Media Arts Placement Scheme: CVs and Covering LettersAndrew Falconer

Why....?

Recruitment in Media Sector

Your CV: I can do it!

Covering Letter: I want it!

Recruitment in the Media

• Some Graduate Training Schemes – BBC / ITV etc • Sometimes only every second year• No guarantee of a job afterwards• Highly competitive • Formal application process

• Internships• Paid schemes through major corporations• Mostly unpaid and legally questionable• Some advertised. Many not.• Also highly competitive

• Formal application processes• Online application

• Possible online tests

• Group Interview

• Personal Interview

• Group and individual exercises

• Mostly• Basic application form• CV and Covering Letter• Telephone interview

Recruitment in the Media

Media Arts Placement Scheme - Process

• To register for the Event • Must submit covering letter and CV

• Deadline for registrations – next Tuesday at 12.00pm

• Problems registering: careers@rhul.ac.uk before tomorrow

• Pitching workshop: Next Tuesday 5.00pm ABS021

• Assessment Day: 16 March

What is a CV for ?

• Marketing document

• Career overview

• To show you have the relevant skills, qualities, experience & motivation for the post

• To present an accurate and positive picture of yourself

• To get an interview!

What do I need to know ?

• Who is going to read it?

• What are they looking for?

• Do I have what they need?

What are we looking for ?  

• Professionalism • Proactivity • Presentation / Pitching skills • Working to a specific brief • Client interaction • Enthusiasm for self development • Self-reflection and awareness • Ability to identify and seize opportunities

We will score your application

Media Arts Placement Scheme

Criteria King Saunders Chunge Fairs Psmith

Professionalism          

Proactivity          

Presentation / Pitching skills          

Working to a specific brief          

Client interaction          

Enthusiasm for self development          

Self-reflection and awareness          

Ability to identify and seize opportunities          

Score          

It’s a Package!

* To pursue a career in media, you have to sell yourself

as a package of relevant skills and experiences

• CV and Cover Letter

• CV – Presents the facts

• Cover Letter – draws in the links

The CV – True or False ?

• The CV must be at least 3 pages.• Employers like photographs.• You must include your address. • CVs should contain tables and grids.• Careers Advisers proof-read CVs.• Hobbies should only be in the covering letter.• Everyone lies on their CV!

CV Tips• 1-2 sides of A4 paper

• Can use bullet points, underline, bold

• Can use headings to flag up most relevantexperiences

• No smaller than Font size 11

• Keep your format consistent

• Tenses – Avoid use of first person: “I was team captain.”

• Grammar & Spelling counts!

• No such thing as a ‘perfect CV’

• Needs to be tailored to each job

• Put all “Relevant experience” near the top

• Is a professional document

• Must have relevant info to provoke an interview

SELL YOURSELF!!

Evidence

How can I prove I am a good match?

Integrate your skills and evidence wherever

most appropriate:

• Work Experience – paid / unpaid

• Education

• Other activities – societies, clubs, memberships etc

How to sell your degree….Skills from your degree:

• Research: familiarity with various methods

• Interpretation: the capability to accumulate, select and interpret a wide range of material

• Organisation: of information in a logical and coherent manner, managing large and diverse quantities of information

• Presenting: facts, ideas and arguments

• Communications skills: Both written and verbal

• Writing: clearly and concisely and to tight deadlines; critical and analytical ability

• Initiative: an ability to work alone and on own initiative

Skills sought by employers:

• Teamwork

• Written & verbal Communication

• Adaptability & flexibility

• Time Management

• Motivation, enthusiasm, passion

• Initiative and proactive

• Commercial Awareness

CV Structures

MEDIA CV STRUCTURE

• Name

• Career Objective / Profile

• Relevant Work Experience

• Education

• Training / Other qualifications

• Hobbies / Interests

• References

GENERAL CV STRUCTURE

• Name & Address

• Education

• Key skills

• Work Experience

• Additional Skills

• Interests

• References

Power Words - Use these active verbs and adverbs to communicate positively.

• Achieve• Analyse• Build • Communicate• Collaborate• Compose • Coordinate • Establish• Experience

• Implement• Lead • Manage• Motivate• Negotiate• Participate • Research• Responsible • Strengthen

Advice from the Experts

What the experts say...

Script Programmer

• Concise• Clear• Relevance• Research• Examples and evidence• Enthusiasm• Tone

Programme Development

• extra-curricular proof that they wanted to work in the industry

• some indication that they actually watched TV!

• stand out in either their personal statements or work experience or interests section

• some people would advocate something to really make you stand out - something quirky or creative. 

What the experts say...

Production

“Most importantly – spelling, grammar and overall appearance of document – shows a level of care and education, particularly for office based work.  When working in a time pressured environment I need someone who cares about details.”

Script Editor

• An interest in the arts• Regular film going• An opinion on what they like and

don't like on TV and film• A go-getting attitude• Anything that shows initiative

and dynamism - ie filmed a short film, set up a debating society, acted in local am dram

• A sense of culture

Cover Letters

Remember – this is a letter and not a statement. No more than one side of A4 including header.

• Intro – Why you are applying – where does the scheme fit into your plans?

• Why them? Which companies interest you the most and why?

• Why You? What skills and experience do you have to offer? What makes you different from other candidates

• End of letter - Please consider my application…

21 March – Central London

Careers Service

HORTON BUILDING

Ground Floor

Opening Times:

Monday to Thursday 10am-5pm

Friday 2pm-5pm

Tel: 01784 443 073

Quick Queries:

11am-12noon, 2-4pm Monday to Thursday

www.rhul.ac.uk/careers www.careers.lon.ac.uk

andrew.falconer@rhul.ac.uk

Media Arts Placement Scheme: CVs and Covering LettersAndrew Falconer