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Is your CV heading for the shredder? August 17, 2010

Posted by Helen Curry in : CVs , add a comment

Photo by Matthijs Rouw

Recruiters are having their say about common CV mistakes to avoid in The Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) LinkedIn discussion group – some useful tips here that I had to share.

Mistakes to avoid:

Stating they have four A-levels ranging from A* to C is of no help… I’ll cynically assume there were more Cs than A*s!

It is so easy to pick up the phone to find out the name of the lead recruiter – a personal approach is so much more powerful.

Creative CVs for creative jobs – inspiring examples June 17, 2010

Posted by Helen Curry in : CVs , 6comments

If you are applying for jobs and internships in very creative areas, like graphic design, fashion, illustration or film, why should your CV be cookie cutter dull? While you should still include all the standard elements – personal details, qualifications, skills, experience – you can also make an impression and show off your passion and originality by getting creative with the design.

Fancy giving it a try? I really recommend the book ‘Creative CV Guide’ by Jan Cole which we just got in at the library – it is full of essential advice about when to get creative, what you can and can’t change for different kinds of job, as well as plenty of gorgeous examples, which inspired me to find some more online examples (below).

First of all, think about:

Remember – getting a second opinion on your CV is all the more important – is the design distracting? Does your design ‘fit’ with the company you are applying to? Following it up with an email or call to get feedback might be a good move too.

And now, the gorgeous examples:

Clear, easy to print, yet still highly distinctive

Such an original concept

Love the colour

Here you can see the standard CV information is still clear and easy to read

Great character

Sweet yet practical and professional

Such attention to detail

Showcases illustration skills

Post your design online, and it might even go viral like these :)

What do you think? Are these bold approaches risky?

Power words to bring life to your applications July 1, 2009

Posted by Helen Curry in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so far

When writing a CV or application form, it is easy to hit a writer’s block on finding new ways to say “I did this… then I did this… my duties were…”, and of course you are not selling yourself by using flat lists. What you need are dynamic, positive words that prompt you to describe your achievements in a job and celebrate your initiative. Easier said than done? Try this cheat-sheet to find inspiration…

Leadership/management

Initiative

Success

Communication

Attitude

Notice a relation to key skills? The words lead you to analyse your work history and experiences for evidence of your abilities – that is what employers are looking for from your job application. I find it useful having a list like this in front of me when writing to get me thinking along these lines (and because there is something energising just reading these possibilities).

For more information on job applications, see The Careers Group helpsheet on Job applications


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Photographs on CVs – don't do it! June 9, 2009

Posted by Helen Curry in : Uncategorized , add a comment

We asked students for their questions for recruiters in marketing, advertising and PR when making a series of podcasts, and one that came up was “Should I include a photo on my CV?” The employers’ consensus was no, not unless they ask for it.

I was reminded of this when I spotted this blog post backing up the point.

In response to the question, “What should candidates omit from their CVs?” the most common gripe from recruiters was photographs (71%).

They also note that a photo can actually adversely affect the candidate’s chances.

From my own experience, I would say a photo can distract from the record of qualifications.  It is difficult to find a photo that will present the right, professional image and capture who you are – it must be selected very carefully or taken specially, and you should ask a range of people – friends, tutors and careers staff what sort of impression it gives them. It is safer to leave it to the imagination, as not having a photo is unlikely to affect your chances.

For a more personal, yet professional, touch they recommend developing a LinkedIn profile and including a link to that instead, which I agree is a good approach.

**EDIT please note that I am talking here about CVs for UK employers. Different countries have very different CV formats, so if you are applying for a job in another country, do some research to find out what their CV conventions are. Photos are a must in China, and are common practice in some European countries.


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Competency-based CVs December 9, 2008

Posted by TCG Info in : employability and skills , add a comment

CVs should be treated as a work-in-progress. Of course there’s always a line to add for a new job or recent training course, but how long has it been since you thought out the design and structure?

A traditional CV is arranged something along the lines of:

This is a clear, familiar structure that works well when you are applying for a similar job to your previous ones, or where your qualifications at the start of the CV clearly match the job requirements. But what if you are applying for something a little different?

Competency-based CVs are good for career-changers, or for jobs where your experiences and skills may be more important than your A-level grades. As many employers are now using competency-based systems to analyse applications, spelling out your competencies in your CV can make it easy for them to find the evidence that you tick all the right boxes.

So what are competencies?

Competencies might already be outlined in the job advert, defined by words like: communication, team-work, leadership, commercial awareness. They are the abilities and skills the employer wants to see.

In the competency-based CV you change the structure to be more along the lines of:

In the personal statement you summarise your career, your strengths and interests. Then in the work experience section, instead of putting in bullet points summarising what tasks your performed in that role, you select and highlight the accomplishments, actions and responsibilities that demonstrate the required competencies.

This is just a quick introduction to competency-based CVs; if you want to know more, you could research it using a book like  Competency-Based Resumes which we hold in our library, or perhaps discuss it with a careers adviser. Competency-based CVs are not necessarily the best choice for all people and all roles, so don’t assume that this is that latest thing and you must switch. Consider first whether your strengths are in your educational qualifications, or in your work experience. The key point to take away is that CV structures are not necessarily fixed, you can re-arrange the structure - always tailor it to the job and tailor it to you.

For more general advice on CVs, check out our leaflets, available for free download:

Or you might be interested in our booklet How to Write a CV, which is available from our online bookshop.


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Scientific proof November 27, 2008

Posted by TCG Info in : Medicine and Healthcare , add a comment

2008 university application figures showed an increase in interest in many science subjects according to the latest edition (Nov 2008) of the publication What Do Graduates Do?  Apparently it seems that six months after graduation, the highest employment rate among scientists was for sports science graduates.

If you’ve just graduated with a degree or postgraduate qualification in science then you may well have already explored the vast range of jobs that are available in the sector. The latest New Scientist Graduate Special – Destination Where? includes a look at the UK’s top science hotspots as well as advice on writing your CV. On the topic of CVs, The physicist’s guide to writing your CV was one of a series of little booklets we received from the Institute of Physics. It’s one of a set of guides that are unique as they have been written to take into account the skills and abilities that someone with a physics training or background has. Other titles in the series include The physicist’s guide to assessment centres and The physicist’s guide to choosing a PhD.  We’ve also had some of the handbooks for the 2009 round of recruitment for Clinical Scientists Opportunities in the NHS.

An interesting article in last Sunday’s Observer highlighted the fact that The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) has revealed that formal applications for science teaching posts have reached its highest level for 13 years. Given the current financial crisis the rise is expected to continue next year as many of these applicants are coming from the City. Salaries start at around £24,000 for science teachers.Disillusioned bankers quit the City for the rewards of teaching science.


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