how to write a CV to get your dream job

adrian wallwork 2013

adrian.wallwork@gmail.com

Agenda for this seminar

•  Templates (Europass vs your own) •  Understanding how HR people read CVs •  What secAons to include in a CV •  What to write in each secAon •  How to write your own reference leBer •  How (not) to write a cover leBer •  Intelligence tests I will give you printed notes in the break

Quiz: Part 1 1 What is the ideal length of a CV? a) 1 page b) 2 c) 3 d) 4 e) content is more important than number of pages 2 If your CV contains ONE or more spelling mistakes. What will happen? a)  instant death b) nothing particular

3 What % of people don’t not tell complete truth in their CVs? a)  0% b) 25% c) 50% d) 80%

4 Is it a good idea to send exactly the same CV to many different companies? a) yes b) no

Quiz (part 1 key) 1 What is the ideal length of a CV? a) 1 page b) 2 c) 3 d) 4 e) content is more important than number of pages 2 If your CV contains ONE or more spelling mistakes, what will happen? a)  Instant death b) nothing

3 What % of people don’t not tell complete truth in their CVs? a)  0% b) 25% c) 50% d) 80%

4 Is it a good idea to send exactly the same CV to many different companies? a) yes b) no

PROS CONS

Easy for you to fill in (it has instrucAons) Instantly recognizable for most HR people Some companies / insAtutes require it

Creates 3-‐4 page CVs Pointless secAons + pointless info No space for ExecuAve Summary or Refs Your CV looks like everyone else’s

What are the pros and cons of Europass?

What’s wrong with these two Europass secIons?

Work experience Dates

July-August 2011

Name and address of employer

Type of business or sector

Occupation or position held

Main activities and responsibilities

Hotel Atlantico (4-star hotel), Via Torino 2, Forte dei Marmi Hotel Establishment Waiter, level 5 Table service, preparation and re-ordering room

Education and training Dates

07/2000

Title of qualification awarded English Language Course

Principal subjects/occupational skills covered

English language

Name and type of organisation providing education and training

Morehampton Language Institute (Gran Bretagna)

Europass encourages you to:

•  Write unneccessary details (e.g. what a waiter does)

•  Put things in the wrong secAon (e.g. not puUng an English course under ‘Languages’)

•  Tell the enAre story of your life, thus creaAng a 6-‐page CV that YOU THINK looks fantasAc but is really a nightmare for the HR person

Sara Macchi

Education

2009 – 2012: University of Pisa, Faculty of Mathematical, Phisical and Natural Sciences

Specialistic Degree in Chemistry: 110/110 cum laude.

Deep knowledge of NMR theory and instrument. Title of the thesis: “Studio delle interazioni tra piccole molecole organiche e modelli di membrane cellulari mediante NMR”. Supervisors: Dr. Marco Geppi and Dott.ssa Silvia Borsacchi.

Italian, 12 March 1988

Via Cottolengo 8 – 56125 - Pisa

+39 3400913241

saramacchi1@libero.it !!

Compared to Europass, is there any info missing?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

/2 – Sara Macchi’s Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae Europass

Personal Information

First name(s) / Surname(s) Sara Macchi Address(es) Via Cottolengo 8 – 56125 - Pisa

Telephone(s) +39 05024088 Cellulare: +39 3400913241

E-mail saramacchi1@libero.it

Nationality Italian

Date of birth 12 March 1988

Gender Female

Education and training

Dates 2009 – 2012 Title of qualification awarded Specialistic Degree in Chemistry, grading 110/110 cum laude.

Deep knowledge of NMR theory and instrument. Title of the thesis: “Studio delle interazioni tra piccole molecole organiche e modelli di membrane cellulari mediante NMR”. Supervisors: Dr. Marco Geppi and Dott.ssa Silvia Borsacchi.

University of Pisa, Faculty of Mathematical, Phisical and Natural Sciences.

Level in national or international classification

Specialistic Degree

2006 - 2009

Title of qualification awarded Three-year Degree in Chemistry, grading 110/110 cum laude.

Knowledge of spectroscopic techniques such as IR and UV-Vis, and particularly NMR. Title of the thesis: “Parametri NMR di molecole con proprietà ottiche non lineari: determinazione sperimentale e confronto con previsioni teoriche.”

University of Pisa, Faculty of Mathematical, Phisical and Natural Sciences.

Short Degree

2001 - 2006

Title of qualification awarded High School leaving examination, grading 100/100.

Scientific and humanistic education

Senior High School specializing in science eucation “U. Dini” – Pisa.

High school leaving qualification.

Dates Jun 2005 Title of qualification awarded Certificate of the knowledge of English Language (Trinity – Grade 7)

Ability of daily communication in speaking and writing.

21 lines xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

SoluAon

•  Use Europass, but delete the le\-‐hand column, except for the main headings. *

•  Put the useful (e.g. EducaAon, Interests) headings on a separate line

•  Delete the useless headings (e.g. Personal InformaAon)

•  Delete Europass header and footer * But if you have an insAtute/company requests it or if you have very liBle to put on your CV then use the full Europass

Max. 2 pages

•  Put publicaAons in a separate doc (but remember these are probably only of interest to research insAtutes, not companies)

•  Use links to websites to avoid long explanaAons

•  DO NOT USE a small font size

Which font? One of these??? Arial – which big company uses Arial? Times – which big company uses Times? Comic Sans – which big company uses Comic Sans?

Writing dates

Date of birth 5 November 1989 Employment / 2010 – 2012 Education 2011 – now / present

Dec 2012 - Jan 2013 Graduation 5 November 2010

4 February 2013

Use links – to make your CV more concise

•  Places: companies, labs, research institutes

•  People: supervisors, referees

•  Docs: your papers, presentations

•  Your work: projects, thesis

•  In the Personal Data section: LinkedIn, Academia (+ annotated FB?)

Who will read your CV?

Research insItutes AdministraAon staff Maybe the prof Industry Recruitment agency Human Resources (HR) manager

Quiz: Part 2 How much time does the average recruiter spend reading a CV? a)  2 minutes b)  4 minutes c)  10 minutes d)  Other (you decide) How long does it take for you to make an impression of someone the first time you meet him / her? a)  4-10 seconds b)  30 seconds c)  1-2 minutes d)  10 minutes or more

Answers

CV 6 seconds

First impression 4-10 seconds

What sections should a CV have? And in what order?

Sections in a CV •  Personal data •  Objective / Executive summary •  Work experience •  Academic experience •  Skills •  Hobbies and interests •  Publications (possibly on separate page) •  References

What personal data should you include?

•  Personal data •  Work experience •  Academic experience •  Skills •  Hobbies and interests •  Projects, publications, conferences •  References

Personal data

•  Photo ????? we’ll discuss this in a minute

•  Name: no (this should be at top of CV) •  Date and place of birth: yes (but not by law) •  Nationality: yes •  Sex: male / female (only for Nicola, Andrea etc) •  Marital status: not necessary •  Contact details: yes

good or bad? First name: Marco Last name: Rossi Place of birth: Rome – Italy Date of birth: March 5th, 1989 Home address: Via Contessa MaAlde 64C – 56123 Pisa – Italy Work address: Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1 – 56124 Pisa – Italy Home phone: +39 050 326728 Work phone: +39 050 3982127 Mobile phone: +39 3407981019 Work fax: +39 050 3172593 Mail: marco.rossi@isA.cnr.it

Should you put a photo?

•  If not, why not? (eg to avoid discriminaAon) •  If not, what will the HR person think / do?

•  If you opt for a photo, what decisions do you need to make about what kind of photo to put?

Personal data

•  Photo

•  Name: no (this should be at top of CV) •  Date and place of birth: yes (but not by law) •  Nationality: yes •  Sex: male / female (only for Nicola, Andrea etc) •  Marital status: not necessary •  Contact details

Contact details: email address

lordofdarkness@yahoo.com opportunities129@gmail.com

giorossi89@virgilio.it italianstallion@hotmail.com

carla.rossi@gmail.com

Contact details: phone

ONE phone number, written clearly

(0039) 340 7888 304

Contact details: other

YES: LinkedIn and Academia links

NO: Twitter, Facebook NO: Fax

NO: Skype

What are these?

Objective Executive Summary

Personal Profile Personal Statement

Objective

To obtain a full-‐Ame challenging posiAon that offers opportuniAes to learn about nanotechnologies while uAlizing my

experience in bioroboAcs. A one-‐sentence statement to say

• what you want • why you want it • your experience

What is the problem with this objective?

To pursue higher studies that would

expose my fullest potenAal and abiliAes and opens opportuniAes for my

interests.

So vague. It could have been written by anyone

To pursue higher studies that expose my fullest potenAal and abiliAes and opens opportuniAes for my interests.

So vague. It could have been written by anyone

To pursue higher studies that expose my fullest potenAal and abiliAes and opens opportuniAes for

my interests.

Everything you write (CVs, cover leBers, emails, abstracts, papers, reports) should be as specific as

possible. This means it must contain concrete key words.

Key words

To obtain a full-‐Ame challenging posiAon that offers

opportuniAes to learn about nanotechnologies while uAlizing my experience in

bioroboIcs.

What is an Executive Summary?

Nine years of development experience. Strong core Java/J2SE - especially in high performance multi-threaded server development. Excellent knowledge of FIX and messaging based connectivity applications Currently in final year of PhD in Virtual Robotics at the University of Pisa. Three years of work experience at Ferrari (Marinella, Italy).

What is an Executive Summary?

Ugo Rossi has 9 years of development experience. Strong core Java/J2SE - especially in high performance multi-threaded server development. Excellent knowledge of FIX and messaging based connectivity applications Currently in last year of PhD in Virtual Robotics at the Department of Information Engineeering of the University of Pisa. Three years of work experience at Ferrari (Marinella, Italy).

A summary of your experience, full of key words. Not necessarily for advertised job.

Why is an executive summary useful? For recruitment agencies.

Dear Silvia, I think you might be interested in Ugo Rossi, a very strong candidate: Nine years of development experience. Strong core Java/J2SE - especially in high performance multi-threaded server development. Excellent knowledge of FIX and messaging based connectivity applications Currently in last year of PhD in Virtual Robotics at the University of Pisa. Three years of work experience at Ferrari (Marinella, Italy). Regards Simon ABC Recruitment Ltd

Another example

Experience in syntheses of organic molecules and polymers especially fluorine-‐containing (meth)acrylate monomers, macromolecular iniAators and macromolecules with controlled architecture. Good knowledge of controlled/”living” radical polymerizaAon methods e.g. ATRP, RAFT. Future interests: Supramolecular polymers, well-‐architectured macromolecules by controlled polymerizaAon, hybrid organic-‐inorganic nanocomposites …

EXERCISE 1

•  Write your own objecAve – maximum one sentence.

•  Personal data •  Executive summary •  Work experience •  Academic experience •  Skills •  Hobbies and interests •  Projects, publications, conferences •  References

Resume = CV

Work experience •  Start and finish dates

•  Reverse chronological order

•  Name of institute, location, area of research + link

•  Your position in the lab + link to lab

•  Brief description of what you did, highlighting how it relates to the position you are applying for + link to any projects

Work experience •  Start and finish dates

•  Reverse chronological order

•  Name of institute, location, area of research + link

•  Your position in the lab + link to lab

•  Brief description of what you did, highlighting how it relates to the position you are applying for

This is your opportunity to show your ‘soft skills’ – more on this later

Academic experience •  Start and finish dates, reverse chronological order

•  Name of department / institute, location + link

•  Projects worked on with details on how they relate to the position you are looking for now + link

•  Thesis + link

AGAIN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW YOUR SOFT SKILLS

Thesis

Only put thesis title if it is self-explanatory. Two line description of thesis. Do NOT put: •  exact date you defended you thesis •  names of supervisors unless …

Degrees and Scores “First level degree” = 3-year Honour’s degree /

Bachelor’s degree “Second level degree” = 2-year Master’s “Five year degree” = BSc + MSc “Master” = 2-year specialized Master’s,

including internship Doctorate: PhD 110/110 cum laude (i.e. top marks, full

honours)

Degrees and Scores

Search for: international degree equivalencies

TranslaIng / AdapIng your CV

•  Use the English template of Europass, not the Italian one

•  Don’t leave any words in your own language – either translate or delete

•  Provide internaAonal equivalents to your degree

•  Don’t include any informaAon that is strictly related to your country (e.g. military service, data privacy, signature)

•  Personal data •  Executive summary •  Work experience •  Academic experience •  Skills •  Hobbies and interests •  Projects, publications, conferences •  References

What’s wrong with this section in a CV? Software skills Good knowledge of Matlab / Simulink. Good knowledge of C/C++ language. Good knowledge of Java language. Good knowledge of Html/Javascript. Good knowledge of ASP. Good knowledge of PHP. Good knowledge of Visual Studio. Good knowledge of query language (MySql). Good knowledge of Unix operating systems (included Freebsd, Kubuntu

and Debian). Good knowledge of Latex. Good knowledge of Doxygen. Intermediate knowledge of Labview.

Languages

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

B2 - Independent User (upper intermediate) - Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

Languages: spot the mistakes

Italian mother language English very fluent (spoken and writing) Deutsch good working knowledge french scholastic

Languages: spot the mistakes

Italian mother language Italian mother tongue / native speaker English very fluent (spoken and writing) English fluent (spoken and written) Deutsch good working knowledge German good working knowledge french scholastic French scholastic

Soft skills

•  communicaAon skills •  presentaAon skills •  conflict resoluAon •  negoAaAon •  creaAve problem solving •  team building •  sales skills •  customer interface skills

Many job advertisements specifically request soft skills

Communications skills My experience has enabled me to build relationships easily and solve problems fast and efficiently. I can work under pressure both in a team and independently. Responsibility, punctuality and efficiency have always formed part of my work.

Should you have a separate section for Soft Skills?

Who does the description below refer to? i) you specifically?

ii) most PhD students on planet Earth?

So, should you have a separate section for Soft Skills?

No. Your CV should clearly demonstrate that you have these skills without you

stating this explicitly.

Example

Jan 2012-‐Mar 2013 Prof Yang’s lab (MIT, USA) Assistant researcher: worked on X, Y, Z. Successfully completed two projects on A and B, working to very Aght deadlines. Responsible for small team of researchers. Held 3-‐month course for second-‐year undergraduates. Presented papers at two internaAonal conferences.

You do not need to write in such detail for every project you have done

Successfully completed two projects on A and B, working to very Aght deadlines. Responsible for small team of researchers. Held 3-‐month course for second-‐year undergraduates. Presented papers at two internaAonal conferences.

DIFFICULT EXERCISE

Write 2-‐3 lines about a project you have been involved in. Demonstrate that you have ‘so\’ skills. Do NOT

menAon them explicitly.

Which of these hobbies and interests would you put on your CV?

•  Reading •  Sports •  Travelling •  Playing the guitar •  Salsa dancing •  Sailing •  Computer games •  Voluntary work •  Hunting •  Stamp collecting •  Learning exotic languages

Papers, presentaIons, posters etc

•  Only include a list of these if you are applying for a job in research

•  Put them on a separate page – or simply have a link to your webpage

•  For industry, you can summarize your achievements by saying: As first author, wrote 5 peer-‐reviewed papers for interna6onal journals; presented 3 papers at interna6onal conferences …

•  Personal data •  Executive summary •  Work experience •  Academic experience •  Skills •  Hobbies and interests •  References

We’ve nearly finished CVs!

What is a reference?

The name and contact details of someone you have worked for.

HR people often contact your reference to check that you can really do what you say you can do.

But you can also collect / write your own reference letters. Here’s how …

Get references from everyone you work for

Whenever you work for someone - a professor or a company - get a reference from them. Also, ask their permission to use their name and email address on your CV.

The reference should include:

•  name

•  position

•  email address

Choose the references that have the most connection to the job you want.

Le`er in support to the candidacy of Barbara Bargagna as XXX at the XXX I am wriAng this, having assessed the capacity of Barbara Bargagna both as a teacher of Social Anthropology (University of Pisa) and during her Master’s in biomedical anthropology at the Humanist InsAtute, of which I am the coordinator. Also in this last year I got to know the skills and potenAal of the candidate as a research fellow at our insAtute.

How could the beginning of this reference le`er be improved?

I am wriAng this, having assessed the capacity of Barbara Bargagna both as a teacher of Social Anthropology (University of Pisa) and during her Master’s in biomedical anthropology at the Humanist InsAtute, of which I am the coordinator. 51 words and very poorly structured, including ambiguity

Reference Letter Structure:

1) Have a short clear heading

NO!!! LeBer in support to the candidacy of Barbara Bargagna as researcher at the InsAtute of X.

Barbara Bargagna

2) Begin with a one-sentence positive statement

NO!!! I am wriAng this, having assessed the capacity of Barbara Bargagna both as a teacher of Social Anthropologu Barbara Bargagna It is a pleasure for me to have the opport-‐unity to thoroughly recommend Barbara Bargagna [for the posiAon of …]

Short clear sentences in a logical order

I am the coordinator of Humanist InsAtute at the University of Pisa (Italy). I was Barbara Bargagna’s supervisor while she was doing her Master’s of Science in Biomedical Anthropology. She was also a student in my class on Social Anthropology.

Structure of Reference Letter 3) Referee states his / her position

I am the coordinator of Humanist InsAtute at the University of Pisa (Italy).

4) Referee states how he / she is connected to the candidate

I was Barbara Bargagna’s supervisor while she was doing her Master’s of Science in Biomedical Anthropology.

5) Specific details – this should represent the main part of the letter

During her Master’s thesis, Barbara demonstrated great intuiAveness in solving ... In fact, she played a major role in … She also …

6) Refer to candidate’s personality

Barbara has a bright and lively personality and works extremely well in teams, both as a team member and team leader.

7) End in positive way

I very much hope that her applicaAon will be taken into serious consideraAon as I am sure that Barbara Bargagna represents an excellent candidate.

Summary of structure

1.  Heading 2.  PosiAve opening sentence 3.  Referee’s posiAon 4.  Referee’s connecAon to candidate 5.  Details about candidate’s qualificaAons 6.  Reference to candidate’s wonderful personality 7.  PosiAve conclusion

Reference letters are very important.

Write them yourself and get the prof to sign them.

Alternatively, don’t be afraid to modify

what your prof writes. Even the best profs are not perfect! … But you are!

If you write your own references, make sure they all look different

Different font, layout and date systems

Different beginnings and endings

Different lengths

SUMMARY (1): Your CV says a lot about you, and not just your experience and technical skills

•  Organization skills (layout) •  Accuracy at work (spelling) •  Consistency (dates, fonts, bold) •  Communication skills (readability) •  Ability to be concise •  Personality (interests) •  Proactive (you have thought about all

the reader’s needs and questions)

Summary (2)

•  Only what reader really needs to know. •  Clear simple layout - 10/11 pt font, Arial

(not Times) •  Put info in reverse chronological order •  Your CV = your image = you •  Keep it short •  References

COVER LETTERS

Cover LeBers

What should you include in the cover letter?

How long should it be?

What to include in cover letter •  Say what job you are applying for and why you

are interested in this field / company •  Say how your skills and experience directly

apply to that job •  Do NOT talk about the benefits for YOU of

working for them •  Make it clear you know something about the

institute / company, and how you would fit in •  Keep it as short as possible

Q: What is the biggest problem with the cover letter?

A: Making sure someone actually opens your email / letter and reads it.

Q: So how can you ensure they open and read your letter?

A: By having a good subject line

Subject line for a position that has been advertised

•  Give name of position you’re applying for •  State where / when you saw the

advertisement Examples: Application for post-doc researcher (LinkedIn) Internship in Prof Smith’s Lab (ad on your website, 7 Mar 13)

The problem is when no position has been advertised e.g. when you are looking for an

internship (‘stage’) in someone’s lab

YOU Elena Szarbo – works

for Smith

Prof Rossi – your prof knows him + he knows Smith

Prof Smith – you want to

work in his lab

Subject line for email to Prof Smith: Andrea Rossi. Post-doc position in your lab.

Subject line for email to Elena Szarbo: Elena, favor from Pisa university: position in Prof

Smith’s lab? Email to Prof Smith after contact with Elena Szarbo Elena Szarbo. Post-doc position in your lab.

This may seem like a strange solution. But remember you aim is only to get Prof Smith to open

your email.

In a letter, have a subject line

ADVERTISED POSITION

ICT engineer (ESA website 3 Apr) I would like to apply for the position of ICT engineer as advertised on your website. NON- ADVERTISED POSITION

ICT engineer I was wondering whether you have any positions available at ESA for an ICT engineer. OR Your name was given to me by Prof Jo Smith, who thought you might have position available as an ICT engineer.

Moral of the story: Get connected

If all else fails:

Online applications: No cover letter?

Layout of cover letter Find documents written by the institute /

company and imitate their:

•  style •  layout - e.g. use of white space •  font and font size Make it seem that you already work for that

institute / company.

To whom it may concern For the attention of the human resources manager. To the head of the Risk Analysis Department Dear Sir / Madam

Addressing the reader: how effecIve are these?

• Find out the name of HR person and address him /her : Dear Hugo Martin

Why is this important?

How much do you want that job?

If you really want something there is always a way to find

out the name of the relevant person.

And it will say a lot about your character if you find

the way.

If you find out the name of the relevant person it clearly demonstrates that you:

•  really want the job •  are proactive •  are different from the average candidate

Beginning your letter: What impression will HR person have?

My name is XYZ and I would like to become part in a dynamic and innovaAve field. I am looking for a sAmulaAng and strongly internaAonal atmosphere that favors my career development. I know about Your job posiAon and I would like to give my effort to your, welcoming the opportunity to uAlise the knowledge and experience I have gained …

Is this a good letter? Why? What impression will HR person have? I am very interested in applying for the Consultant PosiAon at UNIDO. I am in my final year of X at the University of Pisa. The qualificaAons and skills I bring to this posiAon include: •  Ph.D. in Economics •  Experience at OECD in the Development and Technical CooperaAon Division (April 2012)

•  Data management skills I will discuss my final thesis in May 2013 and I would be available to start work immediately a\er. I look forward to hearing from you.

ApplicaIon for post-‐doc : GOOD example, why? I am wriAng to inquire about the possibility of a postdoctoral posiAon in your laboratory. I graduated in 2012 with an MSc in X. I am currently a PhD student in Prof X’s laboratory at the University of Pisa and I plan to graduate in June 2013. My PhD work has focused on xxx. All my work to date has been published in arAcles in top internaAonal journals. I have experience in: •  x •  y •  z I know that you are currently working on X, and I believe that my experience in this area (three EU-‐funded projects) would be an asset to your team I look forward to hearing from you.

1) Say what posiIon you want

I am wriAng to inquire about the possibility of a postdoctoral posiAon in your laboratory.

2) Say what you’re doing now, and when your current posiIon will end

I graduated from Wroclaw Technical University in 2012 with an MSc in X. I am currently a PhD student in Prof X’s laboratory at the University of Pisa and I plan to graduate in June 2013

3) Selected past history that will interest the professor and that gives you credibility

My PhD work has focused on xxx. All my work to date has been published in arAcles, whose Atles can be found in the aBached CV. I have experience in NMR techniques, especially regarding xx and yy. I have been trained to operate Bruker NMR 400MHz, 500MHz, 600 MHz using Xwin-‐NMR. etc etc etc

4) Show that you know about the prof (or company) Highlight benefit of having you in their team

I know that you are currently working on X, and I believe that my experience in this area (three EU-‐funded projects) would be an asset to your team.

5) Brief ending – further details can be given in the next email

I look forward to hearing from you. Karolina Gajda

Summary of simple structure for cover le`er

1.  Job you want 2.  Current situaAon + end point 3.  Relevant past history 4.  Benefit for them (unique

factors you can offer) 5.  Brief final salutaAon

Remember: HR want to know not just your technical skills and experience but also:

•  Concrete evidence of these skills

•  Ability to work in teams + evidence of this

•  Ability to do presentations

•  Evidence that you know something about their institute / company

Be careful of how you talk about your personality and soft skills

Would you say this?

I hate human relaAonships. I’m lazy, with a zero capacity for teamwork. I have rarely worked during my studies and I never meet deadlines. It is important for me never to finish my projects.

So don’t say this. Too vague. Applicable to everyone

I love human relaAonships. I’m proacAve with a high capacity for teamwork. I work hard during my studies. I like to complete my projects and goals.

Your cover le`er is NOT a horoscope Make it as specific as possible

Remove redundant informaIon – this will help the key informaIon to stand out clearly

•  Your name at beginning •  Enclosed CV •  Available for interview (only say when NOT available)

•  Contact you for addiAonal info •  References upon request

Remove redundancy Dear Mrs Helen Murray

Application for position of Post doc DVB researcher

With reference to the vacancy advertised on your website, I would

like to apply for the position of post doc researcher.

I am particularly interested in taking active part in the research

activities of the Connectivity Systems and Network department. In

fact, I spent an internship at XYZ where I also managed a small team

of PhD students.

As you will note from my CV / resume, In November 2011, I

graduated in Telecommunication Engineering at the University of

Pisa, Italy. For my Masters project, I was an intern at XYZ, where I

joined the DVB-TM ad hoc working group and worked on carrier

synchronization algorithms for DVB-S2 applications.

I am available for interview at any time.

If you need any further information, do not hesitate to contact me

either by phone or e-mail.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Pinco Pallino

Enc: CV !

I am pleased to submit to your aBenAon my CV. Please find in aBachment my curriculum. I passed the state exam, obtaining the Atle of Engineer. WaiAng for your favourable response. I remain in expectaAon of Your sollecit reply. Ing. Rossi.

Be careful of set phrases (Italianisms)

I am pleased to submit to your aBenAon my CV. I read your job posAng for an Assistant Administrator with interest. Please find in aBachment my curriculum. Please find my CV aBached. (probably redundant) I passed the state exam, obtaining the Atle of Engineer. Meaningless outside Italy. WaiAng for your favourable response. I look forward to hearing from you. I remain in expectaAon of Your sollecit reply. Ing. Rossi. I look forward to hearing from you. Best regards, Carlo Rossi

Be careful of set phrases (Italianisms)

Dangers of templates from the Internet

You might copy phrases that don’t fit in with the rest of your letter because they are in perfect English (!), too formal/informal, antiquated, inappropriate (e.g. too American) Solution 1: Only copy phrases you •  have frequently seen before •  understand completely Solution 2: Only write phrases you •  are sure exist in English (not Italianisms) •  have checked with Google

Copied by Italian PhD students from US website: What’s the problem?

I would be a valuable asset to your firm and for your research team. I feel that a meeAng would allow us to beBer understand each other’s needs. Please contact me at your earliest convenience so that we can set up a Ame that works for both us as I am eager to speak with you about the direcAon that your University is moving.

Make sure you know WHO the site is for: PhDs or CEOs!

1) Only copy the relevant parts 2) Don’t randomly replace one key

word (company) with another (university)

(1)  I would be a valuable asset to your firm and for your research team.

(2) I am eager to speak with you about the direcAon that your University is moving.

Intelligence test # 9

Bat + ball = $1.10 Bat = $1 more than ball Ball =

Responding to an adverIsement

Match your qualficaIons with their requirements

SELECTION CRITERIA •  PhD pertaining to design, implementaIon and evaluaIon of environment related programs and projects

•  Knowledge of Bank operaIons and insAtuAonal issues

•  Ability to to produce high-‐quality output in response to Ight deadlines

Match your qualficaIons with their requirements

Knowledge of Bank operaIons and insAtuAonal issues

I have worked for Barclays and MPS as a … Ability to produce high-‐quality output in response to Ight deadlines and I … During my internship at MPS, I successfully completed two projects ahead of schedule.

Summary: Writing skills

So, what have you learned about wriIng skills?

•  Write from reader’s point of view, not yours •  Make it easy for the reader to find info -‐ ensure important / unique info stands out

•  Reasonably short sentences – no incisi •  Clear, logical structure to each sentence / para •  Concise and no redundancy – every secAon / paragraph / word must add value for the reader

•  Check your grammar – only write what you know is 100% correct

•  Check your spelling

ApplicaIon for post-‐doc : BAD example, why?

I recently completed the Phd in xxxx at the University of Pisa, and I’d like to become a good researcher in this field. I enclose a copy of my curriculum vitae for your consideraAon. I would like to increase my experience and knowledge in your laboratories, because they are very technological and.. technology is fundamental to be a good scienAst! I am avalaible for an interview at any Ame, and I am avalaible for work immediately.

Terrible because:

•  Probably took 2 minutes to write •  No structure •  All I can, I am, I have, I need, I want •  No menAon of benefit for prof •  Redundant info •  No spell check = terrible impression / image of candidate

What impression would you have of this candidate?

Sono correntemente un studente di doBorato di ricerca in laboratorio Prof Rossi presso l'Università di Pisa è ho intenzione di laurearmi a jugno 2013. So che lei sta lavorando su X, e credo che la mia experienza in questa seBore (tree progeU finanziaA dall’EU) sarebbe un bene per la Tua squadra. Non vedo l'ora di senAre da Lei. SlauA cordiali,

Don’t underesImate the importance of docs that will help you to get a job.

It is worth paying an expert to correct your: CV

Cover le`er / email Reference le`ers

What is €50 once in your life, compared to

€5000 every month?

Conctact me for revisions of manuscripts and ‘scienAfic

English’ courses: adrian.wallwork@gmail.com

how to write a CV to get your dream job

Documents

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How to write scientific papers correctly, clearly, and ...ieplahorecentre.com/img/cms/pdffiles/How to Write Scientific Research... · How to write scientific papers correctly, clearly,

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