Career Development Centre Cvs, Application Forms, Covering Letters
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CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE CVS, APPLICATION FORMS, COVERING LETTERS EXPERIENCE EXPERTISE EXCELLENCE CONTENTS CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE ...............................3 Find out about our services and get the latest careers advice and support to maximise your employability. CVs ....................................................................... 11 Everything you need to know about writing a winning CV – targeting your CV, getting the format right, what to include, examples and top tips. COVERING LETTERS ................................................... 25 Find out how to write a successful covering letter with our step-by-step guidelines and examples. APPLICATION FORMS ............................................. 31 Discover what it takes to ensure your application form stands out from the crowd. MANAGING YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE .................. 37 Advice and tips on managing your social media presence online and keeping your private life private. THE POWER OF VOCABULARY ................................ 41 Find out what power words you could use to express your skills and experience. CONTACT US ........................................................ 44 This booklet is available in alternative formats upon request. A web version is also available at westminster.ac.uk/careers The different formats would be by special request via disability services. 1 2 LOP EVE ME D N R T E C E E R N A T R C E 3 ABOUT We can assist with: We have a team of friendly • Sourcing vacancies career professionals who are • Developing employability in touch with employers on a skills daily basis to provide you with • Identifying key skills and up-to-date current employment experiences trends, and job vacancies. We • Planning your professional also provide guidance and development information on further study and training opportunities. • Presenting a positive image: how to market yourself effectively. 4 OUR SERVICES QUICK ONE-TO-ONE ADVICE CAREERS GUIDANCE These 20 minute advice APPOINTMENTS sessions give students feedback These 45 minute appointments and advice on CVs, application provide in-depth careers forms, interviews and other advice*. Students can attend up career concerns. Appointments to four guidance interviews per can be booked through our academic year. Appointments vacancy and events portal, at New Cavendish Street or careers.westminster.ac.uk or Harrow can be booked by by calling 020 7911 5184, calling reception on 020 7911 bookings can only be made on 5184. the day after 9.30am. *Students are normally required to attend a quick query session E-advice before booking a careers If you are not able to get a guidance interview. face-to-face appointment, you can get feedback and advice VOLUNTEERING on CVs, applications, interview Volunteering is a type of preparation and other career unpaid work that helps other concerns via e-advice. A people, local communities or careers consultant will respond the environment. Volunteering to e-advice via email (or gives a big boost to CVs and telephone if convenient). opens up opportunities for valuable work experience, and For information visit the increases employability. For ‘one-to-one advice’ page at more information visit westminster.ac.uk/careers westminster.ac.uk/volunteering MENTORING EMPLOYER EVENTS Students can develop skills, and Employer events and company expand their knowledge and presentations allow students to experience of the working world meet employers face-to-face, and by taking part in a mentoring to gain first-hand information scheme. The National mentoring about a specific company and consortium undergraduate the market it operates in. ethnic minority scheme and There are a range of careers- Career Development Centre related events on campus scheme are designed to widen for both current students and the aspirations and enhance recent graduates. For more the personal effectiveness of information and to register students. For more information for upcoming events visit our visit westminster.ac.uk/ vacancy and events portal at careers.westminster.ac.uk mentoring 5 OUR SERVICES TALENT BANK ASSOCIATES IN SCHOOLS The Talent Bank is an invaluable SCHEME resource that provides students An exciting opportunity for with paid temporary and you to gain valuable work part-time vacancies both within experience in a school the University and with local classroom. For 15 days businesses. Taking on work while participants support a teacher in studying is a fantastic opportunity a secondary school or college to develop transferable skills, gain while exploring a future career valuable professional experience in teaching. and subsequently increase job Recruitment is via three intakes prospects after graduation. For per academic year: more information visit Intake 1: June – August westminster.ac.uk/talent-bank Intake 2: September – November Intake 3: December – February VACANCIES AND For more information, visit EVENTS PORTAL westminster.ac.uk/uwas Our online vacancy and events service helps you look for part- INFORMATION RESOURCES time, placement, voluntary and graduate opportunities as well We hold a range of as book a place on events with comprehensive materials in employers, professional bodies our information rooms relating and other organisations. This to occupations, employers, service is also available to recent voluntary work, enterprise, graduates. To access the portal, working and studying overseas, go to careers.westminster.ac.uk further study and training. WORK PLACEMENTS Both the Westminster Business School and faculty of Media, Art and Design have dedicated placements teams. These teams are tasked with helping to source placements and assist students in finding and applying for placements for summer and sandwich years. The team also administers the Santander SME Internship scheme which is open to all students. 6 GENERAL ANNUAL EVENTS THE ANNUAL CAREERS FAIR DROP-INS THE CAREER The Annual Careers Fair The Career Development Centre DEVELOPMENT CENTRE is hosted by the Career liaises with employers to arrange Development Centre in drop-ins for anyone interested ORGANISES A SERIES Semester 1, and is open to in working part-time during their OF UNIVERSITY WIDE studies. This is an opportunity students from every discipline ANNUAL EVENTS, and level of study. The fair is for you to meet face-to-face with attended by large graduate employers on campus. Employers SOME OF WHICH ARE recruiters, as well as part-time come from a wide range of HIGHLIGHTED HERE. industries and recruit for casual recruiters. The Annual Careers PLEASE VISIT CAREERS. Fair is an excellent opportunity part-time jobs on either a one-off for you to meet employers on or longer term basis. WESTMINSTER.AC.UK campus, and many students Details of upcoming drop-ins FOR MORE DETAILS ON come away from the day with can be found on our vacancy ALL OF THE EVENTS useful contacts or even having and events portal at careers. secured an interview. westminster.ac.uk WE COORDINATE. For more details visit SKILLS ACADEMY westminster.ac.uk/annual- The Skills Academy takes place careers-fair at the end of Semester 2 every year, immediately after the LUNCHTIME SESSIONS examination period. It provides The Career Development an opportunity to prepare for Centre’s Lunchtime Sessions job hunting after graduation can boost your chances of in an increasingly competitive landing a graduate job, graduate labour market. These finding a placement, vacation seminars are delivered by or voluntary work. The bite- experienced consultants and sized lunchtime sessions cover external guests, and include topics such as CVs, job seeking sessions on the following: strategies, interview tips and job search skills; commercial much more. Look out for the awareness; networking; starting lunchtime sessions taking a business; business consultancy place during Semester 2. and entrepreneurship; public speaking; interviews; CVs; assessment centres; job hunting with social media; and more. Details will be available around the time of the Skills Academy. Visit our vacancy and events portal at careers.westminster.ac.uk 7 CAREER DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE UG YEAR ONE ATTEND EVENTS IMPROVE PREPARATION EMPLOYABILITY • Register for our vacancy • Check out our University ATTEND: APPLY: and events portal for job of Westminster Career • the Skills Academy sessions • for the Talent Bank vacancies and career events Development Centre blog • lunchtime sessions • to Mentoring Scheme • Follow the University • Attend at least one Quick of Westminster Career Query session with a Development Centre on Careers Consultant Facebook & Twitter UG YEAR TWO ATTEND EVENTS IMPROVE PREPARATION EMPLOYABILITY • Attend at least one Quick • Attend up to four guidance ATTEND: APPLY: Query session with a appointments with a Careers • the Skills Academy sessions • for the Talent Bank Careers Consultant Consultant per academic • some Lunchtime sessions • to a Mentoring Scheme year • the Annual Careers Fair • to join the Volunteering • employer led events in your Programme subject area and other areas • for the Associates in Schools of general interest Scheme – where relevant UG YEAR THREE ATTEND EVENTS IMPROVE PREPARATION EMPLOYABILITY • Attend at least one Quick • Attend up to four guidance ATTEND: APPLY: Query session with a appointments with a Careers • the Skills Academy sessions • for the Talent Bank Careers Consultant Consultant per academic • some Lunchtime sessions • for the Associates in Schools year • the Annual Careers Fair scheme – where relevant • employer led events in your subject area and other