357.

8 Effective
self-marketing
Learning objectives

After this session, you should be able to:

1. Value the benefits of a curriculum vitae (CV)
2. Present a structured and clearly formatted CV

3. Write a focused and coherent covering letter

4. Identify some primary sources for finding employment, and

5. Update/clean down social media pages

Getting that job!

Know what Know what

Give it your DON’T
THEY YOU
BEST GIVE UP
want have
The Process

Application

1st Screening

1st
Interview

2nd
Interview

3rd
Interview

Offer
WHICH PHONE??
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Quickly find a job you think you could
apply for ...
Curriculum Vitae (CV)

The Key purpose of a CV is to sell yourself!!

It needs to:
Inform the employer about your
education, accreditations and work
experience,
Highlight your capabilities, skills,
interests, and
Persuade the employer to invite you
to interview
See ‘Building your CV whilst a student’ (Cottrell, 2019:58-59)
What are they looking for ??? What can you offer them ???

Example – Content Strategist

https://i1.wp.com/hr-gazette.com/wp-content/
uploads/2016/08/SWOT.png?ssl=1

https://hr-gazette.com/personal-swot-analysis-
helped-finally-get-job/
Employer screening
How long does an employer take
to review an applicant’s CV?
Answer:
• Min 5–15 seconds
• Max 45 seconds
1. Watch ‘How recruiters read your
resume… in 7 seconds!’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=xFngomrq58o
2. In your team, discuss and identify
the key messages of this video,
and
3. Discuss in open session.
Key CV
enhancements
First impressions
• Professional appearance – layout and
presentation show that you are careful and
competent
• Structured content – neat, well-organised
and error free show that you give attention
to detail
• Focused messages – labelled headings
and sections show that you are clear about
your capabilities/skills and qualifications

NOT LIKE THIS!! https://www.careeraddict.com/the-funniest-resumes-of-all-time

Proving your ability

There are four things employers look at in CVs:

 Education – level of qualification (undergrad and/or postgrad), subjects
studied and attainment grade
 Work experience – ability to get on with people, work under pressure, meet
deadlines and leadership roles
 Specific skills – ability to think clearly, analyse and assess information, draw
conclusions, work independently, research and e.g. driving license, computer
skills and foreign languages
 Leisure interests – ability to plan and organise, co-operate with others,
compete, lead, work hard to achieve results
Education and qualifications

• Start with most recent and include years of study

• Don’t forget current study

• Mention relevant modules

• You might like to mention top marks

• Include secondary education, but junior/primary school

details not needed
• Do not include grades if you were not happy with them
Education and
qualifications 2017 – Present Coventry University London
BA (Hons) Global Marketing – modules included:
Developing Business Skills, Strategy, Communication,
Research Methods Project, Marketing and
Communication
2014 – 2016 Lycee Saint‑louis‑de‑gonzague
Premier – Media Studies (16), Art (15.5), Information
Technology (18)
2009 – 2013 Ecole Saint‑louis‑de‑gonzague
6eme – 3eme Mention bien
CV Presentation
CV Types
There are 3 types of CV:
• Chronological CV
• Functional/Skills CV
• Combined CV
See – 3 Types of CV, Their advantages
and disadvantages (Adenle, 2019)
https://catherinescareercorner.com/2008/1
2/03/3-types-of-cvs-their-advantages-and-
disadvantages/
CV Types
– Chronological EMPLOYMENT – in date order (starting with most recent first)
e.g.

April – December 2011: Venture – Editing Assistant

Working with Photoshop, I have learnt various editing styles. I

have gained customer service experience and understand the
importance of listening to what customers want in order to achieve
high sales.

February 2009, March 2010: Topshop – Retail Assistant

My interest in fashion enabled me to help customers and to

suggest styles that might suit them. I helped to design the layout
of the stock in the store, with an aim to increase our revenue by
positioning various items in ‘eye-catching’ places.

See –
https://www.cv-library.co.uk/career-advice/cv/cv-templates/cv-template-chr
onological/
(Henning, 2019)
CV Types
– Skills based Attention to detail – as an Editing Assistant at Venture, I
(Functional) needed to prove that I could spot any mistakes or flaws in the
photographs, as well as being attentive to the requests of the
customers

Computer skills – I regularly used Photoshop during my time

at Venture. I am also a competent user of Microsoft Office,
which I proved throughout my time as a Retail Assistant at
Topshop, where I was often required to produce reports on
our sales

Customer service – in all of my roles, customer service has

been of key importance. I have experience of dealing with
difficult customers, and try to ensure that every customer is
satisfied with the service they have received.

See –
https://www.cv-library.co.uk/career-advice/cv/cv-templat
es/cv-template-skills-based-functional/
(Henning, 2019)
https://sites.google.com/site/3addsite219bit/skill/skill-map
https://resumekraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/good-cv-bad-cv-1024x799.jpg
Activity 1 – Personal information
Outline/update your CV to include the following
information:

• Name (as heading rather than on CV)

• Address (term-time and home)

• Email address – use a professional one

• Mobile/Website/online portfolio

• Education and qualifications

The following are not required –

nationality, gender or date of birth, but you can
include, if you wish.
Current work experience

• Present required information – dates, company, position and skills

April 2018 – Present British Library – London

As a library assistant, I have learnt the importance of providing great
customer service to stakeholders. I am responsible for organising stock and
ensuring that costs are controlled. Carrying out weekly risk assessments has
increased my awareness of health and safety issues.

• Detail the most relevant – no need to list all jobs you’ve ever had

• Sell your skills – don’t just list your duties; which skills are relevant to
the position/company you are applying to?
Past work experience

April 2014 – December 2017 British Library – London

Provided great customer service to stakeholders. Organised stock and
controlled costs. Conducted weekly risk assessments and increased my
awareness of health and safety issues.
Interests and
activities
Choose interests and activities which
demonstrate skills relevant to the job
such as:
• Teamwork
• Organising
• Commitment
• Your intellectual abilities
• Your personality
• Your artistic ability
Talk about your passion e.g. for music/art
References

• Use relevant references (if possible) –

ideally, your manager and one academic
• Ask permission from your referee/s
• Let them know what position(s) you
have applied for and how a reference
will be requested
• You can say ‘references available on
request’ rather than including contact
details of your referees
Activity 2 – Resume information
Complete your CV to include following
information:

• Current work experience

• Past work experience

• Interests and activities

• References – include manager (if

working) and an academic, with prior
agreement
CV Presentation
• First visual impression of your CV is
important
• For standard CVs, use plain white
A4 paper
• Keep your CV to two sides of paper,
but do not ‘double-side’
• Check your spelling
• Use bullet points and bold font but
in moderation
• Ensure formatting is consistent
• Use clear font (e.g. Arial, Calibri), size
10-12 dependent on font style
• Target CV to each job/company
• Focus on accomplishments
• Use short, concise sentences and
correct designations e.g. 2:1 not Two
One
Share your job & CV with a partner
Evaluate according to criteria discussed
CV Checklist
Does it make a strong visual impact?
• consistent design – alignment, spacing, fonts

• not too long: one or two sides of A4 usually enough

Is it structured, clearly presented and easy to read?

• use headings to guide your reader

• recent and relevant information on first page

Does it show how you meet the qualities and skills

required?
• emphasise the most relevant

Does it use powerful language such as action verbs?

Have you paid attention to detail?
• check for errors and spelling mistakes!
Let’s take a break
Cover letters
1. Watch ‘How to write a cover letter’ at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHg0b
7Nai6chttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=jHg0b7Nai6c
2. Draft direct letter to support your
application, and
3. Share it with a colleague receiving
feedback on your draft and giving them
feedback on theirs
Matching your CV

Company – you need to research the

company. Do they have a mission
statement or core values? Who works
there at the moment? What are they
passionate about? What will they be
looking for in you?
Position – you need to tailor your CV to
each position you apply for; It is not
‘one size fits all’. Do your capabilities
match the skills required by the
company
Online
presence
• Graduate employers may check social media
pages to gain an idea of your character.
• Solution is simple – fine-tune privacy settings so
only those in your social circle can access your
information; update profiles/close old ones and
remove inappropriate opinions/indiscrete photos
• Behave yourself – don't give an employer a
reason not to interview you or even dismiss you!
• For advice – see
https://www.savethegraduate.org/careers-advice/
finding-a-job/sorting-out-your-online-presence.ht
ml
(Butler, 2019)
Networking

• Use your contacts from your work

experience/course
• Ask your family/friends for
business contacts
• Attend events, keep business
cards and keep in contact
• Attend and contribute to guest
lectures at university
• Use social networking sites such
as LinkedIn, upload a portfolio of
your work onto it
Internet sources

Graduate Forums
• https://www.letudiant.fr/

• https://www.laregion.fr/Salon-TAF-de-Per
pignan

• Online Agencies
• https://www.leboncoin.fr/

• https://fr.indeed.com/?r=us

• https://www.welcometothejungle.com/fr

• Social Media
• Facebook/LinkedIn/TwitJobSearch
Seminar summary

This seminar has covered the following:

• Presenting a structured and clearly formatted curriculum vitae (CV)

• Identifying some primary employment sources for accessing suitable

graduate employment
• Writing a focused and coherent cover letter to support applications, and

• Recognising the need for an online presence and cleaning down/updating

social media pages
Any QUESTIONS?
References

Adenle, C. (2019). Three types of CV, Their advantages and disadvantages, Accessed 6/10/2019 @
https://catherinescareercorner.com/2008/12/03/3-types-of-cvs-their-advantages-and-disadvantages/

Butler, J. (2019). Sorting out your online presence, Accessed 08/10/2019 @

https://www.savethegraduate.org/careers-advice/finding-a-job/sorting-out-your-online-presence.html

Cameron, S. (2009). The Business Student’s Handbook: Skills for study and employment (5th ed.), Harlow:
FT Prentice Hall

Cottrell, S. (2019). The Study Skills handbook, (5th ed.), London: Red Globe Press

Henning, A. (2019). CV Templates. Accessed 08/10/2019 @

https://www.cv-library.co.uk/career-advice/cv/cv-templates/

University of Kent (2019). Skills map. Accessed 06/10/2019 @

https://www.kent.ac.uk/ces/student/skills.html