CVs and Cover letters

Lorna Dargan

Careers Adviser

Today we will:

Examine what recruiters want and what

you can offer

Identify the basic principles of CV and

cover letter writing

Review our own CVs.

Recruitment Process

What do employers want?

CAN you do the job

Do you WANT the job?

Will you FIT in?

CAN = skills and experience

www.prospects.ac.uk

What can you offer?

Brainstorm what a researcher has to offer.

Include skills, experience, knowledge and personal attributes.

Employer concerns

Lack of commercial awareness

Limited work experience

Inability to market skills

Narrow focus/overspecialised

Unrealistic expectations

Difficulty in adapting

CIHE ‘Talent Fishing: What Businesses want from Postgraduates’ - March 2010

Pitch yourself

How can you find out

more?

Job description

Company web page

Staff web pages

Press: national and trade

Networks

Make use of the informal

call!

How should you pitch to

different employers?

Target your CV

Should be designed for a specific purpose

Is an individual document

Should highlight achievements, not duties

Should persuade the reader to interview you

CV review

In groups, review the advert, and then the

CVs

How well have the candidates pitched

themselves?

Ranks the CVs in order of who you would

invite to interview.

Writing a CV

Title with your name

Personal details

Education

Employment

Skills and interests

Referees

Appropriate length

International variations

Style

Academic

Reverse chronological

Skills based

Combination

Occupational ‘norms’

Profiles

Conventions

Common Mistakes….

Spelling errors

Too much, too little information

Irrelevant details (including age)

No personality

Poor presentation

Dull vocabulary

Too general.

Review your own CVs

Basic principles

1) Relevance: research the yourself, sector, employer and job description. 2) Order: put the most important information first and give it the most

space.

3) Format: make it easy to read, normally use 2 sides A4

4) Attention to detail: check spelling and grammar, beware of cut and paste!

5) An effective covering letter.

CVs - final points

Start with a clear understanding of what the

selector is looking for

Ensure your CV is targeted and relevant

Use the best examples you’ve got

Review – ask yourself “so what?”

Ask others for feedback - first impressions.

Covering letters

Need to highlight key selling points and add value

opening paragraph - outline the purpose of the letter: who you

are, what specific job you are applying for, and where you saw the

job advertised

why you want the job - demonstrate your interest with enthusiasm

what you have to offer - refer to your CV or application form and

highlight the main evidence that your skills and experience match

the job requirements.

why you are interested in this employer/job - demonstrate you

have done your homework on them

closing paragraph - a polite and positive ending, stating when

you would be available for interview.

Persuasive applications

Experience

Demonstrated skills in…

Extensive academic/practical

background in…

Experienced in all aspects of…

Knowledge of/experienced

as/proficient in…

Provided technical assistance

to…

Success

Promoted to…

Succeeded in…

Proven track record in…

Experience involved/included…

Successful in/at…

Instrumental in…

Delivered…

Roles

Analysed/evaluated…

Established/created/designed…

Formulated…

Initiated…

Orchestrated...

Managed…

Presented…

Ability

Trained in…

Proficient in/competent at…

Initially employed to…

Expert at…

Working knowledge of…

Coordinated…

Organised…

Responsibilities

In charge of…

Supervised/delegated…

Now involved in/coordinate…

Familiar with…

Employed to/handle…

Assigned to…

Project managed…

Personal attributes

Committed to…

Confident

Enthusiastic user of…

Thorough...

Actively sought…

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/nclplus

Case Study: Dr. Andrea

Simpson

Further help

www.ncl.ac.uk/careers

www.vitae.ac.uk

www.academiccareer.manchester.ac.uk/

We’re here to help

CV checks

Application checks

Practice interviews

Mock assessment centres

Drop-in advice, Monday to Friday

Level 1 of King’s Gate: 10am to 4.30pm

lorna.dargan@ncl.ac.uk