21 st Century CVs

1. 21st Century CVs Cliona Hillery Careers Adviser Careers Advisory Service East Chapel www.tcd.ie/careers

2. Aim of the Seminar At the end of this session you will have: • an understanding of CV purpose and how recruiters view CVs. • the information required to write an effective CV that will represent you, your skills and experience to a potential employer. • an ability to critically evaluate the content and visual impact of your own CV.

3. Overview - CVs Curriculum Vitae Purpose Tailoring your CV Layout Do’s and Don’ts Cover Letters Guidelines on writing effective cover letters

4. What Makes a Good CV?

5. Purpose Your purpose: To get an interview in order to get the job. Selector’s purpose: To decide whether or not to interview you

6. Tailor your Application Tailor your application to clearly identify how you meet the organisation’s needs Knowing yourself Knowing what they want

7. Knowing Yourself (Self-Profile) To carry this out review activities: Specific Achievements Current Responsibilities Course Work Projects Work Experience - including Voluntary Work Sports, Societies, Social Life Then - What Skills have I gained?

8. “Self-Profile” College Time Personal time • Managing Money • Take a Risk • Speaking in Societies • Being on a Committee • Organising an Event • Helping Others • Catering for Others • Entertaining Others • Taking Initiative • Managing Time WorkExperience Academic Time • Writing Reports • Analysing Data • Researching information • Retaining Facts • Working to Deadline • Establishing Good • Customer Relations • Showing Reliability • Working Well with others • Being Adaptable • Using Languages • Communication Skills • Financial Skills • Interpersonal Skills • Time Management Skills

9. Know the Organisation N.B. “Organisations love to be loved.” Ask if there is anything they can send you in writing about their organisation Go to their website & read everything they have there “about us” Go to the library & locate any newspaper articles or other information about the organisation Check the Alumni database at the CAS Ask your friends if they know anyone working there to whom you could talk Become familiar with the organisation’s history, purpose, goals, values

10. Job Descriptions & Person Specifications Job description or Job Role • Details the key duties and responsibilities of a post Person Specification • Details the knowledge, skills and experience the post holder will need to have and to what level they will need to have them in order to fulfil the key duties and responsibilities set out in the job description

11. Matching Process

12. Havok Engineering • Havok Engineering has been at the cutting edge of innovation in game development for over a decade. We work cross platform, mainly on AAA titles, with top clients such as EA, Sony, Activision, Nintendo, Ubisoft, Bungie, Guerrilla, and DICE. We have a unique environment made up of talented, small, stable teams. We provide each of our engineers with an opportunity to make a real impact...

13. Havok - Internship Requirements • Pending Bachelor/Master’s Degree in Computer Science/Engineering/Mathematics • Strong C++ skills and project experience ( game project experience beneficial) • Knowledge of 3D Mathematics, graphics or tools highly desirable • Low level optimisation skills, experience in middleware desirable • Strong communication skills/ability to work in a team environment

14. Applications • Please visit www.havok.com/careers or email your resume to jobs@havok.com. Please indicate that you are applying for the Software Engineer Internship.

15. CV Basics Length Format Headings Personal Details Career Objective (optional) Education & Qualifications Employment History Interests & Achievements Skills Profile Referees International CVs

16. Personal Details Keep it short Top of page Date of birth - optional Email address

17. “A 4th Year Honours Computer Science student at Trinity College Dublin, with developed technical, problem solving, numerate and communication skills now seeking a challenging placement in an IT Consulting firm .” “A commercially aware and IT literate 4th year Computer Science student, undertaking a 5-year Masters degree programme, with highly developed problem solving, interpersonal and communication skills now looking for an internship as a software developer working on real world projects.” Career Objective

18. Education & Qualifications Place most recent first Profile your course and its relevance to the job: Full Title e.g. BA Moderatorship and a Master in Computer Science (MCS) Length & structure Relevant subjects taken Grades attained and awards Title of relevant Projects / Dissertations / Thesis Placements abroad

19. Education & Qualifications 2008 – to date BA (Mod) Computer Science (4 years) Key Subjects: Results: 2008 – to date Master in Computer Science (MCS) - 5 years (Currently undertaking this integrated Computer Science programme and will graduate in 2014) Results (expected):

20. Employment History Summer 2012 Intern, BT Undertook a real world project during the summer researching an area of technology to find out how it worked and what capability it could yield to BT Responsible for setting the direction, building prototypes and demonstrating my findings.  This included Cloud Computing, Mobile OS, Hadoop, GIS and AJAX technologies.

21. Employment History Christmas 2011 Marketing Assistant, Supervalu, Balbriggan Designed a customer service questionnaire that involved using excel and presenting the findings to the regional marketing manager, awarded a considerable bonus in respect of my efforts.

22. Skills Profile IT – Confident IT user with strong working knowledge of multiple computer programmes, languages & applications including Microsoft Office, HTML, UNIX, & Visual Basic. Officer for the DUCSS (Computer Science Society at TCD) Project Management/Leadership – Instrumental in the organisation of a running club reunion held in Summer 2011. Took charge of the publicity for the event & single-handedly traced as many former members as was possible Communication Skills – Demonstrated oral and written communication skills in various work experiences and in publication of articles for Trinity News. Give grinds in Computer Studies to Leaving Certificate students

23. Other Skills • Problem-solving skills • Teamwork • Leadership potential • Communication and interpersonal skills • Analytical ability • Initiative and Creativity • Rounded Experience

24. Interests & Achievements Voluntary Publicity Officer, Amnesty Arranged a publicity campaign. Gained experience in delegation, proofreading text, desktop publishing and working under pressure to meet deadlines Sport Treasurer, Boxing Club Kept accounts for a committee of eight. Helped organise a campaign to extend membership of the club which resulted in twenty new members

25. Referees Get permission before you use someone as a referee Two referees are usually given Include one academic referee Include one referee from your work experience

26. 8

27. 50

28. 6

29. E-mail/ Digital CVs • Emailing CVs save as a PDF • Employers sometimes scan CVs • Digital versus presentational CVs

30. Achieved Administered Analysed Built Capable Competent Consistent Controlled Co-ordinated Created Designed Useful Words – See Our Website! • Developed • Directed • Economical • Effective • Efficient • Engineered • Established • Expanded • Experienced • Guided • Improved • Initiated • Instructed • Managed • Monitored • Organised • Participated • Positive • Processed • Productive • Proficient • Qualified • Repaired • Sold • Specialised • Stable • Successful • Supervised • Trained • Versatile • Wide Background

31. Iportence of acruate speling and gramer What spelling mistakes say about you: You really cannot spell You are lazy – can’t be bothered doing a spell-check You are inattentive to detail You are careless You do not really want the job

32. Summary – top ten CV sins Typos Putting the first last Gaps Sloppy formatting Cluttered CV Irrelevant information Not tailoring your CV Disorganised CV Too long Too basic

33. CV checklist Is the CV relevant to the position for which you are applying? Is the layout clear, concise, well presented and professional Can an employer see the relevant points at a glance? Have you emphasised your skills, experience and achievements? Is it free of spelling and grammatical errors? Does it paint a positive picture of you? Are you happy with this paper reflection of you?

34. Cover Letters Three main sections: Introduce yourself • What brings you to write? Ad, contact, article? Your motivations to apply • Why this type of work? Why this organisation? What you offer • Evidence of key strengths (Analyse Job Description)

35. Cover Letters – Key Points • Address by name • Show understanding of the position • Crisp, clear, business English • Summarise why you’re perfect for the job (showcase your skills) • Back up with evidence – reference experience • Tailor to the employer • Print on quality paper • Sign with blue pen

36. Application Forms: A Summary • Research the job and the employer • Identify the skills and qualities being sought • Assess and record the evidence of your skills • Match your skills and competencies to those the employers are seeking • Read the application form instructions carefully and follow them • Answer every question Recommended: attend a CAS Application Forms workshop

37. Interview! Do your home work on the job and industry Be able to discuss your CV in detail Research the role – use your contacts! Top Tips Show ENTHUSIASM – ask questions Understand who you are talking to Keep to the point!

38. Answering the Question • Situation • Task • Action • Result

39. What are Employers looking for? Innovative Ethical Accepting of diverse people & ideas High quality implementers ? Demonstrated interest & knowledge Solution-oriented mindset Intellectual curiosity Self-motivated & directed Strong analytical skills Communicate openly / clearly Flexible Leadership Example: Google 2012

40. Your Degree What Next?www.tcd.ie/Careers • Overview • Skills Gained • Choose a Career • Profiling for Success • Career Report on Gradireland.com • My Prospects Career Planner on Prospects.co.uk • What TCD Graduates Do • Job Profiles • Further Study • Making Applications • Vacancies • Useful links

41. How The Careers Service Can Help! • Website • Your Degree What Next-Customised for your course • Vacancies • Online testing “Profiling for Success” • Online VACWORK Newsletter (NB Essay Competition) • Going Global • Vault Career Insider • Careers Information Centre • Free publications including Target Work Experience • Careers Events • Careers week • Training: CVs, Applications, Interviews, Practice video interviews • Drop In CV Clinic Tuesday 2.15-3.30 • Employer Presentations (Networking opportunity) • Individual guidance

42. Our Availability • Meetings • (By Appointment via careers@tcd.ie or 8961721) • 10.00am, 11.00am, 12 Noon • 2.15pm, 3.15pm • To ask a question / CV Review • hillerc@tcd.ie • mary.odonnell@tcd.ie

43. Resources • CVs & Application web pages & ‘Careers Service Guide ’ www.tcd.ie/Careers/students/jobsearch/apply/ • Get feedback on your CV from your Careers Adviser! Online or in person www.tcd.ie/Careers/contact/contact_us_students.php • Gradireland.com http://gradireland.com/careers-advice/cvs-and-applications

44. Resources Prospects.ac.uk www.prospects.ac.uk/cvs.htm International CVs: Going Global www.tcd.ie/Careers/goinglobal/index.php Personal Statements www.fulbright.co.uk/study-in-the-us/postgraduate-study/completing-an-application/personal-statement www.wpi.edu/Academics/FS/essays.html www.rpi.edu/web/writingcenter/gradapp.htm