Careers and Recruitment Service

Selling yourself on paper

A guide to writing a winning CV

[Link]/careers

Contents
1.

Creating a winning CV Where to Start

4.

Skills Portfolio

5.

Convincing Employers of your skills using STAR

6.

Skills Check Sheets

8.

Putting your CV together

9.

General CV layout

10.

Chronological CVs

14.

Skills based CVs

20.

CV Checklist

21.

Covering Letters

22.

Layout for a Covering Letter

23.

Example covering letters

25.

Speculative letters

26.

Example of speculative letter

27.

Covering Letter Checklist

28.

Other useful resources

1|Page

Creating a winning CV Where to start

A main way to sell yourself on paper is your CV. However there is no such thing as a perfect
CV. Its chances of success or failure depend entirely on how far it meets the criteria,
background and bias of the person reading it.
When producing a CV it is important that you DO NOT:

Fail to identify what the employer is looking for.

Undersell and underestimate what you have to offer.
Fail to provide the right evidence to support your skills and competencies.
See rejection as negative and fail to ask for constructive feedback.

We have all made some of these mistakes in producing a CV but the CV in itself is not the
only solution, it is a means to an end.
The aim of a CV is to get you an interview.
So it is worth remembering a few things:

When looking at your CV for the first time, an employer will typically be looking for a
reason to reject your application.

The employer may not even read the whole of your CV. They may only skim read
your application or simply look for visual impact, relevance and attention to detail.

Your CV is a sales document and you are the product. So you need to make
yourself stand out.

If you understand what the employer is buying - you can tailor your CV accordingly.

Many employers will reject your CV at the first spelling or grammar error.

To give yourself the best chance of getting an interview:

Do not use the same application for every job, tailor your CV each time.

Analyse the job and identify the essential requirements within the role.

Think about the employer who will be reading your application, what are they looking
for?

Seek advice, but remember; it is your application, so take ownership of it.

Do not rush your application. You probably have only one chance to get it right.

2|Page

Identify the clients (the employers) needs

Considering your employer as a client ensures that you take a good look at the production of
your CV from their perspective.
The following guidelines show the practical steps that will ensure you are well prepared.
Remember the more you put in, the more you get out.
READ
The job advert and person
specification thoroughly so you
know exactly what it is the
employer is looking for.

THINK

ACT

Research the company and job

role through using company
literature and the internet;
including the website where you
saw the job advertised.

Think about the range of skills

and competencies that are
required and consider how
you can tailor your CV to reflect
these.
Think about the language used
in the company website and
literature what does it tell you
about the company and the type
of people who may work there?

Write a clear list of your skills,

qualities and experience that are
essential to the job can you back
them up with evidence? Create a
skills portfolio.
Review your skills portfolio are
you using the same language to
describe your skills? Is it positive?
And active?

Read your current CV are you

happy with it?

Think about ways in which your

CV can be improved.

Read any professional journals,

newspapers or websites
relevant to your field or the
position you are going for.

Consider; what employers in

that field may be looking for,
any developments in that field
requiring new skills, sector
growth.
Think about the examples used
in guides to reflect on; layout,
design, content and style.

Review your CV thoroughly to

ensure the skills you highlight
match the employers
requirements. Get professional
advice if needed.
Refer back to your current CV to
compare with industry standards.
Seek networking opportunities with
people who work in that field to
discuss the opportunity further.
Compare a variety of CV
examples and assess which
examples may be good or bad.

Read a guide on how to write

and design a CV providing
different perspectives and
examples.

As you can see there is plenty of preparation work to do in this step even before starting
your CV. However, the time you spend now will increase your chances of success later. You
will soon see the benefits and this will help to make you stand out from other candidates.

Speaking to someone in a similar role or organisation gives invaluable advantages. It

provides;

Unique information on what exactly is required.

Evidence that you are motivated and proactive to find out more.

A more personalised, customised approach to your covering letter.

Remember, working hard on this step will

reap rewards not only with your job search
but also in preparation for the interview.

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Knowing what you have to offer

Knowing what you have to offer and selling this on paper is a crucial step in producing your
CV.
As a starting point you will have researched further and identified what your client/employer
was looking for. Now you can start to identify what you have to offer by assessing your skills
and qualities.
When you consider the style of CV that suits your circumstances or level of experience, you
will have a variety of ways in which to highlight your skills; language is important. The words
you use should sound active and positive use of action verbs such as the following can
have significant impact;
Achieved

Adapted

Arranged

Clarified

Communicated

Composed

Co-ordinated

Created

Developed

Delegated

Directed

Drafted

Edited

Enhanced

Established

Explained

Facilitated

Generated

Hosted

Incorporated

Improved

Influenced

Initiated

Interpreted

Managed

Maintained

Negotiated

Remodelled

Replaced

Restored

Solved

Using the above examples, typical phrases on your CV could go something like:
Responsibility for interpreting company guidelines on health and safety; this provided
opportunities to gain experience in problem solving, drafting advice, communicating
information and negotiating with department managers.

Typically, skills that employers are looking for can be categorised into four areas:
1 Specialist skills
2 General business skills
3 Self-reliance skills
4 People skills
On the following pages are some examples of the skills that may fall in to these categories
and a self assessment checklist you can use to start thinking about specific skills and how
you can provide evidence for these.

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Skills Portfolio
SPECIALIST

GENERAL BUSINESS

Company-specific skills
Specialist knowledge, e.g. product or market
knowledge;
Specialist skills, e.g. IT Packages;
Unique language skills, e.g. Chinese;
Specialist Interpersonal skills; e.g. public speaker

Problem Solving
Achiever, successful, results-orientated, project
management, creative, practical, logical, astute,
agile mind

Technical skills
Professional, sector-based or functional skills, e.g.
journalism, research, mechanical engineering, tax
counselling,
creative
design,
accounting,
economics, personnel, sales, marketing
Understanding commercial goals of company
Specialist understanding of an organisations goals,
priorities and future direction (combination of selfreliance, business acumen and people skills.

IT/Computer Literacy
IT skills, software packages, common sense, taskorientated, progressive, specific, office skills,
keyboard skills
Flexibility
Multi-disciplinary, flexible, versatile, multi-skilled,
willing, obliging, mobile, adaptable
Numeracy skills
Accurate,
logical,
problem-solver,
detailed,
methodical, consistent, quick thinker, analytical,
thorough
Business Acumen
Competitive,
entrepreneurial,
enterprising,
commercial, foresight,
budgeter, risk-taker,
effective written communication
Commitment
Dedicated, trustworthy, conscientious, reliable,
loyal, punctual, knowledgeable, experienced.

SELF - RELIANCE

PEOPLE

Self-awareness / confidence
Purposeful, focused, reflective, perceptive, honest,
self-belief, objective, realistic, balanced

Teamworking
Supportive, facilitator, organised, co-ordinator,
deliverer, imaginative, delegator, open-minded

Self-promotion skills
Positive, persuasive, pleasant, proactive, persistent,
ambitious, opportunistic, promoter

Leadership
Dynamic, motivator, team-builder, confidence
booster, energetic, capable, outward-looking,
accountable, visionary.

Initiative and proactivity

Resourceful, energetic, drive, flexible, self-starter,
self-reliant, initiative, self-disciplined
Networking Skills
Initiator, trustful, personable, relationship builder,
persistent developer, resourceful, adaptive
Willing to learn
Motivated, adjustable, enthusiastic, active, keen
learner, inquisitive, continual improver.
Action Planning

Interpersonal skills
Listener, adviser, counsellor, politically aware,
initiator, professional, co-operative, , constructive,
assertive
Customer orientation
Welcoming,
friendly,
caring,
approachable,
constructive, accommodating, tactful, diplomatic,
tolerant

Educator,

Oral Communication
trainer, communicator,

presenter,

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Decision maker, organised, planner, target-driven,

able to prioritise, evaluator, negotiator

promoter, telephone skills, humorous, empathetic.

Convincing Employers of your Skills using STAR

Simply claiming to have a skill is not
enough; you need to provide evidence
which illustrates to a potential employer
how you have successfully used that
skill. Use examples from your work
experience, academic work or extracurricular activities.

S = Situation
T = Task
A = Action
R = Result

Work Experience Example

Where were you and what were you doing? (Situation)
I was employed in a part-time job with Fast Food Ltd.
What did you want to achieve? (Task)
My Manager asked me to rationalise the stock control system.
What did you do? (Action)
I looked at factors such as when the stock was last ordered, what it was used for and
how often it was used. I worked out a method of streamlining the paperwork involved
in this process and redesigned relevant forms.
What was the outcome? (Result)
My ideas were accepted and implemented and a 15% reduction in stock levels was
achieved

Academic Work Example

Where were you and what were you doing? (Situation)
In my second year at University I undertook a personal development planning unit as
part of my course.
What did you want to achieve? (Task)
I was asked to prepare a 10 minute presentation to develop a marketing strategy for
a recent company merger.
What did you do? (Action)
I co-ordinated a team of five students from different nationalities and of varying levels
of ability. This required me to deal with intercultural difficulties and ensure the team
fully understood the assignment brief.
What was the outcome? (Result)
I received positive feedback from students and my tutor for my contribution and
achieved an A grade.

6|Page

Skills Check Sheet (1/2)

Teamwork

IT/Specialist Software

Organisation
/Administrative

Time/Project
Management

Communication Skills:
Written & Oral

Skills

Education

Activities and Interests

Work Experience

The following are some of the skills most often asked for by employers. Thinking of your
work experience, education, activities and interests; write examples of evidence you have to
show an employer you possess the skills highlighted below.

7|Page

Commercial Awareness

Leadership

Languages (including
level of fluency)

Drive and Initiative

Problem Solving

Skills

Education

Activities and Interests

Work Experience

Skills Check Sheet (2/2)

8|Page

Putting your CV together

Having looked at the employers requirements and assessed your skills and experience
against how they match up to the role you are applying for, the next step is to consider the
most appropriate CV format, content and layout for the job.
Generally there are two main types of CV Chronological and Skills Based both of which
should be no more than 2 pages long. A third type of CV is an Academic CV; often used by
candidates applying for Doctoral Study, Lecturing roles or similar; these therefore may be
longer to accommodate Publications and Conferences etc.; examples of these can be found
on [Link].

So which type of CV could be right for you?

I AM A PROFESSIONAL OR
EXPERIENCED CANDIDATE WITH
A HISTORY OF RELEVANT WORK

CHRONOLOGICAL (or Biographical) CV

This is useful if you have:

A lot of experience in the sector you are applying to

A relevant degree or postgraduate qualification
Logical career development
No gaps in your work experience and education

I AM A NEW GRADUATE / POST

GRADUATE OR GOING THROUGH
A CAREER CHANGE

SKILLS BASED CV
This is useful if:

You have very little work experience or relevant work experience e.g. you are
applying for your first full time job after your degree or postgraduate studies
You are changing career you have experience and qualifications in one area but
are now wanting to work in a different sector
You have gaps in your education or work experience.
You are applying for part-time jobs that may not be relevant to your degree or
previous work history.

9|Page

You have too much work experience to keep your CV to 2 pages and often the tasks
or skills have been the same in each job role.

General CV Layout
This CV contains 7 main sections. You need to think about which sections to include and which order to present them
in; not all of them are necessary. Think about what is most important for the job you are applying for? Is it your Skills?
Education? or Experience?

NAME (big and bold)

Address
Telephone/Mobile
Email (professional looking)

You may wish to consider

adding a link to your LinkedIn
profile or a professional blog or
website you wish to share

PROFILE: 3-5 lines are sufficient for a profile (often called a personal statement, personal profile or objective).
Use the same language/jargon as the employer and use this to reflect the Job you are applying for i.e. what type of
person do you think the employer would be looking for? Be original and specific, avoid clichs and if you cant think of
anything good to say, dont bother.
EDUCATION: List your education in REVERSE chronological order (most recent first)
University/College/School Name, Dates
Course Title (Grade)

EXPERIENCE: List your experience in REVERSE chronological order (most recent first), in some case, it may
be beneficial to create 2 Experience sections to differentiate Relevant and Other Work Experience.

Name of Employer, Dates

Job Title
Responsibilities, clearly presented through use of bullet points and action verbs.

SKILLS: Usually emphasised in a Skills based CV, the examples included should provide clear evidence of the
skills that meet the needs addressed by the employer in their advert/job description and personal specification.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Is there any other information the employer has asked for? For example,
do you need a driving license, work permit, or particular level of computer literacy?

INTERESTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS: This section is an opportunity to give the employer a better

sense of who you are as a person. You could include memberships of clubs or societies and any additional roles of
responsibility

REFERENCES: If you have space, you may be required to provide full contact details of two referees who have
known you in a professional capacity (usually previous managers or tutors). In most cases, however, it is acceptable
simply to state:

Available on request

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CHRONOLOGICAL CV EXAMPLE 1

Name Anonymous
23 Any Road
Luton, LU1 1CV
Home: 01582 489293
Mobile: 07782 232323
[Link]@[Link]

This profile has been used to

summarise the skills gained from
both
academic
and
work
experience.

Profile
A versatile and professional law graduate with wide ranging experience in a variety of
law-related areas including youth offending, debt and benefits advice, employment
law and housing. Seeking to combine academic achievements and work experience
in a challenging role within the voluntary sector.

You can include details of any modules,

projects or placements covered in your course
that are relevant to the job youre applying for.

Education and Qualifications

2006 2009

University of Bedfordshire, Luton

LLB (Hons) in Law 2:1
Optional course modules: Employment Law, Contract Law,
Consumer Law, Law and Medical Ethics, European Law.

2004 2006

Stopsley Sixth Form College

3 A-Levels

1999 2004

English Language (A)

Psychology (B)
Business Studies (B)

Farley Hill Secondary School

9 GCSEs Grades A C

Voluntary Experience
2007 2009

TGH Advice Centre

Volunteer Advisor

Providing independent, confidential and impartial advice to clients on debt,

benefits, employment, housing, relationship and family issues for local
voluntary organisation.
Interviewing clients face-to-face and over the phone to establish their needs
Drafting letters and making calls on behalf of clients.
Referring clients to specialist caseworkers for complex problems or
signposting to other agencies when appropriate.
Assisting clients to negotiate with companies and service providers to resolve
any difficulties.
Separating the voluntary work from the paid work can help
to make the voluntary work more prominent. In this
instance the voluntary work is the most relevant.
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2008 2009

Youth Offending Team

Volunteer Mentor

Providing one-to-one support, guidance and encouragement to young people

who are at significant risk of offending or re-offending.
Maintaining confidentiality, whilst ensuring child protection procedures and
issues of disclosure are followed.
Supporting mentees to set positive goals and work towards achieving these.
Establishing and maintaining regular and timely contact with mentees.

Work Experience
2007 2009

transferable skills and experience (such

as supervisory, management and
customer service skills).

Confident with a range of IT packages including Word, Excel, PowerPoint,

internet and e-mail.
Fluent in Spanish and French
Positions of responsibility related to sport,
Full, clean driving licence.

Interests

Bar Supervisor

Served customers, maintained excellent levels of customer service during

busy periods.
Managed the bar in line with health and safety regulations
Trained and supervised new bar staff.
Key-holder and responsible for opening and closing the bar within licensing
hours.
Planned and organised staff rotas.
Although this role may not be relevant to
Ensured the bar area was stocked and well maintained. the new area of work, it highlights the

Additional Information

Student Union Bar

such as fulfilling the role of team captain

may not be related to the job but highlight
leadership qualities.

Team captain and coach for the Bedfordshire Bulls; University Basketball Team.
Active member of the University Student Union.

References

Available on request.

To save space you only need to write References

available on request - references are normally
considered at a later stage in the selection process.
(You may, however, be asked to provide them in an
application form.)

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CHRONOLOGICAL CV EXAMPLE 2

Name Anonymous
23 Any Road, Luton, LU1 1CV
[Link]@[Link]
[Link]
07782 232323

Profile
Creative, resourceful marketing undergraduate who has undertaken a relevant internship
and is currently secretary of a student society; demonstrating strong commercial awareness,
leadership and flexibility. Seeking a graduate trainee position that matches skills and
experience.
Think carefully about which section
goes first (Education Vs Experience)
Decide based on what you think is
more important to the job.

Education
University of Bedfordshire, Luton

09/10 06/13

BA (Hons) in Marketing Communications (2:1 expected)

Relevant modules; Public Relations, Market Research and Enquiry, Managing Consumer
Behaviour, Principles and Practice of Marketing, Understanding Business and Finance.
Cardinal Newman School, Luton
A-Levels
GCSEs

English Language (A), Media Studies (B), Business (B), Communications (C)
9 (A* - C grades) including English, Maths and ICT

Experience
Secretary, Film Appreciation Society

09/03 06/10

Thinking about the job you are applying

for; highlight the relevant skills,
responsibilities or achievements
demonstrated from your experience (what
10/10 Present
did YOU do/achieve/learn?)

Designed and maintained our social media pages to communicate with members.
Took the lead on promoting society trips and events, including use of digital media.
Liaised with media students and local filmmakers to collect entries for exhibitions.
Negotiated with local cinemas to get good deals on ticket prices for members.
Worked effectively in a team with the President, Treasurer and Student Union contacts to
ensure the efficient running of the society.

Customer Service Advisor, Luxury Supermarket Brand

12/09 Present

Demonstrated excellent customer service skills through actively listening to and

engaging with customers and advising on products and promotions.
Handled cash and credit card transactions and operated electronic point of sale (EPOS).
Used creative skills to arrange displays for promotional purposes and visual
merchandising.

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Persuaded management to review staff training procedures as part of staff council;

resulting in additional responsibility to contribute to the design of new starter induction
programme.

Marketing Department Intern, Generic Ideas Inc.

Actively participated in induction and managed my own training and development.

Worked to achieve all placement targets and objectives agreed with my supervisor.
Participated in fortnightly review meetings, contributing to planning and proposing ideas
for projects.
Communicated with people at all levels within the organisation and external clients
through attending meetings, telephone contact, e-mail and social networks.
Delivered a presentation using Prezzi summarising my project findings to 50 delegates
from within Generic Ideas Inc. and academic staff at the end of my placement.

Volunteer, No Name Foundation

07/11 09/11

10/09 07/11

Gained experience of general administration duties including dealing efficiently with

telephone enquiries, maintaining records and organising the information area to ensure
clients could find relevant resources more easily.
Collaborated effectively with charity staff and volunteers to ensure that the office ran
smoothly.
Used initiative to create a monthly staff newsletter to celebrate key achievements and
events. In addition to this I maintained Twitter feeds to share achievements with an
external audience and promote our cause.
Developed my IT skills through use of MS Office; in particular Excel, Microsoft CRM and
MS Project.

Achievements and Interests

This section is an opportunity to give the employer

a better sense of who you are as a person. You
could include memberships of clubs or societies
and any additional roles of responsibility

Fundraising: In my voluntary role at the No Name Foundation, I organised a sponsored 24

hour football match at the local community centre which included entertainment from a local
DJ and Cheerleading group. In total we raised 2,500 to support disabled children locally
which exceeded our initial target and proved to be a real success.
Course Representative: Nominated as course representative for my degree in my second
year which allowed me to liaise with fellow students and academic staff to deal with any
issues arising using effective communication and negotiation skills.
Travel: Planned and organised a four week trip for myself and three friends to do a tour of
some of Europes major cities. To prepare I conducted extensive research using travel
guides and online sources. I planned the accommodation and itinerary for each location and
negotiated cheaper fares with airlines, hotels and activity reps.
Sport: I have played basketball since primary school and represented both my High School
and County for national competitions. Currently I am an active player and coach for the
University team; organising training sessions, social events and competitions.

References
14 | P a g e

Available on request.
SKILLS BASED CV EXAMPLE 1

Name Anonymous
23 Any Road, Luton, LU1 1CV
[Link]@[Link]
[Link]
07782 232323

PROFILE
Creative, resourceful marketing undergraduate who has undertaken a relevant internship
and is currently secretary of a student society; demonstrating strong commercial awareness,
leadership and flexibility. Seeking a graduate trainee position that matches skills and
experience.

EDUCATION
University of Bedfordshire, Luton

09/10 06/13

BA (Hons) in Marketing Communications (2:1 expected)

Relevant modules: Public Relations, Market Research and Enquiry, Managing Consumer
Behaviour, Principles and Practice of Marketing, Understanding Business and Finance.
Cardinal Newman School, Luton
A-Levels
GCSEs

09/03 06/10

English Language (A), Media Studies (B), Business (B), Communications (C)
9 (A* - C grades) including English, Maths and ICT

EXPERIENCE
Film Appreciation Society, University of Bedfordshire, October 2010 Present
Secretary
Designed and maintained our social media pages to communicate with members.
Took the lead on promoting society trips and events, including use of digital media.
Liaised with media students and local filmmakers to collect entries for exhibitions.
Luxury Supermarket Brand, Luton, December 2009 Present
Customer Service Advisor
Developed and demonstrated excellent customer service skills.
Handled cash and credit card transactions and operated electronic point of sale (EPOS).
Generic Ideas Inc., Dunstable, July 2011 September, 2011
Marketing Department Intern
Actively participated in induction and managed my own training and development.
Worked to achieve all placement targets and objectives agreed with my supervisor.
Participated in fortnightly review meetings, contributing to planning and proposing ideas
for projects.
No Name Foundation, Stopsley, October 2009 July 2011
Volunteer

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Gained general administration experience; including data entry and producing mail shots.
Improved IT Skills using MS Office; including Excel and Access

SKILLS

It is important with skills that

you match the person spec
and use S.T.A.R examples.

Communication and Interpersonal

Gained experience in communicating with people at all levels in organisations while
completing internship using verbal and non-verbal methods including; meetings, via
telephone, e-mail and social networks.
Delivered a presentation using Prezzi summarising my project findings to 50 delegates
from within Generic Ideas Inc. and academic staff at the end of my placement.
Teamwork and Leadership
Taking the role of team leader, I was responsible for allocating tasks and communicating
plans and updates to other team members for a major second year project. I worked
effectively in our team of five to research and prepare our final report, for which we were
awarded 68%.
As Secretary of the Film Society at University I worked effectively in a team with the
President, Treasurer and Student Union contacts to ensure the efficient running of the
Society.
Problem Solving
In my Customer Service Advisor role, I identified issues in staff training procedures that
were having an impact on dealing with customer feedback and complaints. I suggested
changes which resulted in a more consistent and efficient approach; including a more
moderated approach to staff induction.
Time Management
Throughout my studies I have successfully organised my time to complete all
assignments and research according to deadlines. I have also been able to maintain a
consistent academic profile whilst volunteering, working and engaging in Student Union
activities in my spare time.
Within Group assignments, I have taken the lead role in ensuring that each member of
the team is aware of progress made in relation to our submission date and that each
piece of work is completed early in order to meet the final deadline.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND INTERESTS

Fundraising: As a Volunteer at the No Name Foundation, I organised a sponsored 24 hour
football match at the local community centre, including entertainment which raised over
2,500 for disabled children locally.
Course Representative: Nominated as course representative for my degree in my second
year which allowed me to liaise with fellow students and academic staff to deal with any
issues arising using effective communication and negotiation skills.
Travel: Planned and organised a four week trip for myself and three friends to do a tour of
some of Europes major cities. I researched, budgeted and planned our itinerary.
Sport: Active player for University Basketball Team; competing in National League.

REFERENCES
16 | P a g e

SKILLS BASED
CV EXAMPLE 2 (CANDIDATE WITH A TECHNICAL BACKGROUND)
Available
on request.

Name Anonymous
23 Any Road, Luton, LU1 1CV
[Link]@[Link]
[Link]
07782 232323

Profile
An experienced computer scientist with a successful track record of applying theory to
provide practical solutions to business problems
This example highlights the specific

Education

modules undertaken and the grades

achieved in order to demonstrate further
their academic and technical proficiency

MSc Computer Science University of Bedfordshire, Luton

2009 - 2010
Modules included:
Structured Programming 66%
Information Systems and Database
Technology 71%
Networks and Communication
HCI and Computer Graphics 65%
Systems 63%
Operating Systems 67%
Embedded Systems 52%
BSc (hons) Computer Science (2:1) University of Bedfordshire, Luton

2009 - 2010

Technical Skills
Programming Languages: C++, Java, Prolog, SQL, HTML
Applications: Microsoft Office Suite, Internet Explorer, Paint Shop pro, Dreamweaver
Operating Systems: Unix, Windows NT, Windows XP
In addition to the relevant Technical

Technical Experience

Skills, this section also elaborates

on how these skills have been
applied during specific projects.

MSc Individual Project: A Security Analyser for the While Language

Objective: Design and implement a parser application for the While Language that
determines whether any input program is secure
Implemented a parser application for the While Language. Created GUI front end and used
grammars and AST Tree and Visitor Design Pattern. It recursively produces result, storing
information in data structures. Technologies used were Java, JavaCC and Swing.
MSc Group Project: Course Registration Programme
Objective: Develop a web based application working from a regional database. Responsible
for creation of database, forms created in Dreamweaver Ultradev 4 to allow administration of
information to the database through a bean. This was completed for changes to, adding and
deleting tuples. Also created login pages and used sessions under Tomcat.
Technologies used were Java, JSP, JDBC and SQL.
BSc Group Project: A Supermarket Simulator

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Involved in the development cycle/implementation in creating a management system.

Identified classes required and developed this storing information in data structures.
Technology used was C++

Work Experience
01/2009 Present, The Company UK ltd.

Graduate Support Engineer

Providing second line support (on site and remotely) in a busy trading environment to
both stock loan and collateral management systems. Supporting internal and external
feeds from Bloomsburg, Swift and Gloss. I communicate with users and developers at all
levels and routinely use Unix, Java, FTP, SQL and Sybase.
Created a partial funding prototype system working from a Sybase database using
created multiple batch programs.
Programmed a J2EE compliant testing parser application which simulated JUnit and
produced Antlike reports. Running on JBoss serve, finance files were then saved to a
relational database which I created in PowerDesigner (Sybase). Working from a test plan
I created tests for each finance file, overrode certain JUnit methods and used
Stylesheets (XML/XSL) to produce Antlike reports on each test.

08/2006 03/2007, XYZ Consultancy, London

Change Management Consultant co-ordinated risks/issues/changes, collated findings

and reported to the clients Steering Committee.
Junior Programmer designed an interface to the clients insurance system with Swing
using JBuilder. Responsible for creating login pages using Java.
Junior Programmer Involved in the creation of a web shopping management system.
Coded Java servlets/Classes and created XML/XSL file for web pages, retrieved data
from database and populated pages from this using Tomcat.

06/2005 09/2005, ABC Firm, London

Graduate Consultant

Desk Project Co-Ordinator (Work Placement)

Responsible for the daily running of project (received promotion after arrival).
Translated technical information into database format.
Co-ordinated activities of team of 10 engineers and 12 departments.
Reported weekly targets/figures and drew up project schedules.
Provided front-line contact for 1,000+ staff for technical queries and advice.

Activities and Interests

Sport: I have been a committed member of the badminton team throughout university
representing the club in national competitions and acting as treasurer on the sports and
societies committee.
Travel: I enjoy experiencing new cultures and have travelled to various parts of Europe and
America.

References
18 | P a g e

Available on request.
SKILLS BASED CV EXAMPLE 3 (CANDIDATE WITH LOTS OF SECTOR SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE)

Name Anonymous
23 Any Road, Luton, LU1 1CV
[Link]@[Link]
07782 232323

Profile
Considerable experience in the education sector both as an English teacher and Head of
Department. A proven record of supporting, coaching and training staff and students to
achieve goals. An effective communicator with good project management and analytical
skills. Looking for a senior leadership role in a Studio School.

Skills
Leading, Coaching and Mentoring
Leadership qualities and the ability to manage challenging behaviour effectively
Mentoring various members of staff through Initial Teacher Training and their first line
management posts; coaching, developing and supporting staff with personal issues and
work problems.
Providing ongoing pastoral care to students.
Decision making regarding teaching methods, design of the school curriculum,
departmental budgets and staff recruitment.
Communication
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate subject
material to students of mixed abilities and backgrounds.
Establishing and maintaining positive relationships with fellow professionals and parents.
Project Management
Designed and implemented a new school intranet site.
Initiated pilot project with local Connexions Service, providing help and support with
careers guidance and work experience placements for students.
Organising and supervising after-school activities including educational visits, sporting
events and school productions.
Information Technology
Creating innovative presentations for students using Microsoft Power Point and Prezzi.
Utilising IPad applications to reinforce learning in individual tutorials.
Accurately recording student interventions on SIMS database and collating reports for
senior leadership team on request.
Confident user of all main Microsoft Office and Apple iWork applications, Adobe
Photoshop and Final Cut Pro.

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Experience
09/2008 07/2012

Grange Road Secondary

School, Luton

Head of Department / English

Teacher

09/2005 07/2008

Waterloo Hill Secondary

School, Luton

English Teacher

09/2003 07/2005

Rydell Upper School, Bedford

English Teacher

09/2001 07/2003

Bayside Grammar School,

Bedford

English Teacher

Training

Less detail has

been provided for
these job roles as
the duties will have
been the same or
similar. The Skills
section on the first
page has
summarised the
experience in
general.

Coaching in the Workplace Certificate

Various line management training including: setting objectives and conducting appraisals;
team leadership; motivating staff; recruitment and selection; and assertiveness at work
Sector-related learning and development equality and diversity; child protection;
understanding aspergers; drug and alcohol awareness and teenage relationships and
sexual health.
Health and safety qualifications include; Emergency First Aid and Offsite Visit Leader.

Qualifications
Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree (2:1) University of Warwick (2000)
3 A Levels English Language (B), English Literature (B), French (B)
8 GCSEs Grade A to C (including English, Maths and Science)

Additional Information
Full, clean driving licence
Language skills fluent in French, conversational Spanish

Interests
Sports taking part in a range of sports and outdoor pursuits including canoeing, rock
climbing and diving

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Fundraising co-ordinator for local childrens charity

References Available on request

CV Checklist
When producing your CV, check the following
Before
You have set up an appropriate and professional-sounding email address to include
in your personal details. Ideally your email address should include your name.
Consider setting up an email account specifically for professional use
Your voice message on your mobile phone is appropriate.
Your use of social media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn) presents you in a
positive way some companies may check these.
During
You have tailored your CV to the role which you are applying for (and used the job
description and person specification to cross reference)
Any references to a particular company or their products or services are correct.
You have presented and formatted your CV appropriately to ensure it is professional
and easy to read.
You have avoided using logos unless you have been given permission to use them.
You have avoided large blocks of colour.
You have used fonts that are easy to read and professional.
You have avoided use of language that is either too technical or use of abbreviations
and acronyms.
You have used appropriate language (no slang or text speak).
You have presented a range of skills and experience in a way an employer can
understand and demonstrating what is most relevant to them.
You have not included any unnecessary personal information including; date of birth,
marital status, gender, nationality (although visa status may be useful) and
photographs.

After
Your spelling and grammar are accurate and correct (do not just rely on spellchecker)
Your CV looks good at a glance; well spaced out and evenly spread over two pages
(or one page is appropriate).
Someone with good attention to detail (or a Careers Adviser) has proof read it.

If sending by e-mail
Ensure you have saved your CV with a filename that is logical to ensure that when it
is attached the employer understands what it is (ideally include your name and a job
reference number).
You have sent your CV and Covering Letter as attachments (ideally in one document)
and you include a brief message in the body of the email which references the job
and the attachments.

TIP: You may want to consider converting your

CV into .PDF format which will ensure your
reader can see it in exactly the same way you
21 | P a g e
have designed it (also making sure there are no
formatting errors or obvious mistakes highlighted
by spell checker).

Covering Letters
Covering letters are an important selling tool in addition to your CV; providing you a further
opportunity to sell yourself and reinforce your evidence to create a positive impression.
Guidelines for covering letters:

Only use A4 paper (ideally good quality white or cream).

Use the form of address stated in the advert; for example if the advert asks you to
reply to a named person use their given surname; Dear Mr Jones / Mrs Smith.
Where you do not know the status of a woman, then you can use Ms. (Do not use
Ms however, if the advert specifically asks you to respond to a Miss or Mrs Smith.
Always type or word process your cover letter unless an employer specifically asks
for something handwritten.
Keep your writing to one side only business letters never use the reverse of page.
Pick out of the job advertisement or company website what their key requirements
are and give evidence in your letter of how you meet these.
Highlight some of your transferable skills and describe how these may benefit the
company and how you have developed these.
Tell the employer how you can contribute to their team, company or job role.
Sound positive your aim is to get the employer interested in meeting you.
Your Cover Letter is there to reinforce what is on your CV and not just simply to
repeat it.
Ensure that your text is justified and well spaced out making good use of the page
(not too much white space and not too much bunching up).

Where you are sending your application by post:

Use business sized envelopes; ideally in the same colour of the paper used for the
letter; ensure that the address is clearly marked (halfway down and a third of the way
across).
Use first class mail and ensure you have included a post code (not including one will
almost certainly delay your delivery).
DO

DONT
Address it to the correct person
Use your Covering Letter to support
your CV.
Display background research.
Show interest in the position using
active, positive language.
Make it tailored and demonstrate
your keenness to gain employment.
Use a professional business layout.

Start the letter with Dear Sir/Madam

if you have been asked to address it
to a named person.
Address it to the WRONG person.
Just put a single line please find
enclosed my CV sell yourself!
Send it off without any focus.
Send it off with any spelling or
grammar mistakes.
Underestimate the impact a good
covering letter will have.

22 | P a g e

Layout for a Covering Letter

This is as important as the CV itself, indeed, it is usually the first part of your application that
an employer will look at. It has to convince the reader, in a very few words, that your CV is
worth reading. A typical structure would include the following:
Your contact address
(right justified)
The Company address
(right justified)

Date

Dear (NAME) Mr Smith (dont include the persons first name, just the surname)
* Dear Sir/Madam

The opening - introduce yourself briefly and, if appropriate, tell them which job you are
applying for and where you saw the advert.

Why the job? - Try to show some of your decision making process. Target the letter and
try to say something original.

Why the employer? - why you are interested in them? Dont repeat recruitment
literature or internet content but do show you have researched the company and know a
bit about them.
Why you? - Usually this is a mixture of knowledge, skills and experience. Dont
duplicate what is on your CV but hint and emphasise key points or strengths.

The ending - You can include the standard look forward to hearing from you and
available for interview at your convenience but dont forget to sign the letter as well.

Yours sincerely,
* Yours faithfully
(YOUR NAME)

* Use Yours faithfully when you do not

know the name of the person and have
addressed the letter to Dear Sir/Madam
23 | P a g/ e
Yours sincerely is used when you do have
the persons contact details.

Example covering letter 1 Graduate Analyst

Name Anonymous
23 Any Road
Luton
LU1 1CV
Mr Raymond Verdebank
Graduate Recruitment Manager
Goldman Sachs
Fleet Street
London
th

14 February 2012
Dear Mr Verdebank
RE: Graduate Analyst Programme
Having seen your Graduate Analyst Programme advertised in the Prospects Directory 2012, I am
greatly interested in applying for the opportunity and enclose my CV for your consideration.
I have been interested in investment banking for some years and this was confirmed during my work
experience at both the FSA and Morgan Stanley. I feel that investment banking would offer an ideal
opportunity to combine my skills and interests in finance, project management, team working,
leadership and business. I am particularly interested in financial modelling and working with clients
towards solutions to their financial needs, but also very interested in the range of asset management
and capital markets services.
Goldman Sachs attracts me because it offers the opportunity to develop at your regional European
headquarters. Through my project supervisors contact at Goldman Sachs, I was able to meet recent
graduate analyst colleagues last month which was very insightful. They all spoke very highly of the
early responsibility and the opportunities they had experienced. Also your business principles,
commitment to client service and focus on employee learning and development, These all greatly
appeal to me.
I have excellent numerical and analytical skills combined with strong team-working skills including
taking leadership roles and motivating others. The range of projects I worked on at university, at the
FSA and at Morgan Stanley greatly enhanced my project management skills as well as my awareness
of financial services. My additional experience commercially and in societies also demonstrates that I
excel in leadership when faced with demanding situations. I have a strong commercial focus and have
developed services as well as fundraising opportunities and made an impact.
My secondary school education was in Poland so I am unsure about the equivalent UCAS points,
however, I achieved an overall grade average of A+. I was within the top 5% of students in my final
school year.
I hope that when you consider my CV, you will realise that I have the skills, experience and evidence
of potential to excel as a trainee graduate analyst at Goldman Sachs. I am extremely interested in
your organisation and am available for interview at any time. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours sincerely

N. Anonymous
Name Anonymous

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Example covering letter 2 Training and Development Coordinator

Ms Marion Carrington
Human Resources Manager
The List Company
Brook Street
Luton

In this example, the applicant

has used bullet points to
highlight specific
skills/achievements gained
from her current employment
that will be beneficial to the
company they are applying to.

Name Anonymous
23 Any Road
Luton
LU1 1CV

th

14 February 2012
Dear Ms Carrington
With reference to your advertisement in the Guardian newspaper for a Training and Development
Coordinator, I would like to confirm my interest in the position and have enclosed my CV for your
consideration.
After thoroughly reading your advertisement and job description and visiting your company website, I
believe that there are a number of areas in which my skills and experience may match up to your
requirements. Achievements of particular relevance include:

Designing a training needs analysis to be used in a Bedfordshire company (180 staff. Focus
groups involvement will be incorporated before the final report is created.
Currently managing a pilot project run jointly with MTEC, which is focused on putting
graduates into LiP-related placements. This involves working with companies, LiP advisers
and graduates.
Responsible for driving my company forward in order to achieve LiP accreditation.
Carrying out company visits and delivering presentations to clients on the products and
services that the unit has to offer. This aspect of my role is currently increasing.
Interviewing every candidate that joins the recruitment service and dealing with companies in
order to match their requirements. I am responsible for the whole recruitment process from
following up the initial lead, matching CVs, organising interviews to giving feedback to
candidates.

All of my experience within my present organisation has required great flexibility as I am working on a
number of projects at any one time. I have developed excellent communication skills and the ability to
motivate an encourage people, especially when working with unemployed individuals through this
experience.
I would be delighted to discuss my application with you further and would be available to attend an
interview at your convenience and I look forward to hearing from you.
.
Yours sincerely

N. Anonymous
Name Anonymous

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Speculative Letters
Why use speculative letters?
It is estimated that as many as 80% of job vacancies are not advertised. The aim of a
speculative letter is to get you an interview with the person you are writing to. This might be
an informal interview to get more information about the c company and their requirements, or
it may be an interview for a specific job. Because there is likely to be no job description you
may need to do some research about the company.
As well as knowing about a particular company you may need to know about the sector you
want to work in. What you need to know might cover:

Whats happening in your field of work?

Whats changed in the field recently?
Who are the companies that do the type of work you are interested in?
What is their background, what is their reputation, what are their values?
Is your sector dominated by small, large or medium sized businesses or a
combination?
Whos moving into the area you live in?
Whos expanding or tendering for contracts?
Who are the key people to contact in these organisations?

This information is likely to come from a variety of sources including your degree, business
directories, local and national newspapers, general and specialist journals and magazines,
company newsletters, annual reports, company websites, professional membership
organisations, university careers department, your network of contacts e.g. family, friends,
key people you have met at careers fairs or events etc.
Two things to increase your chances of being successful in a speculative letter;
Always send the letter to a named person in the organisation you are writing to.
Follow up your letter by phone or email to ensure it has arrived and to make a
personal contact.
Basic format:
The Opening
Say why you are writing; this might be in response to a newspaper article, an article in a
journal or on the internet, as a follow up to a contact you have made at an event etc. Do not
be narrow about the type of work you are looking for.
The Persuasive Section
This is your chance to sell yourself. It is an opportunity to show your most relevant skills,
knowledge and experience. Remember to show how your degree is appropriate to the
company. This might be special I.T.
Closing Paragraph
A short paragraph is required to mention that your CV is enclosed, emphasise your interest
in the company, and mention that you will follow up your letter and that you look forward to
hearing from them.

26 | P a g e

Example of speculative letter

Name Anonymous
23 Any Road
Luton
LU1 1CV
07782 232323
Mr Bailey Christian
Personnel Director
Border Line Ltd.
Key Business Park
Bedford
MK42 4BP
Dear Mr Christian
After reading about your recent head office move to the area in an article in the Luton Star Newspaper,
I looked at your website and noticed that you are an extending company, and are opening an office in
Eastern Europe. I am writing to see if you have any current vacancies or are likely to have any in the
near future. I am seeking to develop my career in administration and office management.
As you will see from my enclosed CV, I have relevant knowledge of the field, including two years as
an office supervisor, and four years in general administration. My current part-time position is with
Hyper Retail, where I am responsible for a team of six staff, dealing with the collation and
administration of all documentation and records for the company.
I am a good communicator, who enjoys the challenge of a busy, demanding work environment. The
skills and experience that I have which might be of particular interest to you include;

Proven staff management skills;

Proficiency at prioritising workloads;
The ability to implement standard procedures correctly and efficiently;
Excellent I.T skills including Microsoft Access, PowerPoint and Excel.

My recent achievements include organising and supervising training for staff to integrate Microsoft
applications. This resulted in a significant increase in departmental efficiency. I have also recently
successfully completed a BA (hons) degree in Business Administration at the University of
Bedfordshire. My dissertation was on managing multicultural teams in the workplace.
I would be delighted to meet you at your convenience to discuss my application further and look
forward to hearing from you.
Yours Sincerely

N. Anonymous
Name Anonymous

27 | P a g e

Covering Letter Checklist

When producing your covering letter, check the following
Before
You know who to direct your CV and covering letter to, and if not, do your best to find
out the relevant named person to who you should address it.
You fully understand the role and have done some research into the employer and
the industry.
During
You have been specific about what you are actually applying for.
You have tailored your letter to the role and to the company/organisation you are
applying to.
You have kept your covering letter to a single page and have kept your paragraphs
focussed.
All references to the company and their products and services are accurate.
You have presented and formatted your covering letter appropriately ensuring it is
professional and easy to read (a formal business letter structure).
You have avoided abbreviations and acronyms.
You have used professional language not text speak.
You have demonstrated your interest in the role specifically and have shown that you
understand what it requires and how you are suitable.
You have shown an interest in the employer and what attracts you to working for
them.
You have not repeated your entire CV just simply highlighting your key selling
points to encourage the employer to look at your CV to find out more.
You have included your availability for interview.
You have concluded your letter positively; encouraging the employer to contact you.

After
Your spelling and grammar are accurate and correct (do not just rely on spellchecker)
Your letter is personal to you and tailored to the individual employer and job role (do
not copy a covering letter sample that you have obtained from this guide or
elsewhere).
You have proof read it thoroughly, and got somebody else you trust to.

If sending by e-mail
Ensure you have saved your covering letter with a filename that is logical to ensure
that when it is attached the employer understands what it is (ideally include your
name and a job reference number).
You have sent your CV and Covering Letter as attachments (ideally in one document)
and you include a brief message in the body of the email which references the job
and the attachments.

TIP: You may want to consider converting your

CV into .PDF format which will ensure your
reader can see it in exactly the same way you
have designed it (also making sure there are no
formatting errors or obvious mistakes highlighted
by spell checker).

28 | P a g e

Other useful resources

General CVs and Careers Information
University of Bedfordshire Careers and Recruitment Services: [Link]/studentlife/careers
National Careers Service: [Link]
Includes an online CV builder and some examples of CVs that can be used in a range of
circumstances. The site also contains useful advice on CVs and applications, specific
information regarding jobs and careers and a free skills health checker to assess your
suitability for different careers.
All About Careers: [Link]/careers-advice
Graduate and Academic CVs, Careers Information and Vacancies
Prospects: [Link]
Graduate Careers site containing job profiles, information guides, examples of CVs and Cover
Letters (including examples for academic use) and Graduate job vacancies.
Target Jobs: [Link]/careers-advice/applications-and-cvs
Graduate Careers site which contains some examples of CVs written for specific subjects.
Academic CVs
Vitae: [Link]
A site dedicated to academic and research opportunities, offering examples and advice on
constructing an academic CV to present publications and research history.
[Link] : [Link]/careers-advice/cv-templates
Site dedicated to careers in Higher Education with CV templates aimed at Academic and
Professional roles within H.E.
Creative CVs
CV Parade: [Link]
The Art of the Resume a blog containing examples of creative CVs uploaded by
professional Graphic Designers, Illustrators, Animators and Fine Artists.
Cole, J (2010), The Creative CV Guide, Surrey: University for the Creative Arts (ISBN 978-0-95056806-5)
A printed guide produced in collaboration by the University for the Creative Arts
([Link]), University of the Arts London ([Link]) and the University
College of Falmouth ([Link]).
Other University resources
Durham University: [Link]/careers/s/cvapp/cv/
University of Essex: [Link]/careers/essexcv/Essex_CV_pack.pdf

29 | P a g e

Acknowledgements
The materials used in this guide have been adapted from the following resources:
st

Hawkins P (2001), The Windmills Programme; Career Tactics for the 21 Century, The University of
Liverpool

Identifying the clients needs (page 2)

knowing what you have to offer (page 3)

skills portfolio (page 4)

example covering letter # 2; training and development coordinator (page 24)

The National Careers Service CV Format Guide; [Link]

Chronological CV Example 1 (pages 11-12)

Skills based CV Example 3 (pages 19-20)

The Essex CV Guide, University of Essex; [Link]/careers/essexcv/Essex_CV_pack.pdf

Chronological CV Example 2 (page 13-14)

Skills based CV Example 1 (pages 15-16)

CV checklist (page 20)

Covering letter checklist (page 27)

Let us help you

Access our website at: [Link]/studentlife/careers for additional information on;

Career choices

Workshops and events

Further study

Volunteering

Finding employment, placements and internships

CVs and applications

Face to face advice and E-Guidance

30 | P a g e