CV Craft

The Application Process

Different companies have different recruitment processes.  We work closely with everyone involved to help find the right role for the best candidates.  Some companies accept CVs and some companies prefer you to complete application forms.

Whichever you do make sure that you:

• Highlight your skills and experience

• Create interest to make you stand out from the crowd

• Are careful to be truthful without over egging your CV

• Present it well. Your CV or application will continue to work as a sales and marketing tool even when you have already secured an interview.

It is likely that your interviewer will make notes on your CV or application during the interview and use it to help them to decide who to appoint.

Even if they decide not to employ you for a particular role, if they can see your talents they may well consider you for other positions.

General Guidlines

You can adapt your CV to suit a range of purposes. When writing it, it’s a good idea to do your research, keep in mind who might be reading it and what they may be looking for.

• In todays technology led work environment your CV will be expected in a digital format.

• Digital file formats include .doc, .pdf, .docx and .rtf

• The Most common and widely used are .doc and .pdf

• If in doubt about anything, keep it simple

• There are plenty of online resources and templates available

You need your skills and experience to stand out. The employer needs enough information to decide whether to interview you or not. Established norms have dictated that your CV comply with a fixed layout and with a set expectation. Work habits,  jobs and attitudes changing there is no such thing as normal and the established wisdom may not apply. Like in the Digital sector where career paths, expectations and skills are in some cases very different from more traditional businesses.

Below is a list of sections that you can include in your CV.

In a changing employment landscape there is no right or wrong way to format a CV and your CV should be set out in a way that best suits your career, history and what you are trying to communicate.It should also take into consideration the career you are aiming for and try to emphasise your qualities eg:

• Transferable

• Picking out and highlight relevant experience

• Equally you may want to keep less applicable experience low key

Here are suggestions of some or all of the headings that we advise should be included:

• Personal Details

• Qualifications

• Employment History

• Qualifications and Training

• Work Experience/Unpaid Employment

• Other Relevant Experience/Skills

• IT Skills

• Languages-English is the language of business, additional languages are a bonus

• Hobbies and Interests

• Profile

• Key Skills

• Personal Details

• Name

• Address

• Contact telephone numbers (home, work, mobile)

• Email

• Driving License and whether it is clean

• Nationality (if you are applying abroad)

Discrimination legislation and greater moves toward equality mean that company practice and policy are changing. Your age, gender and marital status are no longer an absolute requirement. You do not have to include your date of birth for example.

Education and Qualifications

It’s almost expected across the board that candidates have been involved in a further or higher education course. Many companies are no longer considering degree or A Level results when assessing candidates, relying on in house assessment instead. Companies are changing their approach because they feel they may be missing out on talent by alienating candidates.

That said if you do not have higher level qualifications list the ones you have succinctly and if you have gone on to obtain a degree, just listing the number and grades achieved will be sufficient.

You may wish to list modules that you studied as part of your university degree if they are relevant to the position you are applying for.

Employment History

You may have a traditional career history and this makes writing about your past a lot simpler but with employment norms changing, many professionals work across industries and companies in shorter periods.

There has been a rise in people with career portfolios. A portfolio career is one where for example you have worked on contract for more than one employer and possibly even in more than one role. You may even have worked freelance or had your own business or all of these at once during any period.

People are also working in different ways in response to changing global, economic, industrial, technology and employment terms.

This can all have an effect on employment history and how you present this.

In any case start with the most relevant position. You should include:

• Your job title (e.g. Manager, Supervisor etc.)

• The job title of the person you reported to

• The dates of you employment

• The name of the company

• A brief description of the service provided by the company

• Your main responsibilities, achievements, duties and skills

You do not need to go into detail for al the positions, it may be only the first two or three or just the roles you feel you want to highlight. Examples that back up your skills and experience. Choose examples that are most appropriate to the new position you are applying for.

Professional Qualifications and Training

If you have any other relevant qualifications or qualifications, you gained while in employment that are relevant to the new position then list these in a separate section.

• List all professional qualifications

• Membership to any professional bodies and professional ID numbers

• Work related training courses

• Company courses

Work Experience and Unpaid Work

This will be particularly important if you are at the beginning of your career and don't have an extensive employment history yet.

If you have done work experience in a company that has a similar service or product to that which you are applying for:

• Explain your responsibilities

• Detail skills and knowledge that you acquired

Include:

• Part-time jobs

• Vacation work

• Charity work, but only if it is relevant to the position you are applying for, otherwise include this in the Hobbies and Interests section

• Any other appropriate skills you have acquired through means other than academic work or employment

• Membership of student committees, organising social events, involvement in the wider community, etc. You could put these under a separate "Responsibilities" heading if appropriate

IT Skills

IT skills are becoming increasingly important in almost every job and workplace. This is more so when applying for roles in the online, games or digital industries, so it is a good idea to list any skills that you have in a separate section:

• Make and type of platforms you are familiar with

• Software and operating system used (e.g. Microsoft Office, Microsoft Windows XP etc.)

• Professional and industry standard software. This will be different depending on the role and industry.

• Digital software may include Adobe – Dreamweaver, Illustrator, Photoshop, Muse, Indesign, ,Acrobat, Axure, Marvel, Visio, OmniGraffle Pro, Invision, Proto IO amongst many others

• Coding skillsCSS, Javascript, C++, C, Java, Objective C, Ruby, Python, PHP, SQL amongst others

• GamesUnity, Unreal engine, App game kit amongst others

• Mobile DevelopmentIOS, Andriod, Windows and Phonegap amongst others

• 3d and render Software 3d Max, Cinema 4d, Maya, Z brush, Vray, Keyshot

• Motion Digital Nuke, Fusion, Combustion, Premiere, Aftereffects, Apple Motion amongst others

• Links to portfolio or live examples of web/digital work

You can have a folio hosted at Behance.net, Squarespace.com and Artstation.com and cgsociety.org and many others if you do not have your own website.

Languages

English is the language of business, in most cases a working knowledge of fluency in English is a pre-requisite.

If it is appropriate to the job you’re applying for, then list your skills in any foreign languages. State whether they are written, spoken business or technical and indicate your level of fluency, for example: fluent, good working knowledge, etc.

With globalisation and economies changing, you may be required to do business globally from your desk. A fluent or working knowledge of languages in emerging markets can be a sought after.

Hobbies and Interests

When it comes to hobbies and interests keep it short and sweet. Only expand on something if it directly relates or ties in with work or the company role you are applying for eg. They may have a well known football team in an inter company league.

If an interviewer is interested they will steer the conversation in that direction, taking your cue from this you can expand more.

This may be a good opportunity to connect on a personal level, if this happens try to stay professional.

References

There is no need to name references on your CV merely state that "references are available on request".

You should decide before you send your CV who will act as your references. Always ask permission before listing someone as a referee.

If you are writing a Student/Graduate CV you should aim for one academic and one other referee. These should be included on your CV

Profile

This often appears at the beginning of a CV. It summarises experience, skills and ambitions. A profile is most appropriate for people in mid-career, however anyone can use one and it is a good way to attract the attention of the reader and explain straightaway what it is that you are capable of and what you are looking for in a career.

Your Profile should be contained within four to six lines and only list those skills that are appropriate to your next employer.

For example:

Highly motivated Office Manager with five years experience in administration. Able to work on own initiative and as part of a team. Proven leadership and communication skills, involving organising, managing and developing office administration team to achieve their objectives. Exceptional computer, writing and numeracy skills.

Key Skills

Again it is not necessary to include a Key Skills section unless you feel that it’s worthwhile. You can use your covering letter to draw together capabilities that are evidenced across your employment history and experience.

Depending on the role, if you do include a Key Skills section it can help you reinforce to the employer your suitability and capability for the position. This may be useful specially if you have a complicated career path (portfolio carer) and may increase your chances of being invited to interview.

Gaps in Chronology

Remember when writing your CV that missing months (or even years) may be viewed with suspicion by a potential employer. If you have taken a career break for any reason, for travelling or to bring up a family for example, then remember to include it.

It may be that during these times you have learned a new skill that could be relevant in the workplace- include these if they are relevant.

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