CV and cover letter (UK and IRL)

Top tips OIPEP

Mª Isabel Beas Collado

Responsable OIPEP
 Índex
– Planificación
– Objetivo
– Competencias
– CV:
• Formato
• Contenido
• Estructura
• Recomendaciones
• Tipología
– Cover letter
– Webs útiles
 Planificación
• Per qué?
Metes a aconseguir
Quan?
A on?
Cóm?
– Estratègies, ferramentes, métodes
• http://ujiapps.uji.es/societat/laboral/promote
/base/continuar/recerca-feina/

03/10/2017
 Objetivos
• “vender” tus competencias y demostrar tus
logros y cualidades

• Impresionar al lector para que te conceda una

entrevista
 Contextos de uso
• Redes sociales
• On-spec application (candidatura espontánea)
– Directorios de empresas
– Webs corporativas*
• Búsqueda pasiva
– Media (anuncios publicitados)
– Páginas de prácticas
Durante la entrevista
Applications forms (En el formato requerido)
 10 competencies most wanted by
employers
• Analytical skills
• Communication skills (Wr, Verbal, interpersonal)
• Flexibility/adaptability
• Initative/Drive/energy
• Leadership skills
• Planning skills
• Problem-solving
• Teamwork
• Technical/technological skills
• Time management
 Competencias genéricas
• Tuning
http://www.unideusto.org/tuningeu/competences.htm
l
Diccionario Barcelona Activa

• http://w27.bcn.cat/porta22/es/altres/dicciona
ri.jsp
 Competencias por titulación
• Libros blancos ANECA (Información útil sobre el título
en Europa, perfiles profesionales, inserción y sobre
competencias genéricas (transversales) y específicas
según áreas/salidas profesionales
http://www.aneca.es/Documentos-y-
publicaciones/Otros-documentos-de-interes/Libros-
Blancos
• Memorias verificación títulos de grado/máster
http://ujiapps.uji.es/estudis/eees/titols/graus/
http://ujiapps.uji.es/estudis/eees/titols/masters/
 Preparing your CV
Your Curriculum Vitae (CV) should give a
clear summary of your education, work
experience, achievements and abilities. An
employer will decide whether to interview
you based on your CV.
 Formato CV
• Bullet point format
• Dividido en secciones
• Cronológico inverso y relevante
• DINA 4: 2 hojas que se distribuyan totalmente o una
sola hoja
• Marcar requisitos básicos en el CV (ej titulación) en
negrilla (bold) para que destaque
• Además manterner mismo estilo tanto en CV como
cover letter (letra, tamaño, colores, etc.)
 Guía Básica I
• Estilo conciso y profesional
• Específico por puestos * (identificar las competencias
solicitadas)
• Incluir evidencias de las competencias: demostrar
claramente que las competencias se ajustan a lo
demandado, ser imaginativo y lógico. Incluir hechos,
datos. STAR
• Formal-no formal-informal
• 2 referencias (académica, profesional)
• Se pueden incluir datos secundaria, universidad
• Consultoras: incluir notas secundaria
• VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxs8IT6A
7_s
• Example 1 (above): Communication

• Skill Area: Communication Skills:able to adapt

your communication style to particular
situations and audiences….. able to produce
clear and concise written information….

•
• This is not a good example because it:
• - does not give sufficient details of exactly
what the person did or how they actually
demonstrated their “ effective
communications skills”
• - also, it is not clear where the information
requested at (a), (b) and (c) (supplementary
section) is presented.
Example 2
“…..consultation, mainly over the phone and
face-to face” & “developed a format for a
summarised report, reducing the average length
from 40 pages to just 10” “achieved this through
careful editing of the information and increased
use of graphs”. “encouraged clients to ask
questions”

•
• This is a better example because it:

• - describes exactly what the person did and

how they communicated, for example

• - also, it is clearer where the information

requested at (a), (b) and (c) of the
supplementary question section is presented.
 Guía Básica II
• Lo más importante en primer lugar
• Lo más importante tendrá más espacio en el CV
• Strong verbs and positive qualities
• Redacción impersonal (centrarse en la acción, no en
uno mismo)
• Vender tus competencias
• Acompañar siempre de cover letter demuestra tu
motivación
• Revisar fallos gramaticales
 Strong verbs (ejemplos)
• Achieve enjoy prepare
• Analyse evaluate budget
• Raise money implement set up
• Coordinate investigate demonstrate
• Lead devise improve
• Organise research develop
• Manage negotiate
 Positive qualities
• Accurate Impartial
• Resilient Adaptable
• Logical Resourceful
• Methodological Responsible
• Sef-reliant Persuasive
• Conscientious Determined
• Tactful Commercially aware
 What goes into a CV?
• Your name, address, email and phone number, nationality
• A personal profile – this is a short paragraph giving the highlights of your
qualifications, experience, specific skills and abilities. (More on personal
profiles below).
• Education
• Positions you have held, starting with your most recent job. Include the
company names and addresses and the dates you worked for each
employer.
• Relevant experience – describe your specific duties and responsibilities in
bulletpoint format. Make sure the experience you describe is relevant to
the job you are applying for.
• Skills and interest
• IT
• Referencies
 What goes into a CV?
• Any certificates or specific skills you may have such as
computer skills (for example, Word or Excel), a driving
licence and so on.
• Any significant achievements (these could relate to
sports, arts, fund-raising for charities – anything that
shows you have worked to reach a goal).
• Any voluntary or community work you may have
done.
• Names of referees and contact details.
• Your interests or hobbies (it’s up to you whether you
include these).
• Your education and qualifications.
 Should I include a Personal Profile?
• A personal profile is a short paragraph that goes
near the top of your CV. It tells the interviewer at
a glance what you have to offer and what type of
position you are interested in. If you are applying
for different jobs, you can adapt your CV to suit
the jobs concerned
• Think of the personal profile as a way to sell
yourself to a prospective employer.
• Use positive, key words to emphasise your
experience, skills or abilities.
Should I declare a disability on my
CV?
• You will only need to declare a disability or any other personal
issues on your CV if you include a personal summary. If you do
mention your disability it should be relevant to the role you’re
applying for and may be more appropriate in your cover letter.
• Under the terms of the Equality Act 2010 an employer is
unable to discriminate against an applicant who has a
disability. If your disability will require an employer to make
reasonable adjustment to help you to do your job, they
should be made aware of this when you apply. Sell yourself to
an employer by focussing on the strengths and skills you have
learnt from your disability. Your positive approach will
demonstrate your ability to carry out the role you have
applied for.
 Qué no incluir
• Fecha de nacimiento, foto, estado civil,
hijos,nombre y profesión de los padres (se
puede considerar discriminatorio)
 Qué incluir
• Otras actividades (deportes, actividades de
tiempo libre, hobbies)
• En UK se hace hincapié en los logros y
aficiones personales – actividades
extracurriculares en secundaria,
universidad,puestos de liderazgo, aficiones..)
• Señale claramente sus cualidades pero sin
exagerlas ni subestimarlas
 Recomendaciones
• NO utilizar CV manuscrito
• Incluir las demás cualificaciones y actividades
• Explicar periodos en blanco (Gaps)
• Si no tienes mucha experiencia incluir: temporary, holiday,
part-time or voluntary work
• NO usar la misma carta de presentación
• Dirigir la documentación a una persona en concreto,
indicando el cargo, y título académico
• NO grapar CV-cover letter
• ERRORES:
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/aboutus/newsarti
cles/Pages/news-cvpitfalls.aspx
 What if there are gaps in my
employment?
Try to give positive details of how you used
you time during the gaps.
For example, you may have taken a year out
to travel, worked as a volunteer on a
particular project, returned to college to
study, and so on.
It’s best if you can give good reasons for the
gaps rather than leave questions for the
reader.
 Chronological CV
• Particularly effective if you have relevant
experience because it highlights:
• What have you done
• Who you have worked for
• How you have progressed
• Traditional
• More Examples
https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/careers/work/cv/
 Skills-based
• This CV focuses on demonstrating evidence of
relevant skills.
• Use relevant skill headings to present your
evidence - educational and work experience
descriptions are kept brief.
• This style of CV is more difficult to organise
but, if you focus on the right skills, it can show
you’ve considered the needs of the employer.
• Example
 Academic CV
• dissertation and/or research abstracts;
• research interests and/or areas of expertise;
• teaching and/or administrative experience;
• publications;
• presentations or conferences attended;
• professional memberships;
• fellowships and awards.
• your research interests should be comprehensible to people
outside your field but scholarly enough to interest fellow
researchers. Lastly, try not to neglect your transferable skills
and use a professional layout. Academic employers want
academic staff who are motivated team players, and can
manage projects, bring in funding and communicate concisely
 Useful websites. Ejemplos
These websites have tips, advice and sample CVs which you can adapt
to create your own CV.
• www.career-advice.monster.ie
• www.cvtips.com
• www.ec.europa.eu/eures/home.jsp?lang=en
• www.europass.ie
• www.jobsearch.about.com
• www.recruitireland.com
• www.writeon.ie
• www.youtube.com
• www.prospects.ac.uk
• https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/get-a-job/cv-sections
 Writing a cover letter
• A cover letter is the letter you send with your
CV.
• It should give the reason you are applying for
the job and – briefly – your qualifications and
relevant experience. There could be many
people applying for the same job so your cover
letter is an opportunity to make your application
stand out from the rest.
• Your letter should make an employer want to
consider you for the job.
What should I say in my cover letter?
• Be concise and stick to relevant facts. Say
which job you are applying for and why your
experience makes you a good fit for the
position. Refer to the areas of your CV that
match the job requirements (that is, your
qualifications and relevant experience).
• Cover letters should be clear and to the point.
Keep the letter to one page if possible but
definitely no longer than two pages.
 Useful websites
• https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/get-a-job/covering-letter
• http://www.prospects.ac.uk/assets/assets/documents/cover_letter_specu
lative.pdf
• http://www.prospects.ac.uk/assets/assets/documents/cover_letter_inter
national_student.pdf
• http://www.prospects.ac.uk/assets/assets/documents/cover_letter_disclo
sing_disability.pdf
• www.office.microsoft.com/en-ie
• www.tcd.ie/Careers/students/jobsearch
• http://www.sepe.es/contenidos/personas/encontrar_empleo/empleo_eu
ropa.html
• http://ujiapps.uji.es/societat/laboral/promote/base/continuar/recerca-
feina/eines/cartes/
Mª Isabel Beas Collado
Responsable Oficina
Inserción Profesional y
Estancias en Prácticas
www.uji.es/serveis/oipep

www.uji.es/societat/laboral/promote /
www.linkedin.com/in/mariaisabelbeas