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How to write your CV

The aim of a CV is to persuade HR staff to meet you. That is it"s only function. The resume is only the first step to get a job. It is your method of asking someone to consider meeting you to chat and then see if you"re as great as they think you are. Writing your first CV can be a daunting task simply because you"re not sure quite how to put the CV together. Below, we will guide you through those first steps and bring together all the data you need to write a brilliant first CV. Pieces of the jigsaw A CV can include the following elements. You don"t have to include them all; pick and choose which ones are most important to you depending on the sort of role you are seeking. Are you going to try for a summer job ? Maybe you want to apply for an internship at the end of university or college? Or maybe it"s a overseas role you hope to gain. Some of these sections are absolutely essential (for example, the contact details). Others may be included or left out (for example you may not feel that you want to write a "Personal Profile"). Brainstorm everything you want to flag up in the following sectors:- Contact details тЂ“ This is really vital to include, but you may choose only to give a few details. The minimum will be an email address and a mobile telephone number. You might also give the name of your town (e.g. "Bristol" or "Oxford"), so that the employer knows you live close enough to reach their offices easily. Personal Profile тЂ“ Some candidates choose to give a a personal profile. You might feel that it would be appropriate to write something like: "Positive media focused school leaver seeking internship in the public sector" as an example. It gives an idea of your personality, your skills and, perhaps, the sort of career you are wanting. It gives the potential employer an clear and confident summary of who you are. Education тЂ“ At first you will list everything, from your GCSE subjects and grades through to your higher education study, but as you progress in your work you will find that the lowest qualifications are not something that recruiters want to know about any more. Work experience тЂ“ At the start of your working life all the work experience you have may have been in an non paid capacity. List it all in this section in chronological order. Were you a volunteer for a village fete? Were you a student rep in first year? List down everything that shows you gave you transferable skills and can carry out duties and responsibilities. Some CVs will separate this section out into paid work and a Voluntary Work section. Training courses тЂ“ You might list any vocational courses in a separate section. This might include BTECs, SCOTVECs or college certificates in office skills.

How to prepare a good Cover letter?

When you apply for a job your resume should invariably be accompanied by a cover letter. The purpose of a cover letter is to set the tone and convince the Employer/HRmanager as to why you should be the most apt candidate for the advertised job. At a time when a small advertisement in the newspapers or other media could attract hundreds of resumes, it is what you write in the cover letter which proves crucial and probably give you an edge over your competitors at the scrutiny stage. If you have not presented your case well in the context of the advertised job, chances are more that your resume end up in the dust bin although you deserved to be in the list.