CVs FOR APPLYING TO ACCOUNTANCY AND FINANCE EMPLOYERS Jenny Keaveney Careers Advisory Service.

CVs FOR APPLYING TO ACCOUNTANCY AND FINANCE

EMPLOYERS

Jenny KeaveneyCareers Advisory Service

WHAT IS A CV?

curriculum vitae an outline of a person's educational and professional history, usually prepared for job applications (L, lit.: the course of one's life)

Also known as: resumé

What is the purpose of a CV?

To inform the employer about your:•education•work experience•skills•interests

To persuade the employer, on the basis of this information, that you are potentially suitable for the job and are therefore worth interviewing

When should a CV be used?

• When an employer asks for applications to be received in this format

• When an employer simply states "apply to ..." without specifying the format

• When making speculative applications (i.e. when writing to an employer who has not actually advertised a vacancy but who you hope may have one)

WHAT SHOULD A CV INCLUDE?

Personal details

Education and qualifications

Work experience

Interests

Practical skills

Referees

PERSONAL DETAILS

• Your name! (use this as the heading)• Your contact details:

– Postal address(es)– Phone number(s)– Email address

• You may also include (but don’t have to): – Nationality– Male/female (but only if this isn’t clear from your

name)

VESPER LYND

Home Address: 10 London Road, Middlemarch, MM2 6AZ Term Address: 1a Wildwood Court, Park Wood, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7SZ

Tel: 01789 12345 Email: [email protected]

Nationality: British Sex: Female

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS

• Combine both: head each section in this category with the name of the university/school/college, then the subjects studied and exams taken there, with dates

• Accountancy firms like detail: list all your modules/subjects and grades

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

2009 to date The University of Kent BA Accounting and Finance - expect to graduate June 2012

First year: Financial Accounting I (Distinction); Quantitative

Methods (Merit); Business Law (Merit); Economics (Distinction); Computing (Merit)

Second year: Financial Accounting II; Strategic Management; Management Accounting I; Principles of Finance

2002 - 2009 Casubon High School, Middlemarch

2009 A-levels: English (A); French (B); Business Studies (B)

2008 AS levels: Mathematics (B); History (B)

2007 GCSEs: English Language (A); Mathematics (A); English Literature (A); French (A); Spanish (B); History (A); Geography (C); Biology (B); Music (A)

WORK EXPERIENCE• If you don’t have much experience at

this stage, list it all – even if you don’t feel it’s “relevant” – and highlight the skills you have gained from it

• If you have a lot of experience, you may:– Separate it into “relevant” and “other”– Summarise the less-relevant experience

• “Experience” doesn’t just mean “paid work” – include volunteering, work-shadowing etc if you like

SKILLS

• Almost any kind of work experience will help you to demonstrate the “transferable skills” that employers look for

• For accountancy employers, these include:– Teamworking– Client focus– Commercial awareness– Attention to detail– Problem-solving – Time management

WORK EXPERIENCE

Summer 2010 Bulstrode Insurance Ltd, Lowick

• Responsible for data inputting, liaison with clients and general office duties• Developed skills in dealing with business customers, chiefly over the telephone, and in working accurately under pressure.

Summer 2009 Tick & Holler Accountants, Middlemarch

• Gained experience in the tax department, entering data into clients’ tax returns and contacting clients to obtain further information or documentation• Assisted with stocktakes and audits, including sampling and checking

2007 - 2009 Flora Motley Ltd, High Street, Middlemarch

Saturday Sales Assistant in fashion store: customer service, stock control, cash handling.

This involved me in advising and assisting customers, coping with problems and unexpected situations (such as a fire alarm) and taking responsibility for counting up and banking money.

INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES

• Anything a bit “different” or “interesting” in this section can help you to stand out from other candidates

• These can also demonstrate your skills and competencies

• Don’t worry, though, if you have little to put in this section provided that other sections (especially work experience) can compensate

• Make your interests interesting!

INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES

Sport Badminton (member of the University badminton club); tennis (played for the school team) swimming; trampolining.

Car Looking after my twenty-year-old Mini and Maintenance meeting other Mini owners at rallies

Travel Summer 2010 - two-week international voluntary workcamp in SpainOne month Inter-Railing through France and Italy in summer 2009

SKILLS

Languages Good command of French and Spanish

Computing Familiarity with Windows packages including MS Word, MS Access and Internet Explorer

Driving Full, clean driving licence

SKILLSThis section should include just your practical,

relevant and work-related skills, such as:

REFERENCES• Give the name and contact details of

two referees • If you have run out of space on the CV

you can just say “references available on request”

• Ideally, one academic and one work-related or character reference

• ALWAYS ask permission before giving someone’s name as a referee!

COVERING LETTERSIntroduce yourself:

- what are you applying for?- where did you hear about the firm?

Sell yourself:

- your motivation- your past experience- your skills- your knowledge of accountancy/of this firm- your ability to communicate effectively in writing!

Provide essential information:

- your availability- refer the reader on to your CV/form

FURTHER HELP AND INFORMATION

• Making Applications - Careers Service booklet

• Making Applications - AGCAS booklet • AGCAS DVDs - Looking Good on Paper

(CVs) and Your Job’s On-Line (application forms)

• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm• TARGET Jobs http://targetjobs.co.uk/career-

sectors/accountancy-and-financial-management advice from graduate recruiters in this sector

GOOD LUCK!

Careers Advisory ServiceOpening hours: 9am - 5pmMonday – Friday

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers