Business Notes: Work Based Learning - Writing A CV (2)

When writing your CV it is important that you DON'T:

• Do it in a rush
• Leave gaps in employment
• Lie
• Include irrelevant personal details (eg. marital status)
• Simply write a list of duties under work experience
• Use large or flashy font

It is important to stress that there is no single way to write a CV this is because it is your own document  so it can be structured and presented as you wish within a basic framework.

You just need to remember that you CV will be the first impression an employer will have of you. It is your marketing brochure through which you are trying to sell yourself.

When emailing potential employers with your CV don't leave the subject line blank as they will not read your email!

Comments from past recruiters:

What is the first thing you look for in someone's CV:

• Layout must be logical and easy to follow

What is likely to make you reject a CV:

• Spelling mistakes/ lack of information
• Bland CV

What is likely to make you seriously consider a CV?

• Good academic record
• Something about you as a person (hobbies, interests and extra curricular activities)
• Practical work experience (not necessarily related)
• Other evidence of ability to work with people or showing initiative.

What is your preferred format for CV?

• Typed
• Easy to follow
• Conventional format

- Esjae 

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Business Notes: Work Based Learning - Writing A Good CV

A CV is very important there for a good CV is vital. This is because your first impression is vital. There is not point having a good interview style if your application won't get you there.

When writing a new application, preparation is key. This is because each application needs to be targeted towards the role and company for which you are applying for.

To target your application successfully you need to know what your skills, experience and qualifications are as well as what the criteria for the job is and then find the overlap. This will enable you to see if you match the job and have the necessary skills etc required.

Auditing Your Skills (Transferable)

• Think about your key activities & achievements to date
• Break them down into tasks
• Identify the skills you have demonstrated/ achieved through this
• Provide evidence

What is a CV?

A CV is a biographical sketch of the course of one's life. It is a persuasive sales document selling yourself to an employer. It's all about you! Therefore it is an opportunity to show an employer why you are an ideal candidate for the job!

Everyone has potential.

A Good CV Will:

• Stand out from the crowd
• Draw attention to your relevant skills, experience, achievements, and potential
• Create such an impression on the employer that they will not be able to turn you down for an interview.

Types of CV Layout

Conventional (Recommended):

• Personal Details (Name, DOB, Address)
• Personal Profile
• Education & Qualifications (Most Recent First)
• Skills
• Interests and Hobbies (Past & Present)
• Referees (Contact Details: Name, Position, Company, Address, Phone, Email) x2 (One Academic and One Personal)

Skills Based:

• Personal Details
• Personal Profile
• Skills Profile
• Education & Qualifications
• Referees

Covering Letter

Always make sure you send a covering letter with your CV, this will help you to make a good impression. A covering letter should be no longer than one side of A4 and should be word processed unless you have been asked otherwise. You should make specific reference to the company you are applying for. You need to make sure you sell yourself but don't go over the top!

Planning A Covering Letter

• Opening (About you)
• Role you are interested in and why
• Why you are particularly interested in that company.

-Esjae x

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Business Notes: Work Based Learning - Employability

Global businesses are increasingly seeking graduates who have a global awareness and have studied or worked overseas as part of their learning. For UK graduates this means many/most are missing out due as they are less likely than international students to do this.

We currently live in:

• Knowledge based economies
• Competitive global markets

Therefore it is important to 'be a sponge' and take everything on board.

What is employability?

Employability belongs to you and it is your property. It isn't the same as getting employed or being employed. It is how an individual grasps the opportunities that are before them, it is also how someone reflect on their experiences. As well as how someone packages and presents the skills they have.

Employability is the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will support their future development.

There are three skills that make you employable, these are:

• Fundamental Skills
• Personal Skills
• Team Skills

Fundamental Skills include:

• Communication
• Managing Information
• Numerical Skills
• Problem Solving

Personal Skills include:

• Positive attitude and behaviours
• Taking Responsibility
• Adaptability
• Continuous Learning - 'Be a sponge'

Team Skills include:

• Being able to work with others
• Cooperation
• Leadership

The 10 most important skills that employers look for are said to be (in order of importance):

1. Communication Skills
2. Team Working Skills
3. Integrity
4. Intellectual Ability
5. Confidence
6. Character/ Personality
7. Planning & Organisational Skills
8. Literacy
9. Numeracy
10. Analysis & Decision Making Skills

Innovation skills are also very important when it comes to employability this is because: creativity skills tend to generate ideas which help businesses greatly in terms of remaining competitive; risk taking skills shows a person is entrepreneurial; relationship building skills this shows a person is good at networking and communication; and also implementation skills this shows someone has the skills to turn ideas into products.

Some people may ask is this all expected of someone who is taking their first job? The answer is yes they can or at least someone who is willing to be like this/ grow into it.

How does someone develop their employability?

The development of one's employability attributes and most importantly mapping examples to the list typically sought by employees. Alongside the development of one's self promotional skills and also have a willingness to reflect and learn.

- Esjae 

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Business Notes: Work Based Learning, Bill Gates Words of Wisdom

Bill Gates - Words of Wisdom


1. Life's not fair - Get used to it!
2. The world won't care about your self esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself
3. You will not make $60000 a year right out of university, you won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.
4. If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you have a boss
5. Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: They called it opportunity
6. If you mess up, it's not your parents fault. So don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them
7. Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. - They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.
8. Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has NOT! - There are no second chances in life!
9. Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that in your own time!
10. TV is not real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee  shop and go to their jobs.
11. Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one!

- Esjae

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