SSPSSR CAREERS SESSION CVs & Employability skills kent.ac.uk/careers/

1. SSPSSR CAREERS SESSIONCVs & Employability skillswww.kent.ac.uk/careers/ Tim Reed Head of Careers

2. Introduction • What is the Careers and Employability Service? • How to write a CV • Employability skills www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

3. The Careers and Employability Service • Location • Staff • Opening times etc • Services & facilities

4. Specific CES facilities • Reception & Careers library • Options Leaflets & free careers literature • Reference files, books & postgraduate prospectuses • IT facilities - www.kent.ac.uk/careers/jobs/index.htm • Alumni careers network • Careers Employability Module (CEM) on Moodle • Quick Query • Careers Guidance Interview • Talks & presentations

5. Careers Presentationswww.kent.ac.uk/careers/casevents.htm Examples of Careers Talks • Interview Skills, CV Workshop, Choosing a Career • Careers in Politics, Getting a job in the Media, Applying for Teacher Training • Journalism Workshop, T.E.F.L. Presentation, Using languages & Working in Europe • Postgraduate Study in the Humanities • Presentation by Deloitte • Presentations by BUNAC: (i) Work in USA & Canada (ii) Work in Australia & New Zealand • Presentation by Pearson (summer internships) • Presentation by NHS • Presentation by PwC: Commercial Awareness

6. How to use the CES Begin by doing some research  Perhaps into yourself (ideas, interests, preferences)  Then into your opportunities (use vacancy database, Directories)  Use IT: CES website & PROSPECT PLANNER  Attend talks/workshops/presentations etc  Quick Query at CES  1:1 careers interview

7. How to write a CV

8. How to write a CV What is a CV? When is it used? What does it contain? Who do you send it to? What about the covering letter?

9. What is a CV? One of many ways to apply Your marketing tool A4 – sized Flexible & targeted Stylized: Chronological/Skills-based Different in other countries http://www.prospects.ac.uk http://www.eurograduate.com/planning.asp

10. When is it used? As the main tool for on-spec applications When requested by an employer In support of other application information Never without a letter/message via email as attachment When your Referee needs more info

11. What does it contain? Personal details Academic background Work Experience Interests & achievements Additional information References

12. Sarah Jane Andrews(5/11/90) • 33 Union Street, Manchester, M6 3AE. Tel. 0161 351 4039 Nationality: British • Email: S.J.Andrews@hotmail.com Mob: 07727374619 • EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS • 2008 - 2012 University of Kent BA (Hons.) Sociology – expected degree class 2:1. • Final Year Subjects: Risk & Society, Urban Sociology, Youth & Crime. • Project: “Sociological Implications of UK Credit Card Debt". • 2007 - 2009 Manchester Community College. • A Levels: English B, Sociology B, Economics C. AS Level: Geography D • 2002 - 2007 St. John’s Boys School, Manchester. • 8 GCSEs (grades A*-C) including English, Maths and French. • WORK EXPERIENCE • Summer 2011 Tourist Information Office, Canterbury. • Helping tourists, working in Bureau de Change, booking theatre and concert tickets. • Summer 2010 Canterbury City Council. • Accounts Clerk in Treasurer’s office. Dealing with enquiries, using computerised systems. • 2009 - present Simple Simon’s Public House, Canterbury. • Bar work throughout the year serving food and drinks to customers and cashing up. • ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS • Secretary of the Sociology Society, involved booking speakers. • Organised a charity fun run for Rag Week – raised £175. • Enjoy competitive sport and play for the University netball team. • Other interests include current affairs and studying the Stock Market. • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION • IT Skills: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Email, WWW etc. • Good level of spoken French. • Full, clean driving licence. • REFERENCES • Available on request

13. Sarah Jane Andrews (5/11/90) • 33 Union Street, Manchester, M6 3AE. Tel. 0161 351 4039 Nationality: British • Email: S.J.Andrews@hotmail.com Mob: 07727374619 • EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS • 2009 - 2012 University of Kent BA (Hons) Sociology - expected degree class 2.1 • Final Year Subjects: Risk & Society, Urban Sociology, Youth & Crime • Project: “Sociological Implications of UK Credit Card Debt". • 2007 - 2009 Manchester Community College. • A Levels: English B, Sociology B, Economics C. AS Level: Geography D • 2002 - 2007 St. John’s Boys School, Manchester. • 8 GCSEs (grades A*-C) including Mathematics, English and French.

14. WORK EXPERIENCE • Summer 2011 Tourist Information Office, Canterbury. • Helping tourists, working in Bureau de Change, booking theatre and concert tickets. • Summer 2010 Canterbury City Council. • Accounts Clerk in Treasurer’s office. Dealing with enquiries, using computerised systems. • 2009 - present Simple Simon’s Public House, Canterbury. • Bar work throughout the year serving food and drinks to customers and cashing up.

15. ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS • Secretary of the Sociology Society, involved booking speakers. • Organised a charity fun run for Rag Week – raised £175. • Enjoy competitive sport and play for the University netball team. • Other interests include current affairs and studying the Stock Market. • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION • IT: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Email, WWW etc. • Good level of spoken French. • Full, clean driving licence. • REFERENCES • Available on request

16. Tailoring your application Emphasize relevant qualifications Highlight key text/information Focus on relevant skills Research employer requirements and insert key phrases into your application Cherry pick what you include! For example: specific course module titles, work experience, voluntary activities, individual achievements, travel, IT skills, languages, sporting honours, positions of responsibility & egs of leadership, teamwork, flexibility, meeting/surpassing targets, communication, taking the initiative, problem-solving etc… Keep a comprehensive list of all of these!

17. CV styles Standard/Chronological Skills-based Computing/Online Media Legal www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvexamples.htm

18. Hints on wording Avoid personal pronouns - No “I’s” Start with verbs wherever possible Use short sentences & concise phrases Focus on accomplishments Refer to specific projects with quantifiable results Use personal power words

19. Personal power words created instructed analyzed produced negotiated designed calculated maintained administered controlled reviewed observed consolidated delivered founded increased studied invented supplied detected programmed recommended distributed developed solved prepared installed selected arranged formulated solved started

20. Who do you send it to? Named company representative Director/Manager of Personnel Referees OTHERS WHO REQUEST IT eg. Recruitment agencies, Postgraduate courses, Sponsorship/Funding bodies

21. Common Mistakes! Too long Untargeted Disorganised Contains errors/missspellings Not accomplishments focused

22. CV Nightmares “Received a plague for employee of the year.” “As indicted, I have over five years experience of analysing research statistics.” “I am loyal to my employer at all costs …. Please feel free to respond to my CV on my work voice mail.” Cover letter: "Thank you for your consideration. I hope to hear from you shorty!"

23. What is a good application? Well-researched Targeted Accurate (content, speling, grammar) Informative Interesting Easy to read Enthusiastic

24. What about the covering letter? One side of good quality A4 paper Formal/conventional layout Addressed to a named person State position applied for & where advertised Explain why applying Convince the reader of your interest & suitability (egs!) Give dates when available/can start Sign off “Yours sincerely” (if sent to named person)

25. John Andrews • 33 Union Street • Manchester • M6 3AE • 9th March 2012 • Ms Verity Wise • Graduate Recruitment Manager • Great Big Bank Co. • Anywhere Street • London • SW1 • Job Reference Number 12345(state this if it is mentioned in the advert) • Dear Ms. Wise • I am writing in response to your advertisement in “Prospects Finalist" for Research Trainees and enclose my CV for your consideration. • I first became interested in financial research through talking to a Kent graduate, currently on your training programme, at the University Careers Fair. Since then, discussion with my careers adviser and with management staff at my local branch has confirmed my decision to aim for a career in this field. • Through my degree course, I have been able to develop my interest in business together with my numeracy skills. While at University, I have also been able to utilise my skills in working with people through a variety of vacation jobs. My work at the Tourist Information Office was valuable in teaching me the importance of ascertaining customers’ needs and providing clear and accurate information. • I will be available for interview if required at your convenience. I can be contacted at my home address (above) and look forward to hearing from you. • Yours Sincerely • John Andrews

26. Further Information Careers and Employability Service website www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm CES booklet “Making Applications” AGCAS Booklet CES Reference Files (013 series) Example CVs (013) Quick Queries at the CAS Reference Books (eg. CVs for Graduates)

27. Analytical skills Clear & Logical thinking Communication Gathering, assessing and interpreting information Numerical skills Organising Planning Problem solving Research Team work Working to deadlines Employability skills

28. Employability skillswww.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/skillsmenu.htm CES Moodle Resource www.kent.ac.uk/careers/moodle.htm Employability Points www.kent.ac.uk/employabilitypoints/ Global Skills Award www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool/skills/programmes/gsalectures.html Kent Union Volunteering www.kentunion.co.uk/volunteering/ CES Employability skills exercise www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/skillstest.html

29. Employment option examples NHS Management Personnel Police Production Management Public Relations Publishing Purchasing Retail Self-employment Social Work TEFL Teaching Tourism Transport Advertising Armed Forces Arts admin Broadcasting Central & Local Gov’t Computing/IT Finance Fire Service Guidance/Counselling Info Management/Museums Journalism Law Marketing/Sales Management Consultancy

30. Graduate Salaries 2012 Arcadia – retail management £18,500 - £23,000 Boots - brand/buying/marketing grad scheme £24,000 + £1k welcome! Barclays Bank - future leaders development programme £36k (+£8k bonus!) Civil Service - up to £27,000 Explore Learning - education management £21,000 Exxon Mobil - graduate schemes £34,000 FiveTen Group - recruitment £20-£25k GCHQ - defence research £25,000 (+ benefits) IBM - range of schemes £27,000 - £32,000 Jaguar Land Rover – purchasing grad scheme £27k John Lewis - buying/retail management/merchandising graduate schemes £25,000 L’Oreal - management training scheme £28,000 McDonald’s - trainee business manager £18,500-21,500 MI5 - £24,750 + benefits - varies by function! Motability - £28,500 (+ joining bonus!) Slaughter & May - training contract £38,000 Waitrose - retail management £25,000

31. SSPSSR CAREERS SESSIONCVs & Employability skillswww.kent.ac.uk/careers/ Tim Reed Head of Careers