Job Interview Hints and Tips
How to write a great CV
A great CV can occasionally itself secure you a job, especially if you are applying for temporary work. At the very least, a strong CV will ensure you promote yourself to your best advantage and help secure interviews.
Purpose of a CV
- To introduce and present yourself in order to obtain an interview.
- To confirm your skills, abilities and experience for a prospective employer.
- To project your personality.
- To prepare yourself to speak about your background and experience at interviews.
Key Elements of a good CV
- Clear, concise, and positive, business-like language.
- Attractive layout. Easy to read, leave sufficient 'white space', preferably using size 12 font.
- Ideally two pages for Ireland and UK. Never more.
- No spelling errors.
- Action verbs eg. 'Responsible for ...' rather than 'Minding...' and 'I developed...' rather than 'We did ...'. See list of action verbs for more ideas.
- If submitting a CV on-line, anticipate the 'scanning' procedure by reflecting your action words and skills named in the job advert in your own CV.
- Apportion space in accordance with the importance of the information.
- Typed or word processed.
- Good quality A4 paper.
- There is no need to bind but you should staple sheets together.
CV Headings
Your CV should include:
- Personal details
Name, address, contact telephone number (landline and/or cell number), email address and date of birth (optional). - Career Objective (optional)
This identifies what you are aiming for at this stage and what skills you have to offer in relation to your objective. Useful when confirming your interest in a particular job or employment sector. - Education and qualifications
- Put your most recent qualification first.
- Give the full title of your degree. Spell 'Bachelor' correctly! e.g. Bachelor of Commerce not BCOM
- Show your overall grades and the breakdown of your subjects within your degree (especially those relevant to your application).
- Employment history
- Begin with the most recent job.
- Employers are interested in any work experience whether immediately relevant or not.
- Don't forget any vacation/voluntary work experience that you have.
- Emphasise both what you have learned and how you have made a difference to your employer.
- Emphasise the skills gained in each job.
- If you are a mature student here is a chance to shine, as previous full-time work experience, at whatever level, can be used to provide evidence of the skills and qualities required.
- Interests and activities
- Mention any positions of responsibility that you have held in societies/clubs in Universities or in any outside organisations. Emphasise any skills that you have gained, e.g. teamwork, leadership, organisational.
- Achievements
- An achievement is any activity you have completed successfully so sell the range of these
- If you have entered University from a background of health problems this represents a considerable achievement - remaining in the system and succeeding in it, even more so. Show how the progression and continuity in study forecasts durability and 'stickability' in work therefore.
- Additional information
- If you are applying for a post where your degree does not appear immediately relevant, add further information detailing how your personal qualities make you a suitable candidate for the job
- Any other awards or qualifications not mentioned earlier
- For students with a disability the issue of 'disclosure' arises here. Think positively - many employers must now take the 'equal opportunities' agenda seriously. You may be asked to complete a medical form, and if so, you must do so truthfully. It is easier to do this if the situation has been conveyed 'upfront' from the start.
Use 'disclosure' positively - ie, as a means of demonstrating skills and qualities of interest to an employer - perseverance, problem-solving approach, overcoming difficulties, flexibility. - Skills Profile (optional)
This is an opportunity to show how your overall experience matches the requirements of the job. Use it to draw together different experiences under one core skill. For example, teamwork could include your final year project, youth club and travel experience, particularly if you have not referred to these earlier in terms of skills gained. Also give e.g. computer skills, languages, driving licence, if not already listed. - Refrences
Get permission before you use someone as a referee and include one academic referee. Include name, job title, address, email and telephone number.