Attendance Code

22627
Be CV Confident

Careers & Enterprise

 Session Aims

• Understand that a CV is a marketing tool

• Examine the key elements to include
• Appreciate the importance of content & presentation
• Understand the shortlisting process
• Further support & resources
 True or False?

1. In March 2020 Tesco received 200,000 applications in one day

2. Employers spend on average 2 minutes reading your CV

3. Recruiters use artificial intelligence to shortlist applicants

 What is a CV used for?

• Market yourself in response to a job advert

• Market yourself via agencies
• Helpful reference point for completing application forms
• Market yourself if you visit the department/company/conferences
• Market yourself in speculative applications
• Your CV is your chance to advertise and sell yourself
 CV Types
• Chronological: Traditional, experience in
Emphasis on Emphasis on Emphasis on
reverse chronological order.
Experience Education Skills
Personal Details Personal Details Personal Details
• Skills Based: Focused on skills, where
Personal Profile Personal Profile Personal Profile
there is less work experience.
Work Experience Education Skills
Education Work Experience Education
• Creative: Be creative & show your
Skills Skills Work Experience
personality, 1 page, photographs(?)
Achievements Achievements Achievements

Optional
Hobbies and Hobbies and Hobbies and
• Academic: 4-5 pages, evidence Interests Interests Interests
research, publications.
 Personal Details e.g. Name,
Tel/Email etc.

Professional Profile – a short

summary about yourself. This is where
you sell yourself to an employer! What
makes you a good fit for the job?

Education e.g. Degree, A levels,

etc.

Employment History – Any work

experience or volunteering you have
done goes in here. Use active language
to convey skills developed – don’t just
describe the job role but focus on how
you did the job well.
 Skills – what you can do e.g. using
Photoshop, speaking a language etc.
Make these relevant to the job

Interests and Achievements – things

you have done that demonstrate
your skills e.g. playing sports, being
in a band, charity work etc.

References – available on request

What do you think are some common CV mistakes?
 Common CV Mistakes…

Spelling Poor
mistakes formatting

Ignoring
Lies
gaps

Telling, not No
showing tailoring
 Tailoring Tips
• Select content that matches the job e.g. modules

• Organise content by order of relevance

• Highlight the Job Description & Person Specification

• Research & reflect company values / aims / language

• Include industry specifics e.g. RIBA

• Check their website, social media, and competitors.

Professional Profile
Also known as a personal summary /career statement / objective.

Break your Profile down into three parts.

• Who you are Recent Maths Graduate / Geography student
• What you can offer Proficient communicator with excellent digital skills
• Your career aims Seeking my next challenge in an exciting HR dept

How can I make it stand out to employers?

• Tailor your personal profile (and CV in general) to each application.
• Provide an overview of experience but remember to keep it brief.
• Use the job description to help form your profile.
• Make it unique

12
 Personal Profile examples
A second year student with excellent communication, problem-solving, IT,
teamwork and presentation skills. Seeking a twelve month placement
with an interesting employer in order to develop my work experience.

A final year student studying Film and TV Design with a particular interest
in 3D design tools and technologies. Good experience of leading group
projects and liaising with clients to develop ideas into technical plans and
designs. Seeking a placement opportunity to build further professional
insights into applying 3D design to stage and theatre productions.

13
Job Advert Example:
Digital Manager required
Have you got what it takes to work in our fast paced
studio?
Graduate wanted. Must be very flexible and a quick
learner. Enthusiastic and flexible manager required for
Red Pixel Advertising Ltd in Altrincham, a busy state of
the art studio.
What key skills can you identify
from this job advert?
Must be able to
• Implement marketing campaigns through a variety of How would you tailor your profile
channels with a primary focus on digital and print to this advert?
• Develop new relationships with external vendors
• Monitor competitive landscape and propose new
ideas to stay competitive
• Understand trends unique to English market
• Collaborate with Sales and Sales Support to make sure
we meet the needs of the Sales team
Job Advert Example:
Digital Manager required
Have you got what it takes to work in our fast paced
studio?
Graduate wanted. Must be very flexible and a quick
learner. Enthusiastic and flexible manager required for
Red Pixel Advertising Ltd in Altrincham, a busy state of
the art studio.
Must be able to
• Implement marketing campaigns through a variety of
channels with a primary focus on digital and print
• Develop new relationships with external vendors
• Monitor competitive landscape and propose new
ideas to stay competitive
• Understand trends unique to English market
• Collaborate with Sales and Sales Support to make sure
we meet the needs of the Sales team
Professional Profile:
A friendly and determined Marketing
graduate ready to take on any role within
a busy, high pressured advertising agency.
Has the ability to quickly build
relationships and pitch for new business.
Highly conversant with print and digital
marketing channels. An Innovative
problem-solver who understands the
importance of keeping ahead of
competitors and staying alert to new
English trends. Flexible and enthusiastic
collaborator who is currently seeking a
position within a reputable company such
as the Red Pixel Advertising to show what
an asset I can be.
Key Skills & Experience

Great, the profile matches the job’s essential criteria.

The manager will continue reading as you seem like a good
candidate.
It is important to then back your claims up in the Skills and
Experience sections of your CV.
Give specific examples and add statistics if relevant to back up
your claims.
Job Advert Example:
Digital Manager required
Have you got what it takes to work in our fast paced
studio?
Graduate wanted. Must be very flexible and a quick
learner. Enthusiastic and flexible manager required for
Red Pixel Advertising Ltd in Altrincham, a busy state of
the art studio.
Must be able to
• Implement marketing campaigns through a variety of
channels with a primary focus on digital and print
• Develop new relationships with external vendors
• Monitor competitive landscape and propose new
ideas to stay competitive
• Understand trends unique to English market
• Collaborate with Sales and Sales Support to make sure
we meet the needs of the Sales team
Key skills
Campaigning
Implemented 9 online and print campaigns for
companies ranging from landscapers to estate
agents, resulting in 500% increase in SEOs
Relationship building
Since 2019 Secured £960K new
business through new vendors.
Ideas Generation
Created billboards and local directory
catalogue for ‘Madocks tool hire’, securing
our position in the local community.
Resulting in 225% increase in profit
Trending expertise
Considered an expert in trend sets and
used by press for advice on monthly basis
Convince the reader
• Not just what you did – how you did it.
• Quantify, results, outcomes
• Use recent experiences – from all parts of your life.
• Make an impact with your language.
Set up: founded, launched, introduced
Sorted out: reorganised, resolved, transformed
Made better: simplified, eliminated, improved
Made: Developed, created, designed
https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/cvs-cover-
letters/action-verbs-to-make-your-cv-stand-out
 What I Did vs How to Write about it

Waiting Staff, Bob’s Bar and Restaurant

Aug 2020 – present

• Worked well as part of a team in a busy restaurant serving

over 300 customers per evening. Helped to train and support
• Serving customers new staff.
• Clearing tables • Used excellent customer service skills and attention to detail
• Handling cash to ensure orders were taken and delivered quickly and
• Occasional bar accurately. Awarded Bob’s Customer Service Award Jan 2023.
duties • Worked flexibly, as required, between bar and restaurant to
ensure high service standards were maintained at peak
periods.
• Suggested improvements to layout of menus and drink-cards
to improve look and clarity. Used creative and IT skills to make
samples. One of these is now in use in the restaurant.
 Education
Education & Qualifications
MSc International Business Working Grade: Merit
University of Salford 2020 – present
Highlighted achievements: Tutor’s Award for highest grade on placement module.

English & Creative Writing Grade: 2:1

University of Liverpool 2017 – 2020
Highlighted achievements: First Class Dissertation on Creative Use of Language in Marketing,
Executive Secretary for group project on impact of children’s short stories.

A Levels
Barron Sixth Form College 2015 - 2017
English (A), Biology (A), Maths (B), General Studies (B)

GCSEs
Downdale Secondary School 2010 - 2015
12 A* - C including English, Maths and Science. Head of School Council 2014-2015.
 Achievements
Work Related = Incorporate into roles and
responsibilities summary in the Work Experience Section

Personal = Separate Achievements section, extra

awards/certificates that stand out
 Hobbies and Interests
• Show your personality

• Do they demonstrate relevance to the role?

• Do they demonstrate transferrable skills?

 References

• References are only required later in the recruitment process

• ‘References available on request’

• No need to use the space up

 Candidate Criteria from Job Description & Person Specification Comments Score

Achievement orientation

Commercial awareness
Adaptability / flexibility

Planning & organising

Technical knowledge

Tolerance for stress

Life long learning

Writing skills
Influencing

Teamwork
Bill Thomas 2 1 1 1 4 3 3 2 1 1 19
Dimitri Petrovski 3 2 3 4 3 3 4 3 2 4 Invite to interview 31
Danica Peters 3 2 1 1 2 3 2 1 1 1 17
Lucy Evans 3 2 3 3 3 2 3 3 2 2 26
Georgia Garcia 3 4 3 4 4 3 3 4 2 3 Invite to interview 33
Your name 3 3 2 3 4 3 3 3 4 4 Invite to interview 32
Elizabeth Jones 3 1 1 2 3 3 4 3 1 1 22
Sii Ting 3 3 4 3 2 4 4 2 3 3 Invite to interview 31
Ella Marie 3 4 4 4 4 2 3 2 1 2 Invite to interview 29

You’ve put all this hard work into your CV…

How will it be used?
 CareerSet
• CareerSet utilises Artificial Intelligence technology to generate
constructive feedback
• CV Feedback & Score
• Cover Letter Feedback & Score
• Targeted CV/Cover Letter
 Top Tips!
• Communication is key – what key messages do you want to convey?
• Use 1 full page or 2 full page for business CVs, no half pages
• Make it easy to read e.g. font, text size – match with your Cover Letter
• Proofread and use English-UK on spellcheck
• Use positive and convincing language
• Most relevant information first
• Education is always reverse chronological
• ALWAYS TAILOR YOUR CV
 Careers and Enterprise
We offer the following services:

1:1 Appointments Mock Interviews

Workshops Bespoke Workshops

Salford Advantage Careers Fairs

LinkedIn Learning Tutorials Careerset CV Checker

Find out more:

Visit our website: salford.ac.uk/careers
Email us: careers&enterprise@salford.ac.uk
Phone us: 0161 295 0023
 Get in touch!
• https://www.salford.ac.uk/careers
• careers&enterprise@salford.ac.uk
• 0161 295 0023 (opt 5, then opt 3)
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• Instagram: UoSCareersAndEnterprise
• Facebook: Careers & Enterprise - University of Salford