Cwjobs.co.uk > Careers advice > CV advice

How to write a CV

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:06:41 +0100

We hate to point out the obvious, but most recruiters and employers – and especially those in the IT industry – search for candidates via online job boards. To make hiring managers sit up and pay attention, you'll need a cracking CV uploaded to relevant CV databases like CWJobs.

There's some basic information that every CV should cover to give your potential new boss a clear picture of your skills and suitability as an employee. You’re already avoiding handing them a grotty, coffee-stained piece of paper and proving you have a decent level of intelligence by offering your CV up online. Just make sure your CV contains all of the following elements, laid out in a clear and concise manner with bullet points or short paragraphs no longer than three lines in length. And yes, we’re aware we’re beginning to sound just a touch like your GCSE English teacher. Trust us: it works!

So, class, pay attention! If you follow a basic structure, you can present the information in a clear, concise and persuasive way:

Personal details

Include your name, address, phone numbers, email address and a URL if you have one. You do not need to include information about your age, nationality, shoe size, favoured browser, or funny birthmarks shaped like Duke, the Java icon. It may help though, to include a short personal statement about the career you’re looking for.

Key skills

Showcase specific skills such as programming languages and other IT skills and state whether you're at a basic, intermediate or advanced level. DON’T EXAGGERATE – you’ll get caught out and potentially become an interview anecdote known throughout the industry for your stupidity. Bullet point this information and, where possible, include number of years experience with each skill.

Work experience

List the most recent experience first, continuing in reverse chronological order. Describe your work experience in short sentences using straightforward, positive language and highlight your key achievements.

Education

List brief details of your qualifications, both academic and professional, beginning with the most relevant. If you’re looking for your first role, you should include this information above your work experience (since you won’t have any – apart from bar work or the local Tesco). This section can also be used to replace the skills section if necessary.

References

You don’t have to put details of your referees on your CV, it’s good enough just to say references are available. First jobbers, it’s a good idea to nominate tutors or mentors but don’t forget to check with them that they’re ok with this.

Hobbies/Interests

Including these is optional, but keep them short if you do. The idea is to give the interviewer some insight into your personality and suitability for the company

Presentation

In an ideal world, your CV should be no longer than two sides of A4. It should be in black and white and use a basic font such as Arial or Verdana. Stay away from Times New Roman as this can sometimes appear dated and is more difficult to read. Do not include a picture of yourself; and certainly don’t use your image as a watermark. Yes, we have seen people do this. And yes, we laughed.

Further links:

- Top 5 CV tips
- Cover letters
- Which CV?

- Find an IT job

5 ways to boost your online reputation

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:34:07 +0100

OK, so your CV has impressed the hiring manager. Naturally they want to find out more about you. So it’s essential that your online presence backs up your claim to be an outstanding individual.

Here are six foolproof ways to burnish your brand and maximise your online presence across social media platforms to get the right IT job.

1. Create a professional online identity

Recruiters and hiring managers are increasingly using social media sites to learn more about candidates they like the look of, so it pays to be both visible and active in the social space. If you're using Facebook or business networking tools, be sure to add regular status updates so that you’re visible to anyone who follows you using applications such as Tweetdeck.

2. Set up a blog

Writing and managing your own blog will demonstrate your professional expertise and knowledge. And by becoming a regular contributor on blogs and forums in your field, you’ll begin to establish strong online bona fides. One thing: be sure to keep the blog updated on a regular basis and respond to as many comments as possible. It’s important to keep your end of the conversation with your readers.

3. Strengthen your online reputation

If you're using a business network, seek out recommendations from people you're sure will be happy to oblige you. (Be discriminating!) By building a network of people that you’ve previously worked with, you will create a living CV complete with powerful testimonials. It'll go a long way to convincing recruiters that you're a safe bet for the shortlist.

4. Separate your professional and personal identities

A stray tweet here or an inadvisable update there and, next thing you know, your reputation's in the toilet. And once your personal brand is soiled, scrubbing it clean it can be next to impossible. Maintain distinct accounts on social platforms — one for your personal updates, and the other for professional notices. Or, if you prefer to maintain just one, tweak your privacy settings so that only your friends can see just what you got up to at the weekend.

5. Be careful who you hang out with

There are some pretty unsavoury characters and applications out there that want to associate themselves with your online identity. Don’t let them! Regularly scrub your followers to remove spammers. Always fight the temptation to get embroiled with trolls. It’s never worth the time and frustration.

6. Don't stop

Finally, understand that tending your online reputation is a never-ending task. You can’t just set up an online profile and then hope it will look after itself. If you set aside time every day to read, comment, tweet and blog, you’ll soon get into the habit and your online presence will be as important as your CV.

Further links:

- The growing importance of social media
- How to write the perfect cover letter
- 5 tips to create the perfect CV
- The rising demand for specialist IT skills

Search IT jobs:

- Search for IT contract jobs
- Search for IT support jobs
- Search for Graduate IT jobs
- Search for Online jobs

5 ways to get the most out of the CWJobs mobile site

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 11:57:17 +0100

Job hunting can be a full-time activity. It's important you make the most of the tools, tips and features available. That's where the CWJobs mobile site comes in.

Provided you've uploaded your CV you can search and apply for jobs away from your PC - anytime, anywhere. And we've got a few more tips to getting the most out of your CWJobs mobile site...

1. Search for jobs wherever, whenever

The biggest benefit to accessing www.cwjobs.co.uk on your mobile phone is the total freedom it gives you; you no longer have to wait until you're alone at your desktop PC to scan new relevant jobs.

You can now browse and search for new jobs while you're on the move and, if you're picking up emails on your mobile, you can click through from our jobs by email recommendations to see the details of any new matching jobs.

2. Apply for a job on your phone

Get in there quickly, before the employer is deluged by piles of CVs.

Using the CWJobs mobile site will help keep you on top of your job hunt. You can apply instantly from your phone if you’ve already registered your details with us and uploaded your CV onto CWJobs via your computer.

3. Email jobs of interest to yourself

Want to spend a bit more time on your application? Maybe it’s a job that’s a bit different and you need to check your CV before applying. Then you can email it to yourself for later. This is a great way of staying in control, and when you sit down to properly go through applications you’ll have them all there, ready and waiting in your inbox.

4. Help a friend... and earn Brownie points!

Your developer friend is also looking for a job - and two brains are better than one, right? Now is the time to earn some serious kudos. If you find a job that you think would be perfect for them, email it over!

The digital age is making it ever easier to live your life, so why should this not include your job hunt? Now is the time to take control.

And if you've got time now...

Discover the very latest jobs we've got across some of our major industry sectors:

Business analyst jobs

IT contract jobs

Graduate IT jobs

IT support jobs

IT project manager jobs

Tester jobs

Banking and finance IT jobs

Public sector IT jobs

Telecoms jobs

Top 5 CV tips

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 09:36:14 +0100

Your CV is the key item in the jobseeking toolkit. It's the introduction to your outstanding range of skills and your first chance to impress an employer or recruiter.

A good CV needs to outline your skills and suitability for a role and should make clear to a recruiter just what a shocking mistake they'd be making if they decided to overlook you. On average, recruiters spend just eight seconds scanning a CV to see whether or not you're The One. So make sure all the key information is upfront and in their face.

Here are CWJobs' top five tips for giving your CV maximum impact and getting your foot in the door:

1. Tailor your CV

Make sure you tailor your CV for every job you apply for. Read the job description and required skill set and ensure you list your key skils and experience first. Recruiters are faced with multiple CVs for every job they advertise. By making sure you have all of the key skills required for the role you'll immediately save them a whole lot of time and effort and ensure your CV goes to the top of the pile.

2. Keep it concise

Your CV should ideally be no longer than two pages of A4. Recruiters need to know about your skills and previous work experience so they can assess your suitability for the job on offer, but they have many CVs to read through in a day and won't be impressed with a detailed five-page history that includes your time at computer camp when you were 12.

Rather than writing long paragraphs about time spent in a specific role, bullet point key bits of information. Address all of the key skills required in the job description but remember that your CV is only the first step. Save the detailed explanation of your suitability for the role for your job interview. Basically, don't give away the farm.

3. Don’t leave gaps

Leaving gaps in your career history just makes recruiters and prospective employers wonder what you were up to during that time. List any gaps in your career with a suitable explanation – whether it was a career break, travelling or locking yourself away to become a god at World of Warcraft (be warned: this reason might not go down so well…)

If you undertook any additional training during this period, make sure it's listed alongside any other activity you undertook which may have helped develop other transferable skills such as communication, team work or project management.

4. Remove the errors

Well, duh. Sounds like it's up there with 'did you try switching it off then on again?', but one of the main reasons for CV rejection is errors and spelling mistakes. It's not likely that the recruiter is on the lookout for a literary god, but always check your CV for basic spelling mistakes and grammatical errors – don’t just use your spellchecker (it might be a computer, but sometimes it lies – possibly just for fun), get a friend or relative to proof read your CV as well.

5. Tell the truth

Always tell the truth about your skills and experience. If you don’t, you'll be caught out at some point – whether it’s during the interview process or, far worse, when you've actually got the job.

Most companies will check the facts you've stated like qualifications and previous employment history, but this also includes hobbies or interests you've listed. You never know when you will be faced with an interviewer who also has keen interest in kite-surfing and pulls you up when you can't name the best board to buy.

Further links:

Choosing the right graduate IT role

Tue, 31 May 2011 16:33:21 +0100

So you’ve decided you want a career in IT – good move. However, there are many different graduate jobs in the field and you’ll need to work out which one suits you best.

The fact that you’ve come this far suggests you’re good with numbers and problem solving. These attributes are essential to all graduate IT roles. Some positions, however, require excellent communication skills. Do you enjoy dealing with people? How do you feel about working in teams? Before you can hone your job search, you need to ask these kinds of questions — and answer them honestly.

You can see the most popular roles below. There are certain skills that will be common to all of these: the ability to work under pressure and as part of a team, a willingness to keep up to date with technological developments and to organise your own workload.

This list shows some of the attributes particular to each role.

Junior database administrator:

• high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• budget awareness
• ability to explain technical issues clearly – you may have to train end users
• ability to put databases into their wider business context
• good understanding of data protection and security issues.

Search for junior database admin roles.

Junior helpdesk support analyst:

• in-depth knowledge of popular systems and software
• excellent people skills
• ability to explain solutions clearly in a non-technical way
• an understanding of knowledge management
• good admin and record keeping skills.

Search for support analyst roles.

Junior project manager:

• excellent leadership skills
• methodical and structured approach to work
• excellent written and spoken communication skills
• ability to be flexible and to negotiate
• good understanding of business demands
• ability to work to tight budget limits
• good time management skills.

Search for junior project manager roles.

Graduate network administrator:

• ability to prioritise a range of tasks
• ability to explain technical issues clearly – you will probably have to train end users
• ability to plan schedules of work months in advance.

Search for network administrator roles.

Graduate software developer:

• good knowledge of a range of hardware, software and programming languages
• ability to interpret technical plans
• creative approach to problem solving
• an understanding of Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) tools
• ability to work with non-technical people
• an appreciation of clients’ business needs
• an understanding of confidentiality and data protection issues.

Search for software developer roles.

Graduate systems analyst:

• a broad knowledge of hardware, software and programming
• a creative approach to problem-solving
• the ability to gather and interpret complex information
• the ability to see IT systems in their wider business/organisational context
• good budgeting skills.

Search for systems analyst roles.

Junior web developer:

• a good appreciation of web design, usability issues and interactivity
• ability to turn clients' ideas into workable plans
• ability to follow exact instructions
• an understanding of international web development standards
• ability to work both as part of a team and on your own.

Search for web developer roles.

Employers are increasingly interested in well-rounded graduates who understand the wider business environment. If you are interested in a client-facing job, a finance, management or engineering specialisation as part of your degree will help. It will give you a better understanding of the issues your clients face, their attitudes and the language they use.

For an accurate assessment of your own interests and aptitudes, take this profiling test to get a sense of what you might be suited to.

Further links:

- The Government's careers advice website has information about different job roles
- Get a free CV health check with the Fuller CV
- How to write your cover letter

Search IT roles:

- Search for IT contract jobs
- Search for IT support jobs
- Search for graduate IT jobs

Search IT sectors:

- Search for banking and finance IT jobs
- Search for public sector IT jobs
- Search for telecoms jobs

AR CV: announcing the winners

Tue, 31 May 2011 16:30:04 +0100

What is augmented reality?

It might sound mysterious but in fact augmented reality (AR) is something we already take for granted.

Whenever you see newsreaders interacting with infographics, that's AR. It's a technology that synchs flesh-and-blood video with computer-generated graphics and audio to support and enrich the final experience.

Previously, the expensive technology required to mesh videos and graphics was only available to broadcasters and media outlets with deep pockets. But over the past two years, AR has come within reach of all types of developers and consequently its applications are growing. You can see it being used in music videos, tattoos and even business cards.

But might AR have a role in the recruitment process? Could it help jobseekers break out of the confines of A4 paper and present their CVs in a brand new way? Here at CWJobs, we thought we'd find out...

To showcase how AR might be used in recruitment, we worked with a team of designers, animators, video editors and developers to set about creating the world's first augmented reality CV for two lucky winners.

We gave two IT specialists the chance to have their own CVs brought to life using AR! Our expert panel of judges, including David Clarke, CEO of the BCS, and Tim Anderson, renowned tech journalist, recently met to select our winners.

Click here to see the winning CVs in action.

Manoj Radhakrishnan, a PRINCE2 and SCRUM Certified Technical Project Manager, is our professional winner, and Jason Mayes, a hybrid developer who set up his own consultancy, is our graduate winner. Both IT specialists wowed the judges with their far-reaching experience and impressive achievements.

Want more?

How to write a CV
Income calculators
Why you should think about becoming an IT contractor
5 ways to increase your employability

Browse jobs

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Search out latest public sector IT jobs
Search out latest telecoms IT jobs

The growing importance of social media

Tue, 31 May 2011 15:49:20 +0100

A CWJobs survey of jobseekers has shown that they're turning to the internet to find jobs. And that means that social media are becoming increasingly important to jobseekers and recruiters alike.

The internet has taken over from trade magazines as the main source for jobseekers, but it seems employers and recruiters may not be taking advantage of it as much as they might. And that's potentially damaging, because innovation in online recruitment is speeding up.

Thanks to the economic crash, and the effect on information-centric industries such as financial services, jobs in IT these days are still relatively hard to come by. Almost a third of recent graduates are unemployed, and more than a quarter of those that are in work gross under £10,000, according to CWJobs' recent survey of 5,000 jobseekers.

No wonder, then, that IT workers are turning to the web, with its high volume and fast turnover, to track the latest opportunities. Around 70% of respondents use generalist job sites on the internet with lots of different vacancies. Around half of all candidates look for job opportunities specifically on a potential employer's website, while just under half of them go to specialist industry websites to find their next appointment.

Twitter has grown dramatically in significance in the past couple of years. Whereas it used to be a site for inane chatter about what you had for breakfast that morning, it is now a site both for that same inane chatter, and for more serious things, such as passing on news links, asking questions of your community - and finding jobs.

While some companies are certainly making strides in optimising their social media strategy, there's a long way to go before people realise the significance of sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, the three most-used social media sites among the CWJobs' survey base.

LinkedIn is used more by contractors than permanent staff. This is probably because contractors need to score gigs far more regularly than full-timers, meaning that they have to network more. Services such as Twitter garnered around 10% in both camps.

But 29% of jobseekers surveyed say that they don't use social media sites at all, although given the incredible growth in the popularity of these sites, and the dire situation of the economy following the financial crisis, that is likely to change throughout 2010. As individuals begin to realise that it is possible to find jobs using these outlets, they're likely to catch on and begin firing up sophisticated (and free) social media management tools such as Hootsuite.

So, for recruiters and candidates alike, if you think that social media is for teenagers, think again. The web will continue to play an increasingly important part in the recruitment process - and those who choose not to play will be missing out on a big opportunity.

- Danny Bradbury

Further links:

- ITJOBLOG
- Join the CW Jobs Twitter feed

- Top 5 CV tips
- How to write a winning cover letter
- Get the professionals to assess your CV

Search IT jobs:

- Contract jobs
- IT support jobs
- Graduate jobs

Placements and graduate schemes

Tue, 31 May 2011 15:12:59 +0100

IT graduate schemes are a great way to break into your chosen career.

Well, the good news is the number of entry-level vacancies and placements on offer this year is expected to rise by nearly 12%, according to market research company, High Fliers. And the bad news? You’re likely to be competing for places with graduates from the past two years who are still unemployed.

As we emerge from recession, IT jobs are showing signs of picking up, with large IT firms like Google, Microsoft, Logica, Intel, Fujitsu, EDS, Oracle and IBM all currently recruiting IT graduates.

You’ll also find large IT departments – and their associated graduate schemes in many non-technical organisations too, including the government, the NHS, banking and finance, supermarkets and large multinational corporations.

Working for a large multinational has many advantages like good pay and benefits, the chance to relocate abroad and, usually, a defined career path. The public sector offers a less pressured environment and job satisfaction, with the knowledge that you’re helping others through your work.

But the traditional view that roles in the public sector bring job security is being eroded by the economy’s continuing struggle, which brings with it cuts in public sector spending.

A placement within an IT department will give you a real taste of the world of work. Most are paid (many quite well) and can vary from short placements of several months to positions that last four or five years.

The pros and cons of graduate placement schemes

Pros:

• Better salary and benefits than typical junior jobs
• Strong emphasis on training and development
• Financial support for those with professional qualifications in some cases
• Potential for an accelerated career path into management
• Opportunity to build transferable skills
• Breathing space to learn from your mistakes without getting sacked!

Cons:

• Fierce competition for places
• Potential disruption to personal life because of pressure to work long hours and relocate and /or travel
• Work in early years may be fairly routine
• Hard to build good relationships with other employees if you move departments frequently
• Being given a hard time by some managers.

No individual placement will tick all the boxes, so don’t set your expectations too high. Companies expect a high return for their investment, so you’ll have to work hard to prove yourself; it’s likely you won’t be welcomed with open arms by many other employees.

One big advantage to placement schemes is that they’re not permanent. If you realise you made the wrong career choice, you can leave the scheme (check your contact for notice periods).

If you do decide to go for it, you’re likely to end up going through a gruelling recruitment process.

Initially you‘ll fill in an application form that asks why you want to work for this particular company. The form poses various situational questions designed to test your aptitudes, like team working or self motivation.

You’ll probably have an interview, followed by an assessment day, during which you’ll go through a series of exercises, simulations and interviews that show how you cope in different situations. The day will probably include a mix of traditional interviews, psychometric testing, presentations, group exercises and social events.

The key to success here is to relax and just be yourself. The day will be stressful enough without having to maintain a façade. You can prepare by thinking about these scenarios:

• Work on your presentation style, learning to look at people directly while you talk, making eye contact with everyone in the room and avoiding the use of notes.
• Avoid the free drinks at the social events!
• Remain confident without going over the top or appearing arrogant.
• During a group exercise, an assessor will be looking at what you have to contribute as well as how you worked in a team. Make sure you don’t talk over others and involve the whole team in discussions.

_________________________________________________________

With over 9,000 vacancies from over 650 employers to browse, there’s a huge variety of IT jobs on offer with CWJobs. You can upload your CV today and let employers contact you directly, and you can request a tailored jobs by email sent straight to your inbox.

Further links:

- Why are employers looking for graduates?

Search IT jobs:

- Search for contract IT jobs
- Search for IT support jobs
- Search for graduate IT jobs

Search IT sectors:

- Search for banking and finance IT jobs
- Search for public sector IT jobs
- Search for telecoms jobs

Speculative CVs

Fri, 27 May 2011 10:02:04 +0100

So you fancy working for Google? Or maybe you want to be one of Steve Ballmer's Microsoft crew? If you've identified the company you want to work for, and you're sure you've got the skills, it's always worth firing off a speculative CV – even if they don't appear to be hiring right now.

Large organisations like those at the top of the IT game are on the lookout for the next technical genius, so they're always willing to accept speculative CVs. If they think you've got what it takes, they'll keep your CV on file for future reference. In a nutshell, it means that as soon as a relevant position becomes available, they'll check their internal resources before starting a recruitment campaign – and will find you ready and waiting for their call.

Concentrate on your skills

So where's the catch? Well, because you're not working to a specific job description, it can be tricky to tailor your CV to their requirements. How do you get round this minor hurdle? Simple. If they're hiring for other positions, you can check what sort of skills they look for as standard and make sure you've got them covered in the key skills section of your CV. Otherwise, you can check the job specs of similar organisations and make sure you cover off all the key skills required for the job role you've set your sights on.

Nail that cover letter

The most important thing to remember when submitting a speculative application is the cover letter. This is your chance to succinctly explain why you're the best person out there for the job. Do bear in mind that companies will usually only keep a speculative CV on file for no longer than a year so you might have to keep resubmitting it.

Get yourself started by putting together a comprehensive cover letter which addresses the following key points:

• Begin by outlining the type of work you are seeking
• Explain why you want to work for this organisation.
• List the skills you have that might be particularly relevant
• Ask for your CV to be held on file for any vacancies that may come up

Most of the time, if the Microsofts and Symantecs of this world aren't recruiting at the moment – you'll usually be notified of this by a very polite yet system-generated email. Don't be disheartened; keep checking back every couple of months. If the job you've been waiting for comes up, there's no harm in sending in your CV again. But if you do this repeatedly with no response, you might want to take it as a hint and head straight for their nearest competitor.

Further links:

Free CV check

Fri, 27 May 2011 09:59:27 +0100

When it comes to getting the job you want, a good CV can be the difference between being short-listed and being overlooked. No matter how extensive your experience or comprehensive your software skills, if your CV is poorly formatted, has glaring spelling mistakes or is just plain confusing, chances are it's going straight into the employer’s recycling bin.

Have a look at your CV. Does it just reel off a list of programming languages and projects worked on, without any explaining context? When your project made the client a lot of money, have you mentioned it? Your CV is your first and best opportunity to get yourself noticed, so it’s important you get it right first time.

That's why we've teamed up with The Fuller CV, a specialist CV consultancy and writing service. Their CV specialists will assess your current CV and tell you if it's doing you justice. If not, one of their IT personnel consultants will be happy to provide a very reasonable quote for their CV writing service.

If you want to take advantage of The Fuller CV's offer and receive a free health check, upload your CV and follow the on-screen instructions.

Receive a free CV health check

But don't take our word for it. We talked to the following IT personnel who found their service just what they were looking for:

"Just to let you know that I have had two interviews so far within one week of sending out my new CV – Awesome!" David, Web Developer

"My new CV has proved very successful as I have secured an IT management role thanks to your well-written CV. I was pretty nervous about spending the money since I had no job at the time, but the benefits have far outweighed the nerves!" Peter, IT manager

"The positive slant that you've been able to put on my career and the achievements you have uncovered has made me an excellent prospect for employers. I would recommend your services to everyone." David, business analyst

Which CV?

Fri, 27 May 2011 09:58:27 +0100

Post graduates, return to workers and specialist career changers

Have you recently completed a course to update your skills or learn a new role? Or maybe you’ve just graduated from university? If so, you'll need a qualifications-based CV.

This CV type suits postgraduates, jobseekers that want to return to work after a long period of unemployment (12 months or more), and some of those who which to change careers.

A qualifications-based CV is only suitable for career changers who require specific qualifications to be able to work in their new field. Examples might include programmers, software developers, project managers or network support engineers.

Likewise, for career changers where the need is more pronounced for skills or market knowledge, a skills-based CV will probably be the better option.

Career changers, return to workers, return to permanent work and 'new' job opportunities

You'll need a skills-based CV if you want to:

Change careers
Return to work in the same industry after a short break (under 12 months)
Return to work after working as a contractor
Work in a new industry
Work on a specific project (i.e. a new software product launch)

This CV is perfect for showing off those skills you can transfer to your next job. So, unlike the qualifications-based CV, there's no requirement for 'specific' qualifications. A perfect example of this might be new media.

Fifteen years ago, few people had any clue about the skill sets required to work in this industry. Candidates with print or other traditional media backgrounds moved across, transferring their 'traditional' skills. Of course, any qualifications you hold are always worth a mention.

If you're a contractor looking to return to permanent work, ensure your last employment is listed under the name of your limited company rather than the individual contracts.

Many permanent employers tend to suspect that contractors will return to contract positions once the market picks up. Presenting a solid CV under a single company name means you're more likely to get a foot in the door and it makes you look a lot more reliable.

Career ladder climbers

If you want to remain in the same industry but are looking for new opportunities (e.g. you know for a fact you could do a better job than your boss with your eyes shut and using only the power of open source applications) you'll need a chronological CV. This CV type is all about work history, charting your meteoric rise to IT stardom by continually gaining knowledge, skills and possibly qualifications in the same industry.

IT Contractor CV

If you're a contractor looking for your next contract role, a variation of the skills-based CV is the way forward.

Take care to limit the number of concurrent roles you list, it might make you look superhuman but can also send worrying signals about a lack of attention. Always ensure you clearly specify the contract term – as well as any extensions to the contract and the reason for the extension.

A contractor CV doesn't need to include any personal information such as hobbies or personality type – you're not looking for a permanent role within the company, so your personality fit has very little to add to your suitability for the contract.

Further links

CV writing guide

Fri, 27 May 2011 09:57:47 +0100

In a recent survey of recruiters, nearly 90% of them said that the bulk of the CVs they received had errors. A shocking stat — but one that means there are great opportunities for jobseekers that get their CVs right first time.

Perhaps the hardest thing about a CV is putting your achievements, your skills and your experience into the sort of a language that will make a recruiter sit up and take notice. In a recent survey of jobseekers, nearly three-quarters of them said they found it a struggle to represent themselves well in a CV.

What have I achieved?

This is the most important part of your CV, for the simple reason that recruiters will often be scanning a large number of CVs for keywords: job titles, software packages, technical skills. Get it right , and you’re half-way to getting an interview for the IT job of your choice.

Framing your achievements

It’s not enough to simply list the companies you’ve worked for. You have to show how you added value while you were there.

• Have you ever had to deliver to a punishing deadline?

• Have you ever made a significant contribution to an ad hoc project or something outside of your remit; anything that shows that you’re a go-to person when something out of the ordinary needs doing?

• Have you ever improved flawed or inefficient business processes?

• Ever received feedback from other teams or managers recognising your contributions?

• Ever been officially recognised for your contributions?

These details are unique to you – they illustrate your approach to work in a way that will differentiate you from other applicants.

Technical skills

If you’re going for an IT job, chances are you’ve got a range of IT skills. It’s standard to split out your technical skills by the following:

• Software

• Platforms

• Packages

• Programming languages

For each skill, state your proficiency (e.g. competent, expert) and try and stick to jargon or acronyms with which your reader will be familiar. While you may know what ASP or PHP is, the recruiter may not, so specifiy if necessary.

If you’re building your CV to apply for a particular job, make sure you reference the skills the recruiter has specified, paying special attention to any keywords that are in the job ad.

What did you add?

Once you’ve identified all your achievements, the next step is to quantify them. You need to be able to back your claims with figures. Recruiters love to see language such as savings made, returns on investment (ROI) and turnover increased.

If your contributions resulted in efficiencies or improvements to quality of service, try to quantify the saving or improvement and include the figures e.g. 35% time saved; 75% more customers served per week; 50% more bugs fixed per month.

Calculate and demonstrate ROI in your previous roles, and state any improvements to speed or reduced error rates or platform down times.

These numbers will work as beacons to recruiters. They will grab their eye and make them more likely to direct your CV to their “maybe” pile. Conversely, they will be suspicious if they come across a CV without any quantified achievements.

Be careful with your job titles

A recruiter will scan your CV in a matter of seconds, looking for the right job titles. So it’s important that you get the language right. If you worked as a java developer but went under a different title, just put java developer – at this stage you just need to catch a recruiter’s attention before they move onto the next CV.

You’re now ready to write your CV!

The next step: Presentation

So you’ve identified all your achievements, listed out all your accomplishments, you’ve even mentioned your precious Employee of the Month certificate.

But no matter how extensive your experience or comprehensive your software skills, if your CV is confusingly presented or badly formatted, chances are it's going straight into the employer’s bin.

Here are the key things to bear in mind as you lay out your CV.

• Length

A recruiter will have a stack of CVs to get through, so don’t make yours the length of War and Peace. No matter how storied your experience, you should effectively be able to sum up your career over two concise pages.

If your CV ends up longer than two pages, take another look and consider how you might make it more concise. Look for any waffle that’s taking up space and ruthlessly cut it — you don’t need it.

• Design and layout

It’s so easy to go wrong at this stage. A poorly-chosen font or an ill-judged layout and it could be curtains. If you can remember to keep things easy on the eye of the recruiter, you won’t go too far wrong.

First thing to think about it is whether to include a personal statement at the head of your CV. This is a brief summation or introduction of you and your career path. However, since recruiters are just looking for keywords, chances are they might not read the statement, especially if it’s more than a line or two. So if you can’t be original in the statement, leave it out.

The arrangement of your CV depends on your situation. So, if you’re a graduate, you’ll want to list your academic achievements first. But if you’ve got 15 years of experience, you should list out your career history and achievements first, coming to your academic record later (if at all).

Arrange your employment history in date order, beginning with the most recent. You might feel that the earlier jobs don’t warrant as much detail as your current job or more recent jobs. This is especially true if you started your career waiting tables.

• Spelling!

It bears repeating: check your spelling. Then get someone else to check. Then check again. Nothing will kill your application stone-dead quicker than a rogue misspelling in your CV.

Double-check your language settings too. You don’t want to find out you’ve written your CV in American-English after you’ve sent it out.

And finally…

If you’ve listed your skills and quantified your achievements, kept the presentation clean and simple, and not made any spelling or grammar howlers, you should have a CV that will stop a recruiter in their tracks. But here’s a final checklist of CV no-nos just to make sure:

• Don’t list all the one-day training courses you have ever been on unless they’re relevant.

• Don't tell fibs. It's not worth it.

• Don’t use elaborate fonts and colours so your CV stands out. You want the words to do the work, not an eye-catching font.

• Don’t use pictures – keep it professional and succinct. Unless you’re going for a design role, stick to text.

• Don’t list every one of your referees – include your previous employer and one other. At this stage, it’s probably best to use the formulation, References are available on request.

• Don’t start every sentence in the first person, i.e. I, me and my.

• Avoid clichés. If you find a sentence like this — I am a highly motivated individual who works well on my own or in a team, with exceptional communication skills and the ability to work under pressure to produce results under tight deadlines — cut it out!

• Consider a totally fresh approach for your CV. An augmented reality CV (AR CV) can display each of the elements of your CV using virtual computer-generated imagery, enabling you to showcase your portfolio in an engaging, informative way CVs. Find out more about AR CVs.

Click here for a downloadable version of the CV writing guide

Next steps:

More information on CVs | Everything you need to know about interviews | Get the right salary

Cover letters

Fri, 27 May 2011 09:56:43 +0100

You might find writing endless cover letters a tedious and repetitive business, but there’s no getting round it; it's the first and most important step in snaring a recruiter's attention.

The basic idea is to encourage recruiters and employers to read your CV. Think of it as a teaser to your skills. The recruiter or HR manager is the company's gatekeeper and it's likely they're sifting through a ton of applications every day. You need to stand out from the crowd and grab their attention.

Your cover letter gives you the chance to show off just a little bit. Demonstrate that your skills and abilities are a good match for the role and that you're perfectly capable with the English language. If they like what they read, they'll move on to your CV to get more detailed insights about you.

Always put in a bit of groundwork. Research the company in advance of writing your letter, identifying the technologies they use and the markets they operate in. Your cover letter will be the first contact you have with a prospective recruiter or employer; if you can nudge them in the right direction from the off, getting an interview should be a breeze.

The key stuff:

• Tailor your cover letter for every job you apply for; you can work from a template as long as you remember to change the details every time
• Present it in the usual letter format, keep it short and snappy - but factual
• Include any reference information about where you saw the job advertised
• Refer to the CV you’ve attached to draw the recruiter’s attention to it
• Use key words and phrases from the job description to highlight why you’re right for the role
• Briefly explain why you want the job and why you want to work for that specific company; this is where your research works a treat
• If the job is in a different sector to the one you currently work in, draw similarities and highlight any transferable skills
• Include information about your availability for interview
• It might sound like teaching your granny to suck eggs but check you’ve addressed your letter to the right person, used the correct job title and spelt their name correctly!
• Don’t mention salary (yes, we said DON’T mention salary)

Never underestimate the power of a good cover letter. It can mean getting your CV past the temp they’ve got skim reading all the applications...

Further links:

Graduates: How to make the most of your gap year

Fri, 27 May 2011 09:47:09 +0100

If you decide to take a gap year make sure you spend some of it doing temporary or voluntary work.

Recent research by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) shows that big employers are only interested in jobseekers who have spent their time out wisely.

The 2010 survey, which questioned 214 large graduate recruiters across the UK, found that work – whether paid or unpaid – was valued much more highly than simply travelling.

Backpacking has become a commonplace activity. Taking what is essentially an extended holiday is not as much of a challenge as it was in the 1970s or 80s, when there were no mobile phones, no internet and few hostels – and employers are well aware of this.

A properly planned break, which develops useful workplace skills and experience, can be an asset to your CV. Anything else could damage your chances of getting a job, as employers may suspect you’re likely to get wanderlust again when the going gets tough.

Structure your time so that even if you’re not gaining career-specific experience, you are developing some of the workplace skills that employers now regard as so important, like the ability to work in teams, to negotiate, solve problems and build relationships.

The pros of travelling in your gap year:

• It's a great way to see something of the world and have some fun before you’re tied down to a job.
• You can broaden your horizons, learn about other cultures, make new friends and gain personal insight.
• It will help you develop self-sufficiency, initiative, adaptability and hopefully some new workplace skills and experience.

The cons:

• Lack of support when you get back. It’s much harder to find a job without all the support you get in an academic environment.
• Bad timing. The graduate recruitment process tends to be linked to the academic year, so think carefully about when you need to be back in the country.
• Commitment questions. The longer you stay away, the more people will question your commitment to finding a serious job and a more settled lifestyle.
• Gaps in your CV. If you’re going away for six months or more you need to return with some useful skills and experience.

So what are your options? You could get a work placement, study in another country or volunteer, either in the UK or overseas.

Volunteering abroad can be one of the most fulfilling ways to spend your time. You will integrate with a different culture and come away with a sense of achievement because you’ve done something worthwhile. Whether you’re working in your chosen career field or trying something completely different, you’ll be gaining valuable skills. You’re also showing an employer you’re able to commit to challenging projects.

The downside is the expense: some firms actually charge you a hefty fee for working with them. Recruitment for volunteer work is competitive, too.

Types of volunteer work:

• Work camps. Run in developed countries around the world and ideal for those looking for a structured life.
• Conservation. There are many projects aimed at protecting the environment, including game and nature reserves, working for your keep on organic farms, rainforest conservation schemes and expedition organisations.
• Projects in developing countries. These tend to require quite specific skills, such as construction or engineering.
• Disaster relief. These schemes often require a sustained redevelopment programme for months or years afterwards. Be prepared to see extreme poverty, disease and distress – this will be a life changing experience.

Health and wealth

Gap years typically cost £3,000 - £5,000, so unless you’re lucky enough to have parents willing to cough up, you’re going to have to work hard and save up.

You could also consider getting a Nationwide Flex current account because it’s the only UK bank that doesn’t charge for use abroad.

For travel in Europe get a European Health Insurance Card, which replaces the E111 and offers free or reduced-cost medical treatment in 28 countries. However, this is not a substitute for proper travel insurance because it won’t cover expenses like an emergency flight home.

Many travel insurance policies won’t cover periods of more than a month, so do your research when buying. Some insurers offer specialist extended cover, which includes adventure sports – you’ve got to have fun occasionally!

Further links:

- Independent gap year advice
- Gap year advice from Hobsons
- Information about volunteering in the UK
- Information about volunteering abroad
- Information about foreign healthcare

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Turning a hobby into an IT career

Thu, 26 May 2011 16:25:23 +0100

With a postman the newly crowned UK cyber security champion, there’s hope for other hobbyists to make it to the big time. We talked to Dan Summers about turning his hobby into a career.

How have you become a self-taught cyber expert?

By reading blogs written by experts in their respective fields, watching YouTube video demonstrations of techniques and reading any relevant books I could get my hands on. A good example would be reading this source on forensics and then following off-site links to other authorities. The Cyber Security Challenge really encourages hands-on use of the tools of the trade. Many of the finalists use Twitter to follow what's going on in cyber security.

What’s your ambition?

I want to move my skills up to a professional level so that I can make a contribution to the industry and the people it serves. I'm particularly interested in the security of home and small business users as they generally have the least access to protection and knowledge of security best practices. As the threats evolve I believe taking a pro-active approach to safeguarding our digital life is vital and I really want to be part of the solution.

How do you plan to develop your skills?

The SANS course will allow me to fill in the gaps in my knowledge by training with the best. Hopefully I’ll become Giac certified while CREST will test my practical vulnerability assessment and pen-testing skills. An Open University module will further strengthen my security research and reporting skills. I'm sure the BCS, IISP and ISSA memberships/affiliations will provide the opportunities I need to access mentoring, discuss the latest issues and develop my career in the right direction.

What tips do you have for other hobbyists wishing to progress?

I've always found that passion makes time; if you're anything like me you'll find you're reading about how the internals of the Windows Registry works, then realise it's 2:20am in the morning. Sure, you're tired the next day but no more than if you'd spent a night on the tiles!

What the sponsors and industry experts say

What aptitudes are the most important?

Some of the more obvious aptitudes would be problem solving, looking at security issues holistically and having a strong technical knowledge base. In order to be as effective in the role as possible you also have to be able to communicate the risks, issues and how to overcome them clearly and concisely to all levels of a business. It is good if someone has acumen of a business to understand the why people carry out cyber attacks. Putting oneself in the other person’s shoes allows a security professional to pre-empt attacks and try and mitigate the effects.

What did the cyber challenge reveal about UK talent today?

There is a wealth of untapped talent out there and not always in the areas that you would expect. Take the winner of the first Cyber Security Challenge – a postman, not a job that you would associate with cyber security. Other competitors who fared well were students and one of the candidates was an actor. The challenge is a realistic stepping stone to enter into an industry by proving yourself in a forum of your peers.

Bryan Lillie, head of the cyber security customer solutions centre, Cassidian

What sort of skills do you recruit for the cyber department?

A strong technical capability in some area, general technology competence and awareness and ability to discuss and influence the way IT is changing security. We need security professionals who have a range of skills including the technical skills but also the ability to apply these to the business context. Security professionals also need to stay ahead of the technology and threat trends. There is also a security mentality of spotting opportunities that attackers may take advantage of and then creatively problem solving ways to stop attacks.

What's more important, certification or real experience?

There is rarely a substitute for real experience. Certifications and competitions such as these play an important role in setting and raising standards. We at HP has been keen to encourage initiatives such as the IISP (Institute of Information Security Professionals) that help develop the profession and provide competence based certifications.

Simon Shiu, senior security researcher, HP Labs Bristol

How do you convert a cyber hobby into a career?

It’s actually simpler process than many people think. Cyber security has a reputation of being inaccessible for the average person. However with initiatives like the Challenge which show people what these jobs are like, and flexible learning available through institutions such as the Open University, people are starting to break down those barriers.

Are there career myths hobbyists should be beware?

Many of the students I came across, working in IT but wishing to move into cyber security, believe they need to commit to a full time four year course to make the jump across. In fact for the majority of them, their interest and enthusiasm for the subject means they already possess a lot of the technical skills.

The Open University

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