Mary Pickin

Careers Adviser

CV QUIZ
Work with a partner to answer the True/False questions

http://www.careerplayer.com/tips-and-advice/general-

advice/polish-up-your-cv.aspx

Session Outline
Assessing your skills
Principles of a good CV
What employers look for in a CV
Covering letters
Further sources of help

Assessing your skills

Subject-specific skills such as:
Understanding complex scientific data
Understanding scientific systems and concepts
Laboratory skills
Numerical and statistical awareness

Scientific report writing

Software tools and packages

Assessing your skills

Studying life sciences also gives you skills in:
teamwork and leadership

communication - both in speech and writing

negotiation and persuasion
time management and organisation

the use of general IT facilities

presenting reasoned arguments to a range of audiences
retrieval of information

numeracy
commercial awareness through work experience

Your CV
A CV.
is a purpose designed application form

highlights your achievements

can distinguish you from other candidates

aims to get you an interview

is your sales brochure!

When should you use a CV and

covering letter?
If the employer asks you to apply in writing
When attending recruitment fairs or networking events

to leave with employers

(You may prefer to take a business card for the company
then send them your targeted CV)
When you send off speculative applications

How NOT to use a CV

Do not:
Put a CV in with an application form for good measure
Send a CV without a covering letter
Use an out of date CV and hope they wont notice
Send a long CV covering everything youve done
Add a photograph to your CV when applying for jobs in

the UK

Aim of your CV and Covering

letter
To get the attention of the
employer so you will be
invited for interview
An employer will generally
just scan CVs - (If in doubt
throw it out)

Therefore:
Be clear
Be concise

Be purposeful
Be unique

Principles of an effective CV
Make it relevant

Put the most important facts FIRST and give them the
most space
Make it easy to read, with headings and

short text or bullet points

Use positive language

Principles of an effective CV
Think about having a brief profile at the start of the
CV saying who you are, what you have to offer and
what you are looking for, for example:

Adaptable and enthusiastic science undergraduate

with strong interpersonal skills seeks a graduate
traineeship within the pharmaceuticals industry

Principles of an effective CV

Use quality paper

Modern typeface, e.g. Arial
Font size 11 or 12 in main text
Leave plenty of white space between sections
Check spelling, grammar and typos!
Dont use jargon or send a photocopy
Generally, make it 2 pages in length

Good Presentation = Good Impression

Take time with your CV

Read the job description and person specification carefully

Give information about your degree e.g. relevant modules

Target your CV to the company - demonstrate that you have

all of the skills that the employer is looking for

Try to imagine what the employer would want to read in a CV

CVs & Applications:

before you start
Collect your evidence
Research
The Job or position
The employer or organisation
Yourself
brainstorm all your experiences, achievements and skills
then pick out the most relevant ,unique, impressive
..Know what you have to offer and what the
employer wants.

Analysing Adverts
& Job Specifications
From the job description or advert draw out
The qualifications, skills, experience and qualities the

employer looking for

make a shopping list
Then match your qualifications, skills & experience
against this list
15

CV format
Depends upon employment sector and job
Chronological
Skills based

What to include?

Essential content:
Your name (not curriculum

Dates education and

vitae!)
Current address
Email address (a sensible
address)
Telephone number(s)

qualifications
Dates work
experience/career history
Part time work
Vacation work
Placement
Previous employment
Voluntary work

Making an impact with your CV

Presentation
Make it attractive and easy to read
Create a logical structure with clear headings e.g
EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE, SCIENTIFIC SKILLS,
INTERESTS
Give space and emphasis to the most important
information
Use bullet points or short text
Use sub headings, bold text, and white space
Use positive language

Name
Address

Phone number
E-mail address

Who you are, what you can offer and what you are looking for
Education
Dates

Work Experience
(or Relevant Work Experience
then Additional Work Exp)

Name of University
Name of Course
Bullet points about your course, e.g. relevant modules, expected degree
result or average grades
LAB Skills
Secondary School
A levels (or equivalent) and grades
GCSEs e.g. 8 GCSEs grades A C including English, Mathematics and Science
Company name and location
Job Title
Concise bullet points outlining duties and skills developed

Additional Information (or split into E.g. IT Skills Proficient in Word, Access, Excel
separate headings)
Language skills
Full, clean driving licence

Interests

Can also use to show skills e.g. Developed excellent leadership skills as
captain of university football team

References

Name, job title, address, phone number and email of 2 referees or say
Available on request

Qualities Employer Look For

Evidence of:
Communication skills

written, verbal, interpersonal

Teamwork
Planning and organising
Oral presentation
English language skills

Initiative
Adaptability
Numeracy
IT
Commercial acumen

Action words:
generated
led
delivered
devised
promoted

tested
saved
managed
analysed
solved

Action words:
A leader
A strategic thinker
Enthusiastic
Experienced
Customer-focused
Flexible
Innovative
Proactive
Professional
Persuasive

Resilient
Successful
Generated
Led
Delivered
Devised
Promoted
Organised

See Power words

No previous work experience?

Then think about how you have
developed skills through
Hobbies/Societies
Sport
Voluntary Work
University Work
Life Experiences

Referees
It is usual to list the names of 2 referees one academic

and one work related

Give their full name, job title and full contact details,
including telephone number and email
Always ask for permission before using their names
If using an international referee ensure that they are able
to email or fax a reference in English
It is okay to say References available upon request

Common Mistakes
Too much, too little information
Irrelevant details
No personality
Poor presentation
SPELLING

25

Electronic Applications
Emailing your CV direct to a potential employer
Do not use text speak in your message
Always send your CV and covering letter as attachments
Ensure the word processing package you are using can be

opened by the recipient

Use standard font e.g. Arial
Follow up by posting a hard copy

Applying for jobs abroad

Style and content of CVs vary
Length of CV
Qualifications differ in different countries
Cultural differences
Preferred format
Emphasis
Attachments (photos, copy of certificates)
Signature

See
The Global Resume and CV Guide in the Careers Centre
Going Global at : www.northumbria.ac.uk/careers
www.prospects.ac.uk/country_profiles.htm

Covering Letters
Always include a covering letter with your CV
Write to a named contact if possible

Explain why you are writing

Say where you saw the job advertised

Explain your interest in the position and

organisation

Covering Letters (continued)

highlight what you can offer
explain any personal circumstances or anomalies
address and sign off correctly:

Sir/Madam = Yours faithfully

Name = Yours sincerely
no longer than one page
follow up by phone if you have sent off a speculative

application

Speculative Applications
Target your CV to the company you are interested in, just

as you would with an advertised vacancy

Find a named person to send your application to you

want it to land on the right persons desk

Target your covering letter to the company, making it clear

why you are writing to them e.g. for a job, placement

Explain why you are interested in the company

Give details of your relevant skills and experience

Follow up your letter with a telephone call

Summary

Research the company and the job

Target your CV and covering letter!

Make it interesting, relevant and concise

Get someone else to read your CV and covering letter friends, family, careers adviser!

Further sources of help

Reference/loan resources in the Careers Centre
E-Leaning Portal from the Careers

tab, click the link to Careers & Employment and enrol

Click Resources for Schools, then:

DVDs and Online Support

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cvs_and_cover_letters
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/applying_for_jobs.htm

http://www.windmillsonline.co.uk/skills

Further sources of help

Individual interview with a Careers Adviser
Drop-into the Careers Centre 10am - 4pm

No appointment necessary
Book a 40 minute appointment for a more
in-depth discussion

Careers Centre, Ground Floor,

Northumberland Building
Tel 0191 227 4204
sv.careers@northumbria.ac.uk or
mary.pickin@northumbria.ac.uk
www.northumbria.ac.uk/careers