CV Writing Guidelines

Professional Training

The Careers Centre in association with BOC produced this guide to aid with basic principles of CV writing and to help you apply these ideas to your own CV.

The design of a CV varies a great deal. This guide includes a sample CV and text you can use with the letter or email you send with it. There are no real rules – every one is different.

Content – points to consider:

 Relevance – your CV should be interesting to read and that means the information should be relevant to the position to which you are applying.

 Think about what you’ve done in the past, whether it’s through your degree, your work experience, or your free time, that has anything to do with the position(s) for which you are applying. Concentrate on describing these, even if it means leaving out cherished items.

 Focus – depending on what you are going to use your CV for, you may want to think about grouping information together. For instance, if you have a lot of computing experience, and you are going for a position in that area, you could think about having a section just for those things.

 Try to use ‘active words’ – describing your experiences in a way which adds interest and relevance. This is especially important for CVs posted on the Internet. There is a list of active words available in the Careers Library, in the yellow file marked ‘CVs and Application Forms’.

 Academic posts – you could include more information about your degree content, project work and any publications arising from your work. A longer CV is acceptable in this case.

 Nationality – if you are an overseas national with the right to work in the UK, it is essential to add this information to your CV.

Presentation – points to consider:

 A two page CV is acceptable to most employers – more than that may put them off.

 Try out different fonts/underlining/bold.

 Aim for good quality, A4 paper, preferably using a laser or inkjet printer.

 Balance the text on the page, avoid huge gaps – it makes it easier to read.

 As you quite often have to email your CV, keep formatting simple. Date of Birth: Address: 19th May 1982 Cathedral Court University of Surrey Guildford Surrey GU2 7XH Tel: 01483 563218 Mobile: 0790 84329 Email:[email protected] (Resident until 28.5.2004)

Kim Parkes

Education

1999 – 2004 University of Surrey, Guildford BSc (Hons) Chemistry with Computing. 2:1 expected (4-year sandwich course)

Subjects included: Organic synthetic methodology, medicinal chemistry, molecular modelling, programming, graphics, networking and laboratory automation.

Final year project: A computer simulation of novel drug receptor interactions in the central nervous system.

1993.2000 Ridge School, Farnham A-levels (2000) – Chemistry (B), Physics (B), Maths (C) GCSEs (1998) - 9, including Maths (B) and English Language (C)

Employment

Professional Year

2002- 2003 Research Chemist, GlaxoSmithKline, Mood Modifiers Department, Bedford

Responsibilities included:  Synthesising pharmacologically active compounds  Reviewing the literature on anti-depressant drugs  Predicting drug activity  Supervising a laboratory assistant  Analysing numerical data  Training a successor

Vacation Work

1998 – 2001 Retail Sales: WH Smith, Farnham Telesales: Direct Marketing Ltd., Guildford Key Skills

Practical Familiarity with a range of laboratory equipment including NMR, HPLC and other spectrophotometric procedures.

Computing Confident with Labview and good skills in Excel and Word.

Languages Speak conversational French – currently undertaking structured course with certification.

Leadership Learnt survival skills, decision-making skills and team leadership on a one-week leadership course in the Brecon Beacons.

Awards and Prizes

University Departmental Prize for Best First Year Project

School Awarded the Sir John Riddick Prize for Public Spirit

Responsibilities/ Interests

Union Secretary of Rag Committee. Actively involved in organising events which raised £20, 000 in support of the National Children’s Home.

Sport Regular player for the University of Surrey Squash Team . Organised Squash Ladder. Like to bungee jump whenever I can afford it.

Writing Regular contributor to Bare Facts, the student newspaper.

Teaching Tutor GCSE and A-level candidates in theoretical and practical chemistry in a local school.

References

Academic Previous employer

Dr R Childs Dr P Woodward Reader Head of Drug Department School of Biological Sciences GlaxoSmithKline University of Surrey Worthing Guildford Sussex GU2 7XH SU3 4PT [email protected] [email protected] Cathedral Court University of Surrey Guildford Surrey GU2 7XH

2 November 2003

Dr C Goodman Head of Chemical Research Novel Compounds Ltd. Huntingdon Cambs Cam 1UX

Dear Dr Goodman

I am currently in the final year of a BSc course in Chemistry with Computing. I expect to graduate with at least Upper Second Class Honours from the University of Surrey

I am writing in response to your entry in Prospects Directory in which you mention an interest in recruiting research chemists for novel drug synthesis. As you will see from my enclosed CV, I can offer a considerable amount of relevant experience, including:

 Recent employment in a major pharmaceutical research and development laboratory.

 A degree which has included several courses related to drug synthesis.

 Familiarity with laboratory procedures and equipment in common use.

 Experience of applying computer assisted design techniques to predict potential drug activity.

I am very keen to apply my skills and experience in the pharmaceutical industry and your company would provide excellent opportunities to do so. If you would like any further information I would, of course, be very happy to supply it.

Thank you for considering my application and I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Kim Parkes

Enc