Playing the CV Game
Writing your CV can be a daunting prospect. Trying to translate your skills,
experiences and personality onto a couple of sheets of paper is no easy
task. There are, however, a few basic CV writing staples, which should
always be adhered to when applying for new jobs.
Firstly, take a look at the format of your CV. Clarity and simplicity
are important components. If your CV is difficult to follow or badly laid
out it's likely to get chucked straight into the waste paper basket. Also,
think about the kind of position you're applying for; if it's something
particularly artistic or creative perhaps you might want to think about
adding a couple of imaginative touches to the look of your CV - it could
make it stand out from the crowd. Secondly, always proof read carefully.
If in doubt get a friend to check it too. Spelling mistakes or grammatical
errors are an instant disadvantage.
Half of playing the CV game is about knowing how to present your experiences
and the skills you've gained from them. For example, as an undergraduate
about to enter the real working world, you might be wondering how your
History and Philosophy degree has prepared you for entering the workplace.
Many employers will ask you, either in interview or on an application
form, to give an example of when you used problem solving skills or how
you think you've developed your communication skills. This doesn't necessarily
require an answer based on real work experience. Writing argumentative
essays, breaking down the components of a situation and re-evaluating
them for critical purposes is a kind of problem solving skill - it just
needs to be presented in the right way. Debates and discussions in seminars
are excellent for developing communication skills, you just need to use
the right terminology for your transferable skills so employers can see
you know what they're looking for.
Of course, building up experiences to write about on your CV is also key.
If you don't have any relevant, paid work experience of the kind of job
you think you'd like to do, it might be worth looking into doing some
volunteering or shadow placement to get a better idea of the sort of environment
you might be working in. Internships can last anything from just one month
to two years and are another great way to gain preliminary experience
in your chosen career field.
For further information on how to put together a great looking CV, jobs
hunting websites such as Reed.co.uk have a section with plenty of tips
to get you started. A CV will never give a thorough representation of
you and your capabilities but make it good enough and it will get you
that all important interview where you can really showcase your talents.
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