GUIDE TO WRITING A CV OR RESUME FOR GRADUATE JOBS & INTERNSHIPS | no work experience? fear not!

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares personal advice on crafting a compelling CV, highlighting the importance of tailoring it to specific job applications and emphasizing transferable skills. They discuss the significance of honesty and the inclusion of education, qualifications, work experience, key skills, and hobbies. The speaker, drawing from their own successful CV that landed them an internship and a graduate job, provides practical tips for creating a document that stands out in a competitive job market.

Takeaways

• 😀 Tailor your CV for each job application, highlighting relevant experiences, skills, and values.
• 📝 Emphasize transferable skills, even if you lack direct work experience, by identifying activities that demonstrate these skills.
• 🚫 Be honest and avoid fabricating information or plagiarizing others' CVs.
• 📄 Aim for a CV length of one to two pages, being concise and avoiding unnecessary bulk.
• 🏫 Start with your most recent education and qualifications, listing institutions, qualifications, grades, and any relevant rewards.
• 📈 Include a work experience section if applicable, with dates, role overview, and relevant skills demonstrated.
• 🔧 Opt for a skill-based CV to showcase your abilities and provide examples of how you've demonstrated them.
• 🏞 Include hobbies or additional interests and achievements to show you're a well-rounded candidate.
• 🔗 Provide references under a 'Referees' section, indicating they are available upon request.
• ✅ Proofread for spelling and grammar errors, and ensure consistent, readable formatting to catch the employer's eye.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of a CV according to the speaker?

The primary purpose of a CV is to advertise oneself as the perfect fit for the job, showcasing why one is employable and suitable for the position being applied for.

Why is it important to tailor a CV for each job application?

Tailoring a CV for each job application is crucial because it allows the candidate to highlight experiences, skills, and values that are most relevant to the specific job, increasing the chances of standing out among other applicants.

What does the speaker suggest about including work experience on a CV if one is a student with limited experience?

The speaker suggests that if a student has limited work experience, they should still include any relevant work experience, emphasizing transferable skills gained from those roles, even if they are not directly related to the job being applied for.

What is the significance of transferable skills in a CV, as mentioned by the speaker?

Transferable skills are significant in a CV because they represent abilities that can be applied across different roles and industries, allowing candidates with limited direct experience to demonstrate their potential value to an employer.

Why should one be honest when writing a CV, according to the speaker?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of honesty in a CV to avoid moral wrongs and potential issues during background checks or employment. It's about presenting an authentic and accurate representation of one's qualifications and experiences.

What is the speaker's opinion on the length of a CV?

The speaker believes that a CV should be one to two pages long, suggesting that one should commit to either one full page or two full pages for a neater appearance and to avoid unnecessary bulk.

How should one list their education and qualifications on a CV, as per the speaker's advice?

One should list their education and qualifications starting with the most recent and working backwards in time, including the names of institutions, qualifications achieved, grades, and any other relevant rewards or achievements.

What approach does the speaker take for the 'Key Skills' section of their CV, and why?

The speaker takes a skill-based approach for the 'Key Skills' section, listing skills and providing examples of experiences where they demonstrated those skills. This approach is chosen because it allows the speaker to emphasize the relevance of their skills to the job, even if their experiences are not directly related.

Why does the speaker recommend including 'Additional Interests or Achievements' on a CV?

The speaker recommends including 'Additional Interests or Achievements' to show that the candidate is well-rounded and to highlight the development of desired traits through hobbies and interests, which can be appealing to employers.

What is the speaker's advice on the presentation and formatting of a CV?

The speaker advises to ensure the CV is free of spelling and grammar mistakes, to have consistent and easy-to-read formatting, and to use bold or underline to separate sections or highlight key points to catch the employer's eye during a quick scan.