Writing an Effective CV

Writing an Effective CV Sarah BlackfordHead of Education & Public Affairs

Career Planning SELF (skills, personality, values, interests OPPORTUNITIES (jobs, networking) TRANSITION (CVs, interviews) DECISIONS Taking action

Your CV • Is NOT your Biography • It is your Prospectus for the Future • The Perfect CV will not get you the job • It will - Help you to get an Interview

Marketing Yourself ‘on Paper’ Successful Applications: • Identify and Address the EMPLOYER’S Needs • Give Evidence of RELEVANT Skills and Qualities • Present a Professional Cohesive Image • Convey Enthusiasm and Commitment • Don’t Undersell

The “Perfect” CV Key Elements • Concise • Communication • Clearly Demonstrates • Ability to Produce Results • For Your Potential Employer • Motivated to Meet You

How Long Will an Employer Spend Reading Your CV? 20-30 Seconds

What do Employers Want? • Targeted Applications: • Awareness of Skills Required - Matched to YOUR Evidence of Skills YOU Possess • Explain YOUR Interest and Motivation • Fully and Correctly Completed Applications • Evidence which Sets YOU Above the Average

CV Action Verbs Describe what you have DONE • Achieved • Assessed • Completed • Created • Coordinated • Demonstrated • Developed • Elected • Expressed • Initiated • Investigated • Led • Organised • Prepared • Produced • Selected • Supervised • Tested AGCAS 2009

Preparing An Effective CV How long does it take to prepare?

Preparing a CV • Put Strongest Statement at the Top • Keep Sentences and Paragraphs Short • Use Indented and Bulleted Statements • Use Simple Terms • Use Quantities and Amounts

Top 5 CV Mistakes • Too Long / too short • Disorganised • Untargeted/generic • Misspellings, Typing Errors, Poor Grammar • Too Many Irrelevancies

What to Include on your CV • Personal Details (including social media/website) • ?Career Goal/Key capabilities • Education • Work History • Skills and competencies • Professional Membership, Interests • Referees

Personal Details (including social media/website) JANE FIELDS 10 Heyworth Drive, 07763560347 Lancaster Jane.fields@lancaster.ac.uk LA1 8FG @Field_jane ______________________________________________________________

Career Goal/Key Capabilities • List 3 or more competencies which are specifically associated with those required for the post as specified on the job description. • Focus on key achievements, relevant technical experience or interpersonal skills as well as your interest in this industry or research. “Ecology graduate with experience conducting bat surveys coupled with excellent fieldwork techniques. Well developed team working and communication skills and a strong desire to forge a career as an ecologist.”

Education • 2010 – 2013 Lancaster University • BSc Biology and Ecology - expected 2.1 • Independent Fieldwork Project. • Four weeks data collection and six weeks lab analysis. • Resulted in a 15,000-word project report and a • presentation to the department. • See section below for more detail on the project. • Currently researching two extended essays, one to • be based on the conservation of bats in the UK. • 2003 – 2010 King Edward VI School, Norwich • A-levels: Biology (A), Geography (B) and Maths (B). • AS-levels: Physics (A) and General Studies (B). • GCSEs: 7 at A* and 4 at A.

Education 2010 – 2013 Lancaster University BSc Biology and Ecology - expected 2.1 Main subjects studied: Animal Behaviour, Conservation in Practice, Global Change Biology: challenges and solutions, Issues in Conservation Biology. Dissertation: “The effects of trapping on the stress levels and behaviour of European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus)”. This involved four weeks’ data collection and six weeks lab analysis, including acquiring haematocrit values from blood samples, and using NBT assays and microscopy to obtain cell counts. The project was written up as a 15,000-word dissertation and presented to the department. Currently researching two extended essays entitled: “A comparative analysis of different techniques to monitor bats in the UK” and “The distribution and spread of Chalara dieback disease in Ash trees.”

Ecology-related experience Cumbria Bat Group: As an active member of this group, I participate in guided walks, roost counts and bat box checks. I recently completed a course of rabies vaccinations in order to be able to handle bats and be more involved with bat box checks. Field work courses:July 2011: Bat Ecology course: Two-day field course with the Field Studies Council in using bats as an ecological survey tool. Volunteering:British Trust for Conservation Volunteers: I regularly help with the Local group at weekends. Mainly involves mending fences, managing woodland and clearing paths.

Other work experience June – July 2011 Reed Employment. Worked as part of a team of 24, in order to mark exam papers over a period of three weeks. Jan – June 2011 Lancaster University College bar person Duties involved serving customers, till work, keeping stock levels consistent and tidying the bar area. The majority of the shifts involved running the bar by myself. 2005 - 2010 WH Smith. Retail assistant in the book department, assisting customers with enquiries, stock checking and making sales.

Skills, professional membership and interests Ecology: - Competent usingGIS, SPSS, survey techniques - Student member of the IEEM - Student member of the British Ecological SocietyIT: - Competent in all Microsoft Office packages including Excel, Word, Access and PowerPoint. Driving:- Full clean driving licence Interpersonal:- Well-developed team working skills through my involvement in fieldwork and voluntary schemes where agreeing tasks and working in cooperation is central to doing a professional and efficient job. - As a member of the university e-mentor scheme, I take responsibility for supporting and offering advice to GCSE students about A-level and university options. For this I need to be professional and reliable as well as being a good listener. - I am physically fit and enjoy the countryside. A member of the university hiking club, and I also regularly go swimming and circuit training.

Referees Academic: Prof. Mark Black, School of Biological Sciences, (Course tutor) Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YE Tel. 01524 739 3100; m.black02@lancaster.ac.uk Academic: Prof. Susan Moore, School of Biological Sciences, (Project tutor) Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YE Tel. 01524 739 3100; s.moore05@lancaster.ac.uk Bat Group: Ms Jane Pemberton, 12 Rogerson Road, Carnforth, LA12 7YH Tel. 01543 743 2270; jpmb35@mimail.com

How to Write a Winning Covering Letter

Covering Letter Should Include: Introduction • What you are Applying for • Why You are Applying Highlight your Key Points • Matching Skills and Experience Confident Conclusion • Availability for Interview

EXAMPLE OF A COVERING LETTER Your addressDate Name of addressee (if you have one) Company name and address Job title (Include reference number if there is one) Dear sir/madam (or named person), I am applying for the post of XX which I saw advertised on Twitter. Having recently completed my degree in Ecology, I am very keen to pursue a career as an ecologist. I enclose my CV which provides evidence of my suitability for this post. During my degree, I have undertaken a variety of ecology work including fieldwork as part of my course, and voluntary work with local conservation groups. These have involved working with the local Bat group, conducting surveys and monitoring the population. In addition, I have taken specialist courses to improve my knowledge. I also spend many of my weekends volunteering with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, which I have very much enjoyed, particularly the practical and team working aspects. …

EXAMPLE OF A COVERING LETTER continued … I am very interested in this post as I have a passion for XX and have been gaining experience which I hope will enable me to contribute productively right from the start. The job requires XX expertise, some of which I have been acquiring during my degree and I feel confident I can quickly learn new skills and technical abilities to succeed in the role. Your organisation is highly respected for its advisory and research-associated work and I would appreciate the opportunity of working with you in this exciting role. I hope you will consider me seriously as a candidate for interview and look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully, (if sir/madam) Yours sincerely, (if named person) Your name

Interviews: Your Steps to Success • Research the job • Research the Organisation 3. Check how you match up 4. Consider the Interview format 5. Anticipate Questions 6. Dress the part 7. Plan the Journey 8. Psyche yourself up for success 9. Start well 10. Weigh up questions 11. Listen carefully 12. Reply skilfully 13. Ask the right questions 14. Finish on a top note

RESOURCES CVs – www.biosciencecareers.org Interviews - www.biosciencecareers.org

Writing an Effective CV