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CVHow to write a
for Chemistry students
Seven
steps
to a
great
CV
Identify the skills andexperience that the employer islooking
for. They are the criteriaagainst which your CV will beassessed,
and should be listed onthe job description, website or jobadvert.
If you cannot find them,ask the recruiter.
Think of examples from yourwork, volunteering, study,interests,
travel or home life thatprove you have these jobrequirements. Try
to choose ex-amples that show you using theskills in a way which is
similarto how they would be used in therole.
Decide which sections you needin your CV, then decide on
sectiontitles and order. Refer to pages 2,3 and 4 for guidelines on
format.
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3
Incorporate your examplesinto the most relevantsection(s) of
your CV.Make sure you have providedevidence for every
jobrequirement.
Triple check ALL spelling
and grammar and asksomeone else to check this too.Many employers
will regard evenone error as anindication of poor motivationfor the
job, and reject you on thatbasis.
Run through our checklist onpage 4.
Write a covering letter toaccompany your CV,referring to
guidelines in ourCovering Letter Helpsheet.
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4
6
A CV isnt a list of everything youhave ever done; it is
amarketingdocument.
It should focus on those skills andexperiences most relevant to
yourtarget employer. Your mission isto ensure that, after a 20
secondscan, the employer can pick outevidence that you have
exactlythe skills and experience they are
looking for.
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Example job advertGuidelines on formatYour CV is yourdocument.
In the UK, there are noofficial rules on format. The example CV on
the nextpage is only one way of formatting a CV.
Whatever the format, CVs must be specific to thejob you are
applying for, like this one has beentailored to the job advert on
the right. Read the jobadvert andthe CV to give you some ideas
abouthow to write your CV to show you are are a
suitablecandidate.
If you are following an academic career path orapplying for a
job outside the UK, alternative CVformats may be more appropriate.
This may also bethe case if you are changing your career.
Call QM Careers on 0207 882 8533 to book a
place on our CV Clinic, or book a CV feedbackappointment.
The second example is more persuasive. You can achieve this
by:
Placing the skill word at the start to make it easy for the
employer to pick out after a quick scan; Allocating maximum space
to howyou applied this skill; Using Action Words (below) to convey
achievement and impact; Adding quantifiables (e.g. numbers,
timescales) to make your examples more concrete; Including a
tangible outcome (in this case a completed stock-take) or testimony
(e.g. grade,
increased responsibility or hours) to prove the impact of your
contribution.
Language Action words describe dynamic activity. Using action
words in your CV andcovering letter will help you to convey
achievement, ability and impact.Examples you could use are in the
box below. Passive phrases like I wasinvolved in and I was required
to have the opposite effect, so avoid these.
Tips for wording your examplesImagine you are a recruiter
seeking a student strong at teamwork. Below is an excerpt from the
CVs ofCandidate A and B. Who would you choose?
Candidate A: Demonstrated strong teamworking skills during
stock-taking at STL Retail.
Candidate B: Teamwork supported team of four to achieve full
stock-take of STL Retail in 16 hours
by: arriving early to receive briefing on behalf of team; taking
on extra tasks for a colleague who had togo home sick; and
organising night out to keep us motivated.
achieved analysed arranged budgeted co-ordinated created
demonstrated designeddeveloped enhanced evaluated identified
improved increased initiated led liaisedmanaged organised
negotiated planned prepared prioritised produced researched
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CV
Checklist Look at your CV as if you were the recruiter. After a
quick scan, can you pick
out evidence of each of the job requirements?
Is your CV two pages in length? (Some UK employers request a
one-page CV,and academic CVs can be longer, but most UK CVs are two
pages in length.)
To ensure your CV is easy to read, is there about the same
amount of text onboth pages, and have you avoided large chunks of
text?
Have you used formatting tools (e.g. bold, italics, capitals and
spacing) consistently?
Have you asked your Careers team for feedback on your CV and
covering letter?(Please take a list of job requirements with
you.)
Finished?
Can-do atude shadowed and assisted the research team of
Professor
Featherstone, at Queen Mary to understand the basic principles
before
compleng my study.
OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE
Oct 2009 - present Team Member
Pret a Manger, London Victoria
Fast paced environment worked in a team of six people
demonstrang
exibility and aptude for front of house co-ordinaon. Became
senior trainer
for new inductees for the last 20 months, as a result of my good
performance.
OTHER SKILLS
IT: Intermediate level Word, Excel, Access and Powerpoint
Languages: Conversaonal German
LEISURE ACTIVITIES
Music: Enjoy playing the guitar and going to live music
fesvals
Travel: Independent travel around Germany this summer and
planning a trip to
Iceland in 2013
REFEREES
Dr T Ester Ms J Sampson
Senior Lecturer Pret a Manger
Queen Mary University of London London Victoria Staon
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Start with the most recent acvity
and work backwards.
If your travel has been challenging,
you may be able to use it as a source
of evidence for your skills.
Ask your referees before you list
their details. If you are not able
to disclose names, you can state
References available on request..
See our Competencies and skills and Coverletter leaflets for
related information.
October 2012 QM Careerswww.careers.qmul.ac.uk
020 7882 8533Room WG3, Queens Building, Mile End
Shows iniave and that youcan turn your part-me job from
something you just do to earn
cash to evidence of skills valuable to
future employers.
Evidence has been provided for all
the requirements in the job advert,
so this candidate has a real chance
of geng oered an interview.
You dont have to include this, butsome employers like to know
what you
do in your spare me. Keep it brief!
http://[email protected]/http://[email protected]/
