Guidelines on producing a CV What is a CV? A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a brief document which outlines your general personal details, your relevant skills, experience and qualifications. It is used to help you “sell yourself” to a prospective employer by highlighting your strengths and achievements. The main aim of a CV is to get you an interview…..if it does that it is working for you. When would you use a CV Replying to an advertised vacancy where the employer has asked for a CV. For speculative applications – where you are keen to make contact with employers but where you haven’t seen any vacancy. To keep for your personal reference. It can be useful to help you when completing application forms. Types of CV There is no definitive CV and there are a variety of ways of presenting your CV. The three most common ones are listed below. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Much is written on CVs and at the end you will find a resources section referring you to useful publications and websites. Functional Gives an emphasis to the transferable skills and experience gained, avoiding any reliance on work in date order. Particularly useful when changing direction or when there is a range of unconnected jobs – further details given below.
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Chronological A traditional format where work experience is organised in date order – can be useful when staying in the same field to highlight career progression. Targeted CVs Aims at a specific job and highlights the skills and experience relative to the post, leaving out unnecessary information. Similar in layout to a functional CV but the key skills etc would be directed to the specific requirements of the advertised job. Preparing your Curriculum Vitae (CV) Your CV should be well presented and contain enough information to arouse the potential employer’s interest. Here are some tips on how to make sure your CV stands out from the rest: Use good quality A4 paper (white or pale background); Limit it to a maximum of 2 sides of A4 – keep it concise! Keep it clear and specific – simple language works best. Remember employers do not have time to read masses of information on your past employment; Use positive active language; Highlight your selling points clearly eg your key skills or achievements; Career history and education should be most recent first, although this may depend on individual personal circumstances; Decide whether to include a personal profile stating strengths and personal qualities but be careful – you will need to back it up at the interview;
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Do include hobbies and interests and explain any gaps in Employment History; Decide whether you want to include your date of birth; Always type or word process your CV and get it checked for spelling, grammar and ease of understanding; A word of caution when using an email address or leaving an answerphone message. Employers may be deterred by unusual or silly details; Do not include names and addresses of referees; You may need to prepare more than one CV depending on what you are applying for; Include a covering letter. Possible CV layout Personal Details i.e. Name, address, telephone number, mobile number and email address. Personal Profile Key Skills Work History Qualifications Additional Information References available on request The above headings/sections can be moved around depending on what you want to emphasise first. In addition you may decide to use different headings. See the example of a functional CV on the next page. Example of a functional CV Anne Other First Floor Flat West Road
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Anytown Postcode Telephone: 0123 456 7980 Mobile: 07123 456 789 Email: anneother@hotmail.com Personal Profile A reliable and conscientious employee with good customer service skills and a proven record of achieving targets and goals, looking to move into management. Key Skills Effective telephone and query handling skills. Strong product knowledge and experience in all aspects of retail banking. Ability to work both as an effective team member and independently, using own initiative. Experience with computerised administrative systems, including the collation of statistical returns for the management team. General Skills Computer literate with a good understanding of the Microsoft Office applications. Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, managers and customers. Well organised and able to plan and prioritise accordingly. Achievements Information Technology NVQ Level 1 and 2. Developed spreadsheet monitoring system for recording purposes.
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Initiated marketing improvements resulting in increased interest from customers. Work History 1992 to date Anytown Bank, Customer Services Adviser 1990 to 1992 Anytown Council, Administrative Officer Finance Department) Education 1988 to 1990 NVQ Advanced Business Administration Redhill College, Redhill 1983 to 1988 GCSEs English - C, Maths - B, Information Technology - B, History - C. Clapham Park School Other Relevant Information I enjoy walking and am a member of the local rambling club. I am partially sighted and am currently the social secretary for the local partially sighted club. References To be made available on request. Advantages and disadvantages of the Functional CV Advantages The functional CV emphasises your skills and experience, not your employment history. This is useful when: you wish to change career direction;
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you have changed employers frequently; your skills are more impressive than your work history; you have skills and achievements not gained in the workplace, for example through involvement in voluntary work. Disadvantages A functional CV may disadvantage you if: your job history shows a steady career development; the skills you have used in you past employment are limited; you are applying for a specific job. The information is not focused enough. Use a targeted CV instead.
Covering Letter to support a CV - Guidelines Take as much care over the covering letter as over the CV itself. If you are sending a targeted CV in response to a specific job, quote the reference number and job title. Use good quality plain white paper. Where you have a named contact, address the letter to that person. Include your postcode, telephone numbers, email address if applicable, and date. Keep the letter brief and to the point. Type it if you possibly can so it can be easily read. Check spelling and grammar. Print your name under the signature. Keep it formal and business-like. Check it thoroughly before posting. Use a quality envelope.
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You may wish to telephone the recipient to ask if they have received your CV if you have heard nothing after a week. On the following page is an example of a covering letter for use with either a functional or chronological CV. Example of a covering letter for use with a Functional or Chronological CV Your address Telephone numbers Email address Mr Joe Bloggs, Human Resources Manager Name of company Address Date Dear Mr Bloggs, I am writing to enquire if you have any vacancies in your company. I enclose my CV, from which you can see that I have spent a number of years working in a customer services team. I would very much like to continue and develop in this area of work and am now looking for a management position. My skills and abilities in marketing, communicating with people and information technology as noted on my CV will be verified by my referees, one of whom is my line manager at my present workplace. I would be happy to discuss any possible vacancy with you. If you do not have any suitable vacancies at the moment I would ask you to keep my CV on file for any future possibilities.
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Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, (Print your name) Active words A CV can be seen as an advertisement for yourself. It is therefore important you present yourself in a positive way. One way you can do this is through the words you use. They need to convey an accurate positive image of you. The following words may help: achieved, administered, analysed, built, capable, communicated, competent, controlled, co-ordinated, created, designed, developed, directed, efficient, engineered, established, experienced, guided, implemented, initiated, improved, led, managed, monitored, motivated, organised, positive, processed, produced, productive, proficient, profitable, qualified, reliable, resourceful, skilled, sold, specialised, stable, successful, supervised, trained, varied background, versatile. Think also about how you phrase tasks and skills. Here are examples of phrases that may be helpful: accounting/book-keeping, advising individuals, arranging social events, chairing meetings, checking for accuracy, classifying records, client centred, compiling figures, computer literate, constructing buildings, co-ordinating events, counselling people, customer orientated, delegating responsibility, dispensing information, drafting reports, editing documents, extensive experience, good negotiating skills, handling customers’ complaints, Health & Safety awareness, IT literate, inspecting, interpreting data , interviewing people, liaison skills,
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maintaining records, managing staff, motivational skills, operating equipment, organising people and work, persuading others, planning agendas/tasks, preparing charts or diagrams, promoting events, public speaking (presentation skills), raising funds, recording data, repairing/maintenance of equipment, reviewing, security, self-motivated, selling products, supervising staff, teaching/training skills. Disclosing disability Speculative CVs Functional CVs and chronological CVs are generally speculative. They are often, although by no means always, followed up by an application form for a specific job, and for that reason blind and partially sighted people are less likely to write anything about their disability on a CV, than on an application form. There are no right or wrong answers about whether you should declare your disability at this stage, or any other stage of the job process. Blind and partially sighted people are divided in their opinion of this. You should be aware, however, that you will only be protected by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, if you disclose your disability. It may be useful, also, for you to consider the following points to help you make up your mind: If the CV is not followed by an application form but by an interview for a job, would you prefer the employer to know before you are called for interview? That may depend on whether you will need any reasonable adjustment to be made for you at the interview and in order for you to do the job successfully. If you went to a special school, the name of the school may be recognised. You may decide you wish to declare your disability openly rather than have the employer guess it.
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You may have achievements which cause the employer to wonder if you have a disability. For example you may be secretary of your local voluntary association for blind people and have gained skills which can be used in the workplace. Would you then prefer the employer to know you have a disability? You may like to obtain the Employment Factsheet Disclosure of disability for further information. Example of personal profiles Example 1 "A professional with wide experience in sales, marketing, conference organisation, staff management and customer relations, largely but not exclusively gained in the hospitality industry, and seeking employment which will make good use of my expertise, either in part or fully." Example 2 “An enthusiastic and reliable college leaver with excellent knowledge of business administration. I am able to meet deadlines and can work within a team or on my own initiative. I am keen to find a position within an office environment which will enable me to utilise my IT skills whilst providing me with a challenge.” Example 3 "I'm the type of person who enjoys and thrives upon challenges both inside and outside the working environment. I feel I have a positive approach and outlook, along with being both organised and innovative within the work place." Example 4
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"An experienced sales assistant with a friendly, professional approach to work. Able to deliver a high standard of customer care and keen to work as part of a team. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with an adaptable and flexible attitude to work. Interested in Trainee Management position." Example 5 “A reliable and conscientious employee with good customer service skills and a proven record of achieving targets and goals, looking to move to a more front line management role.” Examples of key skills Example 1 Sales, including telesales, conducted on behalf of hotels both in Italy and the UK. Marketing, ensuring effective market penetration, including the design of literature. Conference organisation, with responsibility before, during, and after the event. Customer relations, gained in reception and promotional work. Fluent in English, French, and Italian, and with a working knowledge of Spanish. Training including motivation to learn. Relevant qualifications include; Certificate in Travel and Tourism; Certificate in Congress Organisation Technique; RSA Certificate in Computing Literacy. Example 2 Friendly, enthusiastic and open minded. Flexible and willing to train.
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Good practical skills. Caring attitude. Can communicate effectively with colleagues. Good IT skills.
Example 3 Ability to work under pressure and in busy environment. Good interpersonal skills and ability to get on with people. Good customer care skills. Experience of handling cash and operating a till. Flexible and keen. Keyboard skills and IT skills - familiar with databases and spreadsheets. Ability to take responsibility. Further resources about developing a CV There are many books and websites giving advice on writing CVs. Some are listed below. The Perfect CV by T. Jackson, published by Piatkus, 2001. The Ultimate CV Book by Martin Yate, published by Kogan Page, 2003. Websites: www.monster.co.uk www.cvservices.net Other Employment Factsheets Access to Work Programme for Employees Career Support and Job Seeking Resources Trainee Grade Scheme
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Disability Discrimination Act: employment and recruitment Disclosure of disability Guidelines on producing a Curriculum Vitae (CV) Retaining your job Using support workers
They are available in print, braille, tape and disk formats. For employers, there is one unified document entitled Guidelines for Employers available in print or disk format. This information may be accessed via RNIB’s website at ww.rnib.org.uk/employment Student Factsheet series: Choosing a career Finding a course Student services available from RNIB Education and Employment Centres Financial assistance for blind and partially sighted students Learning and Technology Needs Assessments Strategies for study Libraries and Information Services Images and Illustrations, including maps, diagrams and pictures Examinations/Assessments Useful contacts and services Disability Discrimination Act: Post-Compulsory Education This information may be accessed via RNIB's student website at www.rnib.org.uk/student or obtained in print, braille, tape and disk format. RNIB's Technology in Learning and Employment team may be able to assist with enquiries relating to technology for study or work.
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Technology Information Service RNIB 58 - 72 John Bright Street Birmingham B1 1BN Telephone: 0870 013 9555 Website: www.rnib.org.uk/technology Email: technology@rnib.org.uk If you would like information about RNIB’s other Education and employment Services or copies of RNIB’s Education and Employment leaflets, please email E&Einformation@rnib.org.uk or telephone your nearest Education and Employment Centre: East Midlands and East 0115 958 2322 London and South East 020 7391 2151 North West 0151 298 3222 South West 0117 953 7750 West Midlands 0121 665 4200 Yorkshire & Humber 0113 274 8855 North East 01325 25 48 58 Scotland 0131 311 8500 Wales 029 2045 0440 Northern Ireland 028 9032 9373
Alternatively, the RNIB Helpline, telephone 0845 766 9999 or email helpline@rnib.org.uk can offer general information and advice about many topics relating to sight problems and has copies of many RNIB leaflets including those produced by Education and Employment. Reference: RNIB EF Guidelines on Producing a CV, revised March 2004.
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