career development and preparing your cv dr katherine selby
TRANSCRIPT
Career Development and preparing your CV
Dr Katherine Selby
Careers
• PhD
• Professional career
• Challenge to find right job or PhD
• Competition is strong
Luck or skill?
Ways to influence success
• Be enthusiastic
• Talk to others about their interests
• Make contact with people
• Demonstrate your knowledge
• Tell people what you want
NetworkingDale Carnegie How to win friends and influence people
Curriculum Vita
• Passport to success
• Details qualifications
• Skills
• Experiences
• Interests
Vital to first impressions
Design
• Easy on the eye
• Organised
• Logical
CVs are read quickly
How long should CV be?
• Dependent on post
• Some require one page
• Some require much detail
• First page to catch people’s attention
• Aim for 3-4 pages of uncluttered text
Types of CV
• Chronological: history of career and experience in order (most recent achievements first)
• Functional: emphasises skills and experiences
Referees
• Include contact details of referees in CV
• Contact referees before you send application
• Send your referees the job applications details and an up to date CV
• Keep in touch with referees and ask for their advice
What to leave out
• Race, sexual orientation or religion unless specific to job
• Don’t include a photo
• Only list a limited number of hobbies eg playing an instrument, an outdoor pursuit
Write your CV for each job, don’t always use the same one
Letters
• Letter of enquiry: When a position isn’t advertised
• Covering letter of application: Reveal your interest and enthusiasm for post offered
Letter of enquiry
• Convey knowledge of the person you are writing to, and interest and enthusiasm for their work.
• Offer a brief background on your qualifications, experience, what kind of position you are looking for, and possibly also on your career objectives.
• Cordial, direct, immaculately presented and concise.
A Bad letter of enquiry
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am interested in doing a PhD in marine biology. I would be grateful if you could let me know if you have any positions available and what your research interests are.
Yours,
*****
Hello!
i saw on your website that you are doing work on whalesharks i have a six week plasement for my course and am really interested in consevation work and want to now if you have opportunites for people to work with you
Yours, ********
A good letter of enquiryDear Professor Roberts,
I am very keen to study for a PhD in marine ecology. I am about to start my honours year in ecology at the University of *****. I have recently come back from a year at the University of Queensland on an exchange studying marine biology. This together with research experience on coral reefs of Indonesia have fuelled my interestin tropical marine ecology. I am particularly interested marine conservation and your research on the function of marine reserves greatly appeals to me.
I would also be grateful for advice about other marine biology research going on in the UK. I was wondering if you had a bit of time in the next week to discuss it. I live in York but am going back to ***** very soon. A copy of my CV is attached.
Yours sincerely,********
Covering letters
• Highlight why you are suitable for the post
• State your achievements and abilities
• Don’t lie
• Have a website that your future employer could access but make sure it is up to date, relevant and suitable
Interviews
• Nerve wracking and difficult
• Pre-requisite for a job
Aim is to get the job and to decide if you want to work for that employer
Functions of an interview
• To assess:• your expertise and competence • your motivation• your interpersonal skills• your decision making and problem solving
skills• your interest in the position• your personality and likeability
Interview preparation
• Prepare to beat nerves
• Think about questions you may be asked and answers to them
• Ask a colleague to go through some questions with you
• Be sharp physically and mentally
• Be enthusiastic
• Prepare 1-2 question to ask the employer
Who will get the job?
• Person who has:
• Best fit of skills
• Best fit with employer
• Best to fit any special needs of job
• Best fit in terms of salary history
Body Language
• Be alert and look interested
• Stand up straight
• Look people in the eye and direct answer to everyone in the room
• Only sit down when asked
• Look as if you are enjoying yourself
• Don’t give overlong or too brief answers
Other tips
• Dress smartly
• Treat everyone you meet on interview day as important
• Use people that you meet to give you information