Curriculum Vitaeand

Covering letterLecture

Rajan ThapaAcademic Year: 2014/15

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT WRITING A GOOD CURRICULUM VITAE OR RESUME IS IMPORTANT?

Curriculum Vitae Vs Resume A resume is ideally a summary of one's education, skills and employment when applying for a job.

Resume suits experienced people when applying for specific positions where certain specific skills are more important than education

Curriculum Vitae is more detailed than a resume, generally 2 to 3 pages, or even longer as per the requirement.

C.V. would be the preferred option for fresh graduates or people looking for a career change.

Curriculum Vitae▪Latin word translated as “The way your life has run”

Why use a CV?▪A personal marketing platform▪Is used to get a foot in the door▪Outlines your skills and experience▪Opportunity to present yourself ▪Impresses your prospective employers

Common Formats -The Chronological CV This is a traditional CV format Your education, work experience, achievements and interests in reverse chronological order. The latest qualification comes first

Common Formats -The Skills Based CV concentrate on skills and responsibilities or experiences useful when you do not have direct experience of the role or sector you’re applying for Usually meant for experienced persons

Common Formats –The Academic CV used by people involved in academic research, such as PhD students and lecturers applying for research-related roles focus on: Publications your research activities funding awarded.

longer than other types of CVs, no more than four pages is often recommended

Layout and Presentation A maximum of two sides of A4 Consistent Font type and size Use bullet points to break up the text Be concise, avoiding long sentences and paragraphs Use positive language and headings e.g. successfully, demonstrated, developed, “skills gained”, “achievements” Check and double-check spelling and grammar Keep language and layout simple avoiding graphics and tables Avoid having large areas of empty white space

Order of Contents in CV Name and address

Contact Details

Career Objectives

Educational Qualification

Awards (if you have any)

Skill sets and personal attributes

Experiences / employment history

Voluntary work (if you have done any)

Extracurricular activities, interests and hobbies

References

Personal Details Name-you can use this as a heading for the overall CV Address-if you have a term time and a home address, use the one at which you want an employer to contact you. Giving two addresses might lead to confusion Email -a neutral address, e.g. rajan.thapa@gmail.com is preferable to an informal one e.g. style_cool@hotmail.com Telephone number -as with the address, it might help to avoid confusion or duplication by giving just one telephone number.

Personal Details -Not to include Age

Ethnic identity

Political affiliation

Religious preference

Marital status

Sexual orientation

Place of birth

Photographs

Height, weight, health

NOTE: There are exceptions to some of these items

Personal Profile/Career Objective/Summary

The personal profile is an optional section Summary of the main points you want an employer to know about you Brief -maximum of 3 sentences(no more than four lines) Should be relevant to person specification/ job advert Supported by examples from skills & experience from CV A statement of the type of work you’re looking for

Objective Phrase a realistic objective or leave blank: Examples: "An executive creative position where extensive marketing, writing, management, design, and technical skills are required, preferably with in Database Management“ “Desire a position in the office management, secretarial or clerical area. Prefer a position requiring responsibility and a variety of tasks”

Personal profile -Example A highly motivated BA/BSc ______ student looking for a work placement in……………. . I have strong problem-solving skills and a logical and analytical approach.

A ______ undergraduate with substantial work experience in ……………, looking for an opportunity to develop a career in …………….

Personal profile- example I am a highly motivated individual with good communication skill. I can easily adapt to different working culture with proven ability of efficiently handling jobs even under pressure. I am a quick learner and I work to the best of my ability to be a real asset to any company I work for.

Objective:

I am looking for a challenging role that would help me pursue my career in Information Technology.

Education Listed with the most recent first, including results Should be written in a reverse chronological order With percentage of marks and name of the Institution Year of passing Professional development courses, again listed with the most recent first

Education and Training -Example

Course Awarding body Year

MA Management Information System

University of Northampton 2010

B.Sc. Computer Science Kathmandu University 2006

Training course

Android application Development Online training 2011

Technical Report writing The British Council 2009

DBMS Oracle 2008

Awards Awards demonstrate your achievements to your employer Forget about any awards you received prior to 7 years Give the award details with quantifiable terms

Work experience Reverse chronological order! Include relevant experience and results Aim to describe how you performed the roles more than what you did e.g. Rather than “Served customers and dealt with enquiries” you can write “Provided a responsive and friendly service to customers using good product knowledge and problem solving skills”.

Work experience -Example2009–till date Quality Assurance Technician Created computer applications with the help of a programmer to monitor the factory environment. Analysed the quality assurance system and made recommendations for improvements. Examined equipment in the factory to check that it met the company standards. Investigated new equipment installed in the factory to make sure that it would comply with quality assurance procedures

Employment History (In case of Part Time)

Part time jobs –tuition, data entry, etc., You may have taken a position during your holidays State your employer, position held, responsibilities, Duration and Key achievements For e.g. : Sales Assistant, Big Mart, June 2005 to April 2008 My role as a part time sales assistant, I am responsible for assisting customer with their enquiries and processing sale transactions. Key achievements: Demonstrated excellent customer service Communicated effectively with customers to ensure that their needs were met.

Voluntary Work Some activities that you may have done on a voluntary basis This area will help you to tell an employer how you have learnt new skills, worked with a team and learnt responsibilities for your assigned work.

For e.g., Mobilizing fund for BhoteKoshi Victims (2014) Organizing educational tours (2010) Volunteered library work at University(2009-10) Volunteered in Software Freedom Day (2007,08,09)

Work Experience –Good & Bad Examples As a sales assistant, I had to serve customers, handle

cash, maintain stock levels and look after the store in the absence of the manager. As a sales assistant, I was responsible for advising customers, problem-solving, organization and stock control. This involved handling large amounts of cash and ensuring that a correct balance was achieved. I was regularly entrusted with sole responsibility for the shop in the absence of the manager.

Words describing responsibilities:

Responsible for...:

Planning Implementing Reviewing Negotiating Managing Coordinating Evaluating Directing

Facilitating Inspecting Training Producing Providing Informing Executing Developing

Projects Important to include these somewhere in your CV–education, skills, work experience or as a separate section Include links to show examples of your work Draw from your degree (especially your final project); any projects you’ve done for the Students’ Union or a student society; related things you’ve done in your own time either for your own interest or helping out friends etc.

Skills This section tells the employer what skills you have that fit the position they are looking for.

Try to describe the skill you have and how you have demonstrated it.

Communication Skills Technical Skills

Providing Evidence for Skills Strong communication skills both oral and written, gained from delivering concise and clear presentations and producing well-researched and detailed assignments whilst at university.

Demonstrated effective oral communication skills working at Debenhams, providing a responsive and polite service, ensuring high standards of customer satisfaction.

Defining Technical Skills Web design (creative or technical or both?) Adobe Production Suite Internet technology Social networks . . .Followed by evidence! Give examples of projects where you’ve applied skills/knowledge and some specific examples of types of software or tools.“To say things like ‘I get on well with people’ is meaningless unless it is backed up by example” -Selector for a retail bank

Words describing personal abilities

Creative Efficient Proficient Systematic Hard worker Prefer to act Well versed in...

Well versed in... Willing to take initiative Enjoy challenging Experience Persistence to work under pressure First-hand knowledge of...Having a desire to learn..

Emphasizing Results and Deliverables Soft skill: Good communicator

Soft skill with result: Trained all office support staff and end users during transition to new company wide operating system, helping employees take full advantage of information resources. Soft skill: Skilful Problem Solver Soft skill with result: Identified and resolved numerous potential security breaches and reconfigured network topology to consist of two separate collision domains with a class 4-high end firewall.

Interests and Activities In this section you can demonstrate your strengths to an employer If you have a limited experiences, this is a valuable tool for demonstrating your abilities to an employer. Before deciding to include a section of this type, think about what it might add to your CV –what are you trying to get across? Unless you can relate your interests to the skills being sought, they may not be worth including. Avoid a simple list.

References Often used only in the final stages of selection Include the names, organizations and contact numbers of people who can act as referees for you. Provide the contact details of your referees (name, address, job title, telephone no and email address) rather than a “standard” reference letter Usual to provide 2 referees–1 academic and the other preferably work related Out of courtesy, always check with referees first

DONT’S Avoid folding your CV Don’t include irrelevant information –previous Salary, un-proofed awards, prizes and publications etc. Say what you did, not what you think Personal information –religion, health etc. Avoid unusual font size, stylish letters, graphics, underlining and unusual spacing etc. Avoid repeating information

DONT’S

NOTE:

Some employers may spend as little as 45 seconds skimming a résumé before branding it “not of interest”, “maybe” or “of interest”. -BI Business School

How good does your CV look? Does it look professional? Are all the sections and the headings consistently laid out? Are all the important points clear and properly emphasised? Have you avoided jargon and slang? Did you spell check it? Have you used accepted business type font and font size?

Some CV Mistakes, Bloopers and Blunders Reason for leaving last job: maturity leave.

Failed Microsoft exam with relatively high grades

Skills: “Am a perfectionist and rarely if if ever forget details”

Skills: “I can type without looking at thekeyboard.”

Languages: “Speak English and Spinach.”

Reason for leaving: “I thought the world was coming to an end.”

“I have guts, drive, ambition and heart, which is probably more than a lot of the drones that you have working for you.”

Salary requirements: “The higher the better.”

So Look Out For: Spelling Mistakes “Dear Sir or madman” Typos “Managing Steak-holders” Lack of Specifics “Worked with Employees” Leaving out Important information “No contact detail” Too much texts, pictures, no bullet points, no paragraphs Incorrect contact information Layout mistakes: EVERYTHING IN CAPS Lies

The Covering letter Generally while sending a CV to an employer, a covering letter should accompany it (unless stated not to!)

The covering letter must be tailored to each job opportunity and individual company

The purpose of the covering letter is to highlight the key reasons why the employer should be interested in you.

It therefore needs to be persuasive and convey your motivation and enthusiasm for the role concerned

https://intranet.londonmet.ac.uk/studentservices/careers/marketing-yourself/cover-letters.cfm

COVER LETTER The covering letter must be tailored to each job opportunity and individual company

The covering letter is a chance to explain why they (the candidate) are interested in the role concerned and how they are suitable for it

However, no new factual information should be referred to in the covering letter which is not also mentioned in the CV.

Tell specifically how you learned about the position or the organization

Convince the reader to look at your resume

Opening Sentence Why are you writing?

Responsive -name specific job vacancy and where advertised

Speculative –state broad type of work you are interested in, on what basis (e.g. work placement, full time) and when you are available

Who are you?

A ……… undergraduate looking to develop work experience in …....

Opening sentence example Why are you writing: As per the recent vacancy announcement made by the company, I

would like to apply for the position of Finance and Administration Assistant.

Who are you: I am an ACCA Affiliate (Association of Chartered Certified

Accountants) graduated from London in February 2009 & a degree holder of Bsc. Hons. in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University, UK.

Middle paragraphs Why that organization and why that job/industry?-demonstrate knowledge of and interest in both-make links through your degree subject if appropriate Why you?-why should they consider you?-what key skills/strengths can you offer?-support your statements/assertions with evidence

Middle paragraph- example I am currently working in a leading audit firm in Nepal and have experience of working in an International Company. I have knowledge of all the basic accounting skills as well as of International Accounting Standards, local government rules and regulations and International Financial Reporting Standards. I have experience of dealing with large number of people and meeting deadlines.

I am hard working, highly motivated and work towards achieving goals. I have good inter-personal skills and have an experience of communicating with people belonging to different backgrounds. It would be a great honour for me to be able to work in XYZ co. which contributes greatly towards the betterment of the society.

Closing paragraph Polite ending –convey interest and enthusiasm in the role

May be indicate any times available/not available for interview.

For speculative approaches, say that you will follow up your letter with a telephone call within a certain period

If the employer hasn't said "no phone calls,“, Instead of saying "I look forward to hearing from you." it's better to take the initiative to follow-up, saying something like, "I will contact you in the next two weeks to see if you require any additional information regarding my qualifications."

Closing paragraph example I am confident that I have the skills required by your organisation and will be able to perform all the duties required by my position.

I am available for an interview at any time convenient for you.

I would like to thank you for allowing me to apply and looking forward to meeting you.

Covering Letter The cover letter reflects your communication skills and to some extent your personality1. Name and address -Left side top Date and Place-Right side top2. Head the Letter -Subject and Reference3. The middle paragraph –Brief description of your education and experiences4. Closing -The closing in which you propose step for further action.

Sample

Dear Sir or Madam=Yours faithfully

Dear Ms Johnson=Yours sincerely

How should I present my covering letter? Maximum 1 side of A4, word processed Consistent font size and type (and consistent with your CV) Send to a named person where possible Correct spelling and grammar E-mailing –send the letter as an attachment with your CV

Portfolio Very important for multimedia and computer animation experts

You can-Create a CD/DVD of your work and/or-Create a website which shows some of your work and provide a hyperlink from your CV

You need a good CV to get your “foot in the door‟. . . But you also need to get start to construct a portfolio of your best work, so that when the employer says; “Show me!” -You Can!

Remember! Each job is different and each employer will be looking for different things. You need to find out what these are and emphasize the relevant parts of your CV. This will obviously take more of your time but can make all the difference.-Anand Patel, Resourcing Support Manager, Tube Lines.

THANK YOU

Even with the grammar mistake,

Wilbur found a position. It just wasn’t the one he

wanted!!!