CV'S, APPLICATIONS AND INTERVIEWS

This session was about how to prepare us for when applying for jobs. Alistar who ran the session drew out a chart that looked something like this:

He was trying to give us a reality check of how competitive the world of work is, especially in the creative industry. On average 200 people will apply for one job, he said that computers go through all the CV's and check for errors or missing information that they are looking for and will whittle the amount down to around 10 applications. After that the person in charge of applications will go through those ones and choose the best 3-5 applicants for an interview. And then at the interview process only 1 person will be chose.

So with the first two processes, you don't even get to see or interact with a human, that is why having a strong CV that will stand out from the rest is so important, because if you have a bad CV you won't be able to get to the interview stage. And if you do get to the interview stage but don't get the job, don't worry, it shows that your CV was good enough to get to the interview process.

Fundamentals of a CV

All skills are important, however the technical skills are more desired by employers, highlight these types of skills and repeat them throughout your CV.

A CV should sell YOU and explain how you meet the role requirements. The key sections it should include are:

• Profile/Summary

• Education

• Key Skills/Achievements (use STAR method)

• Work Experience

• Personal Details

• Recommendations

Don't put "Curriculum Vitae" as the title as the employers will already know what it is. Start it with your name as the main heading and then what you are/what your role is, for example I could put Visual Communication Undergraduate if I was to apply for an internship. Then add some contact details such as phone number, email and website link to your portfolio.

Statement

Write a sentence about what you are currently.

Technical skills that you have and explain situation where you have used them.

Presentation skills, how you conducted yourself while presenting.

Entrepreneurial skills, how you have handled financial and professional situations.

Always show evidence of where these skills came from.

Education

Only add the education that is relevant to the role for example I could put

Visual Communication BA (Hons) Leeds Arts University (achieved _:_ grade) (2019-2021)

You don't have to date your education and you don't have to put your GCSE's unless they ask and with that only put the bare minimum like: 11 GCSE'S A*-C, English B, Maths A, ICT B, Art A

As these 4 subjects are the main ones they will probably want. The last subject could change for any other creative subject (e.g. Textiles, Graphics) depending on what GCSE's you took.

Key Skills and Achievements

Keep an autobiography of your life and career achievements as it makes it easier to remember things you have done in the past. Think of the skills as a story, have a beginning, middle and an end.

Work Experience and Volunteering

Skills and requirements of that role and how you showed them throughout, what you did and any interesting events that took place. Skip the things that are subjective such as strong political views or sports teams that you may support, these could put off a potential employer.

Personal Details

Address

Language Skills

Driving Licence

Recommendations

A third party giving you a recommendation can be a powerful thing, get a lecturer or employer to write a quote about you and you can put that in your CV. Be wary of references as they are a bit outdated, don't use them unless you are asked.

Cover Letter/ Supporting Statements

The main reason for this is to explain why you are applying for the role and what makes you interested in them, don't bother making one if it is not requested. Don't worry about duplication of cover letter and CV information.

Interview

There are some things that you must be prepare for before an interview. These include:

• Finding out where the company is and how you can get there, probably do a test run of how to travel there a few days before the interview

• Find out information about the company

• Find out who works there on websites such as Linkedin or even social media like Facebook/Instagram

• How you are going to present yourself, adapt to the environment is it more formal or casual

• Questions you are going to ask them

• And the most important thing is to know YOURSELF, be able to talk about yourself easily, if you don't know yourself well, it might come across as unsurety or being indecisive which are negative traits to show an employer