CVs, Covering Letters, Application Forms and Interviews kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

1. Social Work CVs, Covering Letters, Application Forms and Interviewswww.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm Natalie Smith & Amy Wiggins Careers and Employability Service

2. Agenda • Introduction to the Careers and Employability Service. • CVs • Covering letters • 5 min break at 1.55 • Application forms • Interviews

3. Careers and Employability Service • www.kent.ac.uk/ces • www.facebook.com/ukmemployability • www.twitter.com/ukmemploy

4. Agenda – CVs and Covering Letters • The purpose of a CV. • What to include on a CV. • Person specifications and how to tailor a CV to a job. • How to make a CV clear and easy to read. • What to include in a covering letter.

5. What is a CV? • Curriculum Vitae (Latin: the course of one’s life) • An outline of a person’s educational and professional history What is the purpose of a CV? • To inform the employer about your education, work experience, skills and interests • To ‘sell’ these qualities and to persuade the employer to invite you to interview

6. When should a CV be used? • When an employer asks for a CV. • When an employer states ‘apply to…’ without specifying the format. • When making speculative applications.

7. Poll On average how long does a recruiter spend looking at a CV? • 0-30 seconds • 30 seconds – 1 minute • 1-2 minutes

8. Activity You will be given two CVs and you will have 20 seconds to look at each one and decide which one you would invite to an interview for a Social Work role.

9. CV 1 End 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

10. CV 2 End 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

11. CVs 1and 2 Which one did you choose and why?

12. What should a CV contain? • Personal details • Personal profile (optional) • Education from GCSE level –institutions, qualifications & dates (most recent first) • Relevant work experience • Work history • Other information • References

13. Personal Details • Name (as a heading rather than ‘CV’) • Address • Telephone number • Email address • Make sure this is a professional email address, not ‘sexybeccy@hotmail.com’

14. Education and Qualifications • Start with the most recent • Don’t forget your current study • Mention relevant modules • You might like to mention top marks • You don’t have to put your grades on if you weren’t happy with them • Include the years of study • Primary school not needed

15. Education and Qualifications • 2011 – Present University of Kent • BA (Hons) Social Work (Predicted 2:1) • Modules include: Social Work Theories, Methods and Practice, Social Work Practice in a Multi-agency Context. • Highlights include: • Winner of the Social Work Placement Award • Achieved 75% on child protection project. • 2009 – 2011 Maidstone Grammar School • A-levels: History (A), Art (B), Information Technology (C) • 2005 – 2009 Wrotham School • GCSEs: 8 GCSEs grade A-C including English and Mathematics

16. Work Experience • Dates, name of company, position, location. • Don’t just list your duties – sell your skills and provide evidence. Which skills are relevant to the position/organisation you are applying to? • Sales Assistant Museum of Kent Life, Maidstone April 2010 – June 2011 • Delivered excellent customer service as demonstrated by my mystery shop result of 91% and by receiving ‘Sales Assistant of the Month’ award three times. • Achieved a sales result of 5% above my target illustrating my advanced selling skills, as well as my determination to succeed.

17. What examples can you give from your work experience? If you have no paid work experience, give examples from voluntary work or from your course

18. Action Verbs created instructed analysed 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

19. Interests and Activities • Choose interests and activities which can demonstrate skills relevant to the job such as: • Communication • Team work • Organising • Commitment • Your intellectual abilities

20. References • Ideally, one academic and previous/current employer. • Ask permission from your referee and let them know what position(s) you’ve applied for. • Use relevant references if possible. • You can say ‘references available on request’ rather than including contact details if you wish.

21. Matching your CV with the job/company • It is not ‘one size fits all’, you need to tailor your CV to each position you apply for. • Research the organisation. Do they have a mission statement or core values? What will they be looking for in you? Check the job description/person specification.

22. Matching your CV with the job/company • What is a person specification? • See example on handout.

23. Activity • Write down some evidence showing that you have ‘the ability to work as a member of a multi-agency team’, as you would do on a CV. 5 minutes

24. Presentation of your CV • The first visual impression of your CV is important. • For standard CVs, use plain white A4 paper. • Do not double side (?) • Keep your CV to two sides of paper. • Check your spelling. • Use bullet points and bold font but in moderation.

25. Presentation of your CV • Formatting – make sure it’s consistent. • Size 11-12 font (depending on font style). • Clear font e.g. Arial, Calibri. • 2:1, not Two One or 2,1. • Use short, concise sentences.

26. Where to find example CVs Slides are on: www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm • www.kent.ac.uk/ces • www.prospects.ac.uk • http://www.careers.lon.ac.uk/files/pdf/How_to_Write_a_CV_leaflet2010.pdf • http://www.seo-london.com/get-started/making-a-strong-application • http://www.gradskent.com/graduates/application_advice/61/

27. Covering letters • Never send a ‘naked’ CV! • 1 side of A4 – similar to a UCAS personal statement • Opening paragraph – motivation for the job • Followed by skills and experience developed through study, work experience and paid work • ‘Matching up’ with job description • http://www.prospects.ac.uk/covering_letters.htm • http://www.wikijob.co.uk/wiki/how-write-cover-letter • http://www.wikijob.co.uk/wiki/example-cover-letter

28. How not to do it • My hobbits include - instead of 'hobbies.' • I have good writen skills. • i am a prefectionist and rarely if if ever forget details. • I hope to hear from you shorty. • In my spare time I enjoy hiding my horse. • Restaurant skills: Severing customers

29. Any Questions? Slides: www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm