Janet Lunn

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• Janet Lunn
• Information Systems Development
• Rm 742
• Email J.Lunn_at_livjm.ac.uk
• Tel [phone]

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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

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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

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The CV

• The following advice is based on guidance from
  leading recruitment agencies - if anyone should
  know about good CV construction, its them...
• Not all the following categories are essential,
  it depends on your individual background. Where
  a category is optional, this will be clearly
  stated.

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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

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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 Companys audit procedures (B).

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FAB

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

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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...

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CV categories cont...

• Personal achievements
• - Related to sport, social or community
  endeavours
• - i.e. Elected captain of the under 15s
  football team.
• - Remember use strong words that evoke positive
  qualities - elected implies you are responsible
  and a good mediator, leader...

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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...

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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

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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.

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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

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CVs

• Curriculum
• Vitae

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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 applicants viewpoint
• - Contain negative information

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Structure of a covering letter

• You should only need three paragraphs-
• - 1st paragraph
• From the recipients viewpoint/ benefit, give
  your reason for writing
• i.e. Your advertisement was of great
  interest...
• or, Your company enjoys an excellent
  reputation in...

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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...

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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...

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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?

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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)

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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
• Dont be overly assertive
• i.e. I will call you next week is presumptuous
  and rude

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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.

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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

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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...

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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

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Summary

• CVs
• 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