How to improve your job application and CV

opportunity résumé

curriculum prepare cover

experience keen teamwork

statement

personal

knowledge

leadership

application

development management

job

believe employers vitae

work

focus

goals

ideal writing professional letter

interview

How to improve your job application and CV

Intro - All about you..........................................................................................................4 What job?.........................................................................................................................4

Contents

CONTENTS

Things to think about........................................................................................................4 Where do I start?..............................................................................................................5 Take a look at yourself......................................................................................................5 My best subjects...............................................................................................................5 Exams I have not yet taken...............................................................................................5 Non academic achievements............................................................................................5 Things I know I like from experience................................................................................6 What is important to me?................................................................................................7 How do you rate yourself?................................................................................................7 How are we doing so far?.................................................................................................8 Your CV (Curriculum Vitae - career and life details)........................................................10 Guidelines to writing your CV.........................................................................................10 More help on writing a good CV.....................................................................................11 The personal statement..................................................................................................11 Your covering letter........................................................................................................12 Social media and your job search...................................................................................14 Producing a good CV ......................................................................................................16

2016

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INTRO - ALL ABOUT YOU Now that you have completed one of the CVQO-led awards it is time to consider the next step. This guide has been produced to help you prepare a CV and to write an effective application letter. We hope you find it useful. Good luck on your road to independence!

WHAT JOB?

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

The kind of job you go for should be a combination of these two things Level of knowledge and ability you have now

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Your potential that can be developed

This is the beginning of a whole new life for you. There’s a lot to think about, a lot to find out about and a lot to do. This process doesn’t have to be dull or boring, it’s a journey to learn more about yourself so you can put your best self forward. Employers can be very choosy about who they employ, so it’s up to you to use everything you can to persuade them that you’re the best person for the job. People say there’s a lot of luck involved in job hunting and that may be partly true, but the people who do the most planning and make the most effort get the most luck too! Time to get started...

How to improve your job application and CV

MY BEST SUBJECTS Subject

Grade

Think about your life up to now What were the school subjects you enjoyed the most? What were the subjects you got the best grades in? What did you do outside school? Do you have any hobbies that have given you skills or experience an employer might value or be interested in? What do you enjoy doing?

EXAMS I HAVE NOT YET TAKEN

What are you likely to be qualified to do?

Subject

Predicted grade

What are your most marketable qualities? What kind of potential do you think you have?

TAKE A LOOK AT YOURSELF To help you with the rest of this, you need to form a picture of yourself as an individual. It will help you if you put some of your conclusions down on paper. Look first at these four basic areas:

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My best subjects at school

Things I know I like from experience

What’s most important to me?

How do I rate myself?

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OPPORTUNITIES - OPTIONS WHERE DO I START?

NON-ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS e.g. Sports, Duke of Edinburgh Award, driving licence, community service, etc.

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THINGS I KNOW I LIKE FROM EXPERIENCE Mark each of these with a tick, a cross or a question mark. Add any not mentioned. When you think of something you like, try to think of an example. Use the space below the list for your examples. This will help you in an interview.





?

Example

Taking responsibility Using my organising ability Being in a team Working and competing against time Being outside most of the time Being inside most of the time Learning new skills Being in a large group Being in a small group Problem-solving Creative activities Practical/technical ‘hands-on’ activities Helping older people Helping younger people Studying Reading facts Reading fiction Being entertained Entertaining others Socialising & meeting new people Dressing smartly Dancing Listening to music Playing an instrument or singing Current events/politics Watching news/tv documentaries Managing money Travel

How to improve your job application and CV

Mark each of these with a tick, a cross or a question mark. Add any not mentioned. When you think of something you like, try to think of an example. This will help you in an interview.





?

Example

Job satisfaction Job security Variety Routine Opportunities for further training Opportunities for promotion Comfortable working environment Travelling distance from home Products or services that interest me Good starting pay Large company Sports amenities Working with a particular age group Helping others Financial prospects

HOW DO YOU RATE YOURSELF? Give an honest rating of your abilities and a score from 0 – 10. For each skill, try to think of something you like and give an example. This will help you in an interview. 0 poor or no experience

1–3 quite good

4–6 good

Score out of 10 Practical/technical ‘hands-on’ skills Creative ability Analytical ability Organising ability Communication ability (spoken) Communication ability (written) Working in a team Leading others Organising myself Adapting to change Concentration Learning new skills 2016

7–9 very good

Example

10 excellent

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WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME?

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HOW ARE WE DOING SO FAR?

Now you need to review the things we’ve looked at so far. Get some paper and make some lists:

My best subjects

Put down the top three or four, and put the ones you most enjoy at the top

How do I rate myself?

Probably worth noting anything you listed as Excellent right down to Good, in that order

Things I know I like from experience

Again, sort out the top three or four things you know you’ve enjoyed in the past

What’s important to me?

Any of the items you ticked on that list need to go here

Nice lists - now what? • This list is just the start. You need to talk about this with your friends, your parents, your teachers and your careers advisor. They might have a few more things to add to your lists. • Most important, you need to be able to think of real life examples that show evidence of the things on your lists. It’s tempting to avoid doing this, but it will be really helpful for some application forms and definitely in an interview. The person interviewing you may well ask! • By now, you should be getting a clearer picture of your strengths, interests and ambitions – with maybe some career options emerging... How to improve your job application and CV

Your CV and application letter Do it next Do it now Do it well

Improving lives through vocational education

You should see this as a ‘living document’ and will need to keep it updated as you gain more experience and skills.

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YOUR CV (CURRICULUM VITAE - CAREER AND LIFE DETAILS) Your CV may only have 20 seconds to catch the eyes of an employer: A good CV is very important

It is normally the first thing a potential employer sees from you

It can be the make or break factor in whether your application goes in the bin, or you get an interview

Your CV needs to give the important facts about you

It has to hold the interest of the person reading it - make them want to meet you

It has to be relevant to the job you’re applying for

GUIDELINES TO WRITING YOUR CV Best to divide it into sections with separate headings. Only include the sections below that are relevant to you:

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name, address, email address, telephone number

schools/colleges with addresses

Personal details

Education

exam results and exams you are studying for

Qualifications

eg: sporting achievements, debating society Non-academic achievements

eg: prefect, club organiser Responsibilities held at school

hobbies, societies, voluntary activities

holiday or Saturday jobs

take this from the lists you completed in the last section

choose reponsible people who know you well and are not related to you*

Leisure interests

Work experience

Personal statement

Referees

* Remember to ask for permission from your referees before including them on your CV How to improve your job application and CV

• When including a dated list (exam results, work experience, schools attended etc.) ALWAYS put the most recent at the top and then go back in time from there • It is best to type your CV - easier to read - use a clear business-like font, at least 11 point and not more than 14 • Keep it short and clear, no more than two or three sides of A4 paper ▪ make sure you get your message across in a concise way, employers are busy, they don’t have time to search for details ▪ Use good English and don’t forget full stops and capital letters! • The headings we’ve given you will give an employer a basic outline of who you are – now you need to ‘fill in the gaps’ ▪ you need to give more details ▪ give an idea of how you fit the job description ▪ make the employer realise your potential in their organisation You do this through the Personal Statement section

THE PERSONAL STATEMENT Your personal statement will do a lot of the hard work in convincing an employer that you’re worth a look at interview. If you followed the advice in the first section of this booklet, then you’re halfway to having this done. The other half is formed by carefully reading the job description offered by the employer and any details of the company and choosing which parts of the lists you made earlier fit best into their idea of the person they are looking for. Look for certain key phrases that employers use: • Teamworking (or working as part of a team) • Management • Leadership • Self-reliance • Communication • Working to deadlines • Determination • Self starter • Problem solving • Social action and community engagement You will need to try to explain in your personal statement how you meet these characteristics. This is where the lists you made earlier will come in handy and most especially the examples. It’s not much use saying something like: “I am good at working in a team”, anyone could say that. What’s much better is to say something like “My school was involved in a charity drive to raise money for xxx and I was asked to organise the rota” There will be lots of things that you’ve done that could contribute to a great CV. Think hard how to use what you have to good effect.

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MORE HELP ON WRITING A GOOD CV

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YOUR COVERING LETTER Writing an application letter Letters accompanying a CV, an application form for a job or just a general enquiry about a position or course should look professional and reflect well on you. It is always worth considering writing a letter in draft form so that you can check it and adjust it if necessary. The main points to remember are: • Use good quality, plain A4 paper. Avoid paper that is lined or paper that has holes punched in it • Use a good quality pen or biro, never pencil • Use black ink in case the letter needs to be photocopied • Keep your lines as straight as possible • Make sure that your writing can be read • Use correct grammar, e.g. full stops, and capital letters at the start of sentences and on people’s names • Watch your spelling Once you are satisfied with your letter, keep a copy for future reference.

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How to improve your job application and CV

Type the name of the person, the name of the company and the address you are writing to here

If there is a reference number include it here If you know the name of the person you are writing to, include it here. If it is a lady and you don’t know if she is a Mrs or Miss, then use Ms. If you don’t have an actual name, write Dear Sir or Dear Madam. Type the post you are applying for here, in bold

If you have started the letter with the person’s actual name, then end with Yours sincerely, if not, then use Yours faithfully Make sure that you actually sign the letter and type your name under your signature

12 The Avenue Brentworth Middlesex MX2 1LM Mr Leonard Smith The Personnel Manager Wyvern Engineering Company Saxon Industrial Estate Wenham Middlesex MX5 2QY Your Ref: AC/221/J 26 September 2016 Dear Mr Smith, Re: Vacancy for a Junior Administrator I have read your recent advertisement for a Junior Administrator and I am very keen to apply for this post. Please find my C.V. enclosed. This would seem to be an ideal opportunity for me to combine my interest in computers with my interest in engineering and I believe that I have what it takes to match the requirements for the job. I left school at the end of the academic year and would be available to start work immediately. If you would like to see me for an interview, I would be pleased to attend on any day in the next two weeks apart from Wednesday, 5 October. I hope that you will consider me as a potential candidate for the job and I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely,

James Kennedy James Kennedy

Summary The message that you need to put across in your letter is that you are keen, clear and sincere. In our example letter: • The first paragraph indicates that you are keen and clear that you understand the role and the requirements; keen is a good, positive word, ideal shows that you are attaching importance to finding the right job and not just any job, and believe suggests that you have confidence in your own judgment. • The second paragraph offers further evidence that you are clear and business-like as you indicate when you are available for interview. • The third paragraph rounds the letter off by showing that you are sincere; the word hope re-enforces that you are keen and is a polite, pleasant way to finish a letter. 2016

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This is where you put your address including postcode

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SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUR JOB SEARCH Employers and interviewers are aware that young people spend significant time on social media and these days many of them will research candidates online. Make sure that what they are likely to find puts you in a good light, and very importantly doesn’t contradict the impression you’re trying to make! After all, there’s no point in saying that you are always punctual on your CV if someone could look on your blog and see that you are constantly late! If in doubt, research yourself online, or get a friend or relative to do it. They just need to type your name into a search engine and maybe specify the town where you live or a social media site. It’s often surprising what turns up!

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USING SOCIAL MEDIA IN YOUR JOB SEARCH It can be helpful to use social media in your job search. Many companies use Facebook Pages or similar to promote their brand and products. This information can help you to pick up useful tips on a potential employer and to come over as a well-informed candidate. How to improve your job application and CV

Producing a good CV good and bad examples

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND SOME HINTS

The not so good

The good

Your CV may only have 20 seconds in front of an employer. Make sure you use these hints to make the most of that time.

Name



Janet Amanda Jones



Name

David (Hot Lips) Smith

Put your full name, no nicknames with your first names first Address

Address

3 Lyon Way Camberley Surrey GU16 7ER

3 Lyon Way Camberley

They want your full address and remember to put in the postcode Contact Numbers

01234 567 890 (evenings only) 07123 456 7889 (after 4pm)

Contact Numbers

07123 456 789 (leave a message with my mate)

Put in a contact number if you can, with the times available and keep it professional Driving Licence

Driving Licence

Full, clean UK licence (own car)

Hope to have licence soon, third time lucky!

If you don’t hold a licence, leave this bit out Education

Education 2015 present

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Newth College High Street Hightown, Surrey GU1 1UG 2011-2015 Growth Secondary School Low Street Middleton, Surrey GU2 2UG

Qualifications A Level Mathematics A Level Physics BTEC Level 2 in Teamwork and Personal Development in the Community BTEC Level 2 in Music for Practical Performance AS Level Physics AS Level Mathematics AS Level History

Grade A* B Pass Pass C C D

2011-2015 Bishop Secondary School Middleton Now

Sixth Form College Surrey

Qualifications A Level Mathematics A Level Physics BTEC Level 2 in Teamwork and Personal Development in the Community BTEC Level 2 in Music for Practical Performance AS Level Physics AS Level Mathematics AS Level History

Grade A* U Pass Pass E U A

List exams passed,highest grades first. Then list any exams where you are still waiting for results. Don’t give grades for some and not others. If grades are not good, then leave them all out and just give the subjects. How to improve your job application and CV

Non-academic achievements Sporting Green belt Judo Hockey coaching certificate Dancing silver medal Other



Non-academic achievements Other Voted ‘most likely to be late for own wedding’

DofE Award (Silver) Choose things where you got a certificate or trophy of some kind and that show you in a good light

Responsibilities/Offices held at school, college etc Treasurer of the Chess Club Cadet NCO - Sergeant Captain, Surrey Hockey Team

Responsibilities/Offices held at school, college None really and my office is in my bedroom

Choose those that show responsibility, leadership, teamwork, trust or mentoring. If there are none, then leave this section out Leisure interests/Hobbies Board Surfing Cadets Reading Video and photography

Leisure interests/Hobbies Hanging out at the park Bike riding Football TV

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND SOME HINTS



Try to strike a balance here between physical activity and more intellectual hobbies. Tell the truth here as interviewers like to ask you about these Work experience 2008-2010 2007-2008 2005-2007

Work experience McDonalds - Assistant Leisure centre - Lifeguard JJ’s Newsagent - Paper round

Sometimes I help my dad at the warehouse

Most recent first, give details Career Objectives/Personal Statement I feel that I have the qualities to become a pilot and would love the opportunity to fly rotary wing aircraft. This would also give me the breadth of opportunity to develop my potential.

Career Objectives/Personal Statement I want to be a policeman someday and work with dogs, but would do your job for a while until I get accepted for the other one. What’s more I’m a good bloke.

This is where you will need to go back to the lists and notes you made earlier to emphasise what is important to you and give you the chance to really sell yourself. You can modify this part of your CV for each job you apply for, tailoring it to the job advertised.

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THE GOOD, THE BAD AND SOME HINTS 18

Referees Mr A Smith Manager The Leisure Centre Middleton GU12 3CD 01243 456789

 Mrs B Jones Headteacher Growth Secondary School Low Street Middleton GU2 2UG 01456 789123



Referees Mr A Smith 123 Sharp Way Anytown Lancs L34 4IL 07126 4569852 (He’s my uncle and said he will vouch for me)

Try to give two referees. One could be the head of your last school, one should be a personal referee who knows you well, but isn’t related to you. Someone in a position of authority or status – remember ask them first if it’s OK to give their names.

So, that’s it. Not so bad was it? Most of what’s in this booklet is common sense, none of it is difficult, but all of it is important. It will give you the best chance to get noticed and get an interview. Go for it

Good Luck!

How to improve your job application and CV

2016

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