Talk from the University Careers Service on improving your CV.

cv_workshop_talk

== Improving your CV Workshop ==
10 Nov 2016, Computer Laboratory

careers.cam.ac.uk
careers.cam.ac.uk/library/Cvbook/index.aspx

Purpose of a CV:
- Get an interview
- Not get your application thrown out - most important purpose!
- *Quickly* get acros your value and tech credentials (skim reading)
-- 20-30 seconds before a decision is made
- Provide evidence that you'd be a good match

Thinking like a recruiter
- Positive assumptions (not always correct!):
-- Cambridge = smart
-- Learn fast
-- Already competent developer
-- You'll have a lot of options

- Concerns:
-- Solo or team player?
-- Communications skills
-- Are you the best? What about against MIT grads etc.
-- What are the gaps in your knowledge?

CV Checklist: 3 things to get right:
- Content
-- Essential content:

--- Education (make sure Cambridge is prominent)
---- If you are in education, conventionally this goes at the top
---- Don't bother to include months
---- Go back as far as A Levels (or equivalent) 
---- Numbers rather than words - if you got a 1st, write "1st" not "First"
---- Listing every module in your degree is a bit of a waste of space

--- Technical Skills
---- Sections are a good idea (languages, technologies, hardware etc.)
---- Must include *how good* you are at each skill (Google insist on this)
----- May be better to show what you've done than describe "good", "intermediate" etc., even if this means a small amount of redundancy with your "projects" section
---- Don't forget soft skills: Project management, requirements gathering, documentation etc.
----- Shows that you know this is important

--- Contact Details (email, phone, name, github etc. - address not so important)

-- Slightly less important:
--- Work experience
---- Company name, Job title, Dates and/or duration
---- May describe the company if it's not well known
---- Bullet points are quicker to read than paragraphs
---- Verbs are good: what did you do? Elaborate if possible (subject to confidentiality issues): 2-4 bullets, 1 (maybe 2) lines each. More info than just job title / what team you worked on


--- Projects
---- Especially important if you have limited work experience

--- Awards
---- Worth including, but unlikely to be considered in detail so don't spend too much page space on them

-- Less important (but still may be worth including)
--- Extracurricular

--- Referee details (address etc.)

-- Profiles (paragraph at the top) are not important, unless you are looking for a very specific field, in which case "I am very interested in [x]" is good
--- Should be fact-based: not adjectives about you!



- Clarity: design, UI aspects etc. - very important
-- Bold is good (stands out), Italic not so good
-- Left hand column most important, right hand column is the *dead zone* - eye does not naturaly track to this area when skimming
-- First impressions: first screen's worth of material (may be less than the first page!)
-- CVs are either 1 page or 2 pages, preferably not 1 < x < 2 pages.
-- Don't put a photo on (except if applying for jobs in Germany or Austria)
-- No Date of Birth (not allowed to ask anyway)
-- Nationality not necessary
-- Don't use the word "I": start with verbs e.g. "Built software to..."



- Job Match
-- Tailor to each job, but large changes aren't always necessary
-- Mirror the language they use in job ads: similar verbs etc.
-- Rearrange sections and subsections: if Bullet Point 3 is the most relevant bit of your work experience, move it to the top!
-- Use different headings
-- Don't just start with requirements, understand what the role involves
-- What evidence do you have?

Checklist:
- Design
-- Good navigation
-- Clear blocks
-- Inviting and easy to read
-- Eye drawn to most important content

- Content
-- More than a transcript
-- Tech skills stand out
-- Obvious what you've done + how
-- Good use of vocabulary


Cover letters:
- Eye goes to first 1-2 lines of each paragraph: make these count!
- Numbers stand out
- Plan your letter before you start writing!
- Not a repeat of your CV
- 1 page maximum (not negotiable)
- Paragraph in readable chunks (8-10 lines)
- Start with who you are and what you are applying for
- A few highlights to show you match the job
- Does it reflect *their* job? Should not be generic.
- Get it checked by a native English speaker (I'm happy to proofread, jsm84@cam.ac.uk)


What's on?
- CL Careers Fair next week (2 days)
-- Careers service will be on hand to give advice
- Local careers event in February