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back Evidence of your skills ... Evidence of your skills ... In this section I have given advice from our lecturers on the skills that should be added to your C.V. as well as the ‘personal qualities’ employers look for [so you can impress during those interviews]. I think this is important -one of the Dragon’s Den 'business gurus’ emphasised he could not work with someone he didn’t like! Nik Mahon feels the same “I personally would not hire anyone I couldn't get on with or didn't strike me as a nice person regardless of talent.” Kirsty Veenhuysen believes you should show yourself as confident but not arrogant! Rachel Lamb believes that C.V. and cover letters alone will not be enough and that you should produce a portfolio of work and show drive and enthusium. What personal qualities do you think employers look for? Confidence but not arrogance Good presentation & reliability incl. attention to detail Honesty & ‘Fresh’ but with constructive contributions Enthusiasm & perseverance Sensitive and open/ approachable/ likeable as a person Balanced listener and talker, doer & thinker Ability to learn from your environment/people as well as from your mistakes Ability to work in teams, motivate them as a leader and stand it alone when needed A moral code that can be respected My top tip: Be a “”Realistic visionary “” [Kirsty Veenhuysen] What would impress you most on a C.V.? Relevance of what you studied: e.g. mix of theory and practice; marks gained; specialism or extended piece of work done; practical ‘live’ projects conducted and examples of visuals/ plans produced (i.e. a Portfolio at interview) Relevance of your work experience: e.g. often linked to what the employer is interested in i.e. if Fashion PR work placements in the same field. Any extras– to stand out further – e.g. international experience, language, charity or local society involvement, other personal initiatives such as additional training or hobbies. How active you are and effective are you in these. The breadth of these activities also show up your ability to deal with a wide variety of people. My top tip: all CVs, to have maximum effect, should be tailored to the employer/job application. Presentation (visuals, structure, grammar) is also absolutely key – its your only platform to showcase your ability prior to interviews. Kirsty Veenhuysen (BA PGCE MCIM MCIPR Senior Lecturer/ Chartered Marketer) What personal qualities do you think employers look for? In today’s dynamic market place it is not so much what employers are looking for but what you have to offer them. Proof of drive and determination is a big plus point, evidence of work experience that has lasted longer than a week, a folio of work already undertaken demonstrates a pride in yourself and your abilities and displays your talents in a ‘real’ format. A CV alone just won’t cut it today. [Rachel Lamb] What would impress you most on a C.V.? I pay no real attention to CVs if I’m honest, as these can be ‘embellished’. A novel approach, clear goals and an innovative, creative mind can be demonstrated in many, more practical, ways. [Rachel Lamb] What would impress you most on a C.V.? Something unusual. For a journalist, for example, saying that they were'lucky' people, and that they made their own luck. The problem is that somany people do CV training workshops that they know what they should saybut is it really them? What makes them stand out from the crowd. Theyneed something to make them stand out for the employer. I'm afraid it'snot always the degree classifciation, but work experience...whatever thatmay be. Proper work experience in the industry and a wide range ofinterests. [Tim McClellan] What personal qualities do you think employers look for? Good interpersonal skills, good presentation skills What would impress you most on a C.V.? Obvious knowledge of 2-way symmetrical PR and the importance of research and feedback [Sandra Cain] What personal qualities do you think employers look for? Confidence, enthusiasm, determination, good presentation skills, the ability to multi-task and willingness to work hard and continually develop oneself. What would impress you most on a C.V.? The ability to communicate effectively and concisely in writing would be one of the first things I would be impressed by. I would also be impressed by any work experience gained by the candidate, either voluntary or paid that had been a result of their own efforts and initiative. I suppose overall I would be looking for evidence of initiative and good communication skills. [Debbie Moores] What personal qualities do you think employers look for? Excellent all-round communicator Self-starter Good problem-solver Creative approach to tasks, campaigns Good team player Independence and initiative Calm and confident Curiosity What would impress you most on a C.V.? Evidence of all of the above [Anne Hill] What personal qualities do you think employers look for? Self motivated, Reliable, Ability to be part of the team. Good interpersonal skills What would impress you most on a C.V.? Evidence of experience [Sally Holland] What personal qualities do you think employers look for? Personality is quite important although different personalities are important – getting the right mix within an organisation – you don’t want everyone to be the same. I’d like to be able to think that the person has a good strength of personality – you have to be able to make decisions, and then justify and stick to them. Be able to think yourself into the shoes of someone receiving what you’ve written – how will they receive it, will they understand it all etc etc. It’s about style as much as content. What would impress you most on a C.V.? That the CV shows me that the person applying knows something about the industry and has given some thought to where they might fit into it. For example, I once made a comment that PR was an industry where females were doing well – one of my (female) students mentioned this as a reason why she was wanted to work in PR on an application for work – that she had noticed this and was determined to make her own mark - and got the job. It goes without saying that you should show that you know something about the organization that you are applying to. [Philip Dring] What personal qualities do you think employers look for? Confidence, accuracy, motivation What would impress you most on a C.V.? Brevity & truth [Angela Bell] What personal qualities do you think employers look for? Domain specific talent and ability to do the job, Good interpersonal skillsand the ability to get on with people (I personally would not hire anyone Icouldn't get on with or didn't strike me as a nice person regardless oftalent). What would impress you most on a C.V.? Work experience and a CV which isn't obviously padded out with everythingfrom brownie badges to swimming certificates. Have something different tosay about yourself which won't be on all the other CV's they're looking atthat afternoon. [Nik Mahon]

Evidence of your skills ...

In this section I have given advice from our lecturers on the skills that should be added to your C.V. as well as the ‘personal qualities’ employers look for [so you can impress during those interviews]. I think this is important -one of the Dragon’s Den 'business gurus’ emphasised he could not work with someone he didn’t like!

Nik Mahon feels the same “I personally would not hire anyone I couldn't get on with or didn't strike me as a nice person regardless of talent.”

Kirsty Veenhuysen believes you should show yourself as confident but not arrogant!

Rachel Lamb believes that C.V. and cover letters alone will not be enough and that you should produce a portfolio of work and show drive and enthusium.

What personal qualities do you think employers look for?

Confidence but not arrogance

Good presentation & reliability incl. attention to detail

Honesty & ‘Fresh’ but with constructive contributions

Enthusiasm & perseverance

Sensitive and open/ approachable/ likeable as a person

Balanced listener and talker, doer & thinker

Ability to learn from your environment/people as well as from your mistakes

Ability to work in teams, motivate them as a leader and stand it alone when needed

A moral code that can be respected

My top tip: Be a “”Realistic visionary “”

[Kirsty Veenhuysen]

What would impress you most on a C.V.?

Relevance of what you studied: e.g. mix of theory and practice; marks gained; specialism or extended piece of work done; practical ‘live’ projects conducted and examples of visuals/ plans produced (i.e. a Portfolio at interview)

Relevance of your work experience: e.g. often linked to what the employer is interested in i.e. if Fashion PR work placements in the same field.

Any extras– to stand out further – e.g. international experience, language, charity or local society involvement, other personal initiatives such as additional training or hobbies. How active you are and effective are you in these. The breadth of these activities also show up your ability to deal with a wide variety of people.

My top tip: all CVs, to have maximum effect, should be tailored to the employer/job application. Presentation (visuals, structure, grammar) is also absolutely key – its your only platform to showcase your ability prior to interviews.

Kirsty Veenhuysen (BA PGCE MCIM MCIPR Senior Lecturer/ Chartered Marketer)

What personal qualities do you think employers look for?

In today’s dynamic market place it is not so much what employers are looking for but what you have to offer them. Proof of drive and determination is a big plus point, evidence of work experience that has lasted longer than a week, a folio of work already undertaken demonstrates a pride in yourself and your abilities and displays your talents in a ‘real’ format. A CV alone just won’t cut it today.

[Rachel Lamb]

What would impress you most on a C.V.?

I pay no real attention to CVs if I’m honest, as these can be ‘embellished’. A novel approach, clear goals and an innovative, creative mind can be demonstrated in many, more practical, ways.

[Rachel Lamb]

What would impress you most on a C.V.?

Something unusual. For a journalist, for example, saying that they were'lucky' people, and that they made their own luck. The problem is that somany people do CV training workshops that they know what they should saybut is it really them? What makes them stand out from the crowd. Theyneed something to make them stand out for the employer. I'm afraid it'snot always the degree classifciation, but work experience...whatever thatmay be. Proper work experience in the industry and a wide range ofinterests.

[Tim McClellan]

What personal qualities do you think employers look for?

Good interpersonal skills, good presentation skills

What would impress you most on a C.V.?

Obvious knowledge of 2-way symmetrical PR and the importance of research and feedback

[Sandra Cain]

What personal qualities do you think employers look for?

Confidence, enthusiasm, determination, good presentation skills, the ability to multi-task and willingness to work hard and continually develop oneself.

What would impress you most on a C.V.?

The ability to communicate effectively and concisely in writing would be one of the first things I would be impressed by. I would also be impressed by any work experience gained by the candidate, either voluntary or paid that had been a result of their own efforts and initiative. I suppose overall I would be looking for evidence of initiative and good communication skills.

[Debbie Moores]

What personal qualities do you think employers look for?

Excellent all-round communicator

Self-starter

Good problem-solver

Creative approach to tasks, campaigns

Good team player

Independence and initiative

Calm and confident

Curiosity

What would impress you most on a C.V.?

Evidence of all of the above

[Anne Hill]

What personal qualities do you think employers look for?

Self motivated, Reliable, Ability to be part of the team. Good interpersonal skills

What would impress you most on a C.V.?

Evidence of experience

[Sally Holland]

What personal qualities do you think employers look for?

Personality is quite important although different personalities are important – getting the right mix within an organisation – you don’t want everyone to be the same. I’d like to be able to think that the person has a good strength of personality – you have to be able to make decisions, and then justify and stick to them. Be able to think yourself into the shoes of someone receiving what you’ve written – how will they receive it, will they understand it all etc etc. It’s about style as much as content.

What would impress you most on a C.V.?

That the CV shows me that the person applying knows something about the industry and has given some thought to where they might fit into it. For example, I once made a comment that PR was an industry where females were doing well – one of my (female) students mentioned this as a reason why she was wanted to work in PR on an application for work – that she had noticed this and was determined to make her own mark - and got the job. It goes without saying that you should show that you know something about the organization that you are applying to.
[Philip Dring]

What personal qualities do you think employers look for?

Confidence, accuracy, motivation

What would impress you most on a C.V.?

Brevity & truth

[Angela Bell]

What personal qualities do you think employers look for?

Domain specific talent and ability to do the job, Good interpersonal skillsand the ability to get on with people (I personally would not hire anyone Icouldn't get on with or didn't strike me as a nice person regardless oftalent).

What would impress you most on a C.V.?

Work experience and a CV which isn't obviously padded out with everythingfrom brownie badges to swimming certificates. Have something different tosay about yourself which won't be on all the other CV's they're looking atthat afternoon.

[Nik Mahon]