International Students International Students. writing a cv

Transcription

1 International Students International Students writing a cv

2 INTRODUCTION What is a CV (Curriculum Vitae)? Curriculum Vitae literally means record of life. It is a personal marketing tool, presenting your qualifications, skills and attributes to employers in a way that demonstrates your suitability for the job or position. Why you need a CV It is a document you ll use to apply for advertised and non-advertised positions. You ll need one to apply for vacation or part time work as well as for graduate positions. The purpose of your CV is to get you an interview in order to get the job. Is there a perfect CV? Yes. The perfect CV is the one that opens the right doors for you in career fields that represent your personal objectives and your capabilities. A perfect CV is interesting, accurate and up to date. It is easy to read and carefully presented. Is there ONE perfect CV? No. In today s world you should develop several perfect CVs by tailoring them to the roles for which you re applying. Is there a standard CV? This leaflet will explain standard or the most commonly used types of CV and it will give you some guidelines on how to get started. However, it s important to remember that your CV is as individual as you are and you should choose a style that works for you. This leaflet, the Further Resources section at the end along with advice from your Career Adviser will enable you to achieve this. This leaflet will guide you through the process of writing a CV and includes the following sections: Content Content Examples Format Layout Style Getting Started Further Resources

3 CONTENT A CV should always include: Personal Details Full name you can use your name as a heading, especially if space is at a premium. Address (both term time and vacation if relevant with dates when you are at each location). Telephone numbers including any mobile number. address. Date of birth it is usual, but not essential, to include this. Legislation introduced in 2006 means employers cannot discriminate against applicants on the basis of age. It is not necessary to include marital status unless you wish to do so. If you are an international student and have permission to work in the UK it might be to your advantage to write No work permit required. If you require permission to work, you could indicate the Scheme enabling you to do so (e.g. Tier 1 Post Study Work) by including a paragraph on work permission (see example) or by referring to it in your covering letter. Education (see example 1) Give the name of your university, dates attended, and the title of your course. Grades are important but you should also add information about modules studied, your project work or dissertation and the skills you have developed through these aspects of your degree. For example you might refer to your ability to understand and interpret statistics and tables. This section can be tailored to the area of work you are seeking. For example, if you want to get into Human Resources, highlighting a module on Organisational Behaviour would be relevant. Give the name of your school or college, dates attended and list your qualifications. If you have a large number of GCSEs, indicate how many and list core ones such as Maths and English and others that you think are relevant to your application e.g. a language or computing etc. When listing your overseas qualifications you should indicate what educational level is equivalent in the UK. If you are not sure then you can check with UK Naric or the Overseas Qualification Development Programme You need to apply for a Statement or Letter of Comparability. Work Experience (see example 2) This is one of the most important sections of your CV. Make the most of placements, vacation or part time work. Don t omit jobs just because they sound basic or mundane the fact that you got one shows initiative. Describe the most relevant and interesting aspects of your employment but also add the skills you used or developed in this role. If using a Skills Profile (see below) be careful not to waste space by duplicating skills information. If you have a wide range of work experience, consider using different categories to draw attention to the most relevant information. Relevant work experience might also include work shadowing or voluntary work that you ve done. The examples show very different types of employment but they both draw out skills developed through the experiences.

4 Skills (see example 3) This section gives you the opportunity to highlight relevant skills. It is useful to sort the skills into different categories, for example Languages, IT Skills and Other Skills. You might want to develop a Skills Profile. This is a good approach when you want to bring together a number of different aspects which highlight how well matched you are for the job. It can also be useful when you have a non-vocational degree and want to indicate that you can match the job specification. If you want to, you can gear your CV around your skills profile. See the section headed Styles for this type of skills profile-based CV. Interests and activities (see example 4) Don t give a list, provide some evidence. If you have a mix of interests, for example sport and music, group all your sporting interests together under a sub-heading. An interest which supports your job application might add weight to your application. References You need at least two referees: one should be someone who can comment on your academic experience and performance, the other should concentrate more on character, personality and non-academic skills (perhaps a former employer or family friend). Give the title, name and full address, telephone number if possible, address and indicate the referee s status and relationship to you. Ask permission before quoting anyone as a referee. This is an opportunity for you to ensure your referee is informed about the applications you are making. Give each referee an up-to-date copy of your CV. That way they will be better able to expand on what you have said and emphasise the most relevant aspects of your character and experience. Thank referees for their time, effort and support you could need their help again. Where space is at a premium on your CV it is acceptable simply to write References available on request. A CV could also include: A Personal Profile or Career Objective (see example 5) This lets the reader know what you re about. It is optional and should only be used if it adds value to your CV. It should be kept short. It should tell something of what you re aiming for at this stage and what skills you have to offer in relation to your objective. Stating your career objective at the outset of your CV makes your job aspirations clear and may encourage the employer to read further. Awards And Achievements (see example 6) Awards for art and design, business schemes at school or college, any sporting achievement or prizes gained at university or through schemes such as Duke of Edinburgh indicate your interest outside the curriculum. Many employers are keen to be involved in the communities in which they operate and your past achievements in such activities can add to your CV. Positions Of Responsibility (see example 7) Employers are keen to know that you are able to take on the responsibilities they give you. You could be training for something or have undertaken a role a few years ago. Your CV is never finished and should be constantly updated with any new skills, experience, qualifications etc.

5 CONTENT EXAMPLES The following section contains examples of the way you might word the various parts of your CV. Example 1 Education An example from an undergraduate student s CV: Education : Loughborough University BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering, Class expected 2:1 Modules studied include: Design and Manufacture, Design of Machine Elements, CAD/CAM, Engineering Business and Communication, Business Management, Computing and Mathematics. Project work: My final-year group Total Product Design Project for Petroleum UK was to design a rapid fill car petrol tank with the aim of minimising safe filling-time and increasing garage throughput. I developed good teamwork skills on this project, acting as co-ordinator and drawing up the project plan required to complete the project successfully and on time : Coventry FE College BTEC in Engineering with seven subjects at distinction : Stratford Grammar School, Birmingham 2003: 9 GCSEs including Maths (B), English (B) An example combining a postgraduate Masters with a first degree. Here the modules from the undergraduate degree are carefully selected to support the relevance of the applicant s background for IT consultancy. The dissertation also highlights skills appropriate for that area of work : Loughborough University MSc Information Technology Modules studied include: Computing, Programming and Human Factors in Information Technology. Project: The aim of the project was to set up a database to manage planning applications, public appeals and measure the progress of applications. The system had to allow appropriate public access. Excellent analytical and communication skills were required in this project. IT Skills: Programming in Basic and C++. Knowledge of Windows applications : University of Reading BSc Human Geography, Class: 2:2 Modules studied included: IT, Statistics and Economics, Planning and Development, Geographic Information Systems, Planning Issues in Britain and Europe, and Tourism. Dissertation: The development of communications along the Liverpool Manchester Leeds link. I carried out an extensive survey contacting a wide range of organisations, gathering and analysing data and interviewing planners and local historians. It was essential to develop a project plan and have good time management because of the number of contacts involved.

6 Example 2 Work Experience Relevant work experience Summer 2009 Costume Designer Edinburgh Fringe Festival Worked within a very tight budget and developed excellent financial management skills: negotiated with fabric suppliers to obtain cost reductions Liaised closely with direction and production teams and the choreographer in developing costume design: developed good teamwork and negotiation skills Dealt with inexperienced and nervous actors with tact and diplomacy: developed good interpersonal skills Vacation work experience 2007 Present Part-time Sales Assistant Marks and Spencer, Leeds Serving customers and dealing with customer enquiries and complaints: developed good communication and interpersonal skills Responsible for till operation and cashing up at the end of the day Monitoring and replenishment of stock: gained good organisational skills Promoting Marks and Spencer Chargecard: worked as an effective team member and helped to achieve store targets Example 3 Skills Languages: fluent in Arabic working knowledge of German IT: computer literate in a number of software packages including word, excel and Autocad Other skills: full, clean driving licence Example 4 Interests and Activities I am very interested in the workings of the Stock Exchange. I have managed a diverse portfolio which grew by over 250% between I also follow the financial press. I have been a DJ for four years and played in leading clubs around the country. I was secretary of the University Ski Club in my second year and have been involved in organising two ski-trips for 25 people.

7 Example 5 Personal Profile or Career Objective Example of a Personal Profile: An experienced project manager with excellent teamworking and communication skills and up-to-date IT knowledge acquired through a postgraduate qualification. Example of a Career Objective: An enthusiastic individual with an interest in moving into management training which will allow further development of my leadership and communication skills. Committed to working in a fast moving environment which will provide challenges. Example 6 Awards and Achievements RSA medal for design and innovation. My submission was one of five selected for a national exhibition in London. I am currently working on a further version of the design a ring pull for cans for a leading manufacturer. I was awarded Volunteer of the Year by my local community centre in my final year at school for my contribution to promoting a recycling scheme. Example 7 Positions of Responsibility I was the Student Representative on the Staff/Student Liaison Committee at university for two years. This involved presenting the views of other students to the staff members in a fair, positive and clear manner. I developed good negotiating skills and was able to influence the future planning of dissertation timetables. I am training for a summer mountain leader qualification. I lead groups of differing sizes in unpredictable conditions. This has taught me to motivate a team physically and mentally and make decisions in situations where safety might be compromised. I started a school rock band. This involved booking rooms for rehearsals, ensuring attendance and organising a series of local concerts for the Children s Society. Finally for this section, a key point to note for the content of your CV is to use specific and quantifiable evidence wherever possible. For example, In my role as Tour Guide for the North Yorkshire Tourist Board, I was active in running seminars, talks and guided tours. I was one of 4 guides dealing with 2000 visitors annually. This example paints a picture to the reader of the types of activity undertaken ( seminars etc) and also the scale ( one of 4 guides dealing with 2000 visitors annually ).

8 FORMAT Be consistent in layout and presentation. Be clear, using bullet points where it helps with clarity. Don t mix your styles. If you use I had responsibility for continue to write in a similar manner. If you use the impersonal Had responsibility for likewise use the same style throughout. Check your spelling, punctuation and grammar. Allocate space in relation to the importance of the information for that particular application. Explain abbreviations and acronyms e.g. ISA, AIESEC. Your CV may need a change of emphasis for each employer so think about tailoring it. Fill the prime selling space with the hottest material i.e. that which is most interesting, relevant and important to the role. The most prestigious spot is on the front page, just above half way down. Another good spot is the top of the second page. Put your headings in the order that sells you best. For example, if your work experience is more impressive than your qualifications, then put that first. LAYOUT The design of the CV is down to you but think about the business of the employer. A law or finance firm will expect a business-like approach, whereas an advertising agency might respond to an original idea as an indication of your talents for creative marketing. Short, snappy CVs are fine but the majority are a maximum of 2 sides long. Use 2 separate sheets, ideally avoiding large sections of white space where you have no text. (Note: A CV for an academic post might be longer than 2 pages). Don t split sections across pages. Avoid long sentences and large paragraphs. Use font style and bold appropriately to make section headings and important points clear. Dates are necessary in a CV but they don t have to be on the left hand side. Personal information, excluding your name, can appear at the end of the CV if you prefer. STYLE Use a style that you have decided best supports your own information. Particular CV styles can help to highlight your relevant strengths depending on your experiences to date. Many people find a combination of styles effective. The two most commonly used styles are chronological and skills profile-based. Chronological This is the most familiar format, outlining your experiences in reverse chronological order typically with sections for education, work experience and interests etc. It is easy to organise and demonstrates how you have progressed over time. Skills you have used or developed are included throughout the CV.

9 Skills profile-based (sometimes called functional ). This style of CV is now preferred by many employers as it highlights your skills in a separate section. It will show you have considered the needs of prospective employers and how you might meet their requirements as well as highlighting experience that is particularly relevant. This sort of CV is good if you do not have a relevant degree discipline or work experience but where your skills gained through other routes are appropriate to the position. Example 8 below shows how this section might appear on a CV. You can choose how many skills you include but have a minimum of three and more than six is probably too many; ensure you choose skills that are relevant to the job for which you are applying. Example 8 Skills Profile Project Management Experience: As an administrator within a planning office I had overall responsibility for ensuring that projects were completed on time. I planned project meetings, drew up project plans and liaised with all participating departments to ensure that everyone was aware of the schedules involved. My MSc project requires the collecting of information from a number of operating sections within a local authority, mapping existing processes, evaluating options and making a formal presentation based upon my recommendations. Technical Knowledge: I have built up extensive knowledge of a number of different IT operating systems through my work experience and I was responsible for suggesting innovations to the IT systems. I enjoy programming and have opted to concentrate on this specialism in my present course. My membership of the Postgraduate Computer Society ensures that I keep up to date with developments. Teamworking: As a member of the team of planning technicians I introduced the practice of short weekly meetings with all the planners and technicians to help the flow of information within the teams. This ensured we all understood each other s roles and could share any research tasks and avoid duplication. My work for BTCV involves weekends spent on conservation projects. While working with a group of new volunteers in the Brecon Beacons I used my experience of previous projects to ensure the group s safety and built a good team atmosphere where everyone felt they had something to contribute. I have produced some guidelines in our handbook outlining the importance of teamwork in such ventures. There are other types of CV (listed below) and a full range of CV examples can be found on our website under the section Applications and Interviews. CV for International Students CV for Mature Students Postgraduate CV for an Academic post Postgraduate CV for a Non-Academic post

10 GETTING STARTED This booklet has given an overview of the basics of CV writing. Here are some pointers for getting started on your own CV: Start by writing everything relevant down. Don t worry about length or style at this point. Sort your information into categories such as Education, Work Experience etc. Experiment with powerful headings, for example Relevant Skills, Key Achievements, and with layout, to draw attention to the vital facts you want the reader to see at a glance. Use powerful, positive words to help you describe and maximize your achievements (see Further Resources below). Your CV should be accompanied by a covering letter. This is essential as the letter and CV together make up a package which is marketing you and the aim is to get you an interview. Information about covering letters can be found on the Careers Centre website and also in a leaflet in this series. FURTHER RESOURCES web links > Applications & Interviews > CVs > Applications & Interviews > CVs > Writing a CV > CV Examples > Applications & Interviews > CVs > Writing a CV > Further Resources for a list of positive action words, skills employers seek and some common mistakes in CV spelling, punctuation and grammar. Takeaway leaflets: Careers Centre leaflet on Covering Letters. AGCAS information booklet: Applications, CVs and Covering Letters Resources to use whilst in the Careers Centre: AGCAS video: Looking Good on Paper. Speak to the Information Adviser in the Careers Centre for access to more CV examples. When you have drafted your CV you might like to call in at the Careers Centre where a duty Careers Adviser on the Quick Advice Desk will be happy to discuss it with you. This service is also available by when you have graduated or are off campus for a long period.

11

12 Careers Centre Herbert Manzoni Building Opening Times: Monday to Thursday 9.00am 5.30pm Friday 9.00am 5.00pm (closed 12.30pm 1.30pm during vacations) September 2009