Janet Lunn Information Systems Development Rm 742 Email: [email protected] Tel: 0151 231 2128

Janet Lunn

Information Systems Development

Rm 742

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 0151 231 2128

Hn1104 Personal Skills and ITHn1104 Personal Skills and IT

Communication Skills For the purposes of this course, we

have divided this section into three:– Communicating information about yourself– Communicating information to others– Effective communication and

communication models


Communicating information about yourself It is essential that you are able to

‘market’ yourself in terms of finding a suitable placement/ job

The three components of the job search include the CV, standard letters and application forms


The CV The following advice is based on guidance

from leading recruitment agencies - if anyone should know about good CV construction, it’s them...

Not all the following categories are essential, it depends on your individual background. Where a category is optional, this will be clearly stated.


CV categories... Personal signature:

- Personalise/ title your CV with a contact block: name, address, telephone, email

Banner statement:

- Indent, italics, 3rd person. Use concept of SAKE (skills, attitudes, knowledge, experience) to create 4-5 lines supporting your career aspirations


CV categories cont... Qualifications:

- Reverse chronology, left alignment. Course, institution, town name. Dates to the right hand side.

- Include about 4 entries. List modules studied only at degree level (possibly level 2 modules and only if your employment history is brief)


CV categories cont...

- e.g. You could state:4 GCSEs, including Maths and English..

Employment history:

- Position, company, name (again, dates to the right hand side)

- Include 2 short sentences about your duties (if your CV is a bit sparse, or you want to emphasise something)


CV categories cont...- e.g. Assisted in users’ understanding of Microsoft Office.

- Make the statement achievement oriented, using a strong, action verb in the past tense.

Achievements in current position/ Achievements in placement year/

Projects undertaken:

(Depending on your individual background)


CV categories cont...- Include anything you have completed either in a working environment or as an assignment

- Use the FAB principle: Feature, analysis (i.e. scope or dimension), benefit:

e.g. Developed an inventory system in Access (F) for a client-base of 20 users (A), thus improving the Company’s audit procedures (B).


FAB Task:

– Write one FAB statement about the yourself that you could put on a CV


CV categories cont... Skills base:

- Include: packages, languages, Web authoring tools, platforms, networking experience, NT...

Courses attended:

- If relevant... Affiliations: (i.e. groups you belong to)

- If relevant...


CV categories cont...

Personal achievements:

- Related to sport, social or community endeavours:

- i.e. Elected captain of the under 15’s football team.

- Remember: use strong words that evoke positive qualities - ‘elected’ implies you are responsible and a good mediator, leader...


CV categories cont... Interests:

- Make these unique. Elaborate them further than just plain ‘reading’. Remember what they say about you. Bridge or crosswords may indicate ‘intellectually able’, good at problem solving; entertaining and restoring classic cars may mean sociable and possibly practical...


CV categories cont... Personal details:

- Bottom right of the CV. Include DOB, nationality, marital status, dependents, driving licence, ability to relocate...- How old you are should be secondary to whether or not you have the qualifications/ experience for the job - that is why we put personal details where they make least impact


CV categories cont... Referees:

- Include one personal (not family) and one academic/ employer

- Some recruiters may advise against including the names/ addresses of referees, but in your position (possibly without much relevant experience) it is advisable to put them on.


CV Basics Well presented - standard clear font Good quality paper - white/cream Printed in black ink Use the grammar and spell checker Task: write down CV


CVs

Curriculum

Vitae


Covering letters The purpose of your covering letter is to

encourage the recipient to read your CV Covering letters should NOT:-

- Be too long

- Repeat the content of the CV

- Be written from the applicant’s viewpoint

- Contain negative information


Structure of a covering letter You should only need three paragraphs:-

- 1st paragraph:

From the recipient’s viewpoint/ benefit, give your reason for writing

i.e. ‘Your advertisement was of great interest...’

or, ‘Your company enjoys an excellent reputation in...’


Structure cont...- 2nd paragraph:

Customise the CV. Direct the reader to a unique selling point which matches a specific need of the potential employer

i.e. ‘You will see from my enclosed CV...’

or, ‘Being a Unix specialist who is fluent in Chinese...’


Structure cont...- 3rd paragraph:

This is to ask for the interview (couch it as a meeting or discussion) and prompt the reader to action

i.e. ‘...the opportunity to discuss with you...’

‘...the chance to meet with you...’

‘I look forward to hearing from you...’


Covering letter hints Use same typeface as your CV Never allude to negative information

i.e. ‘I am aware my CV is not ideal...’ Think about the implication:

i.e. ‘I have enjoyed a successful career in...’

Are you old? Are you winding down?


Hints cont... Avoid tentative language

i.e. ‘I am interested in the possibility of...in such fields as...’

Always try and find out the name of the person to whom the letter is being sent. Dear Mr Jobsrus should end with Yours sincerely. (Dear Sir/ Madam = Yours faithfully)


Hints cont...

Avoid beginning sentences with ‘I’ - sounds egotistical

Write from the viewpoint of what you can do for the employer, not the other way around

Don’t be overly assertivei.e. ‘I will call you next week’ is presumptuous and rude


Hints cont... It is not customary to include

appellations before your name:

i.e. Use M. Adams, not Mrs. M. Adams Presentation is paramount - spelling

mistakes, grammatical errors or crossings-out are thoroughly ill-advised.


Filling out application forms... Read the instructions carefully Do a rough draft - or more than one Make sure you fill the space provided Be succinct and relevant Do not lie Give a consistent and coherent picture Ask permission to include the names of referees


Application forms... Never have spelling mistakes or

corrections Bear in mind that questions about your

interests speak volumes about you; about your motivation, ambitions and attitudes

Some questions may require some research

i.e. ‘What do you see as the main business opportunities facing Reuters over the next five years...’


Application forms... Open-ended questions give you an

opportunity to market yourself Where you are including factual

information, employ reverse chronology (unless otherwise stated)

Always send it with a covering letter Keep a copy


Summary CV’s

• Clear, well structured and designed • For your SAKE make it FAB!

Covering Letters • 3 paragraphs - Do not repeat information• Address the letter appropriately

Application Forms• Think carefully/research questions• Keep a copy

Documents

Janet Lunn Information Systems Development Rm 742 Email: [email protected] Tel: 0151 231 2128