This week we had an introduction to the module and discussed our CV’s.
We began this week by discussing placements. I was greatful that we were discussing this, as I had been wondering about and walking to learn more about placements and what we should be doing in preparation. We discussed the general structure of finding a placement, the application and interview process, as well as what as what roles might include.
Daviel gave us some advice about searching for placements and what we can do to help. This includes setting up a professional Linkedin page, networking, google, talking to career support and academic staff. Networking is of particular importance in the design industry, so I’ll keep an eye out for upcoming design events that I could attend as an opening to meet other designers and make myself known to the industry.
CVs stand for ‘curriculum vitae’, a latin phrase meaning ‘the course of my life’. CV’s include an overview of who you are, your education, skills and experiences. It acts as a way of presenting yourself to potential employers by outlining key points that present you as a valuable candidate for a role.
We discussed what makes a strong CV and what we can apply to our own to strengthen it. One of the main things to remember for creating our CVs is layout- it should be clear and structured, this is considerate to the person reading it. A CV often acts as a first impression, so a messy CV likely won’t work in your favour. CV’s are professional, more so than your portfolio which can be used to show your personality. I found the example below a nice way of seeing the difference in how CV’s, cover letters and portfolios should be presented.
Furthermore, our CVs should be concise, summarising skills, education and any past experience. A document without clarity will mean an employer will struggle to recognise your qualities as they’er not clearly visible; if an employer has to make an effort to understand what your CV is trying to say, they’re likely less open to considering you for the role.
As your CV should be relatively short (2 pages max), it’s important to ensure that you include the correct content in the minimal amount of space that you have. The structure and content that all CV’s should try to follow is:
1 - Contact details. This is so potential employers will be able to contact you if they decide to move forwards.
2 - A short bio as an overview of yourself and your work, almost like an introductory paragraph.
3 - Your skills.
4 - Work experience, in reverse order.
5 - Education, including your award and grades.
6 - Relevant Awards and Additional Info
7 - References
As I will be creating my own CV in the coming week, I feel that this section of trays lecture will be of most benefit to me. We discussed some top tips for creating a strong CV that will stand out to employers, as it is generally their first impression of you so it’s vital that it stands out and is as successful as possible