Transcript of Introduction to CVs podcast
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If you've never written a CV before and don't know where to start this podcast will give you an introduction to the key points.
So what exactly is a CV?
CV is short for the Latin term Curriculum Vitae, which means the story of your life. It's a very important part of the job application process. A lot of employers now ask you to send them a CV or they ask you to complete one on-line. In general terms it should tell them about your education, experience and interests, but you have to make sure your CV is relevant to the job you are applying for. The purpose of your CV is to get you an interview so it should highlight your skills and experience and show that you are a strong candidate for the job.
When would you actually use a CV?
Well, when a job advert requests a CV, in this case you would send your CV with a covering letter. Or sometimes if you have a particular employer in mind it can be worth writing on spec, even if they have not advertised a vacancy. In this case you would normally enclose a CV with your letter.
And what makes a good CV?
Well let's start with the basics, a CV should be typed on good quality paper, it must be short, no more than two sides of A4. It has to have a clear, simple layout, a good CV should be easy to read. And most importantly it must be positive. This is your chance to sell your skills and experience to the employer. Use it to emphasise your strong points, make your application stand out. After all your aim is to get the employer to interview you.
Remember to keep it up-to-date by adding new qualifications and experience. It's useful to save your CV on a disk so you can update it easily and change it to suit different kinds of job applications.
OK, these are the sorts of things which make for a good CV, what are the common mistakes that people make?
Well I said earlier that you should keep to two sides of A4, but on the other hand you don't want it to be too basic. Some people end up with a CV which is too sparse, it gives only basic details, dates and job titles, you need to get the balance right.
The other big thing is poor spelling and grammar. Presentation is really important, so always get someone to double check it for you, don't just rely on your computer spell-checker.
So what sort of things should you include in your CV?
Well you would start off with your personal details, these always come at the start of the CV. Try to include post codes and telephone contact numbers including your mobile. But it's not necessary to put in your age or your marital status.
It is common now for a CV to include a Personal Profile, this is a statement of no more than two or three sentences that you can use to sell yourself by summarising your relevant skills and personal attributes. The Personal Profile is also an opportunity for you to highlight your career aim. Make sure you include any key skills you have, you can list them as bullet points, you are looking at around half a dozen skills that are relevant to the job.
So what sort of skills might you include?
Well for example you could say you have excellent communication skills or good keyboard skills, 70 words per minute or that you are able to relate well to people of all levels, of perhaps you are skilled on Excel spreadsheets or Access databases.
It will obviously depend on the job you are applying for which of your skills are most relevant and therefore worth including.
For people who have just left education what advice would you give them on qualifications?
Well it's important that you put your most recent qualifications first. Use the full title of your subjects, for example Craft & Design, you know what C&D means but an employer may not. If you didn't sit your exams write 'Did not sit exam' in the results section. And don't forget to include all your modules and units.
What about any work experience?
If you have just left education you may feel that you've not got any work experience worth mentioning, but remember employers will be interested in part time, temporary or seasonal jobs you've had. Training courses or school work experience can also be included as these may highlight skills the employer would find useful.
However, if you have worked for some years your work experience and vocational qualifications may well take priority over your school achievements.
Any other points which would be useful to include?
Yes, if you have any interests that would be relevant, for example participation in sports can show team work skills, or voluntary work in a care home shows social skills. Also if you have a driving licence or a First Aid certificate they can be worth including.
The last section of a CV is usually the one on references, what advice would you give on this?
Basically a referee is someone who can comment on your suitability for the job. It is normal to have two referees. You need to think carefully about who you are going to use as your referees. Your guidance teacher and a previous employer is a good combination. Don't use friends or family and always ask peoples' permission before using them as a referee.
If you're currently in employment but prefer not to list your referees at this stage you might consider putting 'Excellent references available on request' under this heading.
So we've put together our CV, what's the next step, do we simply send it off to the employer?
No, you must send a covering letter along with your CV. This letter should explain to the employer why you are sending them your CV, for example in response to a job advert. In this case you would look at the job description and try to include any relevant details in your letter.
There's quite a lot to think about when it comes to CVs, not just in terms of what should go in to it but how you should use it, it really needs to be tailored to your own individual situation?
Yes and that's why we recommend you take advice and also use the Careers Scotland website to get help. It's got a range of leaflets on different types of CVs depending on the stage you are at with your career. It also has a CV Builder to help you construct your CV. It will take you step by step through the process of creating your CV, you can create up to five different CVs and store them on the website. You can update it whenever you like from wherever you are provided you have access to the internet.
You can also discuss your CV with a Careers Scotland Adviser by calling in to your local Careers Scotland centre.
For further help on putting together your CV visit careers-scotland.org.uk or call us on 0845 8 502 502.
