CV Preparation. First impressions of your CV

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1 CV Preparation Your CV is a marketing document and needs to persuade an employer that you have the skills, experience and qualifications they are looking for. It should be short and simple, usually 2-4 pages, to grab the reader s attention within a minute. Consistency in layout, tone and style is important as is the use of plenty of white space. As with any aspect of marketing, there is no winning template for writing a CV that is guaranteed to work in all situations. Therefore the sections you include and their order should reflect what you think the employer needs to know about you in relation to the job. For an example of content and layout see CV on page 5 of this hand-out. An online template (which can be used as a guide) is available on CareerHub and the CPIT web site under Career Centre Resources. First impressions of your CV Make sure your first page contains your name and contact details at the top of the page There is no requirement to title your CV with Curriculum Vitae. Having your name as the title is much better as it becomes an instant differentiator. It should include: Large font size - Name e.g. John Smith Tip for new immigrants & international students - if you have an English name place it in (brackets) beside your formal name e.g. Jian Chang (Joseph). Smaller font size underneath your name - Address Phone number Mobile phone number (ensure your phone has a professional voice message) address (Do not use funny or rude personal addresses. It does not create a good impression and will not get you interviews) Photographs (only if requested and head & shoulders shot only) Include ONLY if the employer has asked for details or you think it is particularly relevant: Citizenship and NZ residency (useful for those with foreign names) Ethnicity (if Maori, may include iwi affiliation) Drivers licence (only if directly relevant to the job) DON'T include: IRD number Marital status Religion Number of children, their names etc Health Assistance with polishing your CV is available from CPIT Career Centre Staff To see a Career Counsellor for an appointment phone or careers@cpit.ac.nz

2 Career Objective (Optional) A statement of your career objective: Needs to be short, succinct and specific and targets the job you are applying for States where you are now and where you see yourself heading Relevant Skills and Strengths Often the most important section of your CV tells the employer that you have the skills to do the job. Work out what types of skills and strengths the employer is looking for Provide precise details about job specific skills you can offer and examples of where you have demonstrated those skills e.g. 3 years experience in Microsoft Office creating documents and spreadsheets in busy legal office. You can use examples not only from work, but from all areas of your life e.g. study, hobbies, interests, family and social life. (See list on page 4 for examples of skills and strengths and sample CV for layout.) Educational and/or Training Qualifications Highest and most recent qualification first Qualification, date and institution Distinctions, honours or awards achieved Secondary school qualifications, if relevant and recent Can use separate heading Recent or Relevant Education (to simplify on front page) and Further Education for short courses and other training on the 2 nd or 3 rd page (See sample CV for layout) Clinical Experience (if required e.g. Nursing, Midwifery, Medical Imaging, Social Work) Reverse chronological order Name of Institute and placement ward/unit Main focus Example: BACHELOR OF NURSING - CLINICAL EXPERIENCE 2008 Christchurch Hospital - Elective Placement Oncology ward Main Focus: Care of terminally ill patients, management of cytotoxic regime, recognition and treatment of complications 2007 Nurse Maude District Nursing Association Main Focus: Holistic palliative care of patients with a variety of conditions. Management of patient controlled analgesia systems. Career Summary (Optional) A Career Summary used in a table format on the bottom front page will provide a snapshot of your employment history to an employer An example Role Company Period Researcher Executive Publications Ltd current Administration Manager Publications R Us Administrator Christchurch City Council

3 Career Record or Employment History or Relevant Employment Experience Check that any career breaks or gaps between roles are fully explained Reverse chronological order (most recent at the top) Period of employment (eg. Jun 2010 Sep 2012, or if still working, Jun 2010 current) Name of company and your position; briefly state duties and responsibilities, major achievements and accomplishments, special projects Include recent work experience under this section. If it is relevant to the job you are applying or state it is work experience in brackets after the role Keep it interesting but concise, using short phrases beginning with action words, e.g. managed, coordinated Provide a brief description of roles performed 12 years ago unless more detail would support your current application. (Check that any career breaks or gaps between roles are explained - see example CV, pg 5 for layout) Voluntary Work Summarise but provide more detail if the experience is relevant to the job: July 2008 Smiths City 2 weeks helping in office with filing, reception duties, some word processing 2005 ongoing XYZ Club: , Committee Member; 2007-ongoing, Treasurer Interests (Optional) Use to show the breadth of your interests: e.g. crafts, sports, travel, community / cultural activity be specific and provide enough detail for the employer to understand the extent of your interest If you have taken positions of responsibility within an interest area, e.g. President, Coach, Treasurer specify or list under heading Voluntary Work / Work Experience / Positions of Responsibility Referees An employer or someone in a supervisory position who can verify the quality of your work / skills Usually two referees, no more than four and can include: a CPIT staff member, a sports coach/senior club member Essential that you ask your referees if they are happy to speak on your behalf and know you well enough to discuss your work ethic Give contact details of referees: name, company & position, contact phone & or alternatively write Referees names and contact details available on request Written References are optional and if recent and outstanding attach photocopies of no more than two. Also, comments can be used from written references to highlight skills e.g. Other Optional Sections Professional Development or Courses Professional Membership Awards or Achievements Publications Other Points to Note Remember a CV is a professional document and whether you are applying online or sending a hard copy, your grammar, spelling and formatting needs to be faultless. Your front page could be all that is read in the initial scan of 8-10 seconds, therefore ensure your front page has enough relevant information to grab their attention. Choose only common fonts & styles for online applications as unusual fonts in your CV may change to a default when sent online as a result of program incompatibility. Always attach a cover letter even when applying for jobs online and even if not requested. Use the footer function to add your name and page number on all pages. Staple your CV (with references if included) - do not bind them. (if a hard copy is required) 3

4 Useful words to help you in your CV writing Leading Phrases Proven effectiveness in at Strength in as required by Specialist in Accomplished Thorough working knowledge in from X (number of) years successful experience In-depth knowledge of gained through Trained and experienced in Broad background in Sharp insight into Thorough familiarity with Personal Strengths Accurate Adaptable Approachable Articulate Bi-culturally sensitive Business-like Capable Caring Clear thinker Committed Confident Conscientious Co-operative Creative Diligent Diplomatic Discerning Disciplined Dynamic Effective Energetic Enterprising Enthusiastic Experienced Flexible Good-natured Imaginative Independent Industrious Initiative Integrity Intelligent Innovative Leader Logical Loyal Mature Methodical Meticulous Multi-cultural Organised Outgoing Perceptive Persevering Persuasive Practical Proactive Reliable Resourceful Responsible Self-confident Self-determined Self-motivated Sense of humour Sensitive Skilful Successful Supportive Talented Team spirit Thorough Trustworthy Valuable Versatile Willing Transferable Skills These are the building blocks of your occupation and allow you to build a picture of a new career from the ground up. They are transferable to any field/career that you choose, regardless of where you first picked them up, or how long you ve used them in some other field. Some of the most sought after skills are: Budget management Speaking Supervising Relationship building Writing Customer Service Organising Managing/Coordinating Interviewing Negotiating Communicating Problem Solving Transferable skills can divide into three basic families: People Information / Ideas Equipment Teaching/ Instructing Team work Coping with pressure Motivating A sound base of transferable skills enables you to move from field to field more easily. Examine the following lists of transferable skills and try to identify where your strengths are: People Skills Addressing Briefing Caring Coaching Co-ordinating Conflict resolution Consulting Contracting Who are the people groups you work with? What do you do for / with them? What are the people skills involved in this? Convincing Counselling Educating Empowering Facilitating Influencing Leading Managing Motivating Negotiating Networking Persuading Representing Reporting Supervising Teams Information / Idea Skills What type of information do you use and work with? What do you do with each information category? Analysing Compiling Conceiving Co-ordinating Creating Designing Evaluating Generating Identifying Implementing Measuring Monitoring Originating Presenting Proofing Researching Reporting Reviewing Summarising Transforming Translating Equipment Skills Assembling Building Checking Handling machines Performing detailed work Designing What types of equipment, tools and machinery do you work with? What do you do with these items? What projects have you completed? What level of competency do you have? Maintaining Manufacturing Installing Operating Driving Programming Repairing Setting up Trouble-shooting Utilising 4

5 CV Example John Smith 130 Madras Street, Christchurch 8011 (03) (home) (mobile) Career Objective Having completed my Bachelor of Applied Management majoring in marketing, I am now looking for work as a marketing assistant where I can build on my marketing skills, gain further business experience and add value to your organisation s goals. Qualifications and Education 2008 June 2010 Bachelor of Applied Management majoring in Marketing (Level 7) Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, Christchurch NCEA Level 3 (subjects: English, Maths, Economics, History, Geography) Christchurch Boys High School, Christchurch Relevant Skills and Strengths Sales and Marketing Skills Strong research and planning skills, as demonstrated by successfully creating marketing plan for Executive Publications Experience in sales roles with both business and individual customers Communication and Interpersonal Skills Teamwork Skills Effective written communication skills developed through 6 years of sales experience and study Develop excellent working relationships with people from all levels of professional, social and cultural backgrounds, skills honed through working at Burger King and as a Committee Member of the XYZ Club Worked in a four person team to create a marketing plan for Executive Publications. Took responsibility for the ecommerce strategies and editing of the document while supporting team mates with ideas and feedback. Many years as member of sport teams and currently work as a crew member at Burger King worked in a team environment during busy lunchtime shifts. Motivation and Enthusiasm Self-motivated with enthusiasm and energy for achieving career goals, as shown by choosing to study Bachelor of Applied Management while working Computing Skills High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office Word, Excel and PowerPoint through working for 3 years in office environment and studying Familiar with various accounting packages as general office user John Smith 1

6 CV Example Relevant Employment Experience Oct 2011 June 2012 Researcher (part time, unpaid, as part of final year project for CPIT) Executive Publications Ltd, Christchurch Responsibilities and Duties Worked in a team of four researching target markets and different ways to reach customers to increase sales Developed a marketing plan which included ecommerce strategies, direct marking and market research. Presented findings and made recommendations to senior management. Achievements and Distinctions: CPIT gave our team grade A- for this project The management of Executive Publications were very happy with our marketing plan and will implement it in Crew Member (part time, while studying) current Burger King, Christchurch Responsibilities and Duties Cooking and serving food Customer service Keeping the restaurant clean and tidy 2008 Assistant Account Manager (full time sales role) 2010 Mr Henry Suppliers Ltd, Christchurch Voluntary Work Responsibilities and Duties Maintaining and managing relationships with key customers Supporting key sales personnel with client base Arranging special promotional and marketing campaigns ongoing XYZ Club , Committee Member; 2007-present, Treasurer (Registered club undergoing a yearly audit) Interests Play social touch rugby Spectator of national sport (rugby, cricket) Music, particularly Jazz Referees James Webster National Sales Manager Executive Publications Ltd Phone: (03) jameswebster@epl.co.nz Susan Mae Bee Manager Burger King Ltd Phone: (03) susan@mfop.co.nz John Smith 2

7 CV Example Mary Jones 130 Madras Street, Christchurch (03) (home) (mobile) Career Objective To continue my career in a marketing and sales capacity, preferably in the retail industry with a view to further developing my skills to a management level in the next five years. Relevant Skills and Strengths Customer Service skills developed through working at Burger King for four years with ability to manage difficult customers confidently and appropriately Able to develop excellent working relationships; skills developed through working at Burger King with people from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds Teamwork; Through job and within hockey have worked in a range of team environments, as a team member but also as a captain/supervisor and as a trainer of new staff Self-motivated with enthusiasm and energy for achieving career goals, as shown by choosing to study the NZ Diploma in Business while working Computing Skills: High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office Word, Excel and PowerPoint Familiar with various accounting packages as general office user Qualifications and Education 2010 NZ Diploma in Business (Level 6) Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, Christchurch 2009 Diploma in Marketing (Level 5) Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, Christchurch 2005 Burnside High School, Christchurch 2008 NCEA Level 2 (subjects: English, Maths, Economics, P.E. and Technology) Employment Record 2008 Crew Member/Supervisor (part time while studying, full time in holidays) ongoing Burger King, Christchurch Responsibilities and Duties Cooking and serving food Customer service Keeping the restaurant clean and tidy Training new crew members Supervising up to 6 crew members Achievements Crew member of the month: May and August 2008; May and September 2010 Hosted fundraising event for Ronald McDonald house, raising $1000 Training - In-house customer service training Mary Jones 1

8 CV Example Voluntary Work 2009 Captain of Burnside Hockey Team ongoing Hockey club Committee Member and Treasurer in 2010 Interests Hockey Canterbury rep for Under 21s Water sports in particular water skiing Music including playing the guitar Referees Henry Tane-Jones Tutor, Marketing CPIT Phone: (03) Susan Mae Bee Manager Burger King Ltd Phone: (03) Mary Jones 2