A presentation designed to help Sixth Formers write their first CV given as one of the careers units of the L6th General Studies programme at Berkhamsted School, Herts, UK
5. What is a C.V.?
A C.V. is a major opportunity
• to sell yourself
• to impress
6. The Rules for Writing a C.V.
There are no rules for C.V. writing
You can decide what to include
and what to omit
7. The Rules for Writing a C.V.
Any potential employer will need to know:
• Full Name
• Date of Birth [Age]
• Full Address and Post Code
• Contact Email
• Contact Telephone Number
Any potential employer may like to know:
• [Clean] Driving Licence
8. The Rules for Writing a C.V.
Any potential employer will need to know:
• Education and Qualifications
– School
– University
– Other
• Employment History
– Where you have worked
9. The Rules for Writing a C.V.
C.V.s must be short
Never longer than two sides
One side is better
Don’t write in Sentences
List what you have done
10. Education: Qualifications
• It is usual only to put Secondary Schools and
Universities
• You don’t have to put your grades on a C.V.
if you don’t want to
– 8 GCSE passes grades A*- C will do
– This may look suspicious, but this will be less of
an issue over time
• Create a separate section “Other
Qualifications”
– First Aid, Life Saving, [Clean] Driving Licence
– Duke of Edinburgh Awards etc.
11. Employment
• Most recent [relevant] employment first
• Ensure that there are no gaps in your
C.V.
– these look suspicious [Sacked? In prison?]
– It is a legal requirement of CRB checks
12. The Rules for Writing a C.V.
Don’t lie on your CV
• Anything you put on the C.V. is fair game in
an interview
• You can be sacked if you get the job
13. How to Present Yourself
“The victorious strategist only seeks
battle after the victory has been
won, whereas he who is destined
to defeat first fights and afterwards
looks for victory.”
Sun Tzu The Art of War
14. How to Present Yourself
How you present yourself will change
• depending on what you are applying for
• over time
– e.g. GCSE results now and in 20 years’
time
• Employers will probably want A-level
Grades and Degree Class for ever
15. How to Present Yourself
Everything about the C.V. will say something
about you
• Content
• Priorities
– The order of the material
• Presentation of the physical piece of paper
– Style, Font, Borders, Photograph
• Quality of the Paper
• Spelling and Punctuation
21. First Impressions
• Put the most important things at the top
– Employers are busy people
• C.V.s usually are your life BACKWARDS
– Most recent job first
– Secondary Education last
23. First Impressions
Summary of your Qualities/ Achievements
Adam Bennington
A dynamic and successful business executive, with extensive
and comprehensive experience within the finance sector.
Employment
2004 – Present Finance Executive, Morgan Stanley, London
• Responsible for 15% growth in Private Client revenue
• Oversaw the successful take-over and re-branding of Arthur Anderson subsidiary
24. Things to consider
Writing a C.V. - Starting
Create some lists:
• Address and Contact Details
• Qualifications
– Examinations pending
• Achievements
• Career Ambitions
25. Things to consider
Writing a C.V. - Photographs
• Formal formal but friendly
– Neither a holiday snap or a passport
photo
– It is worth getting them done
professionally
• Discrimination Issues
• At the interview stage photographs help
employers match C.V.s to people
26. Things to consider
Writing a C.V. – Email Addresses
• Beware silly email addresses
- dizzyblonde@yahoo.com
- berkoyob@gmail.com
• Use a more formal email address
– joebloggs@gmail.com
– janebloggs@berkhamstedschool.net
27. Things to consider
Writing a C.V. – Referees
A referee is someone who will write a written reference
for you.
• References are usually only taken up AFTER a job
offer has been made.
– You are usually asked by a potential employer if
they can contact a referee
• You will need 2 or 3 referees
– Head of House/Head of Sixth Form/Principal
– Current and Previous Employers
• Supply full name, address, telephone number and
email address
28. Writing a C.V. - Need some help?
Microsoft Word Template Resume [= C.V.]
• Elegant C.V.
• Professional C.V.
• Contemporary C.V.
Word Resume Wizard
– File – New – From Template – Other
Documents
Elegant Berkhamsted Student Template
30. Now it’s your turn
• CV templates from this presentation have already
been gmailed to all Year 12 students.
• Students can also download the templates from
the Careers website – google doc site
https://sites.google.com/a/berkhamstedschool.net/
careers/home/cv-clinics-1
• Email it to your house tutor by Monday 3rd
November (the first Monday after the half-term
holiday)
31. CV Workshops – dates for diaries
• Tuesday 23rd September
• Tuesday 30th September
• Tuesday 9th October
All sessions 4.30pm – 5.30pm
in the Careers Library at Castle.
House Tutors will also help you and
assist with proof-reading.
35. Who owns your Pictures and Videos?
• Facebook has a license to use your content in any way it sees fit,
• Facebook can transfer or sub-license its rights over a user’s
content to another company or organisation if needed.
• Facebook’s license does not end upon the deactivation or
deletion of a user’s account, content is only released from this
license once all other users that have interacted with the content
have also broken their ties with it (for example, a photo or video
shared or tagged with a group of friends).
See: ‘Facebook terms and conditions: why you don't own your online life’
Daily Telegraph 4th January 2013
38. • 45% of Employers use Social Networking
Sites to research job candidates
– 11% plan to implement it in the near future
• 35% of Employers who screened found
content on Social Networking sites that led
them not to hire the candidate
– Drunkenness, naked and debauchery
Source: Research by Harris Interactive for CareerBuilder.com, August 2009
42. Top Tips
Personal Information
Do not share personal information such
as your
– full name,
– address,
– phone numbers,
– full date of birth or
– passwords
with people you meet online.