Academic Year: 2011/2012 Self Marketing: Application Forms and CVs

University
of
Nottingham
School of Pharmacy: B31BPH
Careers and Employability Service
5/19/2014 Event Name and Venue 2


Aim of the Session:
To help you to understand how to write an effective CV

Outcomes:

- To understand what information is typically included

- To understand and apply the principles behind writing
effective CVs

- Know how to access further resources and advice

How to write an effective CV
The purpose of a CV is to get you an interview

It should present you in the best light

It passes the employers screening process

It should inform an employer of your skills and
experience and persuade them that you are worth
interviewing

Why send a CV?

An employer has specified it in a job
advertisement e.g. Apply in writing

You are approaching an employer speculatively

Because an employer says you can!
Exercise
What information do you think should be
included in a CV?

Write down what information you think should be
included in a CV


Suggested
standard
CV content
Personal
contact
details
A short
personal
statement
Education
and
qualifications
Work
experience
Evidence of
skills
Interests,
activities, and
achievements
Referee
details
Suggested
content:
Exercise
1. Individually, identify a particular experience, and write a
description of that activity as you might include it in your
CV
2. In small groups, discuss what you wrote, and identify
any problems you encountered
Your experience can be taken from:
Previous work experience
Extra curricular activities
Academic work
Anything else.....?
Writing about what you did
Ask yourself these questions:
Who?With whom did you work?
What? What duties/activities did you perform?
Where? Where did your job fit into the organisation?
Why? What goals were you trying to accomplish?
When? What timelines were you working under?
How? What procedures did you follow?
STAR technique
Situation
Task
Action
Result
Vague: I worked as an assistant at a local pharmacy
Specific:
Dispensed prescription drugs (under supervision)
Made up dosette and cassette boxes (under supervision)
Provided health advice to patients on use of over-the-
counter medicines
Observed visits to local care home by qualified pharmacist

Have developed my communication and counselling
skills through interaction with patients and care home
residents. Gained invaluable insights into the professional
and commercial running of a community pharmacy.

Putting it together
Weak example:
I raised money for charity
Stronger example:
As part of a team of 4, I co-organised a charity
parachute jump. The jump was completed by 50
students. I was responsible for publicity and had
a budget of 200. I persuaded a friend to design
a poster and negotiated with a local firm to print it
at cost. Overcoming my fear of heights, I raised
500 in sponsorship, contributing to the 10,000
total.


Or..........
2009/12 University Sky Diving Society
As part of a team of 4, I co-organised a charity parachute jump,
completed by 50 students.
My responsibilities included:
Publicity control of a budget of 200.
Persuading a friend to design a poster.
Negotiating with a local firm to print it at cost.
Overcoming my fear of heights, I raised 500 in sponsorship,
contributing to the 10,000 total.
CV Tips: Targeting relevant employers

Highlight:
Your technical knowledge and skills
Relevant experience course/employer
Your key modules and any relevant projects/lab work
Any software and technical skills

Avoid:
Lots of data tables
Putting in every module youve ever studied

Consult the Careers and Employability Service website


Concise ideally 2 sides (one page may be too short and four
too long!)
Structured easy to read with a clear layout and relevant
headings
Targeted tells the reader what you want them to know and
what they need to know
Avoid coloured or textured paper
First page: make it count - everything you want the employer to
see IMMEDIATELY
Include a brief description of what you did and bring it to life with
some dimensions: numbers of people, values of sales, lengths
of projects, budgets
Adapting
your CV
to suit



Step Two:
Consider your findings.
How do your skills and qualities match up? What
relevant examples could you use?

Step One:
Analyse the advert and do your research.
What are they really looking for? What

would
make someone the perfect candidate?

Step Three
Adapt your CV to suit.
Consider re-ordering information, changing your
presentation style, focussing more heavily on
specific areas, or re-wording information to include
key words.

Step Four:
Review your CV and letter.

Covering letters

A CV should always be accompanied by a covering letter.

How should a covering letter be used?

To provide a polite, professional and positive introduction to you and what you
have to offer.
To persuade the reader to take the time to consider your CV or application.
To draw attention to the relevant highlights of your CV or application forms.

A covering letter is even more important when you send a speculative
application.






RESOURCES
Reference Books
Careers and Employability Service website
Careers service Leaflets and Videos
Prospects CVs
Prospects - Applications
www.selectsimulator.com
Options with your subject

And one final comment..........


Quality Control
Accordnig to research at an Enlingsh univertisity,
it deosnt mtater in what oredr the letteers are in
a word, the olny ipmortmnt tihng is that the frist
and ltast ltteer is in the rghit pclec. The rset can
be a toatl msess and you can still raed it wuithot
porbelm. This is bcuseae we do not raed ervery
lteter by itleslf but the word as a whloe.
Any questions?

Contact us:
Location: Careers and Employability Service
Faculty of Science careers team
Pope Building

Telephone: 0115 951 3680 internal ext. 13680

Website: www.nottingham.ac.uk/careers

Twitter: www.twitter.com/UoNCareers
Facebook: : www.facebook.com/CareersUoN