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CUED Industrial Experience Guide for

Undergraduates 2009

CONTENTS

SECTION 1 Introduction 3

SECTION 2 Definitions & Outline of Requirements 4

SECTION 3 Adopting the correct approach 5

SECTION 4 Planning a Strategy 9

SECTION 5 Sources of Information 11

SECTION 6 Approaching Employers and Self Presentation 14

- Letter Writing- Curriculum Vitae's- Interviews- Etiquette

SECTION 7 Health and Safety 25

SECTION 8 Provision of Confirmation 25

Industrial Experience Booklet

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PERSONNELThe Industrial Placement Co-ordinator Igor WOWK

Igor has a Diploma in Careers Guidance and worked as a CareersOfficer with several local authorities dealing with schools and employersbefore being appointed to his current post in January 1990.

Industrial Placement Administrator Marion REUSCH

Marion joined the team in September 2005 and works as a part time to assistIgor Wowk. She is fluent in German, as a native speaker and has a degree inEuropean Business Studies.

If you want to contact them, here is how you do it.

COMMUNICATIONS:

from outside the University: 01223 332778

Inside the University : 32778 n.b. calls are free of charge

E- mail addresses : Igor WOWK [email protected]

Igor WOWK & Marion REUSCH

[email protected]

Web Site : http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/teaching/indexp/

Postal Address: Cambridge University Engineering Department,Trumpington Street,CambridgeCB2 1PZ

Room Location: BC3-07 Centre Wing Baker Building


2
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/teaching/indexp/http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/teaching/indexp/http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/teaching/indexp/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

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SECTION 1

Introduction:

Greetings, welcome to CUED for the next four years, which I hope will be both an enjoyableand a worthwhile experience. To complete the C U E D course successfully, you will need tocomplete a minimum of 8 weeks Industrial Experience and this guide covers what you needto know about this element of the course.

The vast majority of students gain a great deal of satisfaction from their placements,hopefully this will be the case for you.

For some students the Industrial Experience can be one of the most significant parts of theC.U.E.D. course. Its an opportunity to put some of the theory that you have learnt on the

course into some context. Engineering students can test out their personal capabilities andstart to formulate their career plans based on first hand experience. Engineers work in apractical environment, and as well as grasping the technical elements of any problem,consideration has to be given to managing people, equipment, materials, time, safety andcost.

Coping with the logistics of obtaining the experience will also test your Project ManagementSkills. Initially you will have to assess your priorities, present yourself and develop strategiesto maximise your opportunities. All this takes place against the background of the marketplace, where you will be competing for limited opportunities against your colleagues andstudents from other Universities in the UK and increasingly from overseas. There are few, ifany these days, places reserved exclusively for Cambridge students.

This element of the course is like no other as you have to take full responsibility devisingyour strategy and executing it. There is no set timetable, and no certitude as to the outcomeof your plans. Like an engineering company tendering for a bid, some you win and some youlose. However there are certain strategies that you might adopt to increase your chancesand reduce your dependency on good fortune. The aim of this book is to give you somestrategies and for you to make them work.

My role is to support and guide you in a number of ways throughout the year, includingproviding information, or giving you advice so that you find one or a number of paths thatlead you to your destination. I also try to help you to avoid the pitfalls and hazards that blockyour way. Also I maintain contact with employers in order to generate sufficient

opportunities for you.

look f

Cambridge students have a great number of strengths andadvantages which can be exploited. However it is one thing having awinning hand of cards, it is another knowing when and how to playthem. Working in tandem, we will hopefully be able to carve outenough suitable openings for you to find a period of work that meetsC U E Ds requirements as well as you own aspirations.

I orward to making your acquaintance.

Igor WOWK September 2009


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4

SECTION 2

DEFINITIONS

1. Duration:

C.U.E.D make it obligatory that its Engineering graduates undergo a period of IndustrialExperience prior to graduation.

For those intending to graduate from the Department having read Engineering Part 1B, theminimum Industrial Experience requirement is 4 WEEKS.

If you stay on to read Part 2 Engineering, or Manufacturing Engineering, a further 4 WEEKS isrequired to enable the student to graduate successfully at the end of Year 3.

Therefore, students who spend the entire three years period following the Engineering,Manufacturing Tripos leading to the B.A. with Honours, will require 8 WEEKS IN TOTAL .

It is strongly recommended that undergraduates complete all 8 weeks during their first longsummer vacation. In practice, most undergraduates achieve this aim.

2. Deadlines:

Engineering Part 1B: Written and signed confirmation must be provided which clearly indicatesyou have completed a minimum of at least 4 weeks of relevant Industrial Experience before thePart 1B examinations at the end of the Easter term. A deadline is set in mid February during Part1B, which allows time over the Easter vacation to complete the necessary experience should thework presented for credit prove to be invalid.

Part 2 Engineering or Manufacturing Engineering:As for Part 1B except the deadline is the examiners meeting at the end of Easter term & prior toyou obtaining your B.A. with Honours.

3. Deferrals:

They are only allowed on grounds of ill health. Without the successful completion of the necessaryIndustrial Experience, the Faculty rules state that graduation with Honours from the relevant partof the course is not possible.

4. Migrants from other Tripos:

If you migrate to CUED after the First Year (Part 1A), you are required to complete the full eightweeks of the Requirements as outlined above.

If you migrate to CUED from another Department to read Part 2 Engineering, having completedyour Part 1B studies elsewhere, you are only required to complete 4 WEEKS relevant IndustrialExperience in order to graduate.

The work can be relevant to any of the Engineering disciplines covered in the ENTIRE B.A.Engineering course, regardless of whether it is chosen as a specialist subject in Year 3/4.

5. Definition of Acceptability:

The Faculty Board provide a definition, which is reproduced overleaf, together with some moredetailed guidelines to help you interpret the statement.

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5

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGEDepartment of Engineering

Industrial Experience Requirement:

Engineering & Manufacturing Engineering Tripos

To obtain honours in Part IB of the Engineering Tripos a candidate must satisfy theExaminers that he or she has such workshop or equivalent experience as shall bedetermined by the Faculty Board of Engineering, and to obtain honours in Part IIA of theEngineering Tripos, Part I in the Manufacturing Engineering Tripos a candidate must satisfythe Examiners that he or she has such industrial or equivalent experience as shall bedetermined by the Faculty Board.

The Faculty Board have approved the following requirements:

1. Engineering Tripos Part IB: Four weeks of relevant industrial experience.

2. Engineering Tripos Part IIA, Manufacturing Engineering Tripos Part 1,

Four additionalweeks of relevant industrial experience or, for a student who has not been acandidate for Part IB of the Engineering Tripos, four weeks of relevant industrial experience.

Relevant industrial experience is defined as any work of an engineering nature involvingother people in an engineering environment, except where the work is only computerprogramming of a routine nature. It may involve design, development, manufacturing,

construction or research work, provided that this includes interaction with the work of otherson an engineering subject.

1. Practical training in the use of tools in an engineering training workshop will beacceptable for one period of four weeks of relevant industrial experience whether for Part IBor for the Engineering Tripos Part IIA/Manufacturing Engineering Tripos Part 1 but not forboth the required periods.

2. Computer programming of a routine nature means programming which uses onlystandard spreadsheets or other similar standard software. The development of newprograms for engineering analysis is not considered to be routine programming.

3. Any dispute concerning the interpretation of these requirements will be determined byappeal to the Head of the Department of Engineering whose decision will be final.

Confirmation is required from an authorised officer of the company or institution that theindustrial experience has been obtained. This should preferably be in the form of a signedup logbook, though a letter from the company would suffice. This written confirmation of thework should be presented by the candidate to Mr Igor Wowk, the Industrial ExperienceCoordinator, who can also supply pro-forma logbooks. Mr Wowk has an office on the thirdfloor of the Baker Building, Room BC3-07. He may be contacted on 01223 332778 for anappointment and he holds a comprehensive database of suitable companies which may beaccessed at any time in working hours. He is also available via electronic mail:[email protected].

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6

RECOMMENDED TYPES OF ACTIVITY SUITABLE FOR

C.U.E.D. INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTSRESEARCH DESIGN

gathering of existing knowledge

extending knowledge throughexperimentation

examining existing practices andimproving them

outline, sketch, plan, for futureproduct

production of arrangement or layout

production of plans and drawings tobe used in manufacturing constructionprocesses

creation of systems

calculation of costs

choice of materials

DEVELOPMENT MANUFACTURING

taking plans and putting them intopractice working in production to improveprocedures

commissioning of plant and procedures

optimisation of productive capacity

test of prototypes and analysis of results

acquisition of materials

planning of production schedules

assembly manufacture

control and automation

maintenance and repair of machineryand equipment

quality control and testing ofcomponents and manufacturedproducts

AFTER SALES & TECHNICAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

technical support to customers

servicing and repair

Integration of engineering functions

Gathering and Management of datafor analysis and feedback.

Software control of engineeringfunctions

Management of systems

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TYPES OF INDUSTRY

ACCEPTABLE INDUSTRIES FOR INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE:

Bio medical & Bio engineering Manufacturing - Production

Chemical Engineering Material production

Civil and Structural Mechanical

Electrical Software and Hardware

Electronics Telecommunications

Energy production and distribution Transport

INDUSTRIES NOT RELEVANT

Pharmaceuticals, except engineering functions

Building of houses and small units

Furniture making and woodworking industries

Agriculture, except machinery manufacture and repair

Computer software houses who operate in commercial/financial sector

RELEVANCY

Each year a number of students arrive at the University having completed someprevious employment experience, but they decide that the work they have done isnot suitable for CUED requirements. However it is the function of the IndustrialPlacement Co-ordinator to make that judgement. So, if you are in any doubt, consultIgor WOWK and he will tell you if the work that you have completed will meet CUEDrequirements and then he will tell you what you need to do to complete theverification process.

Similarly, if you obtain an offer of a placement and you re unsure it meets the criteria,consult the Industrial Placement Co-ordinator

More details about the confirmation procedure are available on Page 24


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SECTION 3

BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY :

Finding a suitable Industrial Experience placement can be compared to catching a fish. Youneed to make sure that you have the right equipment, you need to know where the bestplaces are to catch something and you need patience and persistence, and to be able tomodify your approach according to the prevailing conditions.

CUED specifies the type of fish permissible, and its virtuallyanything in the whole sea of engineering opportunities. Howeverwhatever you are seeking to land, the procedures and protocols are

pretty much the same. If you have not done this kind of thing before,if you are wise, you would seek advice and guidance from thosewho have ( e.g. your seniors in College) or I would hope from yourresident experts based in the Industrial Experience team.

Whilst the enthusiasm and independence of youth has merit, it ismore productive when combined with the wisdom of experience.

If you are going to be a professional engineer or a professional anything you will needto be able to understand the requirements of what you need to do assess theresources available to you make plans review them assess their effectiveness and

make changes and adjustments if necessary.

One important element that many students overlook is keeping track of their efforts. To thisend I provide a simple but extremely useful tool later in the guide in the form of a grid. Notonly will the grid help you keep track, it will help me see any patterns and help me to gaugeif your plans need adjusting. Frequently I will ask you throughout the year the followingquestion, What is the state of play? When students ask me for help I need to be able tosee instantly what you have done so far and how we can move forward. When you areinvolved in Projects, either managing them or as part of a team, the co-ordinator, your bossor the client/customer will want to know, Whats going on? and so will your team members.

Contingency plans are essential, in case Plan A is not working, if your main plan might notwork out, therefore you need to devise some alterative strategies to cover that possibility.Ideally you need to run more than one plan simultaneously. Some people think this might bea waste of time, however personally I am a great believer in Sods Law, basically if you relyon just one plan chances are it will fail, if you have made two probably they will both work.Which situation would you rather be in?

The following pages will guide you through the process outlined in the highlighted boxabove.


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SECTION 4

INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE SEEKERS ALMANAC

October: Season of mist and mellow fruitfulness, a time for contemplation as we enter the dark winter

months. Sow in autumn for blooms in spring, the more you prepare, the better the results.

On arrival at C U E D, getting to grips with coursework is your main priority, but throughout the yearyou will need to balance the various commitments of your time. An astute investment now may saveyou having to spend more time at a later stage and reduce a lot of potential anxiety. The amountneeded is not huge, just 3 - 4 hours initially to sort out your c.v./letter, followed by an hour a weeksearching databases or responding to offers. The vacations are an oasis of time, drink your fill whenyou have the chance, there might not be another water hole for weeks.

November: Ideally your contemplation will ferment like apples into cider, resulting in a plan of actionthat should include contingencies. Normally that plan should include:

A workable, realistic strategy, focussed on a sector, type or geographical grouping of potentialemployers, leading to a list of identifiable contacts.

Preparation of a message or letter to be sent by post or e-mail.

Networking activities to supplement your list or create a fallback plan.

An attempt to seek advice on the feasibility of your plans.

Readiness and flexibility to respond to any available opportunities.

December/January time for recuperation and reflection as well as an opportunity to utilise those longdark evenings to advance the above operation by

Making up any lost time on the above.

Following up any approaches with reminders or making personal contacts.

More networking in your local community.

Hopefully, responding to offers.

February/March If you feel that your main plan has not produced the desired response, it may be timeto review or refresh your approach or extend it. You may have to compromise on some of yourideas, by widening your scope in terms of type, sector and the geographical locations that you areprepared to consider. It is better to do this sooner than at the last minute. Seek advice, as to why yourplan is not working, there might be a reason that you cannot see. It is not a sign of weakness to seekadvice, indeed, its the opposite.

April/Easter Pursue more actively some of those who you really want to work with.

Try a more direct approach via telephone or maybe a visit, use your network of contacts.

Make those tough decisions re compromising your ideas now, and adjust your plans accordingly,don't wait until you are desperate.

May/June. If you are still looking, this is when you regret that you did not put in the effort earlier, withexams pressing down as well as training for the "bumps", you could do without having to seek outwork experience. Streamlining your application procedures and being alert to opportunities that areavailable and that are presented to you will help. Decisiveness, & flexibility are the key words at thisstage.

This is only a suggested timetable. The ability to create, recognise and seize opportunities is the keyto a successful pursuit of your goal. Your creativity, self reliance and motivation will be tested.However if you don't do anything, nothing much will happen.

Remember that procrastination is the thief of time.

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10

PLANNING A STRATEGY

Before you launch into sending off large numbers of messages, there are a number

of things you should consider first.

YOURSELF Many students choose the Cambridge course because it allowsthem to defer making specific career choices until the third year. Given thechangeable nature of the economy and increased flexibility required withinjobs, our students can be at an advantage compared to students on singlesubject courses.

However, when it comes to applying for work experience many students areat a loss as to how to start whittling down the huge number of potentialcompanies to a manageable number.

Please find below a number of criteria you may find useful.

LOCATION: Most students prefer to be near their home for convenience and costpurposes, however a small number every year prefer to be away from home. Themost common location is Cambridge, due to the ease of obtaining accommodationand local company links with the Department. In general, companies will preferstudents who can reside near them, as they know that there will be fewaccommodation problems. It is also more economic for students.

SIZE: There are advantages to working with larger companies, they tend to offer

more placements and they have a wider range of opportunities. Conversely thecompetition is greater, they tend to establish links with specialist courses and theyhave rigid, inflexible recruitment policies for student placements, and often preferundergraduates in the penultimate year of the course.

Smaller companies can often offer a more interesting experience to the first yearstudent as their size allows you to gain familiarity with the workforce more quicklyand you will be involved in a greater range of activities. Most importantly you canoften negotiate directly with key people rather than via the Administrative structuresthat large companies often operate.

SECTOR: You may decide to target a certain sector, such as Aerospace orAutomotive. Invariably these two are the most popular choices, but they do notnecessarily always offer the greatest number of opportunities for vacation work.

You may decide on a sector because you think it will be your eventual career choice.On the other hand, you would be well advised to check the economic buoyancy of asector and this may well be a better indicator regarding the possibility of finding work.

Certain industries tend to be grouped in certain areas for geographical or historicreasons.

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TYPE OF WORK: Some students may wish to experience practical work, as thisforms a very limited part of the course at CUED. Learning to operate machines,making things and maintaining them are all useful ways of acquiring skills, as well asunderstanding how the design, manufacture and durability of products interrelate.

These are just 4 examples, but when attempting to sift any database you will need tobe able to select organisations which will be open to your requirements, and youmay well have your own criteria.


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SECTION 5

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

IN THE DEPARTMENT

"On-Line" Databases:

C.U.E.D. maintains a database available EXCLUSIVELY to CAMBRIDGE STUDENTS,ANYWHERE However you will require your Raven Password to operate the system. Thedatabase contains details of companies that have said they are willing to take students or theyhave done so in the past. You can send in speculative applications to the contacts given orthere may be specific opportunities for you to apply to. In both cases you may well becompeting with students from other Engineering courses, so follow the instructions carefullyand if in doubt, apply early.

http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/teaching/indexp/choice.html

World Wide Web;

Many DATABASES containing company information on the WORLD WIDE WEB. On thisweb page they are grouped by sector and other classifications.

http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/teaching/indexp/databases.html

Notice boards:

Details of vacancies are posted on my main Notice board situated in the Inglis Ground FloorCorridor opposite the Drinks and Food Dispensing Machines.

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY CAREERS SERVICE ( C U C S )

Situated in Stuart House, Mill Lane, Cambridge it is a mine of employer information.

They have their own web site: http://www.careers.cam.ac.uk/

They have a database of 4000 companies, as well as "GRADLINK" a database of Ex-Cambridge students currently working in companies willing to act as advisers.

They have a summer vacation work service, available "on-line". You can register a searchand they will automatically send you information which match your criteria. Manyemployers send their offers direct to CUCS

Company Presentations which take place throughout the Michaelmas and Lent termscan

be useful for making contacts as is the MICHAELMAS CAREERS FAIR .

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SECTION 6

APPROACHING EM

PLOYERS & SELF PRESENTATION

EY FACTORSK

--

-

- resent your personal details, academic record, currenttudies, any sk urable personal

achievements and lastly hobbies and interests.

RESENTATION

targeted approach: try and identify named personnel wherever possible.networking; if you have friends or relatives who can vouch for you do not bereluctant to use them.clarity: make sure your letter states clearly who you are, what you want, when youwant it, why they should take you and how they can contact you.ontent: your CV should pc

s ills and abilities that you have, any meas

P

h, which means employersill be expecting includingomposing mes

t relevant details about yourself.

-

is important that you present the type of information that allows the potential employer toyou or not. Below is a

- Rel

Expectations of Cambridge students are exceptionally higw that everything that you do to be of the highest quality,

sages and your c.v. It is essential to:c

- put forward the mosstructure and organise your effort coherently so that it is easy to read.

Itbe able to make a decision as to whether to pursue his/her interest inlist of some of the things they would like to know:-

- Intelligence - you should have no problem demonstrating this.

iability - can you turn up and do a days work consistently?

- Knowledge - in particular of engineering related matters.

- Skills - any practical or technical skills that would be useful to the EMPLOYER.

Ability to learn quickly & to work with the minimum of supervision.-

- ealing with people outside the organisation i.e. public/customers.

This is not an exhaustive list and the order of priority will vary according to the individualemployer's requirements for the job in hand. However, you should try and get across thisinformation in some form or another in your CV and letter.

- Teamwork very probably you will be working with others.

D

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14

OTHER FACTORS

SSUMPTIONSA The biggest one is that busy employers are familiar with theourse content of the CUED degree, or if they are not, they have the time to go and

will be surprised by the level of ignorance, but given the number ofes available in Engineering, you should not be. In all cases,

ELEV

c

look it up. Youniversity coursU

assume the employer knows NOTHING about CUED courses.

R ANCY Many CV's that are presented include much information which is oflittle or no use to employers. You may be quite proud of the fact that you are in three

nt orchestras or have represented your school, college etc atdiffere a sport, however,

activel

IL

for the purposes of finding a summer vacation job it is sufficient to know that youy pursue interests other than engineering.

LEVEL OF DETA One of the most frequent mistakes is to use too much spacesults and virtually nothing on your current studies. Students in the

STRUC

on your GCSE repast have even omitted to mention they are studying Engineering!

TURE Information should always be presented in reverse chronologicalorder i.e. the things you have done most recently at the top and in greater detail.

w than what you were doingEmployers are more interested in what you are doing no4/5 years ago.

HEADINGS Make good use of these in your CV to organise your presentation.

PARAGRAPHS Should always be avoided in CV's, bullet points should be used,isely.and are useful as they force you to distil your thoughts more precREFERENCES For vacation work, it is sufficient to state you can supply them if

ecessary.

VERALL

nO Your CV should resemble a photograph, and be a picture in words of

r and in a CV. Iave p

vious efforts toive yo

e the draft letter, please try and use some imagination and variation from thisxample as Employers have remarked how similar they look when they haveceived a batch of letters. Above all, avoid copying the sentences verbatim.

yourself.

There are some basic points that you need to get across in a letteh rovided some annotated examples.

I have written a letter but avoided drafting a CV and used some preu an idea of the standard required, with my comments annotated. If youg

require consultation regarding the drafting of your letter of CV please do not hesitateto visit me, preferably by appointment.

Rere

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15

Your Own full

ostal address

ith Postcode

at

anufacturing

tivities and would be interested in a proposition involving practical or technical work in those areas.

have a strong interest in Electronics and during my lecture course I have covered some of the basic

also

ory experiments,

pervision. Additionally, in my spare time I undertake some relevant hobbies (Mention

em).

my candidature interests you and if you require further details I can be contacted by post

uring term and by telephone during the vacation period or via e-mail during term time.

B. Rubble

P

W

Address of the Organisation that

You are writing to

Date:

Dear Mr Bossman/woman,

y name is Barney Rubble, & I am in the first year of my undergraduate studies reading EngineeringM

Knowledge College, Cambridge. I am writing to ask you if there is any possibility of vacation work

within your organisation during the summer months of 2009. I am available to start work on the 1st July.

I am interested in most aspects of work including research, design, development and m

ac

However any work that would develop my practical understanding of my subject, develop my skills, and

allow me to make a more informed decision about my future course options and consequent career

choices would be useful to me.

I

principles, undertaken some experiments, completed a short project on microprocessors. I have

cquired some basic design skills and I have some familiarity with software engineering design, ina

particular "C ++" which is part of our coursework.

The course work includes development of our analytical skills by means of laborat

problem solving activities and the development of presentation skills. Through my studies and other

activities I have developed the ability to manage my own time effectively & work to deadlines with the

minimum of su

th

I hope that

d

I am available to visit your premises on a certain date.

I hope my application is of interest to you & I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Mr

Para

en

. No. 1 should say:-

who you are& what you want

wh you are available

Para. No. 2 should state:-

The areas of work that interest you,BUT keep your options open

Why you want the job

Para.

What YOU

Nos. 3/4 tells the employer Close with an invitation to contact you &

suggest the best means of doing that.

N.B.

have to offer THEM

Which of your skills, knowledgeand attitudes might be useful to

them.

There is no mention of the C.U.E.D.Requirements. Try & give the impression

that it's YOU who wants the job.

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London,

4SE

8

Engineering. I would like the opportunity to enhance my own

mics and Linear and Digital Systems. There are

my time, balancing the academic workload with the extra-curricular activities such as sports.

quire any further details I can be contacted by

hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Mr B. Rubble.

22 Acacia Avenue,

NW1

e

This is an accompanying

composed by one of ou

letter

r First Year

Engineering students, & is a very good

effort.

Date: 22nd September 200

Acm

Tobacco Road,

Engineering Co.

Bluesville,Kent

BL21 2NH

Dear Mr/Ms. Contact-person,

My name is Barney Rubble. I am in the first year of my undergraduate studies reading Engineering atPeterhouse, Cambridge University. I am writing to inquire whether there is any prospect of vacation

work within your organisation during the summer months of 2008. I am available to start work on the

1st

July.

I am interested in a position involving practical or technical work in the design, development and

manufacturing areas of Acme

experience and practical understanding of engineering techniques, which will allow me to make a

more informed decision about my course options and the direction of my ensuing career.

At present, the course syllabus covers a broad range of engineering material; we are taught the basics

of Materials, Structural Mechanics, Thermodyna

several experiments associated with each module, and this provides us with a deeper insight into the

practical applications of the theory. Further analytical skills such as problem solving (such as software

design) and presentation skills are developed through coursework.

Within the limited time frame of the academic terms, I have developed the ability to successfully

manage

This has been enhanced by my ability to work to deadlines and under pressure with the minimum of

supervision. With the emphasis on teamwork in many of the projects undertaken in our studies, I have

also improved my capacity for working in groups to solve problems.

I hope that my application interests you, and if you re

post during term-time, or alternatively by telephone during the vacation period on ( .)

I look forward toYours sincerely, if you know the

person you are writing to:

Yours faithfully, if you put Dear

Sir or Mada

m

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17

UR NAME

YO HERE

PERSONAL DETAILS

Nationalit British Date o 2

Telephone No. 01284 456789

ddress The Old Vicarage, Haworth, West Yorks. BR26 3EN

f Birth: 10th

December 197y

A

EDUCATION

1997 - 2001 Cambridge College, University of Cambridge, reading Engineering to

l.

ourse Content:

Masters Leve

1st

Year C Mechanics, Structural Mechanics and Materials.

Thermodynamics and Linear Systems & Vibrations.

atical Methods and Dimensional Analysis.

Drawing, including projection theory and CAD.

Mathem

Digital and Analogue Circuits.

Programming in C and Structural Design Course.

1991 - 1996 St Bede's School: 4 'A' levels - Maths (A), Physics (A), Chemistry (A), Biology. (A)

2 AS levels - Further Maths (A), Geography (A)

10 GCSEs A grade.

WORK HISTORY

Aug. - Sept. 1997 Sales Associate for Reebok outlet, Long Island, New York

Note the use of:

Bullet Points Headings Shading

Bold Type

Underlining Indentation

Developed interpersonal skills with customer relations. Implemented the marketing strategy of adjusting

the floor plan so that the accessories were more prominently displayed to increase sales. I also gained

many insights into manager - staff relations and working practices.

July - Nov. 1996 Data Entry and Systems Operator with the U.S. Embassy in Vienna

I was a part of a team set up to initiate a new encrypted card access system for the Embassy. This

involved programming the cards with different codes defining the level of entry restrictions. Under my

own initiative I set up a more efficient spreadsheet accounting system to monitor financial records.

POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY

1996 - Held Top Secret clearance while working at the U.S. Embassy.

1995 - Was group leader for the Duke of Edinburghs Gold Award Scheme Expedition.

LANGUAGE & COMPUTING SKILLS

Basic French and German skills.

ft Word, Excel and Access Extensive knowledge of Microso

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Completed the Duke of Edinburghs Gold Award Scheme.

Playing rugby and rowing in the Col

I enjoy travelling, and spent 14 months abroad.

lege 1st

teams.

REFERENCES

Available On Request

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A photo is always a useful

addition! Make sure it

photocopies clearl

it first

y. Test

!Bill BLOGGSPersonal Details

DOB 16 September 1978 Nationality: British

niversity:U


18

CollegeGirton e-mail: [email protected]

Cambridge mobile no. 0******7

CB3 OJG

Home: 1, Seaview Road, Tel. no. 0*********

Bolton by Bowland,

Yorks.

YO6 4JP

Education

997-20011 B. A. /M. Eng. (Hons.) Engineering

1st year subjects:

Mech materials.s and vibrations.

od

El D

C++ programming.

1995-9

anics, Structural mechanics and

Thermodynamics, linear system

Mathematical meth s, and dimensional analysis.Digital and analogue electronics, including microprocessors

This is a sampl

students, later given the Word

"treatment" to increase the impact.

e C.V. originally

compiled by one of our First Year

ectromagnetics and information processing.

rawing including projection theory and CAD.

Product and structural design.

7 Redhead College, Bacup, Lancs.,.

A-levels: Maths- A, Physics- A, Further Maths- A, General Studies- B.

1990-95 Bedlam High School, Ramsbottom, Lancs.

GCSEs: 12 grade A-B including 10 grade A.

Projects

Summer 1996 Headstart Course at Surrey University:

in all areas of engineering. Group

project and presentation in Gait Analysis.

A 1 week course of lectures and experiments

1995-96 Engineering Education Scheme:

Working with Dresser Roots Holmes to design a new test rig,, concluding with areport and presentation.

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19

Note the use of :

1.Bullet Points & Highlighting

old & Borders

Bill BLOGGS

If you

es

they may get separated.

are going to use two

, make sure you put your

2. Underlining, B

3.Different sized fonts

pag

name on the second page, as

Wor Experiencek

Sept.2001 ssistan nstruct : Buck n Hous Outdoo vity Centre, Yorkshire Dales.

Include why its

relevant, e.g.

ing with

customers

Summer 2005 Outdoor activities instructor: Camp Windermere, Ambleside.

July 2004 Waiter: Pizza Hut, Wonderlandwork

June 2003 One week work shadowing at David Brown Engineering, Wonderland.

A t i or de e r Acti

Interests

Sports:

Outdoor activities: Water sports, pthe

having completed an expedition in Bavaria in September.

f icer Cadet in the Cambridge University Air Squadron.

ir Force Sixth form Scholarship.

holarship.

s with

tour Canada in the near future.

otholing, walking, climbing.

Bogcastle Life saving Club. Life saving: Current member of Community Sports Leader Award.

Duke of Edinburgh Award:

Achieved Bronze and Silver. Working towards Gold,

FRA

:

O f

Royal A Royal Air Force Flying Sc Air Training Corps: Gained the rank of Sergeant in 2 years; passed all exam

distinction.

Other:

Very keen traveller, with an ambition to

REFEREES:Available upon request.

Note also the use

of numbered pages

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20

PERSONAL DETAILS

Valhalla, Date of Birth : 16th. July, 1979.Paradise Road, Email : [email protected]

**

Note the use of headings to separate

the information into easily identifiable

der tocategories, enabling the rea

scan the document quickly.

Address : k

Crinkley Bottom, Telephone : 0********

Surrey

BD5 1ZV

EDUCATION

1997 - Present BA ( Hons ) Engineering.

Jesus College, Cambridge University.

Courses currently studying so far :

Mechanics Linear Systems Structures

lectrical Thermodynamics Materials Mathematics

Course Work

Electronics

E

p

Note the use of

RE Com Design: Drawing Skills

Electronic Can operate CRO., Multimeter

1995 - 1997

uting: C++, Microprocessor Assembler, CAD ( ME2 ) VERSE

CHRONOLOGICAL

order.

Note the emphasis on

Avoid using paragraphsand use bullets points.

Structural Project, Product design,

Instrumentation:

G.C.E. A-Levels at My School, Toytown.

Maths (A), Physics (A), Electronics (A).

1993 - 1995

the most RECENT

achievements

9 G.C.S.E.s at St Johns High School, Bluesville.Obtained A-C Grades.

EMPLO

Summer 1996

YMENT

2 Weeks of work experience at Business Telecommunication Systems.

Worked in Quality Assurance and Hardware Engineering departments.

Throughout this period I learned more about the workings of Computers in

general. I was also involved in the repair of several monitors and

ummer 1994

keyboards.

S 3 Weeks of work experience at Biggles Aviation as a Receptionist.

During this period I developed my communication skills with members

of the public.

INTERESTS I enjoy playing Basketball, Chess and Tennis. Other interests

i g the Internet.nclude Computer programming and explorin

REFEREES Mr. Man-in-Black

St Johns High School,

Bluesville

Mr. Danson,

oSt J hns Scout Brigade

Bluesville.

It's always useful to indicate you

have done SOME work, even if it is

not directly relevant.

Note the relatively low proportion of

space spent on hobbies etc. Employers are

more interested in relevant skills.

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21

Use this grid to record and keep track of your approaches to employers

download further copies and insert them from:

htt p:/ / www .eng.cam.ac.uk/ teaching/ indexp/ Grid.pdf

You can

Alternatively photocopy this page.

NAME OF

ORGANISATION

LOCATION CONTACT TELEPHONE

NUMBER

DATE

SENT

RESPONSE

YES/NO?

FOLLOW UP

ACTION TO BE

TAKEN

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22

NAME OF

ORGANISATION

LOCATION CONTACT TELEPHONE

NUMBER

DATE

SENT

RESPONSE

YES/NO?

FOLLOW UP

ACTION TO BE

TAKEN

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23

INTERVIEWS

al obstacle y will have surmoun s the INT VIEW

ese exchang have m y variatio and are conducted with varying degrees ofofessionalism Like any ther skill, interviewing, as well as being interviewed, canlearnt. In th guide I c offer you me basic vice o the follow g points.

TITUDE o many ople view interviewsployer, with modicum f confide e and the ability to ask your own questions

u can turn it o an exch nge of info ation abo t each her.

EPARATIO If you n demon ate an in rest in hat the ganisation ising, rather th simply p t forward r own needs you will raise your standing asll as gaining better id of how y might fit in. Information about companies issy to obtain, ply ring em up or ite to them and ask them to send you copiestheir annua report, s s literatu etc. O erwise ry the C eers Serviceployers Libr , Library World Wide Web etc.

TICIPATION It is no difficult to nticipate the type of questions you will beked. The AG AS book "Applicat s & Interviews" has a checklist. The difficultrt is working t some c ent answ .

N THE DAY Some golden rules, which may appear glaringly obvious, but arequently brok .

make sure you arrive at the venue 15 minutes before

Assuming your CV is a roaring success and you are invited to visit the company, thefin ou to t i ER .

Th es.

ano

nsprbe is an so ad n inAT To

ape

o

ncas a potential inquisition by the

emyo int a rm u otPR N

ancau

stryou

te w ordowe a

simeath

ouwrea

of lary

ale re th t arEmAN t aas C

ouletog

ionerspa

Ofre en

- you are due to bequestioned, check transport, location etc beforehand.

smile and be polite to everyon- e, shake ha s firm and ma ain good eye

contact.

sit comfortably in your seat, try and relax as much as possible.

show an interest in them, flattery is the best possible route to success, but donot overdo it.

talk about yourself confidently, but not arrogantly.

make sure it is made clear when, and by what means, you will receive theresults of the interview.

Further notes and information

nd ly int

-

-

-

-

http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/teaching/indexp/Intvsuccess.pdf

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24

USTRIAL EXPERIENCE ETIQUETTE - CODE OF CONDUCTIND

fferalthoughyoumaycontinuetoreceive

ormoreofthem,lettherejectedemployerknow

wasnothingwrongwiththeiroffer,howeveryou

otherstudentssimilartoyourselfwillingtostandin.Pleaseforwardtheircontact

7. shortnoticeorwithoutany

noticeandnotcompletingtheagreedperiodareforbiddenandhaveseriousconsequences.

8.

o Usuallywelosetheplaceforthatparticularyearandforfutureplacementsforever.

o Youwill

be

blocked

from

receiving

CUED

circulars

re

summer

vacation

opportunities

or

o Ifaswitchofemployersisattemptedthefactswillbeforwardedtothesecondemployeritchiftheplacementiswithanemployerwithwhom

secondemployerhasbeenaccessedviatheCUED

st

99.9%ofourstudentsconductthemselvesimpeccably,whichisvital,asemployersexpectationsof

CUEDstudentsarehigh,andyourownexpectationsofyourselfoughttomatchthem.Dealwithother

peopleas

you

would

expect

to

be

dealt

with

yourself

and

you

will

not

go

far

wrong.

Thisisasetofguidelinesthatweexpectourstudentstoadheretowhenapproachingemployersfor

internships/placements.

1. Alwaysrespondtocorrespondencestraightaway,eitherbytelephone,postoremail.Weknowthatnot

all

companies

respond

to

you,

but

why

be

rude

to

the

ones

that

have

bothered?

2. Ifyoureceiveanoffer,alwaysacknowledgeit.

3. Ifyouwishtodelayyourfinalanswer,checkfirstifthisisacceptableandobtainadeadlineforyour

decision.Youmaywishtoreceiveafewoffersbeforeyoumakeupyourmind,howeverpleasebe

awarethatsomestudentsinthepasthavefoundthatanofferhasbeenwithdrawnbecausethe

studentshavetakensolongtorespond.

4. Ifyoureceiveanoffer,andyouhaveacceptediteitherverballyorinwriting,sticktoyouragreement.

ThisappliesespeciallytoopportunitieswhereyouhavebeenputforwardbyCUEDwithyour

approval,andifyoumakeuseoftheCUEDsystempleasegiveprioritytoanyoffermadeviaaCUED

introduction.

If

you

wish

to

withdraw

before

an

offer

is

made

or

refuse

an

offer,

at

least

give

plenty

of

notice.

5. OnceyouhavereceivedanofferyouwillnotbeputforwarddirectlyforanymorejobsviatheCUEDsystemuntilyouhaveeitheracceptedordeclinedtheo

circulars.Youshouldnotethatweoftenfindoutifoffershavebeenmadefromtheemployersaswell

asfromstudents.

6. Ifyouhavetwooffersandyouwishtodeclineone

assoonaspossible.Youshouldexplainthatthere

receivedanotherwhichyouthinkismoresuitableforyou,ifpossiblegiveareason.Itwouldbereally

helpfulespeciallytoyourfellowstudentsifyousuggestedtotheorganisationthatyouhavespurned,

thatCUEDhave

detailsto

the

Industrial

Placement

office

so

that

we

can

capitalise

on

any

opportunity.

Acceptinganoffer,andbackingoutlater,failingtoturnupforthejobat

ForCUEDandfuturestudentsandtheyareasfollows:

Fortheindividualstudentconcerned.

o ForthestudentIreportthematterimmediatelytotheCollegeDirectorofStudiesinthehopethatsomeformofdisciplinaryactionistaken.

graduateopportunitiesifyouareinthefinalyear.

o YouwillnotbeputforwardasacandidateforanyfuturesummervacationopportunitiesviatheCUEDsystem.

regardingthecircumstancesofanysw

earefamiliarandparticularlyifthew

sy em.

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25

SECTION 7HEALTH AND SAFETY

CUED takes certain steps to ensure your Health and Safety on IndustrialPlacements.

Firstly all students receive a Health and SafetyThe points made in this lecture are equally

briefing on entering the Department.applicable to your Industrial Experience.

Secondly you will receive a logbook which has a detailed checklist for you to folloand the employer will also be asked to assess your Health and Safety awareness.When you are issued your logbook,

w

you will also receive a copy of a letter which

ION 8should be forwarded to your future employer.

SECT

PROVISION OF CONFIRMATION

CONFIRMATION OF INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

In order to qualify for the Industrial experience requirements you will need to provideWRITTEN confirmation of having completedthe work.

e

-

- ny's

-

- ng

This information should be presented to the Industrial Placement Coordinator as

You may present a company logbook or the one issued by the Department, availablfrom the Industrial Placement Coordinator. Whichever method you choose, you mustbe able to demonstrate clearly that you have met the following CUED criteria :

- your work is relevant to the Engineering elements of the course- that it involves interaction with other Engineers- and that it took place in an Engineering environment

The detail must include as a bare minimum:

- you name and Colleger

the dates between which you undertook the work.

a description of your activities, preferably in the context of the compaactivities.

a signature of your supervisor or someone who can verify your work.

points of contact, should we need to query any of the information includiaddress and telephone number.

soon as possible in the Michaelmas term.

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redguide 2009

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