This document provides guidance on cover letters, resume/CV formatting, interview preparation and techniques, and networking. It discusses including key information in a cover letter to convey why the applicant is applying and qualified. It recommends keeping a resume simple with clear formatting and focusing on achievements. Interview preparation tips include researching the company and role, practicing examples of competencies, and preparing for different question types. The importance of networking to build professional relationships is also covered.
Connector Corner: Accelerate revenue generation using UiPath API-centric busi...
C.v&interview preparation
1. CURRICUAM-VITE &INTERVIEW
SKILLS
•DESINGED BY Sunil Kumar
•Research Scholar/ Food Production Faculty
•Institute of Hotel and Tourism Management,
•MAHARSHI DAYANAND UNIVERSITY, ROHTAK
•Haryana- 124001 INDIA Ph. No. 09996000499
•email: skihm86@yahoo.com , balhara86@gmail.com
• linkedin:- in.linkedin.com/in/ihmsunilkumar
•facebook: www.facebook.com/ihmsunilkumar
•webpage: chefsunilkumar.tripod.com
2. CONTENTS
Cover letter
- What is a covering letter
- What you should include
Format of your CV
- Hints and tips for writing a perfect CV
- CV sections
- Before sending out your CV
-
Interview preparation and techniques
Importance of interview preparation
How to prepare for your interview
During the interview
Types of interview questions
Differentiating yourself from the competition
Networking
- Importance of networking / What is networking / Rules of good networking / Building your network / Growing industries
- Goals and objectives of networking / Getting organised
- Follow up
3. WHAT IS A COVER LETTER?
-
Oppor tunity to convey some basic information:
What position you're applying for
Who you are
Why you want the job
What you have to offer
Must convey the above objectives in a single page and tempt the employer with some key
points from your CV
Review company website for job descriptions or search similar employees on linkedIn.
Find out as much as you can about the company and highlight this in your cover letter
If applying via email, you can write your cover letter in the body of an email or as an
attachment; if you're applying by post, include it as a printed letter
When employers take on a new member of staff they're looking for two things:
- Someone who can do the job
- Someone who wants to do the job – your covering letter can help to convey your enthusiasm
4. Role you are applying for
Why you are applying
Why they
should read
on and
interview you
Show you are familiar
with their business
5. Set the
scene
Relevant to
them and their
current business
situation
What you are
interested in
Offer additional
3rd party referees
able to talk about
your capabilities
6. HINTS AND TIPS FOR WRITING A PERFECT CV
Your CV is a tool with one purpose: to win an inter view
Avoid coloured paper or type, fancy fonts, photographs or clever deliver y
approaches
Keep the look simple and make your points clear
Be truthful and don't be afraid to sell your skills
Use the past tense and choose strong action verbs
Avoid speaking about yourself in the third person
Avoid jargon and acronyms that other people might not understand .eg. CRO, TB,
SOX
Tailor your resume for each specific application
Include the company profile of the organisations you have worked for
Make your CV results oriented: give proof to back up your capability statements
(document inc in pack)
7. CV SECTIONS
Personal Information
-
Include your name
Full address
Telephone numbers (day/evening/mobile)
Email address
Qualifications
- List both academic and non-academic qualifications in chronological order, giving grades
- Include 1st time passes, top 10, leaving cert points 450+, detail surrounding your degree thesis if it holds relevance
8. CV SECTIONS
Employment Histor y
-
Beginning with your most recent job, include:
Company name
Your job title
Duration of employment
Reasons for leaving
Ensure you give a brief outline of the company you worked with which will help give more relevance
to the experience you’ve gained
Under each position, briefly outline your responsibilities but place the focus on what you have
achieved in the role - this is where you can dif ferentiate yourself
Do not omit any period of employment or unemployment for whatever reason, as this may prove
awkward at inter view
9. CV SECTIONS
Personal Interests
Listing your interests is impor tant, but do not generalise. For
example, instead of simply saying 'football', you could expand and say
that you have played for a local club for the last four years and are
now Treasur y Of ficer for the club
References
Include a line stating that references are available upon request
Ensure you have at least two referees that have been made aware
and have confirmed they are happy to provide written and perhaps
more impor tantly verbal references
Ensure the referees you use are from your most current work histor y
10. BEFORE SENDING OUT YOUR
CV
Check and Double Check
Before submitting your CV/resume, make sure you check it thoroughly, not
just for spelling and grammar mistakes, but also to make sure that it is a
clear representation of you
Check that the content is relevant to the reader or business you are
targeting, so that it will encourage them to contact you in order to find out
more
Ask a friend to check it, too - someone who works in the industr y in which
you are applying would be par ticularly beneficial
11. IMPORTANCE OF INTERVIEW PREPARATION
Celtic Tiger days of 3% unemployment are gone – currently at 12%
Employers market once again – wish list
Inter view preparation is of ten where people fall down
First impressions last forever, you only get one chance
The more time you put in to prepare, the easier the inter view will be
Whilst your CV opens the door, the inter view keeps it open or closes it quickly
12. HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR INTERVIEW
Research
-
Who are you meeting? Check LinkedIn to read their profiles
Where are you meeting? Transpor t
Company Background – Google
Year established?
Size of business and their locations?
What do they primarily do?
Read last Annual Accounts to familiarise yourself
Press releases on company website
CV knowledge – know your CV inside out
Job description – know what’s entailed inside out and be able to give examples on each
aspect
Practice psychometric testing / technical testing online beforehand
Prepare two questions to ask at the end of the interview
Thank them for their time
Express level of interest
13. HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR INTERVIEW
Presentation
Suit
Directions and transpor tation routes – punctual
Strong handshake
Water
Folder – CV and references
14. DURING THE INTERVIEW
Listen with enthusiasm
Answer with enthusiasm
Have examples to highlight competencies – demonstrate your ability
Have questions ready
-
Department structure
Training – are there any training/development opportunities associated with the role?
3-5 year business plan
I read about your plans to ….. (up to date press release knowledge)
Body language throughout Inter view
Handshake/closure
15. TYPES OF INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Competency based – demonstrate with examples of what you have
done
Give me an example of when you:
Worked as par t of a team
Demonstrated leadership qualities
Worked under pressure
Demonstrated your multitasking abilities
Working with clients or people outside the organisation
Demonstrated ef fective communication skills
Worked on a project from star t to finish and you’re level of
involvement/seniority
Dealt with conflict/resolved issues
For each competency based question… remember STAR to help
formulate your answer:
16. COMPETENCY BASED INTERVIEWS
Adaptability
- Tell me about a time when you changed your priorities to meet others’ expectations
Client focus
- Give an example of how you provided service to a client/stakeholder beyond their
expectations. How did you identify the need? How did you respond?
Communication
- Give an example of a difficult or sensitive situation that required extensive
communication?
Organisational awareness
- Describe the culture of your organisation and give an example of how you work within
this culture to achieve a goal
Problem solving and judgment
- Tell me about a time when you had to identify the underlying causes to a problem
Results orientation
- Tell me about a time when you set and achieved a goal
Teamwork
- Tell me about a time when you worked successfully as a member of a team
17. COMPETENCY BASED INTERVIEWS
Developing others
- Tell me about a time when you coached someone to help them improve their skills or job performance. What did you do?
Innovation
- Describe something you have done that was new and different for your organisation, that improved performance and/or
productivity
Impact and influence
- Describe a time when you went through a series of steps to influence an individual or a group on an important issue
Leadership
- Tell me about a time when you had to lead a group to achieve an objective
Relationship building
- Describe a situation in which you developed an effective win/win relationship with a stakeholder or client. How did you go
about building the relationship?
Self management
- Describe the level of stress in your job and what you do to manage it
- Describe a time when you were in a high pressure situation
18. OTHER TYPES OF INTERVIEW
QUESTIONS
Behavioural – scenario questions to establish behaviour patterns
Role plays
Case study
Establishing analytical / problem solving / operational / time management
/ super visor y experience
Technical – demonstrate level of technical ability throughout work experience
Accounting and IT
Check what systems / procedures they use and prepare examples
19. DIFFERENTIATING YOURSELF FROM THE COMPETITION
Why do you want this job?
What do you know about the company?
Talk me through your CV?
Why are you looking to leave your current position?
What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
How would your colleagues describe you at work? Outside of work?
How would your boss describe you at work? Outside of work?
20. GETTING THE INTERVIEW = SUITABLE FOR THE JOB!!
Summar y
Know your CV
Know the role and the company
Know how your experience matches the role and give examples
Always have 1-2 questions to ask – if answered – explain they were already answered
Confident hand shake – hold cold glass of water in reception
Be prepared for ever ything – HR related / finance related questions
Always remain professional – smile and be genuinely interested
Never discuss negative experiences with previous employers
Bring references with you and leave copies at the inter view
Practice psychometric testing and technical knowledge testing online
Always set yourself apar t wherever possible
Each inter view is an oppor tunity to impress employers - suitable jobs in the future
If you are keen on the job and you get a good feeling then let the employer know
Be confident – remember, you have a skill set that an organisation needs