2. Your CV
• Outlines career and qualifications to date but
should not just be a list of what you’ve done –
should demonstrate your suitability for a
particular job/placement and company
• Purpose of a CV is to get you an interview –
should entice an employer to want to meet
you in person.
• Your CV is a marketing tool, an advert and
YOU are the product
3. Key Principles
• No perfect model for CV writing
• Usually no more than two pages in length
• Your professional marketing tool –
presentation, content, spelling and grammar
all very important
• Use a positive tone throughout
• Tailor to different job/placement applications
• Be clear about what you have to offer
4. Essential Preparation
• Research yourself :
What can you offer the employer ? Detail achievements,
identify your skills
• Research employer :
What does the organisation do ? Aims, values ? Study
website, use any contacts
• Research the position :
May not have a job description and person specification, if
not anticipate skills likely to be sought and try to
demonstrate how you have these skills
5. Key skills for property jobs
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Commercial awareness
Communication skills; written and oral
Relationship building skills; sociable nature
Ability to be creative, innovative
Drive and ambition – leadership potential
Collaborative approach
Attention to detail
6. CV basics – contact details
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Name – use as heading
Address – home and term time ?
Nationality and work permit status if applicable
Telephone : mobile and landline
Email : keep it professional..
Compact, clear font eg Arial, Verdana, Calibri
Marital status, age and gender not necessary
unless you have specific reasons for including
7. Personal Profile
• Can be an excellent way to grasp the attention
and focus the CV
• Must be tailored to the position being applied
for – if too vague and unfocussed can leave a
negative impression
• Can use to highlight a career aim
• Bullet pointing can work well to create short,
punchy statements
8. CV basics - Education
• Most recent course of study first
• Additional degree-related information,
particularly if relevant to job/organisation eg
modules/projects/dissertation
• Give dates and Institution attended (not full
address) and full title of degree, eg :
BSc (Hons) Property Agency and Management
9. CV basics - Work Experience
• Includes full time work, vacation work, placements,
voluntary work
• Can divide into `relevant’ and `other’ experience
• Most recent first. Details to include dates, job title,
employer, duties and responsibilities.
• Opportunity to highlight achievements and contribution
eg `Gained exposure to different types of property and
the work of different departments by attending site
visits.’
• Group similar items if you have a lot of experience
• Focus your experiences on the requirements of the
job/placement being applied for (if known)
10. CV basics – Interests/Achievements
• Offers employer a more personal view of you and
chance to highlight personal qualities and skills eg
teamwork
• Include positions of responsibility/extra-curricular
activities
• Emphasis nature of responsibility/level of
involvement
• Additional skills eg IT, languages
• Skills referred to should reflect those required in
the position applied for
11. CV basics – Effective Language
• Need to be positive, professional and
enthusiastic in your tone
• Start your sentences with active verbs rather
than overusing the word `I’ - don’t have to
write in whole sentences
• Examples : `achieved’ `managed’,
`implemented’ `persuaded’ `organised’
`developed’
• Avoid : `tried’, `maybe’, `disappointed’
12. References
• Two, unless more are asked for
• Usual to include one work-related and one
academic reference
• Ask referee’s permission first
• Include referee’s name, position, address,
telephone number and email address if
possible
• `References available on request’ if lacking
space
13. Top tips for an effective CV
• Appearance matters – first impressions are important and careless
presentation could cost you the job/placement
• Personal profile – can be highly effective but follow usual rules eg
brief, concise and evidenced
• Tailor it to the position applied for – if you have one, use job
description and person specification as a guide. If not anticipate
skills/experience likely to be most valued
• Be concise – ensure content is meaningful and evidence easy to
find
• Pay attention to detail – your CV reflects on your professionalism
so triple check spelling and grammar
• Quantify your achievements – not just what you did but how you
did it and what the outcome was
• Update regularly – even when not jobseeking keep CV current
14. Covering Letters
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Always send with a CV
Concise – one page of A4 is sufficient
Laid out as a formal business letter
Send to named person if possible
Spell checked and grammar checked
Summarise your enthusiasm and specific
suitability for the job
15. Further Reading
• Prospects website www.prospects.ac.uk
• Targetjobs www.targetjobs.co.uk
• Other books eg Targetjobs : Property
(available for reference in the Careers room)
