CV Writing Skills

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CV Writing Skills How to Prepare a Curriculum Vitae
FTCV
Spark of Genius (Training) Ltd Abbey Mill Business Centre Mile End, 12 Seedhill Road, Paisley PA1 1JS Tel: 0141 587 2710 E-mail: admin@sparkofgenius.co.uk
Futures
CV Writing Skills How to Prepare a Curriculum Vitae
Futures CV Writing Skills
CONTENTS
WHAT IS A CV AND WHY DO YOU NEED ONE? .....................................4
GENERAL GUIDELINES ............................................................................9
CV STYLES ..............................................................................................10
KEY SKILLS CHECKLIST ........................................................................15
PROFILES AND ACHIEVEMENTS ..........................................................17
CV INFORMATION FORM .......................................................................20
CV TEMPLATE TIPS AND GUIDELINES .................................................22
SAMPLE FUNCTIONAL CV .....................................................................23
YOUR CV TEMPLATE ..............................................................................24
Spark of Genius (Training) Ltd, Abbey Mill Business Centre, Mile End, 12 Seedhill Road, Paisley PA1 1JS Tel: 0141 587 2710 E-mail: admin@sparkofgenius.co.uk
For no reasonable reason, assumptions are made and stereotypes are formed on peoples first impressions. Your CV is the first impression that a potential employer will have of you. Preparing your template for a CV involves some hard work, however, the challenge will hopefully be rewarded. What does CV stand for? - Curriculum Vitae Latin translation: - The Course of Ones Life Dictionary translation: - Outline of a persons education & career summary Remember: a bad CV could be very detrimental to your chances of employment whilst a good CV could help significantly in earning you an interview. Your CV can suggest bad things about you (lazy, muddled, Mr. Average), however it can also portray a positive image and show that you are organised, flexible and conscientious. Apart from applying for vacancies that request a CV there are many other benefits and advantages to taking the time and trouble to produce your own CV. Your CV is a very important tool that is worth the time and effort to get right. Please list below any other reasons you can think of where you might need or want a cv?
Other possible uses for your CV are: Clarifying your own thoughts in terms of what you have to offer an employer Dealing with recruitment agencies Preparing for interviews Encouraging interview questions for which you are well prepared Aide Memoir for telephone interviews/initial approach Copy information to application forms Attach to a Business Plan Use for loan purposes You may be interested to know that national statistics show that your CV stays in front of a potential employer for thirty seconds before the decision is made to read on or reject. Thirty seconds for all that hard work, time and effort. Official figures also show that one million cv's are sent by post, fax or e-mail every month in the UK. Research shows that if your cv is more than two pages long you have less chance of it being considered. Keep it clear, keep it positive, keep it short, and keep the reader interested. Your first impression should be memorable and stand out from the competition. Look upon yourself as a product you are trying to sell. Like any other product on the market your advertising material (i.e. your CV) should be produced with the buyer in mind. Please look at the two examples on the following pages.
Example 1 - Sam Bade
Please make comments, positive or negative, on this CV.
Example 2 - Sam Goode (page 1)
Example 2 - Sam Goode (page 2)
Please make comments, positive or negative, on this CV.
Some observations on Examples 1 & 2: Example 1 - Sam Bade - not clear whether Sam Bade is a man or woman. The person is obviously intelligent and education is important to them, however the information is not clear, confusing and contains errors. A confused reader will move on quickly and will not take the time to work it all out for you ultimately resulting in your application being rejected. Example 2 - Sam Goode is obviously skilled, competent, versatile and has good skills. The CV is easy to read and easy to follow. Between the two people the second person is certainly seems more confident, enthusiastic and organised. Sam Bade / Sam Goode is the same person marketed differently. Sam Goodes is not a perfect CV but if you were an employer and had a choice between them who would you choose and why?
Remember: KEEP THE BUYER IN MIND WHEN SELLING THE PRODUCT (YOU)
Curriculum Vitae - General Guidelines
DO

Produce your CV using a word processor Check for spelling, grammar and punctuation Tell the truth Keep it positive and clear Keep it simple - avoid putting the reader off with long words or sentences Keep it short - one sheet of A4 white paper if possible, 2 sheets A4 maximum Have different versions of your CV in order that you can apply for jobs in different career areas Be positive - do not elaborate on jobs that you did not make a great success of or finish - concentrate on what you did achieve
DO NOT

Make jokes Invent information - you may have to prove your knowledge in an interview Use more than two sides of A4 paper Use coloured paper Hand write or type CV on a typewriter Send photocopied CV to potential employers Use pretentious language - write simply and clearly
General Omissions (unless specified)

Examinations you have failed Your health (if poor) Major illness, both physical and mental Reasons for leaving previous employment Ages of children Marital Status Children (if adult) Period of state detention Dangerous of different interests Political affiliations Fluency in languages of no direct use within western world or the job on offer Higher qualifications if the job for which you are applying has no need of them Current salary and benefits Anticipated salary and benefits Photographs Referees (not usually taken up before interview) Your career ambitions Anything that makes you look extreme or different
Curriculum Vitae - Styles
There are 3 main style types of CV available:
Functional A functional cv lists key skills and achievements from a persons entire working and/or life experience and is the best format to choose if you have wide and varied (or limited) skills and experience.
Recent Student A Recent Student cv is self-explanatory. This format highlights qualifications as opposed to experience (which will be limited, if any)
Chronological (Date Order) A chronological cv is an anti-chronological (most recent date first working backwards) list detailing who, when and what and is the best format to choose if you have had few employers or want to show steady progression within one company. This is the least favoured format as it is the least appropriate for a young person.
Examples of Functional and Recent Student cv styles are shown on the following pages for information and reference.
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Example 1 - A Functional CV (page 1)
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Example 1 - A Functional CV (page 2)
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Example 2 - A Recent Student CV (page 1)
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Example 2 - A Recent Student CV (page 2)
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Key Skills We all have key skills of some description. The following pages will provide you with a Key Skills Checklist. Relevant skills should be taken from all previous employment or other experiences (leisure activities, clubs, hobbies, family and outside interests) and placed in priority order. Priority order will be dictated by the advertisement or job specification. You are writing a document to promote and sell a product - YOU. Your CV will assist in identifying you as an ideal candidate for the job. Like any other product the advertising material (your CV) should be written with the buyer in mind. Read through the four sections on the Key skills Checklist, tick all that apply to you and see where your strengths lie.
Dealing with People

Encouraging people to talk and listening to them Explaining things to people individually or in a group Answering queries Dealing with complaints Conveying understanding and warmth Organising people Selling, persuading and negotiating Initiating conversations with people Motivating others Being supportive to people Relating to people from a wide range of background Leading Others Training or tutoring Managing/Supervising
Dealing with Ideas

Creating new ideas or solutions to problems Thinking of improvement or alternatives Evaluating different ideas Planning ahead and setting goals Developing other peoples ideas Sizing up a situation quickly and accurately Adapting ideas from one situation to another Deciding between alternative courses of action Planning how to deal with things that have gone wrong
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Dealing with information and data

Keeping accurate records Making accurate measurements or calculations Following written instructions or diagrams Working out costs Checking information or accuracy Writing letters, memos reports Extracting information from reports, books or manuals Researching or gathering information from books, articles, directories or the internet Organising paperwork systems Recording information accurately Budgeting Estimating costs Organising or classifying information Providing information verbally or in writing to enquiries Analysing numerical information
Practical Skills

Keyboard skills Using hand tools Cutting, shaping or making things Operating powered equipment Maintaining equipment and machinery Mending and repairing equipment Diagnosing faults and testing equipment Using physical strength Handling materials or equipment with precision and speed
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Profiles & Achievements The hardest part of writing a CV is to describe your Profile and Achievements. Before we make a start on your own cv we should practice writing Profiles and listing Achievements.
Below you will find a few examples of typical profiles:
A recently qualified student, keen to gain an apprenticeship or entry into employment in the electrical industry. Willing to undertake any training and development necessary to meet the requirements of the post. Computer Literate / Provisional Driving Licence holder.
A time-served Painter and Decorator with excellent supervisory and training skills. An enthusiastic person who can work well on own initiative and as part of a team. Recently completed City & Guilds package in computing. Full, clean, current driving licence.
An experienced Business Banking Manager with a proven track record in analysing and evaluating detailed financial information in a high-pressure environment. Substantial experience of managing and supervising staff and overseeing the implementations of new banking procedures and team development.
A Computer Operator with practical experience in Word Processing, Spreadsheet and Database applications. A proven record in processing high quality documents and technical data to the required standard within set timescales and tight deadlines. A flexible and conscientious worker.
Try to write a profile for yourself. In two or three sentences say: what you are, what you can do and what you want.
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Profiles & Achievements Below you will find some examples of Achievements
Excellent inter-personal and communication skills and the ability to deal with a wide variety of situations and individuals calmly, even whilst under pressure Ability to work efficiently on own initiative and unsupervised, however, also an excellent team player Extensive experience of providing a full range of Fork Lift Operator duties including lifting and dropping using Long Reach and Counter Balance machinery Knowledge of full safety requirements and regulations regarding safe operation of Fork Lift truck and Health & Safety Law in general Wide ranging factory, warehousing and industrial experience including receiving, order picking, packing, quality checking, packaging, fault finding and palletising Ability to plan, organise and prioritise workloads and to meet and exceed targets and deadlines Enjoys excellent working relationships with colleagues and management Self motivated individual who works well on own initiative with or without supervision Quality control duties with good awareness of importance of producing highest quality standards of work to maintain companys reputation and image Excellent manual dexterity and the ability to handle materials and equipment with precision and speed Wide ranging joinery and woodwork skills - DIY enthusiast Willing to undertake and training and development necessary to meet the requirements of the company and further personal development and career advancement A team player who can follow and implement detailed instructions Computer literate, proficient in a range of applications and packages including Windows 95/98, Microsoft Office 97/2000 (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, www), HTML and Desk Top Publishing Extensive factory experience including assembly, manufacture, quality checking and assurance, fault-finding techniques, packing, palletising and despatch Enjoys keeping abreast of the latest technological advances in Information Technology.
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Try to write some achievements for yourself
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CV Information Form The CV Information Form covers all the information you will require to produce your cv. Try to fill in the form about yourself to the best of your ability as this will help in later exercises.
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Lets make a start on a template for your cv. On the blank sheet of paper (Me. Ltd. Document) you should write: NAME (bold & centred) (bold = confident) Address (including postcode) Telephone No. (e-mail address ) Profile box should contain 2-3 sentences that say what you are the skills you have used Example: A self-motivated individual with extensive experience of working in an administration environment. A proven ability to work well on initiative and as part of a team. Computer literate. Writing your profile and listing your key skills is the most difficult part of writing a cv so give it some thought before proceeding.
Key Skills & Achievements (see *Action Words to help you) Previous Employment summary details Education, Qualifications and Training Additional Information (this should include date of birth, any driving licence or vocational qualifications and hobbies and interests.
Action Words Achieved Capable Controlled Developed Established Improved Managed Responsible Trained Administered Competent Co-ordinated Directed Expanded Implemented Organised Specialised Taught Analysed Communicated Created Effective Experienced Initiated Proficient Successful Versatile Built Consistent Designed Efficient Flexible Led Qualified Supervised Volunteered
Can you think of any more Action Words, particularly if they apply to you?
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Example of an almost perfect functional cv

An enthusiastic, multi-talented individual with experience gained during a recent career in the hotel and catering industry. Keen to gain entry to a career in an engineering environment. A self-motivated person who works well on own initiative and is an excellent team member. Excellent inter-personal and communication skills coupled with a friendly, flexible approach and a mature professional manner. High degree of manual dexterity. Computer literate. Provisional driving licence holder. Key Skills
An enthusiastic and ambitious individual with both technical and practical ability Computer literate, proficient in a wide range of packages and applications including Windows 98, Microsoft Office Professional Suite 2000 (Word, Excel, Access), e-mail, internet and Desk Top Publishing Excellent inter-personal and communication skills, proven ability to deal with a wide variety of situations and individuals in a calm, professional manner Previous experience of Administration and clerical procedures, responsible for implementing timeous completion of appropriate documentation and paperwork Proven ability to implement problem solving techniques Excellent manual dexterity with the ability to handle materials and machinery with speed and precision Supervisory experience of up to 3 staff A hard working, self motivated individual who works well on own initiative and is an excellent team member Proven ability to plan, organise and prioritise work and to perform we ll, and remain calm, even whilst under pressure Willing to undertake any training or development necessary required to meet the requirements of post or employer
Career Summary
Erskine Bridge Hotel, Erskine Commis Chef (full time) April 2000 to Date Kitchen Porter (part time) August 1998 to April 2000 TSB Bank, Paisley Clerical Assistant (Work Experience) The Post Office, Erskine Newspaper Delivery Person 1998 to Date
June 1998 1997 - 1998
Education & Training

Forte Hotels Continuous and ongoing in-house training Fire Safety Training Commitment to Excellence Customer Services Cosmopolitan Hotels Food Hygiene Glasgow College of Nautical Studies HNC Business Administration (did not complete course, however gained 6 Higher National Units including Computing) Park Mains High School, Erskine Higher Grade passes in Mathematics and Physics (A) 9 NC Modules inc. Communication, Games & Sports & Accounts Standard Grade passes in: Maths (1), Physics (1), English (2), Chemistry (2) Music (2), Geography (2), Computing (2), German (2) 1999 - 2001 1999 - 2001 1999 1999 2000
1999 - 2000
1994 - 1999 98 - 99 98 - 99 97 - 98
Additional Information
Date of birth: Driving: Interests include: 7th February 1982 Provisional driving licence holder Keen golfer (club member), playing football (local teams), snooker and snowboarding. EXCELLENT REFERENCES ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
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Your CV: Me Ltd. Document Do your best to record your own information in Functional style: (refer to previous examples and exercises if necessary)
Key Skills

Career Summary
Education & Training
Additional Information
Date of birth: Driving: Interests include: EXCELLENT REFERENCES ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST (if applicable)
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Futures

CV Writing Skills How to Prepare a Curriculum Vitae

Futures CV Writing Skills

WHAT IS A CV AND WHY DO YOU NEED ONE? .....................................4

GENERAL GUIDELINES ............................................................................9

KEY SKILLS CHECKLIST ........................................................................15

PROFILES AND ACHIEVEMENTS ..........................................................17

CV INFORMATION FORM .......................................................................20

CV TEMPLATE TIPS AND GUIDELINES .................................................22

SAMPLE FUNCTIONAL CV .....................................................................23

YOUR CV TEMPLATE ..............................................................................24

Futures CV Writing Skills

Futures CV Writing Skills

Example 1 - Sam Bade

Please make comments, positive or negative, on this CV.

Futures CV Writing Skills

Example 2 - Sam Goode (page 1)

Futures CV Writing Skills

Example 2 - Sam Goode (page 2)

Please make comments, positive or negative, on this CV.

Futures CV Writing Skills

Futures CV Writing Skills

Curriculum Vitae - General Guidelines

General Omissions (unless specified)

Futures CV Writing Skills

Curriculum Vitae - Styles

There are 3 main style types of CV available:

Futures CV Writing Skills

Example 1 - A Functional CV (page 1)

Futures CV Writing Skills

Example 1 - A Functional CV (page 2)

Futures CV Writing Skills

Example 2 - A Recent Student CV (page 1)

Futures CV Writing Skills

Example 2 - A Recent Student CV (page 2)

Futures CV Writing Skills

Dealing with People

Dealing with Ideas

Futures CV Writing Skills

Dealing with information and data

Futures CV Writing Skills

Below you will find a few examples of typical profiles:

Futures CV Writing Skills

Futures CV Writing Skills

Try to write some achievements for yourself

Futures CV Writing Skills

Futures CV Writing Skills

Futures CV Writing Skills

Futures CV Writing Skills

Example of an almost perfect functional cv

June 1998 1997 - 1998

Education & Training

Futures CV Writing Skills

Education & Training

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