 |
How do you stand out?You know what it's like, you're watching your favourite programme on TV, then it's the end of Part One and the adverts come on. What do you do? Most people go and make a drink or raid the fridge. Sometimes, you stay where you are and watch the adverts because one of them stands out. It might make you laugh, you might like the music or the actor, or the product might just have caught your attention. This is what it is like for employers. When they receive letters, application forms or CV's they will probably receive quite a few and yours needs to grab their attention and stop them from wandering off to get a drink! You need to think of these things as adverts. They need to promote YOU! |
Firstly, what does CV stand for? It means Curriculum Vitae and it gives an employer an outline of your education, training and experience. Sometimes employers ask for them and sometimes you can send them to the employer to see if they have any vacancies. They are also a great way of keeping a record of what you have learned, experienced or gained qualifications in over your career. The first important thing to remember about your CV, is how to spell it! You would be amazed how many people spell it incorrectly and just think what that says to the employer………"Hmmm. This person has sent me an advert of themselves and hasn't even taken the trouble to spell the first two words correctly!". Would you go out and feel confident about buying a product if the label said "Woshing Up Lickwid"?
Look back on this site and check out previous articles like 'It's all about me'. If you went through the self assessment process, you will already have lots of information to consider putting on your CV. You also need to look at any certificate grades and dates, any other voluntary or leisure achievements and information about any part time jobs or work experience. Gather all this information together like a jigsaw puzzle and then you can start to build your CV until it is complete for the time being. I say 'for the time being' because a CV won't stay the same forever. Hopefully, you will be able to add more and more onto it as time goes by.
As your information builds up, you might start to feel a bit stressed! Don't panic, write down some headings on a piece of paper and start planning which information should be used and where it should go. Here are some examples :-
| Personal Details: | Name, address, telephone number and date of birth. |
| Education : | Name and dates of schools, colleges and qualifications / grades. |
| Employment: | Work details, work experience and training. |
| Achievements: | Prizes or awards from your out of school activities. |
| Interests / Hobbies: | Brief description, don't provide an essay on your love of bird watching! |
| Additional Information: | Anything that might make your application look better. Perhaps you have a driving licence, you are a member of a first aid organisation etc. |
| References: | It is usually a good idea to provide two references. One's called a character reference. This is from someone who can vouch for you as a person. The other should be a Professional / Employer's Reference and should be from the employer of your part-time job, or, if you don't have one, think about your work experience employer or a teacher / head teacher. Whatever you do, make sure you ask their permission. Their words could make or break you, so don't irritate them by not showing a bit of politeness! |
Check it all for spelling and grammar. Make sure that details are accurate
and to the point (don't bore them to tears!). Keep it to 1 x A4 page and certainly
no more than 2 pages. Although you need to promote yourself, it is important
to keep the balance. Don't write down all your weaknesses and highlight them
in bright pink, but at the same time don't tell very creative lies about your
previous career in the FBI! Show off all of your strengths fairly! Try and keep
it up to date on a regular basis; it is easy to forget a course or activity
you have done. Make sure that the CV is neat and tidy. Remember, if the CV is
your own advert, how will you look if it's crumpled up, tea-stained and covered
in Tippex! There are lots of other things to do and remember and it would be
a good idea to talk to your tutor or Connexions adviser to get more detailed
advice. You can also check out the web and use your careers library to find
out more and look at examples of CVs to help you create your own. Promote yourself
and get that job!
Good Luck
Jennie Glitherow
At school or college? Look out for Jennie's future articles which we'll have
here for the first Monday of each month, and which we'll link to the best sites
we can find on the Web. Why not bookmark us now?
To get back to this page to use the links on it - enter http://www.careers-gateway.co.uk/mainpage.htm
and click on Magazine then Get yourself noticed!
 |
|
 |