Msc Renewable Energy Systems Technology Selfmarketing effective CVs

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Msc Renewable Energy Systems TechnologySelf-mark
eting effective CVs

• Sam Brown
• Careers Centre

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Learning Outcomes

• Evaluate and discuss essential components of
  successful CVs
• Know how to sell your skills and experience
  effectively in well-presented CVs
• Identify useful resources to assist in writing
  effective CVs, application forms and covering
  letters

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Content

• 10.05 Introduction exercise
• 10.15 Successful CVs
• 10.30 CV Exercise
• 10.45 Useful Resources Questions

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Written Applications

• For CVs, application forms and covering letters
• RESEARCH yourself the job the employer
• IDENTIFY the important aspects of the job
  relevant experience and skills you can offer
• GIVE EVIDENCE of your suitability of enthusiasm
  and commitment
• Present a professional and cohesive image
• Dont under-sell yourself
• Target your application to the job and employer

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What is a CV - 1?

• A marketing tool, presenting your qualifications,
  skills and attributes to employers in a way that
  demonstrates your suitability for the job or
  position

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What is a CV - 2?

• Record of Life
• Interesting, accurate and up to date
• Easy to read and carefully presented
• There is no ONE perfect CV

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Warm Up Exercise

• Spend 5 minutes evaluating the CV you have been
  given
• You will then be asked to share your observations
  and comments on content, style, purpose, impact,
  presentation (and any other points) with the rest
  of the group

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Successful CVs

• CV headings should
• Be your choice
• Have relevance to the information you are
  providing
• Sound professional
• Highlight the achievements, responsibilities and
  successes you want to sell
• Use power words

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Typical Headings

• Personal / contact details
• Education
• Employment Experience (paid or unpaid)
• Interests / activities / achievements
• Referees

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Optional Sections

• Personal Profile or Career Objective
• Key Skills
• Professional Affiliations
• Positions of Responsibility
• Relevant work experience
• Achievements

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Personal Profile or Career Objective
If you opt for one of these to introduce your CV
it is helpful to keep it

• short
• realistic
• targeted

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Example of a Personal Profile

• An experienced project manager with excellent
  team-working and communication skills and
  up-to-date IT knowledge acquired through a
  postgraduate qualification.

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Example of a Career Objective

• An enthusiastic engineer with an interest in
  moving into alternative technologies which will
  allow further development of my problem solving
  and communication skills. Committed to working in
  a fast moving environment which will provide
  challenges.

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Presentation

• Length
• Paper
• Font size, typeface
• Clarity language, layout
• Position on page
• Space between sections

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Guidelines for an effective CV

• Maximum 2 pages
• List most recent and relevant experience first
• Divide in sections and use clear, appropriate
  headings
• Check spelling, grammar and punctuation
• TARGET it towards a type of job/career

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Non-Academic CV

• Commercial awareness
• Employment experience
• Transferable skills
• Administrative/project management experience
• Numeracy / IT skills
• Relevant research
• Orientation i.e. matching to new career

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Academic CV

• Research experience
• Teaching experience
• Publications
• Administrative/project management experience
• Technical skills
• Ability to attract funds for research

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CV Exercise

• In groups you have 10 minutes to evaluate 3 CVs
• Again, consider content, style, purpose,
  targeting, impact, presentation and what you
  think works well
• Be ready to share your comments with the rest of
  the group

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Your CV

• Make it individual to you
• Use your own design and layout
• Choose the order of the sections
• Give examples
• Use power words
• SELL your SKILLS, EXPERIENCE ACHIEVEMENTS
• Dont be modest!
• Persuade employers to interview you!

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Covering Letters

• Purpose is to introduce your CV or application
  form
• Highlights relevant points from your CV or
  application form
• Get to the point
• Sell yourself
• Positive polite ending

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Useful resources

• Quick Advice Desk (15 minutes)
• Careers Centre leaflets
• AGCAS booklet Making Applications
• Video - Looking good on paper
• Video - Your jobs on-line?
• www.selectsimulator.com
• www.careers.lboro.ac.uk

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Visit the Careers Centre website
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(No Transcript)
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Any questions?