Getting started - CareerStructure.com
Creating the perfect CV
Creating the perfect CV has become even more important with the growth of online job hunting. Many employers now search online CV databases to find suitable candidates and are looking for specific mixes of skills and knowledge.
Your CV must tell all prospective employers everything they need to know in order to decide whether or not you should be interviewed. A good CV will highlight relevant skills and experience and draw attention to you as a jobseeker.
Although everyone's CV is unique to them, if you follow some basic principles you will be able to put together a clear, concise and persuasive CV that gets you noticed.
An employer will expect to find information covering the following areas:
- Personal details- name, address, phone numbers and an email address. You may wish to add your nationality, date of birth and driving licence status, but these are not obligatory
- Work experience- list the most recent first, continuing in reverse date order. Describe your work experience in short sentences using straightforward, positive language. As well as describing the jobs, highlight any general abilities you were required to demonstrate
- Education- list brief details of qualifications - GCSEs, A-levels, degree - along with grades. If you are applying for your first job since school, college or university, include this information above work experience
- Skills- include specific skills such as IT skills or languages
- References- names and contact details of two referees - one of which should be your most recent employer. Graduates and school leavers with limited work experience can nominate college lecturers, teachers or managers during work experience. Be sure to tell your referees!
- Hobbies- including details of your interests away from the workplace is optional. By adding details you are giving an employer a more rounded picture of your personal qualities - but don't overdo it.
Presentation
Ensuring your CV is well presented is as important as including all the relevant information. Most employers see hundreds of CVs and yours may get less than a minute of their time.
Most people follow a historical CV format, as this is familiar to employers and is easy to write. However, if your career history is fragmented due to career breaks or a period of unemployment, you may consider a skills-based CV that specifically focuses on your abilities and aptitudes. It gives you the chance to describe what you can do, rather than detailing a list of previous roles.
Most employers will expect to find the information under clear headings highlighted in bold or capitals, such as
WORK EXPERIENCE or
EDUCATION. Use clear dates and timeframes, and structure information to make it easy for employers to find their way through your history.
Do:
- Stick to black print on good quality white paper
- Concentrate on your achievements, not your responsibilities. This means listing things you have done - such as products launched, sales increased, and awards won - not rewriting your job description. Quote supporting figures whenever possible
- Bold your most relevant experience and skills - it encourages the employer to focus on them
- Keep to the point and concentrate on the quality of your achievements, not the quantity
- List skills that could raise you above the competition eg: languages, driving licence, IT skills
- Be ruthless - keep it to a maximum of two pages
- Check thoroughly for correct spelling and grammar - spotting errors is a quick and easy way for recruiters to weed out weaker candidates when faced with a mountain of CVs to read
- Get a second opinion
- Include examples of your work, if appropriate
Don't:
- Leave any gaps in your work record - employers may assume the worst, for example that you were sacked
- Lie - many employers can check CV details for accuracy, including educational qualifications, places of study and job references
- Include a photo unless you know the employer wants one
- Fax it without sending a copy in the post as well
- Use elaborate fonts, or colours - keep it simple and clear
- Forget it's just a tool for getting you an interview. The CV will not land you the job alone, the rest is up to you
Writing a good covering letter
A covering letter is your first contact with a potential future employer and a great chance to market your skills. Remember that each CV you send out should be accompanied by one.
A successful covering letter should:
- Encourage an employer to read your CV
- Give you the chance to demonstrate that you understand the nature of the job
- Tell the employer why you want to work in that area
- Show how your skills and abilities fit the role
- Focus on the position and the company
Before you start your covering letter remember to fully research the company you are applying to:
- Visit the company website
- Read the trade press
- Keep up to date with any reports/ articles etc in the daily press
- If you know anyone at the company find out what they have to say about it
Important points to remember when writing your covering letter:
- Keep it short and factual - no longer than one side of A4 paper
- State where you saw the job advertised and include any reference numbers
- Refer to the CV you have attached - it might go missing and they'll think you haven't sent one
- Tailor it to each specific application - outline how your experience matches the requirements of each role
- Explain why you want the job
- Concentrate on telling employers why you would be good for the job, not why the job would be good for you
- If you have previously worked in a different sector explain how your skills are transferable
- Demonstrate that you have researched the organisation, for example mention that you have read the latest annual report or visited their web site
- Include any dates when you might be unavailable for interview
- If you are able to take calls during the day, then provide a contact number
- Check that you have addressed your letter to the right person, that you have used the correct job title and spelt his or her name correctly
- You may wish to state your current salary and your salary expectations for the job.
Don't:
- Send out the same standard covering letter for different jobs
- Underestimate the value of the covering letter - you can use it to increase the impact of your CV if your experience is lacking, by drawing attention to your strengths and achievements
Dealing with application forms
Filling out job application forms can be time-consuming and seem a little old fashioned but many employers still use them as their primary method of receiving job applications. Application forms are increasingly being made available online. This is great for candidates; they can save the form and hone their application until they are ready to send it off.
From an employer's point of view filling out a lengthy form shows:
- Commitment and interest
- Allows the employer to extract specific information which may be missing from a CV
- Makes it easier for them to pick out gaps in employment history or to spot that a box has not been ticked.
Employers may hold your application 'on file' for the purpose of matching you up with any suitable vacancies that may crop up in the future. Under the Data Protection Act they are required to keep the information held in your application confidential, only for the purpose of recruitment, and for no longer than is necessary.
To make sure your completed form has maximum impact:
- Read the instructions and make sure you fully understand each question before you fill in the form. Don't make mistakes - your application will go straight in the bin
- Photocopy or print a copy of the form beforehand and use as a rough draft - this will allow you a 'practice run'
- Take your time - this is your chance to shine
- Be succinct
- Concentrate on your achievements that are relevant to the job in question
- Write legibly if you cannot type the information onto the form
- It should be easy to read - keep your handwriting to a decent size and don't be afraid to leave some empty space
- Use black ink - it makes for clearer photocopies at the other end
- Read your completed form carefully, checking for grammar and spelling errors
- Get a second opinion from someone
- Keep a photocopy of your completed form for your own records
Don't:
- Leave any questions unanswered - if a question is not applicable explain why
- Attach a copy of your CV - unless it has been specifically requested
- Lie - many employers use information service companies to check out facts included in application forms. You could jeopardise this application and any future ones too if you lie!
Coping with tests
Assessments tests are often used by employers to gain a better understanding of candidates' potential, and can help individuals identify and develop their skills to match the demands of specific jobs. The results offer an objective indication of an individual's ability, aptitude and potential for acquiring specific skills.
Large employers are starting to use online tests particularly for graduate recruitment so be prepared to sit tests early on in the recruitment process.
While there are a number of different types of tests and assessments, they tend to fall into three categories:
- ability and aptitude tests - measure specific skill sets and indicate existing ability or potential to learn skills required for the job
- personality assessments - assess individual preferences in behaviour and attitudes or values
- motivation questionnaires - again assess individual preferences in behaviour and attitudes or values
The good news is that psychometric results - especially personality questionnaires - are never taken in isolation. They are just one part of the recruitment process.
They give the employer an insight into how you see yourself that is not always available through interviews alone. In essence, if your preferences for behaving in certain ways, such as working in a team, match the working culture of the potential employer, then you are likely to feel happier and perform more effectively in your job.
Graduates and managers at all levels are very likely to come across psychometric assessments when applying for jobs.
Follow our top tips for preparing for tests
- Find out what type of assessments to expect
- Practise doing things to a time limit. Although you might not finish a test in the allotted time, this does not necessarily reflect a poor result. This is how the test is designed. Personality and motivation questionnaires are usually not timed
- Tell the organisation if you have any disabilities or impairments that might affect your performance, such as dyslexia or poor hearing. They should be able to adapt the testing process to accommodate you
- With each test or exercise, think about what skills and abilities the test assessors and recruiters are looking for, and try to demonstrate them. However be truthful, these tests cannot be 'faked'. Any discrepancies in your answers can be identified, and may lead to the employer asking you to retake the test
- If you have not done so already, get hold of the job spec or person profile for this position
- Check with the recruiter what feedback you can expect. Employers are obliged to give you your results, even if you do not get the job.
Taking tests
Assessment organisation, ASE, says motivation is critical for success so try to keep a positive attitude throughout. Here is its ten-point plan on how to approach psychometric assessments.
- Keep calm
- Don't 'skim read' instructions - it's important to be clear about how to answer the questions
- Always complete the practice questions at the start of any assessment - ask your test administrator to clarify anything you don't understand before you start
- Plan your time to answer as many questions as possible. Don't spend too long on a single question - you can always go back to it at the end
- Check that the question number being completed matches the one on the answer sheet
- When assessing difficult multiple-choice questions start by ruling out those possible answers that are most unlikely to be correct
- If you change an answer make sure that it is clear
Making the most of interviews
The secret of a successful interview lies in preparation - do your homework and an interview can be a positive, useful experience. The job interview is your chance to show people who you are and what you're capable of and should be seen as the last furlong in a long race to a new job.
Preparation is key to a successful interview and it makes sense to know as much as possible about the company that you want to work for, so before your interview do some research:
- Look at the company website
- Read the annual report
- Read at least one decent broadsheet newspaper each day for any mention of the company
- Quiz anyone you know who has worked there
Then, be ready with a few questions for the interviewer which show that you have done your homework. The recruiter wants to know that you are on the ball.
Prepare answers to
standard questions.
Before the day
- Ring and check who will be interviewing you - a face-to-face interview with one person is a very different experience to one with a panel of six people
- Check the format of the interview - for example will there be any personality or skills testing?
- Read through your CV and application letter and take additional copies
- Check buses/trains/parking/directions
At the interview
Do:
- Turn up on time
- Be nice to everyone you meet from the receptionist onwards - you never know who might have a say in your appointment
- Make the most of your research - mention some of the facts you have gleaned
- Make sure you talk to everyone if it is a panel interview rather than directing your answers at one or two people only
- Find out as much as you can about the job - how else will you be able to decide if they make you an offer? For example, you should want to know who the job reports to and why it has become vacant
- If the first interview is with a recruitment consultant, pump him or her for as much information as possible about the organisation and the job
Don't:
- Be late - in fact, try to arrive early
- Criticise current or previous employers
- Answer a question with another question
- Interrupt the interviewers - although they may interrupt you
- Leave without finding out when you will hear if you have made it to the next round of the recruitment process, and what that will involve
Questions for you
There are obviously an infinite number of questions you could be asked in an interview. However, with a bit of forethought you can probably come up with a few general questions that have a high probability of being asked and prepare answers for them. Here are few good examples:
- What do you know about our company?
- Can you tell us about the job you have now?
- What makes you want to leave?
- Why do you want this job in particular?
- What do you think your strengths and weaknesses are?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
- Do you work well in a team?
- What do you like to do in your spare time?
There are also job-specific questions that might pop up depending on the role you're applying for. For example:
- Do you belong to any organisations or associations?
- What experience have you had with training staff?
- Do you manage a budget? How well do you keep to it?
- How do you deal with an unsatisfied client?
- How have you directly contributed to the revenue in your current business?
Questions for them
The questions you ask your interviewer can say a lot about you. They not only show that you have researched their company, but also that you have a genuine interest in the job and what it entails. For example:
- Why is the job vacant? Is the company expanding?
- What kind of team would I have?
- Would I be responsible for a budget? How much?
- How is performance measured?
- What would be the most challenging part of the job?
- What are the company's future plans? Restructure? Refurbishment?
