Social Work Natalie Smith & Amy Wiggins Careers and Employability Service

Social Work
Natalie Smith & Amy Wiggins
Careers and Employability Service
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Introduction to the Careers and Employability
Service.
CVs
Covering letters
5 min break at 1.55
Application forms
Interviews
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www.kent.ac.uk/ces
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www.facebook.com/ukmemployability
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www.twitter.com/ukmemploy
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The purpose of a CV.
What to include on a CV.
Person specifications and how to tailor a CV
to a job.
How to make a CV clear and easy to read.
What to include in a covering letter.
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Curriculum Vitae (Latin: the course of one’s life)
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An outline of a person’s educational and professional
history
What is the purpose of a CV?
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To inform the employer about
your education, work
experience, skills and interests
To ‘sell’ these qualities and to
persuade the employer to invite
you to interview
When an employer asks for a CV.
When an employer states ‘apply to…’
without specifying the format.
 When making speculative applications.
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On average how long does a recruiter
spend looking at a CV?
a.
b.
c.
0-30 seconds
30 seconds – 1 minute
1-2 minutes
You will be given two CVs and you will
have 20 seconds to look at each one and
decide which one you would invite to an
interview for a Social Work role.
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Which one did you choose and why?
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Personal details
Personal profile (optional)
Education from GCSE level –institutions,
qualifications & dates (most recent first)
Relevant work experience
Work history
Other information
References
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Name (as a heading rather than ‘CV’)
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Address
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Telephone number
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Email address
 Make sure this is a professional email address, not
‘sexybeccy@hotmail.com’
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Start with the most recent
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Don’t forget your current study
 Mention relevant modules
 You might like to mention top marks
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You don’t have to put your grades on if you
weren’t happy with them
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Include the years of study
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Primary school not needed
Education and Qualifications
2011 – Present
University of Kent
BA (Hons) Social Work (Predicted 2:1)
Modules include: Social Work Theories, Methods and
Practice, Social Work Practice in a Multi-agency
Context.
Highlights include:
• Winner of the Social Work Placement Award
• Achieved 75% on child protection project.
2009 – 2011
Maidstone Grammar School
A-levels: History (A), Art (B),
Information Technology (C)
2005 – 2009
Wrotham School
GCSEs: 8 GCSEs grade A-C including English and
Mathematics
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Dates, name of company, position, location.
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Don’t just list your duties – sell your skills and
provide evidence. Which skills are relevant to
the position/organisation you are applying to?
Sales Assistant
Museum of Kent Life, Maidstone
April 2010 – June 2011
• Delivered excellent customer service as demonstrated by my mystery shop result of
91% and by receiving ‘Sales Assistant of the Month’ award three times.
• Achieved a sales result of 5% above my target illustrating my advanced selling skills,
as well as my determination to succeed.
What examples can you give from your work experience?
If you have no paid work experience, give examples from voluntary work or
from your course
created instructed analysed produced
negotiated designed calculated maintained
administered controlled reviewed observed
consolidated delivered founded increased
studied invented supplied detected
programmed recommended distributed
developed solved prepared installed
selected arranged formulated solved started
Choose interests and activities which can demonstrate
skills relevant to the job such as:
• Communication
• Team work
• Organising
• Commitment
• Your intellectual abilities
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Ideally, one academic and previous/current
employer.
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Ask permission from your referee and let them
know what position(s) you’ve applied for.
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Use relevant references if possible.
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You can say ‘references available on request’
rather than including contact details if you
wish.
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It is not ‘one size fits all’, you
need to tailor your CV to each
position you apply for.
Research the organisation. Do they have a mission
statement or core values? What will they be looking
for in you? Check the job description/person
specification.
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What is a person specification?
 See example on handout.
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Write down some evidence showing that you have
‘the ability to work as a member of a multi-agency
team’, as you would do on a CV.
5 minutes
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The first visual impression of your CV is
important.
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For standard CVs, use plain white A4 paper.
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Do not double side (?)
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Keep your CV to two sides of paper.
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Check your spelling.
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Use bullet points and bold font but in
moderation.
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Formatting – make sure it’s consistent.
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Size 11-12 font (depending on font style).
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Clear font e.g. Arial, Calibri.
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2:1, not Two One or 2,1.
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Use short, concise sentences.
Slides are on:
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm
 www.kent.ac.uk/ces
 www.prospects.ac.uk
 http://www.careers.lon.ac.uk/files/pdf/How_t
o_Write_a_CV_leaflet2010.pdf
 http://www.seo-london.com/getstarted/making-a-strong-application
 http://www.gradskent.com/graduates/applica
tion_advice/61/
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Never send a ‘naked’ CV!
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1 side of A4 – similar to a UCAS personal statement
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Opening paragraph – motivation for the job
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Followed by skills and experience developed
through study, work experience and paid work
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‘Matching up’ with job description
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http://www.prospects.ac.uk/covering_letters.htm
http://www.wikijob.co.uk/wiki/how-write-cover-letter
http://www.wikijob.co.uk/wiki/example-cover-letter
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My hobbits include - instead of 'hobbies.'
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I have good writen skills.
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i am a prefectionist and rarely if if ever
forget details.
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I hope to hear from you shorty.
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In my spare time I enjoy hiding my horse.
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Restaurant skills: Severing customers
Slides: www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm