IT LEVEL 1 Job Search

South Gloucestershire & Stroud College

Careers Service

INTRODUCTIONA CV is a marketing document, not an

autobiography.

There should be nothing in a CV, covering letter, or application form that could give a negative impression of yourself.

Employers are NOT interested in how you went wrong, they are interested in how you put it right.

TIPSNo longer that 2 pages

Use good quality white or off-white paper. Put each page on a different sheet of paper (not back-to-back)

Spelling mistakes On a CV are unforgivable – CHECK and RE-CHECK

Structure your CV practicallyTo show accomplishments to the best possible light

Target the information Adapt the information so it is targeted to the specific job you’ve applied for.

Keep a templateSo that you can adapt your CV to each job applied for

Be Positive You are selling yourself so be positive and confident...but also be honest!

FALSEFALSE

FALSEOnly send a CV if you are asked to.

Employers do not like them sent with app forms.

FALSEAlthough such information should be

emphasised, it is important to NOT leave gaps in your career history.

PERHAPSThis can be useful, but needs to be informative. Change of

career direction etc

TRUEAlthough the first two at least can normally be

guessed at.

TRUEIt is the relevance

of the jobs you have had or the skills you can

demonstrate that is important.

TRUEThe covering letter will

flesh out the CV and help you to relate it to the job.

FALSEOver 60% of HR

departments said that it ADVERSELY affected

their opinion of the applicant

True or false-CV Quiz

TRUE

83% of HR departments

rejected incomplete or

inaccurate addresses on

CVs and covering letters

1. It’s important to

get your address

right on your

application

TRUE

The covering letter will

flesh out the CV and help

you relate it to the job.

TRUE

(at least in the UK)4. A CV should be

typed and never

hand written

TRUEAlthough the first one at least can normally

be guessed

PERHAPSThis can be useful, but

needs to be informative.

FALSEEmployers do not like CVs to accompany an application form.

FALSEOver 60% of HR departments said the inclusion of a

photograph adversely affected their opinion of the applicant

2.Adding your photograph to your CV will enhance it.

3. CVs should

always be

accompanied by a

covering letter.

5. Employers have no need to know your

age, nationality, or marital status.

6. Your CV should

include a personal

profile/statement or objective.

7. A CV can be used for any type of job application.

WHAT CAN I USE TO PUT IN MY CV?Work experience-job/work shadowingVolunteeringSkills gained from courseStudent representativeSportsHobbies/clubs/societiesOrganised event-birthday party/trip for a groupWrite a blog?

Curriculum Vitae

1 2

Personal Details

Education & Qualifications

IT Skills

Relevant Experience

Profile

Other Experience

Hobbies and Interests

Referees

BTEC Level 1 ITFunctional SkillsGCSES

Competent or excellent with Microsoft Office, email, internet explorer, social media. Dreamweaver? Photoshop?

BTEC Level 1 IT-Skills learnt

Individual projects• Describe what you did• Skills that you learnt

School work experience.• Describe what you did• Skills that you learnt

Part-time/holiday jobs

Events organised/helped out with

Other skills learnt, e,g teaching yourself something or helping others with fixing a problem.

Play in a band.Mountain bikingSports teamWrite a blog

Name, Name,Tutor, Role, SGS College Company

Covering Letters

JOB SEARCH

• Job websites • Job boards-in businesses (also try shop windows)• Family, friends etc• Recruitment agencies

Applying for a role which hasn’t been advertised. Around 70%-80% of jobs aren’t advertised, so this is an important part of job searching.

TIPS:

Go to job fairs (always take a CV) speak to prospective employers and dress smartly Hand in/ email your CV to companies of interest (try and find a specific name) Put an advert up on jobs boards or websites, such as Gumtree.

Job Search

THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA

• 37% of companies use social media to research candidates• 94% of recruiters use social media to recruit• 44% of recruiters have hired through social media

Like pages and posts, join groups, follow on Twitter…………..

93% of recruiters now look- up candidates on social media …

Reputation management-Google yourself!

BEING A COMPETITIVE JOB SEEKER

If you have been unsuccessful in finding a job for a long time, stop and revise your job search techniques, CV’s and Applications- a

careers advisor, or the job centre can help with this.TIPS:Apply for lots of jobs, including speculative applicationsContinue developing your skills e.g. voluntary work, temporary work, courses Apply early- don’t leave it until the deadline Always mention your IT skillsBuild networks- use existing contacts and make new onesAlways give examples in applications and pay particular attention the job specification

Useful WebsiteseCampus eCampus-Job Vacancies or eCampus-student support-careers advice & guidance

Jobs in Bristol (Jobsite) http://www.jobsite.co.uk/local/bristol.html

Bristol City Council Jobs http://jobs.bristol.gov.uk/jobs.aspx?Ssimple=

Gum Tree http://www.gumtree.com/bristol

South Gloucestershire Council Jobs/volunteering

http://jobs.southglos.gov.uk/ 

Jobs at the Mall, Cribbs Causeway www.mallcribbs.com/careers.php

Jobs at the Mall (Broadmead) http://galleriesbristol.co.uk/index.php?section=about-us&page=jobs

Jobs at Cabot Circus www.cabotcircus.com/

Job Centre Plus www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/

The Working Student www.theworkingstudent.co.uk

Bradley Stoke Journal www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk/jobs/#latest_jobs

Patchway Journal www.patchwayjournal.co.uk/jobs/

Job is Job www.jobisjob.co.uk

Indeed www.indeed.co.uk

Monster www.monster.co.uk

Fish4jobs www.fish4jobs.co.uk

Questions????To book an appointment for a CV/application form check or

mock interview contact:

Email: careers@sgscol.ac.uk

Phone: 0117 909 2225

Room: CG24