Discussion Summary

This session covered the challenges we all face when applying for jobs. The group shared best practices for CV and Cover letter writing, as well as interview etiquette.

Top tips

Have someone you trust read through your CV/Cover letter(s)!

When Applying

Think about why you want the job, and what in your skills/experience make it a good job for you
Update your CV and LinkedIn profile
Check out what current employers think on Glassdoor and LinkedIn

CVs/Resumes

Match your cv/resume to the job description
Quantify your experiences wherever possible, e.g: "As contract holder, I re-negotiated the lunchtime catering service with our food supplier, and reduced the company spend on food by 20%."
Try to keep your CV under two pages

Cover Letters

Do not repeat what is in your CV in your cover letter - the letter is an opportunity to introduce yourself and explain why you think you're the best person for the job
Keep cover letters to 1-page/500 words max
Double-check your CV/Cover letter(s) for typos and grammatical errors

Interviews

Do your research - learn about the role as we as the business/company you want to work for and highlight key experiences that make you a good fit for the job
Come ready to ask the interviewer questions
Do not lie in your CV - companies do background checks to verify the information you provide, and usually spend time during interviews walking through your CV, so enhance, don't lie

Group Exercise

The group was asked to review the two CVs below, pick the best candidate for an admin position, and discuss why.

Try it yourself!

Have a look at both CVs, and pick your preferred candidate.
Think about why you have chosen this person.
What about their CV or experience stands out? How might you apply the positives to your own CV/job applications?

CVs:

Example 1

Example 2