performed, Improved, Obtained, Instructed, Counselled, Distributed, Arranged, Developed, Edited, Wrote, Analysed, Produced, Conducted, Delivered , Assisted, Increased, Trained, Supplied, Maintained, Advised, Installed, Corresponded, Audited, Co-ordinated, Researched, Implemented, Presented, Instituted, Directed, Managed, Provided, Solved, Determined, Collected, Referred, Served, Networked, Observed, Studied, Improved, Consolidated, Ordered, Invented, Diagnosed, Examined, Lectured, Processed, Reviewed, Translated, Prescribed, Charted, Represented, Promoted, Recorded, Operated, Supervised, Organised, Expanded, Devised, Prepared, Interpreted, Interviewed, Discovered, Assembled.
The end of the road - well done. Now all you need is good quality A4 paper (and matching paper for your covering letter), a laser printer and an A4 envelope to avoid folding.