Getting it Right CV Preparation

Transcription

1 Getting it Right CV Preparation Nalini Moore, Senior Consultant Mahlab Recruitment (Vic) You re about to finish your degree and want to secure that perfect role! The first thing you must ensure is that your CV is up to date and promotes your experience accurately and in the best light. We ve set out some basic tips below that will set you on the right track. The Big Picture The best CV is concise and logically arranged. In the case of a CV, there s no fixed rule on length, but anything over 4-5 pages should be carefully reviewed. Don t distract the reader with detail about your long jump award from primary school or lengthy descriptions of non-legal jobs that don t communication transitionary skills a quick summary is sufficient. It s All In The Detail You need to ensure that the information about your qualifications and experience is set out close to the front of the document and in reverse chronological order (the most current at the front!). Important details that you should incorporate into your CV include: Personal Details Include your name, postal address, address (a non-work address preferably) and a contact number (a mobile number is usually the best). Education/Qualifications In reverse chronological order including month and year of admission to practice (if you have done a practical legal training course during university), course/s studied, university and years of attendance (or anticipated completion). Include your awards and achievements related to your studies in this section. Do not re-type your academic results as employers will request a copy of your official academic transcript. Employment History Again, include in reverse chronological order you should detail the firm/organisation, your title, and the month/year you started and/or ended in each role. See below from more information with regard to details of your work experience. Interests These aren t essential, but if you would like to share three or four of your key interests feel free but be discerning and remember your target audience. Referees These don t necessarily have to be included in your CV this is particularly important if you anticipate your referees to be from your current firm. An easy approach is to say Provided upon request. Firms will generally not contact your referees without your consent this is usually done when a job offer is imminent. For Example A review of your CV should give any reader the details of your experience and the specific types of work you have undertaken for each role. If you are a conveyancing clerk/paralegal you should set out the areas you have developed expertise or experience.

2 For example: Mahlab & Associates Lawyers Conveyancing Clerk/Paralegal March 2002 to Current Following a seasonal clerkship with Mahlab & Associates Lawyers (a suburban commercial firm) I was offered a role as a part time Conveyancing Clerk/Paralegal. I have gained experience in the following areas: > Conveyancing > Compulsory Acquisition > Adverse Possession > Commercial Leasing > Subdivisions > Commercial, Retail Sales/Acquisitions Under each of these bullet points you should summarise the skills you have for example: > Conveyancing managing files from inception, drafting contracts (standard), attending settlement. > Commercial Leasing experience in drafting, reviewing and negotiating leases under the Retail Leases Act 2003, drafting special conditions/ clauses relating to make good, GST, termination of lease provisions and drafting, reviewing & negotiating transfers of lease etc. Include examples of your work such as represented vendor in sale of CBD office building (put in more detail if possible, keeping in mind confidentiality restrictions) or if you have assisted in a litigation matter, Smith v Jones (1989) 23 VCL 452 and summarise the case. Similarly, if your experience has been in the commercial/corporate area you should highlight main areas initially ie: > Mergers & Acquisitions > Project Finance > Corporations Act > Corporate Re-structuring > Securities Again, summarise your particular experience and/or list the transactions you have been involved in: Project Finance experience in PPP, power, oil, gas, telecommunications and transport sectors including: > Power eg acting for a vendor and a purchaser, drafting and advising on fuel and water supply, maintenance, equipment reservation, site agreements and fuel oil power facilities. > Oil & Gas eg acting for oil companies in relation to development and operation of oil and gas projects. This approach can also be utilised for nonlegal roles ie Safeworlds Supermarket Manager September 2005 to Current Initially working in the frozen section stacking shelves and auditing stock, I was promoted to Manager of the area in December I currently manage 5 junior staff and my responsibilities include: > Here you can list your major skills and responsibilities acquired in this role (particularly those that would be helpful in the legal industry). Remember Your CV is a tool to sell yourself to prospective employers. The people reading can review hundreds each week. Therefore you need to use a clear font (arial is usually good), lots of headings, dot points and white space.

3 Curriculum Vitae John Smith Personal Details John Smith 4/56 St Kilda Road Melbourne (home) Qualifications Admitted to Practice in Victoria March 2006 Melbnash University Bachelor of Laws (Honours) & Bachelor of Commerce 1999 to 2004 South Melbourne Secondary College VCE (ENTER: 99.29) 1998 Employment History Partner & Associates Articled Clerk, now Lawyer March 2005 to Current Partner & Associates is a national mid tier firm, comprising 14 Partners and approximately 100 lawyers and support staff. The firm services a range of clients, from SME s to international corporations across a variety of sectors including retail, energy, telecommunications, health and education. Between March 2005 and March 2006 I completed an articled clerkship, rotating in three teams Corporate/Commercial, Litigation and Property. I gained the following experience: Corporate/Commercial Dfsd Sfsdaf Sdfds Sdfd Litigation Asdfd Sdfd

4 Property Dfgtdeg Following admission in March 2006 I joined the Litigation team, where I report to Peter Partner, Partner. My general responsibilities include: taking client instructions; preparing court documents including submissions, affidavits, witness statements; appearing in the Melbourne Magistrates Court, County Court, Supreme Court and Federal Magistrates Court; briefing and instructing Counsel; liaising with clients. Examples of recent matters: this was a contractual matters in relation to #, our client was a large retail company; and

5 Law Firm & Co Seasonal Clerk/Library Assistant July 2004 December 2004 In July 2004 I worked as a seasonal clerk at Law Firm & Co a top tier law firm. During this time I rotated through the Litigation and Corporate teams. Between August and December 2004 I worked as a Library Assistant on a part time basis (my last semester of university). My role involved: filing looseleaf updates; undertaking research for lawyers in relation to trade practices, intellectual property, negligence and property law. Worker Harder & Associates Seasonal Clerk December 2003 to January 2004 I worked as a seasonal clerk at this boutique construction firm between December 2003 and January Reporting to partner, Bob Builder, I gained the following experience: assisting lawyers with complex research tasks including issues relating to the domestic builders legislation, quantum liability and negligence; assisting lawyers in drafting submissions and instructing barristers. Jumpvale Legal Service Volunteer July 2003 to Current During university I commenced volunteer work with the Jumpvale Legal Service. Initially my role involved processing clients and gaining skeletal details of their legal issue. As a qualified lawyer I now take instructions and provide advice to clients in relation to family, criminal and wills/estates matters. I current work approximately one evening per week. Davie Jones Stores Retail Assistant/Manager December 1997 to January 2003 I commenced employment at Davie Jones Stores during summer holidays as a retail assistant, serving customers and helping with enquiries. In December 2001 I was promoted to Manager of the Perfume/Makeup Department. I worked part time (25 hours) during semesters and full time during holidays. Achievements Securing Davie Jones Stores as a client for Partner & Associates (2007) Golden Key Member ( ) Employee of the Year at Davie Jones Stores (2002) National Kick Boxing Champion & Olympic Representative (1999)

6 Professional Memberships Law Institute of Victoria (including the Litigation Sub Committee and Young Lawyers Editorial Committee) 2003 to Current Victorian Women Lawyers 2004 to Current Interests Kick boxing, marathon running, collecting rare wines and travelling, particularly Eastern Europe. Referees Peter Partner Partner Partners & Associates Ph: Mary Law Senior Associate Law Firm & Co Ph: For further information, please contact one of our consultants: Mahlab Recruitment NSW Mahlab Recruitment VIC