21 st Century CVs + more… Cliona Hillery Careers Adviser Careers Advisory Service 7-9 Leinster Street www.tcd.ie/careers
Dec 25, 2015
21st Century CVs + more…
Cliona Hillery
Careers Adviser Careers Advisory Service
7-9 Leinster Streetwww.tcd.ie/careers
Aim of the Seminar
At the end of this session you will have:
• an understanding of CV purpose and how recruiters view CVs.
• the information required to write an effective CV
• an ability to critically evaluate the content and visual impact of your own CV.
Sector overview - ICT
• Over 100,000 people directly employed
_ 25,000 in indigenous companies_ 75,000 in multinationals
• Exports worth over €70 billion per annum
_ 40% of national exports_ 5 of the top 10 exporters are tech
companies
• All of the top ten global tech companies have a significant presence in Ireland
Why Ireland?
1st Availability of skilled labour1st Flexibility and adaptability of workforce1st Investment incentives for foreign investors 1st Attitudes towards globalisation 2nd Openness to foreign investors and adaptability of companies 4th Corporate tax rate and real corporate taxes
Tech Salary Survey 2013
Where talent is needed
• Programming• Mobile technology• Gaming• Web development and
technologies• Cloud computing• Platform administration• Digital and creative media• Network maintenance• CRM• Project management
Overview - CVs
• Curriculum Vitae_ Purpose_ Tailoring your CV_ Layout_ Do’s and Don’ts
• Cover Letters_ Guidelines on writing
effective cover letters
What Makes a Good CV?
Purpose
Your purpose:To get an interview in order to get the job.
Selector’s purpose:To decide whether or not to interview you
Tailor your Application
• Tailor your application to clearly identify how you meet the organisation’s needs_ Knowing yourself_ Knowing what they want
• No one CV
Knowing Yourself (Self-Profile)
• To carry this out review activities:
_ Specific Achievements_ Current Responsibilities_ Course Work Projects_ Work Experience - including Voluntary Work_ Sports, Societies, Social Life
Then - What Skills have I gained?
College Time
Work Experience
Personal time
• Managing Money• Take a Risk• Speaking in
Societies• Being on a
Committee• Organising an Event
Academic Time
• Establishing Good • Customer Relations• Showing Reliability• Working Well with
others• Being Adaptable• Using Languages
• Helping Others• Catering for Others• Entertaining Others• Taking Initiative• Managing Time
• Writing Reports• Analysing Data• Researching information• Retaining Facts• Working to Deadline
“Self-Profile”
•Communication Skills•Financial Skills•Interpersonal Skills•Time Management Skills
Know the Organisation
N.B. “Organisations love to be loved.”
_ Ask if there is anything they can send you in writing about their organisation
_ Go to their website & read everything they have there “about us”
_ Go to the library & locate any newspaper articles or other information about the organisation
_ Ask your friends if they know anyone working there to whom you could talk
_ Become familiar with the organisation’s history, purpose, goals, values
Job Descriptions & Person Specifications
Job description or Job Role• Details the key duties and responsibilities of a post
Person Specification• Details the knowledge, skills and experience the
post holder will need to have and to what level they will need to have them in order to fulfil the key duties and responsibilities set out in the job description
Matching Process
Employers Requirements
Matching Process Candidate’s Evidence
Job advertJob description
Past experiences- study, work, extra-curricular
Person specificationHow you achieve things in life- skills, knowledge,
competencies
Research sector, organisation, media
articles, network
Weave research into structure and content of
CV & cover letter
• Havok Engineering has been at the cutting edge of innovation in game development for over a decade. We work cross platform, mainly on AAA titles, with top clients such as EA, Sony, Activision, Nintendo, Ubisoft, Bungie, Guerrilla, and DICE. We have a unique environment made up of talented, small, stable teams. We provide each of our engineers with an opportunity to make a real impact...
Havok Engineering
Havok - Internship
Requirements• Pending Bachelor/Master’s Degree in Computer
Science/Engineering/Mathematics • Strong C++ skills and project experience ( game
project experience beneficial) • Knowledge of 3D Mathematics, graphics or tools highly
desirable • Low level optimisation skills, experience in middleware
desirable • Strong communication skills/ability to work in a team
environment
Applications
• Please visit www.havok.com/careers or email your resume to [email protected]. Please indicate that you are applying for the Software Engineer Internship.
CV Basics
Length Format Headings
Personal Details Career Objective (optional) Education & Qualifications Employment History Interests & Achievements Skills Profile References
International CVs
Personal Details
• Keep it short• Top of page• Date of birth - optional• Email address
• “A 4th Year Honours Computer Science student at Trinity College Dublin, with developed technical, problem solving, numerate and communication skills now seeking a challenging placement in an IT Consulting firm .”
• “A commercially aware and IT literate 4th year Computer Science student, undertaking a 5-year Masters degree programme, with highly developed problem solving, interpersonal and communication skills now looking for an internship as a software developer working on real world projects.”
Career Objective
Education & Qualifications
• Place most recent first• Profile your course and its relevance to the
job:_ Full Title e.g. BA Moderatorship and a Master in
Computer Science (MCS)_ Length & structure_ Relevant subjects taken_ Grades attained and awards_ Title of relevant Projects / Dissertations / Thesis_ Placements abroad
Education & Qualifications
2010 – to date BA (Mod) Computer Science (4 years) Key Subjects: Results:
2010 – to date Master in Computer Science (MCS) - 5 years (Currently undertaking this integrated Computer Science programme and will graduate
in 2015) Results (expected):
Employment History
Summer 2013Intern, BT
• Undertook a real world project during the summer researching an area of technology to find out how it worked and what capability it could yield to BT
• Responsible for setting the direction, building prototypes and demonstrating my findings.
• This included Cloud Computing, Mobile OS, Hadoop, GIS and AJAX technologies.
Skills Profile
• IT – Confident IT user with strong working knowledge of multiple computer programmes, languages & applications including Microsoft Office, HTML, UNIX, & Visual Basic. Officer for the DUCSS (Computer Science Society at TCD)
• Project Management/Leadership – Instrumental in the organisation of a running club reunion held in Summer 2011. Took charge of the publicity for the event & single-handedly traced as many former members as was possible
• Communication Skills – Demonstrated oral and written communication skills in various work experiences and in publication of articles for Trinity News. Give grinds in Computer Studies to Leaving Certificate students
Other Skills
1. Problem-solving skills2. Teamwork3. Leadership potential4. Communication and interpersonal skills5. Analytical ability6. Initiative and Creativity7. Rounded Experience
Interests & Achievements
VoluntaryPublicity Officer, Amnesty
Arranged a publicity campaign. Gained experience in delegation, proofreading text, desktop publishing and working under pressure to meet deadlines
SportTreasurer, Boxing Club
Kept accounts for a committee of eight. Helped organise a campaign to extend membership of the club which resulted in twenty new members
Referees
• Get permission before you use someone as a referee
• Two referees are usually given
• Include one academic referee
• Include one referee from your work experience
• Achieved• Administered• Analysed• Built• Capable• Competent• Consistent• Controlled• Co-ordinated• Created• Designed
• Developed• Directed• Economical• Effective• Efficient• Engineered• Established• Expanded• Experienced• Guided• Improved
• Initiated• Instructed• Managed• Monitored• Organised• Participated• Positive• Processed• Productive• Proficient• Qualified
• Repaired• Sold• Specialised• Stable• Successful• Supervised• Trained• Versatile• Wide
Background
Useful Words – See Our Website!
Iportence of acruate speling and gramer
• What spelling mistakes say about you:_ You really cannot spell_ You are lazy – can’t be bothered doing a spell-
check_ You are inattentive to detail_ You are careless_ You do not really want the job
Summary – top ten CV sins
1. Typos
2. Putting the first last
3. Gaps
4. Sloppy formatting
5. Cluttered CV
6. Irrelevant information
7. Not tailoring your CV
8. Disorganised CV
9. Too long
10. Too basic
CV checklist
• Is the CV relevant to the position for which you are applying?
• Is the layout clear, concise, well presented and professional
• Can an employer see the relevant points at a glance?
• Have you emphasised your skills, experience and achievements?
• Is it free of spelling and grammatical errors?
• Does it paint a positive picture of you?
• Are you happy with this paper reflection of you?
Cover Letters
Three main sections:Introduce yourself
1. What brings you to write? Ad, contact, article? Your motivations to apply
2. Why this type of work? Why this organisation? What you offer
3. Evidence of key strengths (Analyse Job Description)
Address by name Show understanding of the position Crisp, clear, business English Summarise why you’re perfect for the job (showcase
your skills) Back up with evidence – reference experience Tailor to the employer Print on quality paper Sign with blue pen
Cover Letters – Key Points
Application Forms: A Summary
• Research the job and the employer• Identify the skills and qualities being
sought• Assess and record the evidence of
your skills• Match your skills and competencies
to those the employers are seeking• Read the application form
instructions carefully and follow them
• Answer every question
Recommended: attend a CAS Application Forms workshop
Careers Advisory Service, Trinity College Dublin7-9 South Leinster Street
LinkedIn Allows you to
Develop a professional online presence
Manage and build your network
Keep up to date with developments in industry sectors
Find out about career paths
Find jobs
Key Elements in Your Profile
A.Your Photograph
B.Your Headline
C.Your Summary
D.Keywords
E.Recommendations and Endorsements
Your Degree What Next?www.tcd.ie/Careers
• Overview
• Skills Gained
• Choose a Career • Profiling for Success
• Career Report on Gradireland.com
• My Prospects Career Planner on Prospects.co.uk
• What TCD Graduates Do
• Job Profiles
• Further Study
• Making Applications
• Vacancies
• Useful links
Other Job-Hunting Resources
Employer Presentations/Fairs Non-visiting Employers Applications Via The Web
Career Sites― www.gradireland.ie― www.prospects.ac.uk― http://www.gradcracker.com/― http://targetjobs.co.uk/
Company Sites _ www.firstderivatives.com/careers_ www.havok.com/careers_ http://careers.murex.com/_ http://careers.accenture.com/ie-en/Pages/index.aspx
Job Sites (prospects/target/gradireland too) • www.irishjobs.ie/graduates.asp• CAS website-(www.tcd.ie/vacancies)• http://dublinstartupjobs.com/• http://www.itshappeninghere.ie/• http://www.irishjobs.ie/Graduates.aspx• http://www.computerjobs.ie/ Useful websites: ― www.itshappeninghere.ie Career opportunities in Irish owned software
companies― www.software.ie Irish software companies ― www.irishdev.com/jobsindex.aspx Irish developer’s network of professional
software developers)― www.ibec.ie/ibec/internet.nsf/LookupPageLink/ISAWebsite Irish software
Association members― www.iei.ie ― www.ictireland.ie― Irish Computer Society www.ics.ie ― http://www.imca.ie/ Institute of Management Consultants
Other Job-Hunting Resources
User groups…
_ http://python.ie/ Python is a remarkably powerful dynamic programming language that is used in a wide variety of application domains. Python is often compared to Tcl, Perl, Ruby, Scheme or Java
_ Pubstandards http://pubstandards.ie/ Pub Standards Dublin is the largest monthly meetup of developers, designers, founders and people-who-like-to-build-stuff, in Ireland. It has been running in London and other cities since 2005, and in Dublin since August 2010
_ Engine Yard https://www.engineyard.com/ has been so supportive of local communities from Python Ireland, Ruby Ireland, Dublin NodeJS, Crafthou.se, and so on. If you are an organiser and looking for a free venue and free craft beer, poke Eamon Leonard and he'll help you
Also…
• http://www.fit.ie/ information advice and access to ‘in-demand’ skills, work experience and interview and CV development support
• http://ifso.ie/_ Join the fsfe-ie@ mailing list_ Attend monthly meetings_ Become a member_ Contact IFSO directly
• https://news.ycombinator.com/ Hacker News • http://www.isa-skillnet.com/• http://www.ictirelandskillnet.org/About_Us/2
For information on Further study in this area funded by the
Government
How The Careers Service Can Help!
• Website_ Your Degree What Next-Customised for your course_ Vacancies_ Online testing “Profiling for Success” & Gradireland Careers Report_ Online Work Experience % Internships Newsletter (NB Essay
Competition)_ Going Global _ Vault Career Insider
• Careers Information Centre_ Free publications including Target Work Experience
• Careers Events_ Careers week_ Training: CVs, Applications, Interviews, Practice video interviews _ Drop In CV Clinic every week_ Employer Presentations (Networking opportunity)
Resources
• CVs & Application web pages & ‘Careers Service Guide ’
www.tcd.ie/Careers/students/jobsearch/apply/• Gradireland.com
http://gradireland.com/careers-advice/cvs-and-applications
• Prospects.ac.uk www.prospects.ac.uk/cvs.htm
• Postgraduate CVs: www.vitae.ac.uk
• International CVs: Going Global www.tcd.ie/Careers/goinglobal/index.php
• LinkedIn “Grad Guide” on You Tube
• Media related CVs: Creative CV Guide
• Academic CVs www.tcd.ie/Careers/students/postgraduate/research/academic_cvs.php