CV Writing & Attending an Interview

Anyone who needs to create a CV or whose job entails them reading and interpreting other peoples CVs.

1. A dynamic CV, also known as a curriculum vitae, is a document that provides a comprehensive summary of your education, work experience, skills, and accomplishments. It’s called “dynamic” because it is adaptable and tailored to the specific job or opportunity you are applying for. The contents of a dynamic CV typically include:
   • Personal Information: Your full name, contact details, and possibly a brief personal statement or objective.
   • Education: Information about your academic qualifications, including the names of institutions attended, degrees obtained, and graduation dates.
   • Work Experience: A detailed list of your previous employment, including job titles, company names, dates of employment, and a description of your key responsibilities and achievements in each role.
   • Skills: A section highlighting your relevant skills, such as technical abilities, language proficiency, and any certifications or licenses.
   • Achievements and Accomplishments: A section where you showcase your notable achievements, awards, publications, or projects that demonstrate your qualifications for the position.
   • References: Optionally, you can include references or state that they are available upon request.
2. Writing positive statements in a CV is crucial to create a favorable impression. Here are some examples:
   • Instead of saying “Handled customer complaints,” you can write “Effectively resolved customer inquiries and concerns.”
   • Instead of “Worked on a team,” you can say “Collaborated seamlessly with cross-functional teams to achieve project goals.”
   • Rather than “Performed data entry tasks,” you can state “Maintained meticulous records with high accuracy.”
3. To create a CV using Microsoft Word in British English, follow these steps:

   a. Open Microsoft Word. b. Select “New Document.” c. Go to the “File” menu and click “New” to choose a CV template. d. Fill in your personal information, education, work experience, skills, and achievements in the template. e. Customize the formatting, fonts, and styles as needed. f. Proofread and edit your CV for accuracy and clarity. g. Save the document with an appropriate name and format (e.g., “JohnSmith_CV.docx”).

4. Preparing for an interview involves researching the company, practicing common interview questions, dressing appropriately, and ensuring you have questions to ask the interviewer.
5. Understanding competencies means recognizing the skills, knowledge, and behaviors required for a particular job or role.
6. Conducting experiential questioning using the STAR technique involves answering interview questions by describing the Situation, Task, Action, and Result of past experiences.
7. The importance of Impact and Presence in interviews refers to how your demeanor, confidence, and communication style can influence the interviewer’s perception of you.
8. Effective communication is vital in interviews and the workplace, including verbal and non-verbal communication.
9. Making a presentation involves creating and delivering a structured and engaging speech or visual display to convey information to an audience.
10. The interview is a formal discussion where an employer evaluates a candidate’s qualifications and suitability for a job.
11. The interview process encompasses all the stages from application and initial contact to job offer or rejection.
12. Skills required for a job depend on the specific role but may include technical skills, soft skills like communication and teamwork, and industry-specific knowledge.
13. Questioning involves asking relevant and insightful questions during interviews or meetings to gather information or assess a situation.
14. Practice sessions are valuable for honing interview skills, presentation abilities, and other job-related competencies.

1. Content, Length, and Presentation of a CV: A CV should include your personal information, education, work experience, skills, achievements, and references. In terms of length, aim for 1-2 pages. Ensure proper formatting, clear headings, and a professional appearance.
2. How Best to Describe Education, Work Experience, Interests, and Activities, etc.:
   • Education: Mention the institution, degree, graduation date, and relevant coursework or honors.
   • Work Experience: Use action verbs to describe responsibilities and accomplishments.
   • Interests and Activities: Highlight relevant hobbies or extracurriculars that demonstrate skills or qualities sought by the employer.
3. Making Positive Statements: Frame your experiences and achievements in a positive light. Use strong action verbs and quantify results where possible. For example, “Managed a team of five and increased productivity by 20%.”
4. Dealing with “Gaps” and “Job Durations”: Address gaps honestly but positively. Focus on what you learned or achieved during those periods. For job durations, include start and end dates to be transparent.
5. Creating a CV with MS Word: Follow the steps mentioned earlier in response to your previous question for creating a CV in Microsoft Word.
6. Questions You Want to Ask at the Interview: Prepare thoughtful questions about the company, role, team, and expectations. For example, “Can you describe the typical career progression for someone in this role?”
7. Appearance & Attitude Check: Dress professionally, maintain good posture, make eye contact, and offer a firm handshake. Exhibit a positive and enthusiastic attitude.
8. Evidence of Past Achievements: Include specific examples of accomplishments in your CV and be ready to discuss them in the interview. Use the STAR technique (see #12) to structure your answers.
9. Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Experience, and Behaviors: Highlight these aspects in your CV and align them with the job requirements. Provide evidence of how you possess these qualities.
10. What the Interviewer(s) Is Looking For: Interviewers seek qualifications, cultural fit, problem-solving abilities, and a positive attitude. Research the company and job description to understand their specific needs.
11. Your Personal Qualities and Attributes (PQAs): Mention PQAs that are relevant to the job. For instance, if the role requires leadership, discuss your leadership experience and qualities.
12. The STAR Technique: STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Use this method to answer behavioral interview questions. Describe the situation/task, explain your action, and highlight the positive result. It demonstrates your problem-solving and communication skills.