CVs & Covering Letters for

Part-Time, Temporary &

Volunteer Work

Karen Auld - Job Shop Manager

Placement & Careers Centre

Sue Harrison

StudentGems

During this workshop….

• CV design and content

• CV examples

• Covering letters

• Where to look for part-time, vacation work and volunteering opportunities

• The recruitment cycle

• Further information and help

Part 1…

CV’s

CVs – some observations…

• CVs aren't read - they are scanned

• The majority are rejected and those who meet the entry requirements & show care and motivation are short listed

• There are no hard and fast rules - just guidelines

• No sample will meet your needs exactly. Use ideas from several different CVs

• No 2 CVs should ever look exactly the same

• Target your CV to what you are applying for – this may mean having several different versions

• Expect conflicting advice – decide what

makes sense for you

• The market is competitive – put in the effort to get real results.

The basic sections of a CV…

Personal details

Profile

Education & training

Employment

Name, address, email, telephone number

Optional. Try not to sound clichéd,

arrogant or vague.

Provide a summary of your qualifications

Include part & full-time, temporary &

voluntary work & placements, including

family jobs.

Golden rules…

• Length

• Paper

• Fonts

• Effects, graphics & templates

Usually 2 pages

Good quality white or cream

Keep fonts simple and consistent, usually size 12

Exercise caution. Avoid excessive

underline, bold, capitals and colour.

Some templates make all CVs look the same.

Specific to you….

• Profile

• Content of degree modules

• Skills gained need to be appropriate

• Layout

• Volunteer jobs, work experience

Getting it wrong - how to

put an employer off… • Bad spelling, grammar and punctuation

• Untidy layout and presentation

• Gaps in dates, inconsistencies

• Vagueness, not giving enough information, lack of focus

• Giving too much or irrelevant information

• Jargon or abbreviations which may not be easy to understand

Top 5 CV lies…

• Making up jobs if you haven’t had one before!

• Exaggerating levels of responsibility in previous jobs

• Last salary – often rounded up. £7.25 per hour becomes £7.75

• Hobbies & interests – the ability to order a croissant in a boulangerie becomes “fluent French”

An employer’s point of view...

What they are expecting:

• High standards and a confident, professional, business-like approach

• Job description to have been read

• No errors/typos/grammatical mistakes

• Examples of previous work

An employer’s point of view...

What not to say:

• Text speak

• “I’ll give this a go”

• How much will you pay me?

• Hey mate, cheers!

• Dear highly esteemed most worshipful employer

An employer’s point of view...

What’s wrong with these?

HELLO DO YOU MIND GIVE ME MORE

IMFORMATION ABOUT THIS JOB? I AM

INTRESTED IN THIS JOB!

requesting further information

for the writting job, i should

easy be abke to produce the

30 articals a week required

An employer’s point of view...

Some REAL examples...

Hi mate i'm interested

i want joined you can u sand me

what u will be paid me for your

work and tell me about jobs

Hi as i want to apply for this job

because it suits me.

Part 2…

Covering Letters

Covering Letters

A business-like, word processed, formal, carefully presented, one-page letter which should:

• Say what you are applying for

• Explain why you are interested in the job and that employer

• Emphasise your suitability and highlight your strengths

• Indicate your interest in meeting the employer

What to avoid in a covering

letter • Over elaborate, flowery language used out of context:

“Additionally, my interpersonal skills can also be a major factor, in

terms of being an ideal candidate for this job. The proficiency to be

organised ….. my tendencies to be … and hence not….. My

extensive and prolonged general knowledge….. ”

• Massaging a company’s ego/telling them what they already know

“Top Shop is a renowned leader in retail with a first class reputation

in the fashion industry”

• Humour and informal/text language. Eg:

“Hi, I want to get a job with u ”

An employer’s point of view…

Letters/emails/onsite messages - what are the differences?

• How would you change the way you write each one?

• How much should you say in each?

• Attachments

• Employers are NOT perfect!

Part 3…

Where to Look

How to find part-time/

vacation work

• Check the vacancies on our website at www.brunel.ac.uk/pcc

• View the local newspapers such as the Gazette and Leader

• Contact recruitment agencies in person and on-line

• Summer work experience schemes

• Voluntary Work

• www.studentgems.com

Volunteering

• How to find volunteer work: http://brunelvolunteers.com

• Why join?

– Volunteering awards

– Resources

Where can I get more info…

• Job Hunting

• Working rights

• View part-time/vacation vacancies at www.brunel.ac.uk/pcc

• Drop in and get your CV checked

• PCC resources: www.brunel.ac.uk/pcc

• Brunel Volunteers: http://brunelvolunteers.com

•Any questions?