So what is a CV?

So what is a CV?

Employability 23/24

CV

Starter task: What would James Bond put down for his skills? Discuss in small groups.

Learning intentions

Click on the link and spend sometime reading the information.

Go to your Etracker page, left hand column and find your career plan. Start to look over this and complete the sections. This will help you to channel some of the answers you will need to build your CV.

Person statements

Session 2

These need fixing, click on the pins to read more, choose one to look at. Discuss in your groups why you would not use these for your personal statements.

Click on the info to see the things you should avoid in your personal statement.

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Reflect on your own personal statement. What could you change?

Fine Tuning

Session 3

Punctual

Hardworking

Lets look at positive and negative characteristics and then discuss in groups.

Dishonest

Impulsive

Click on the pin and have a read of this information, which two colours do you identify with the most?

Click on the numbers to find out more about different characteristics you can use in your CV and what they mean.

Now go compare. Make appropriate changes to your Etracker CV/own CV. Here is a helpful website you can use to create a CV

Session 4 Volunteering

Questions? What is volunteering? How can volunteering help you get into work? How does it help your confidence and life skills?

Volunteering is when someone spends unpaid time doing something to benefit others. Helping your close friends or relatives isn't volunteering. But doing something to benefit the environment or community is. Volunteering can be formal and organised by organisations, or informal within communities.

Make sure you add your answers to the class note book page that has been added for you.

Click on the link. Read the information, then in small groups share your findings.

Session 5

Check out the these exhibition areas. Write down on a post it note what you want to be experiencing from each of these areas in a exhibition. Then discuss with the group.

Starter task

Example: I would like to be at a craft exhibition 1 - listening to how to set up a homemade business. Best selling platforms to use. 2 - Discussing with web designers how to set up a shop for sales on my business website.

From the previous slide, what skills do you think staff would have to demonstrate when operating the different areas in this exhibition. For this task focus on the two examples given on the previous slide. Here is a list to help you.

Class notebook work to complete. Create your own cover letter for a job your are interested in, what skills will you choose to focus on. Then take 6 key words from the list given and write examples of how you have demonstarted these skills either at college or at work.

Session 6

Work experience Nows the time to start exploring you options.

You have been building up to this point. All the information for you to produce a great CV/personal statement and cover letter is all here. In the previous slides. Use it to now create something great.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Work Experience Placements – You now need to focus on contacting organisations and preparing professional emails requesting a weeks work experience placement Dates 4th – 8th March 2024 & 15th – 19th April 2024. Your placement must not be in your current job, unless you are given a different role to do to encourage you to use a different skill set and is not paid. Placements will be contacted, so a manager/contact will need to be recorded for us to sess. Please make sure the placement is meaningful and will benefit your progress into full time work within a sector you want to explore. We will happily check the email you want to send the employer. We will add a Work Experience log page on Classnote Book for you to complete. You will need to list the employers you have contacted on EEP (please ask to be shown where this is on etracker, if not aware.) In addition feel free to discuss with your tutor/lecturer - Areas where you feel you lack experience?, skills gaps, location of where you would travel to and cost implications, the importance of work experience as a link to employment. Helpful link for you to view. Click on the link.

Session 7

Please carry on completing your personal statements for UCAS/Work Experience/ CV's

Click on the link to help you.

Session 8 & 9 Interviews

What are the different types of interviews?

Discuss the purpose of an interview:

• Showcase skills
• Personality
• Suitability of the role

Preparing for interviews – Understanding the Basics

Click here for more information

Resume and application review

Lets review your CV/personal statement/Cover letter. Ensure it's up to date and always tailored to the job you're applying for. Make sure you have your skills, experiences (even if non-professional), and achievements.

Check out these top 20 interview questions. Discuss.

Watch this video for some tips.

Play

Conduct mock interviews with sample questions. Prepare. Feedback on responses and body language.

A few sessions need to be added here.

Week commencing 19th Feb 24

Welcome back, hope you had a lovely half term.

Research Skills: If you have experience conducting research, mention your research methodologies and the tools you are proficient with.

Jokes and humour. Your personal statement should be professional and should not include jokes or humour. No Emojiis

Excessive information about hobbies and interests This is not appropriate for a professional document and can take away from the focus on your qualifications and experience.

Public Speaking: If you are comfortable speaking in public, note your public speaking skills, as they can be essential in roles that involve presentations or client meetings.

Adaptability/Flexibility: Employers appreciate candidates who can adapt to changing situations, learn quickly, and embrace new technologies or processes. It reflects your openness to growth and development.

Leadership: Leadership skills suggest your capacity to guide and motivate a team, make decisions, and take initiative. Even if you're not in a formal leadership role, demonstrating leadership potential can be valuable.

Time Management: Being able to manage your time efficiently demonstrates your organisational skills and the ability to meet deadlines. It's especially important when multiple tasks or projects are involved.

Unprofessional language Avoid using slang and unprofessional language. Your statement should be professional and appropriate.

"I'm Kev, and I'm looking for a job, I guess. I mean, I need money, right? I've worked at a few places before, like a retail store and a restaurant, but I didn't really like those jobs. I didn't get fired or anything, but I just didn't feel like working there anymore. I don't have any fancy degrees or certifications, but I did graduate from high school, so that's something, I guess. I'm not really sure what kind of job I want, but I'm open to whatever, as long as it pays well and I don't have to work too many hours. I don't have any special skills or talents, but I can do basic stuff like use a computer and answer phones. Oh, and I'm pretty good at making coffee, if that's something you need. I'm not really a morning person, though. I hope you'll consider me for a job. I don't have a lot of experience, but I'm willing to learn, I guess. Thanks for reading this."

Teamwork: Highlighting your teamwork skills shows that you can work collaboratively with others, share responsibilities, and contribute positively to group projects. It's crucial for most workplaces.

Problem-Solving: This indicates your ability to analyze issues, identify solutions, and make decisions. Problem-solving skills are highly valued across different industries and job roles.

Grammatical and spelling errors. Proofread your statement to ensure there are no grammatical or spelling errors. Avoid text speak. BTW I am hardworking.

Excessive information about hobbies and interests. This is not appropriate for a professional statement and can take away from the focus on your qualifications and experience.

Statements about salary. Your personal statement should not discuss salary expectations or any other financial information.

• Introduction to CV’s.

• How to write a CV.

• What should be in your CV?
• How do I format my CV/layout
• Create a personal profile?

• Hints and Tips
• Format your CV
• Start the Etracker Career plan

Creativity: Creativity is the ability to think innovatively, generate new ideas, and approach problems from unique angles. It's especially valuable in roles that require innovation and design.

Avoid exaggerated/negative information in your personal statement. Exaggerating information can make your statement seem untruthful and can ruin your credibility. Negative comments can give an employer the wrong impression about you.

"Hi, my name is Claire, and I want to study Claire at your university. I guess I'm pretty okay at Business, and I think going to college might be a good idea. I mean, my parents said I should go, and I don't really have any other plans. Plus, I hear college is where you can party and stuff, so that sounds fun. I'm not really sure why I want to study Business, but it seemed like a cool choice when I was filling out the application. I mean, I guess I like Business, but I also like other things, like video games and Netflix. Maybe I'll figure out what I want to do while I'm here. I don't really have any accomplishments or awards to brag about, but I did win a participation trophy in middle school for showing up to all my classes. So, I guess that's something. I also have a part-time job at a fast-food restaurant, but it's not really that important. I hope you let me in, but if not, it's not a big deal. I can always find something else to do. Anyway, thanks for reading this. Bye."

Personal opinions. Your personal statement should not include personal opinions or views, as these can be seen as biased.

Long-winded phrases and sentences, irrelevant information. Keep your statement concise and to the point by avoiding long-winded phrases and sentences.

Only include relevant information that relates to the job you are applying for.

Strong Communication Skills: This indicates your ability to convey information clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing. It's essential in various professional settings, from collaborating with colleagues to communicating with clients or customers.