Part-time jobs CV guide This style of CV should be used when applying for part-time or casual work that is not related to your course. If you re applying for graduate jobs or work experience / placement opportunities related to your course, please call in to gateway for advice. There is a lot of competition for part-time jobs, so spend time on getting your CV right and making an impact, or you won t get an interview. Golden rules your CV should highlight: Your work experience (paid or unpaid), including your responsibilities and what skills you gained Your strengths in terms of your skills and capabilities in relation to the job you are applying for How you will be an asset to the employer Your up-to-date contact details The most relevant information should be on the first page; this could be either your Employment History or your Skills Profile, depending on your background and the job you are applying for. General tips Keep your CV to a maximum of 2 pages employers don t read long CVs Align the text from the left The spelling and grammar must be correct Don t use BLOCK CAPITALS for whole words Use 1 font style throughout the CV Clearly mark your headings, by using slightly larger text or making them bold Use the correct tense Avoid over-using the same verbs Don t use abbreviations, e.g. say University of Plymouth rather than UoP Don t make claims that you can t support, or that will create unrealistic expectations of you Don t leave gaps in your history; you will be asked to explain these Don t assume an employer can detect your responsibilities or skills just from a job title or a brief description; explain it clearly to them NOTE! Don t have a standard CV for every job you apply for Each CV should be adapted to make it as relevant as possible to the job description provided If you re applying for a job where you have no previous experience, convince the employer to still consider you by emphasising your transferable skills and adaptability
CV content Use the following headings as a guide; but some of the optional ones may not all be applicable to you so don t worry if you don t include them. Contact Details What IS needed: What is NOT needed: 1. Your full name 1. Your date of birth 2. Your term-time address 2. Marital status or number of dependants 3. Term-time telephone numbers 3. Family details 4. A sensible email address 4. Height/weight/other physical characteristics 5. Health status 6. Images, photographs or coloured text 7. A comical or offensive email address Personal Profile (optional) A brief statement to describe the type of person you are and what you can contribute to the working environment. Do make it specific and personal to you, e.g. A Travel and Tourism student with over 12 months administrative and customer service experience, and the ability to work calmly under pressure. Don t use general statements that don t mean anything and could apply to anyone, e.g. A hard worker with good communication skills Don t focus on your personal interests or what s in it for you, e.g. I m looking for a position where I can develop my skills and gain experience Employment History Don t make the mistake of being brief or underselling yourself. Take time to think through your previous jobs; what skills did you gain, what successes did you have, what responsibilities were you given? Make sure you sell your whole range of skills but don t exaggerate. If you have done this job before, give detailed evidence. If not, explain what skills or experience you have that can be applied in this role. Show your most recent employment first then work backwards. Don t give extensive details about experience that isn t relevant Don t give complete employer addresses or contact numbers Don t explain why you left a job you can do this at interview If you have limited or no previous work experience, think about other things you have done which will have provided you with valuable transferable skills, such as voluntary/charity work, school or university experiences, responsibilities such as team captain, course rep, school prefect etc. (Consider using the Skills Profile section for this information.)
CV content (continued) Voluntary Work (optional) This type of work can be just as useful as paid employment; it s another way of convincing the employer that you will be a valuable asset. The fact that you have been prepared to work without being paid also indicates that you will be committed and reliable. Skills Profile This is your chance to list any skills you have that will market you as an employee. They are often classed as transferable skills, as they can be adapted to any working environment. Remember they don t need to be skills developed through paid employment; you may have gained them through: Your university course group work, projects, presentations, working to deadlines etc School studies Hobbies / interests Voluntary or unpaid work Life experiences travelling, caring for family members etc Remember to back up the skills you are claiming to have with evidence of how you have gained them or where you have used them. Additional Skills (optional) This section can be useful for such skills as IT (name the packages/programmes), languages (be honest about your level), drivers licence, etc. Education History and Academic Qualifications For the Education History, work in reverse date order starting with: Your university details (name of University, month & year you started, anticipated finish date, course title, very basic details of course/modules undertaken) Same details for any previous universities/colleges attended, but include Secondary school details For the Academic Qualifications, again start with the most recent, and include the date (year only) and the grade in brackets after each subject. Additional Qualifications/Certificates/Achievements (optional according to relevance) This section can be useful for any other qualifications you may hold, e.g. IT qualifications, first aid, life guard certificate, musical qualifications etc. Again state the year and start with the most recent.
CV content (continued) Membership of Organisations or Professional Bodies (optional) List any memberships of clubs, societies, or professional bodies as this shows commitment, responsibility and achievement. Interests and Hobbies Devote no more than 4 to 6 lines to this section. Give details of your social interests such as sports, hobbies, groups you are involved with etc. This gives an insight into the kind of person you are away from work, and may also be relevant in some way to the job you are applying for. References At this stage of your application, all you need to say is Available on Request If you are offered the job then you can provide the employer with the full contact details of your referees. This also saves space on your CV to devote to more important information such as your skills and experience. Part-time jobs covering letter guide When possible, always include a covering letter (or email) with your CV. Use it to put your CV into context for the employer, outlining how you will fit in to their organisation. While your CV will set out the skills you have for the job, your covering letter should: Demonstrate your interest in and knowledge of the company Highlight particularly relevant parts of your CV Give any extra information that does not fit easily into your CV, e.g. availability, personal circumstances if relevant. Golden rules: Address it correctly, and to the correct person Keep it to 1 side of A4 Don t duplicate information Use the same font style as your CV If you need any more help or support with your CV and covering letter, please call in to see us in gateway and we will be happy to talk you through it.
Example CV for part time job applications (with work experience): Natalie Gateway 4 Drakes Circus Plymouth PL4 8AA Tel: 01752 543873 Mob: 07123 456789 Email: Nataliegateway@hotmail.com Personal Profile A Tourism and Hospitality Management student with over 12 months administrative and customer service experience; I am comfortable in positions of responsibility and have the ability to work calmly under pressure. I m looking for a challenging role in a retail or customer services environment. Employment History Sep 2009 - Aug 2010 Sales Assistant New Look, Anytown Worked in a busy branch and provided excellent customer service. Responsible for assisting and serving customers, operating tills and handling financial transactions in cash, debit and credit cards. Developed good communication skills and learnt to deal professionally and tactfully with members of the public. Jun - Sept 2008 Cleaner Old Cottages, Anytown Worked to tight deadlines cleaning holiday cottages to a high standard. Trained and supervised new staff. Jun 2008 Reception Assistant (2 week placement) Blue Opticians, Anytown Supported a busy reception team in handling customer enquiries both face to face and by telephone. Operated a computer booking system and was responsible for sorting and filing paperwork. Voluntary Work Nov 2009 - Present Sep 2008 - Jul 2009 Data Entry, UPSU Volunteer Office Supporting the volunteer office by updating records and typing up documents, requiring excellent attention to detail and confidentiality. Sorting and filing paperwork, and creating and maintaining a storage system. Admin Assistant, Nottingham Street Neighbourhood Society Responded to email and telephone queries, requiring understanding, diplomacy and patience to resolve the problems. Coordinated paperwork and maintained the filing system.
Skills Profile Communication; necessary when interacting with and liaising between students and teachers as a Class Representative. Teamwork; from playing for the netball team and taking an active role in the club. Numeracy; demonstrated by nomination to the role of Treasurer for the University Netball Club. Additional Skills Conducting regular meetings as Class Representative to address issues. Proficient user of Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel and PowerPoint Fluent in French Full clean driving licence Education 2009 - Present The University of Plymouth BA(Hons) Tourism and Hospitality Management (Operational management, the nature of tourism, standards and service consistency, financial/personnel management, and data management) 2007-2009 Nottingham High School A Levels; Maths (A), Travel and Tourism (B), Biology (D) AS Levels; General Studies (B), Geography (C) 2005-2007 Nottingham Comprehensive School 9 GCSEs Grades A D, including; Maths (A) and English (BB) Additional Achievements 2009-2010 Class Representative Nov 2009 First Aid (Level 1) Jul 2008 Business Awareness Course Interests Netball Cycling Swimming Reading (member of an informal book group) Visiting new places or countries whenever possible References Excellent references available on request
Example CV for part time job applications (no work experience): Natalie Gateway 4 Drakes Circus Plymouth PL4 8AA Tel: 01752 543873 Mob: 07123 456789 Email: Nataliegateway@hotmail.com Personal Profile A Tourism and Hospitality Management student with strong organisational skills; I am skilled at working closely with others in a team environment and have a flexible approach to my work. I m looking for a challenging role in a retail or customer services environment. Relevant Skills Communication Experienced at liaising between students and teachers in role as Class Representative. Have presented project work both individually and as part of a team. Teamwork Member of the university netball team, and take an active role in the running of the netball club. Worked with a team of 4 students on a project to design a holiday package for a tour group Responsibility Several of the neighbours on our street at home regularly arrange for me to house-sit when they are away, as they trust me to ensure the security and maintenance of their properties. Education 2009 - Present The University of Plymouth BA(Hons) Tourism and Hospitality Management (Operational management, the nature of tourism, standards and service consistency, financial/personnel management, and data management) 2007-2009 Nottingham High School A Levels; Maths (A), Travel and Tourism (B), Biology (D) AS Levels; General Studies (B), Geography (C) 2005-2007 Nottingham Comprehensive School 9 GCSEs Grades A D, including; Maths (A) and English (BB) Additional Achievements 2009-2010 Class Representative Jul 2008 Grade 4 award for guitar Interests Netball, cycling, swimming, playing guitar, travelling. References: Excellent references available on request