CV for new graduate

Re: CV for new graduate

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:14:38 GMT

[quote user="anthony chadwick"]

I would get a linkedIn account set up and then direct people to that

Also consider setting yourself up with a personal website

[/quote]

Each to their own, but if any applicant tried that with me they'd be off the list straight away.

Re: CV for new graduate

Vicky Vine — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 09:53:57 GMT

Hi Claire

There's a lot of great advice and suggestions above which should help you create a great CV and covering letter.

In addition, if you are a BVA member you can download a free guide to job hunting from our website, or we can post a copy out to you. The guide contains advice on preparing your CV and covering letter, but also covers things that you should consider before applying for a job, effective interview techniques once you get to the next stage, and tips for searching for the right job for you.

Good luck with your job hunt!

Re: CV for new graduate

Claire Roberts — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 21:32:32 GMT

Hi everyone,

(Sorry for the radio silence since my original post - OOH rotation has taken its toll on me somewhat!)

Thanks to everyone for all their tips and advice, it's very much appreciated! And to those who offered to give it the once over, I'll be in touch soon once it's had a bit more tweaking!

Thanks again and Merry Christmas :)

Claire

Re: CV for new graduate

Jenny Smith — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:01:12 GMT

Hmmm iPad clearly not liking the formatting, or forum not liking ipad! Sorry for lack of paragraphs everyone

Re: CV for new graduate

Jenny Smith — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:00:16 GMT

Like Holly I'm a 2011 grad (same rotation block as well!) and there were some people in our year who struggled for jobs, so I think it is important to make sure your cv and covering letter make you stand out from the crowd, but for the right reasons. I set my cv out slightly different, with sections on education, including elective choices and relevant research projects. I briefly listed relevant ems placements, then had a separate section with my key skills to show where I felt confident. Some of these weren't from veterinary jobs, and included cash handling, complaints management as well as the more obvious things like able to use digital X-ray and PMS (although I did specify which systems I had used). Advice from some of my friends, remember you are interviewing them as much as they are you. If you get bad vibes, trust your instincts, there will be other jobs but you'll only get one first job. Hope that makes sense, it did in my head!! Ask to speak to other new/recent grads at the practice, or if possible and you have somewhere in mind, get an ems placement in there for the proper inside info. You learn a lot more in a week then you ever could in a few hours about how you feel about somewhere. Like others if you would like to see my cv jut message me and I can send it on. Lastly, because it started in my uni I'm a bit biased, have you looked at the vetbook.com? I set up a profile on there and had several interview offers on the basis of that, just a different perspective to the market and might give you an edge if a potential employer can contact you that way as well. And good luck with finals!!!

Re: CV for new graduate

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 23:31:20 GMT

+1 to the cover letter, a really dynamic cover letter will open doors like nothing else. It's the unsung secret weapon of job hunting.

I have a linkedin account; that said I'd suggest caution in this regard. Don't collect connections like they're facebook friends; try to slowly build it with people you've actually met or corresponded with. That way you'll have worthwhile contacts who know you, instead of lists of names who don't know you from the next person on the street.

Cheers,

Mark

Re: CV for new graduate

anthony chadwick — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 20:51:47 GMT

Dear Claire

I would get a linkedIn account set up and then direct people to that

Also consider setting yourself up with a personal website

Do something different to make yourself stand out

Best wishes

Anthony

Re: CV for new graduate

Chris Geddes — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 19:33:13 GMT

As I was reading CVs this morning, reviewing from an employer's point of view is fresh in mind....you would think this would be blindingly obvious but sadly, apparently not: Make sure that you format it correctly, put it through a spell-check, and get at least two or three real people to read it and comment. Avoid humour (interview is chance to show you have a personality, endless jokes and exclamation marks on a CV is just tedious) ...and as someone else said, avoid the tired old phrases like "work well alone and as part of a team" and "enjoy socialising" - sorry, it doesn't count as a hobby! If possible make each covering letter and CV unique - the employer will want to feel that you have bothered to find out about his practice and tell him why his particular job is of interest.

Re: CV for new graduate

Holly Norman — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:09:06 GMT

Hi,

I'm a 2011 graduate. Writing a CV that is different is really hard as a new grad as you all have the same qualifications!

I found that my CV was well received because I concentrated more on the business side of things rather than listing my EMS placements. I think as a new grad, most vet practices expect to have to to teach you certain procedures or help you through difficult medical cases. What they want from a CV is a promise that you can communicate with clients, understand costs and work well with other people.

I had my name at the top of the page, then I had headings of Business,Consulting, Surgery, Medicine, Qualifications and Interests. Each heading had two or three bullet points outlining why I felt I was specifically good at that particular aspect. I used my part time jobs in retail as examples for Business and Consulting and my final year electives for Medicine. Under Surgery I explained which procedures I was comfortable with and which procedures I'd scrubbed in on or found exciting.

My CV is two pages long, double spaced. And I would always write a individual covering letter that would be explain why I liked that particular job/practice.

I can always email it to you if you want to see! After sending my CV out, I would then ring the vet practice after a week and check they'd received it. I'd also try to bypass receptionists and try to talk to one of the partners to discuss the job. I'd also check out their websites beforehand so that I would have an idea of everyone's names and any special interests of that practice.

Re: CV for new graduate

Anthony Dennison — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:05:01 GMT

There's still a few people in my year who still haven't got a job since graduating in the summer. The one's that got jobs quick were those with good CVs from what EMS they did, or those who got connections from EMS

Re: CV for new graduate

Wren — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 14:38:47 GMT

I have to say that our practice has just interviewed new grads for a mixed job and I was amazed by the number of applicants. In previous years (by which I mean only two or three years ago) we'd get two or three people to interview for this sort of job. This time we had about 12 that would have been serious candidates, and several more that were weeded out early on. I don't envy new grads looking for a job - you really will have to make sure that the CV stands out!

In my day (yawn!) we pretty much picked a job rather than vice versa.

Re: CV for new graduate

james herriot lied — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:24:15 GMT

After almost twenty years and an alarmingly diverse career - which has included a few tangents into sabbaticals and non-veterinary work - my CV is STILL only one side of A4. People just don't want to know how great you think you are.

Veterinary covering letters are very different to those of other professions also: be direct and efficient; self deprecating but confidently so. I'd echo the above advice about not trying to engage in modern gobbledegook - if you're good at something, put it down, but don't get daft with the nebulous stuff about leadership and communication strategies. If you're good with people, SAY so. In words like, 'I am good with people'.

One tip: turn up to interview dressed to work, and with PPE. Phone the practice the day before, identify yourself and ask for the dress code expected for a working day. They will remember that bit, I promise you.

[quote user="Alex Allen"]

(I'm sure I got into Vet Sch because I spent most of my interview talking about mountaineering with the Assoc Dean who was also a keen walker!)

[/quote]

Ditto. Turned out I was a slightly better climber than the interviewer, and gave him some good beta on a route (FWIW, Valkyrie at the Roaches) that he'd always wanted to do. It was all downhill from there, I suspect.

Re: CV for new graduate

KMurphy — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 11:23:01 GMT

Try not to write that you work well alone or as part of a team!

I've been told at a number of interviews that my handwritten cover letter was one of the reasons I got selected for interview. It stands out more amongst a pile of typed ones and shows that your handwriting is legible (hopefully!). Lists of EMS placements are really dull for employers so only state the unusual ones or placements where you actually had the opportunity to do something. Remember, every other new grad will have done the required EMS too. For example I spent two months in exotics practice in Spain and two months of dairy practice in the USA - I included those. Prompted a conversation about travel and got me my first job!

Re: CV for new graduate

Anthony Dennison — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 11:03:34 GMT

As a new grad that's just gone through this, I agree with all the above. But from the perspective of someone applying for the jobs rather than the more experienced vets that will be reading the CVs, I'd only put down EMS if you went there a lot or were allowed to do a lot there, or it's something different. The place you went in bold, then a sentence following it, for example, if you're looking to get a mixed job;

A.N. Other & Partners, Sometown: I spent multiple weeks at this mixed practice working with a diploma holder/certificate holder in whatever. I accompanied vets on routine fertility visits and have some experience in scanning.

(If it's a smallies job, adapt the above). My CV also had my name as the title of the page, rather than 'Curriculum Vitae'. It saves space and gets direct to the point - the person interviewing you can see your name more easily, therefore making it stand out more and be more memorable.

The CV is the facts bit. The covering letter is so much more important. The potential employer's not going to look at your CV if the covering letter is dull. Avoid the cliche's, put your interests in veterinary medicine, and add a sentence about 'outside of work I like to...', no more. It shows people reading the CV you do other things apart from work and won't be boring, but wont be so busy with hobbies etc that it interferes with work.

Re: CV for new graduate

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 10:41:52 GMT

I've 5 starred Alex's post because I agree with that, I'm more interested in the person, If I can get on with you I can train you to work in the real world, your CV will not give me much idea about your basic skills and confidence so something needs to catch my eye to get your bum on a seat for an interview. My daughter is not a vet but she gets every job she applies for because she is an amazingly interesting person who has a wide range of experience in areas totally unrelated to her present employment as a computer programmer, she virtually screams, 'I'm good, give me the job', that is what gets her interviews and then she can sell herself.

Re: CV for new graduate

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 10:09:02 GMT

When I did my CV I put a short section on what I was confident doing, and got good feedback on that.

If you are happy paring cows feet, spaying cats and rasping horses teeth (whatever is relevant) you can start earning your keep from day one. No-one expects you to be a super-vet but what would you feel confident doing today?

Re: CV for new graduate

bob lehner — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 09:43:20 GMT

Keep it short and relevant (Things like a list of GCSEs or that you won your sewing badge in the Brownies are of no interest !).

Have it very well set out - use bullet points - highlight anything special in bold.

Do some background research on the practice you are applying to (e.g look at their practice website) and see if you can identify any area where you might be able to contribute - or demonstrate a particular interest.

Give a couple of good referees if possible (but get their permission first).

Re: CV for new graduate

Alex Allen — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 09:17:32 GMT

The covering letter is probably the most important part - new grads are fairly plentiful and there has to be something that catches the eye otherwise you risk being ignored. As Arlo said above a simple little throw away comment may actually be the phrase that someone likes and gets them to give you a call.

New Grads will have very similar CVs - you've all done x weeks in LA practice, y weeks in SA practice etc etc so what have you done that's different? Charity work in Cyprus? Operated on a gibbon in a zoo?? Post mortemed a squirrel with poxvirus???

Do you have an area of interest you wish to pursue? Medicine? Surgery? Ophthal? etc etc

How you describe yourself in the interests and hobbies is important too as you may share a common interest with a potential employer. (I'm sure I got into Vet Sch because I spent most of my interview talking about mountaineering with the Assoc Dean who was also a keen walker!)

Good Luck

Re: CV for new graduate

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 08:20:55 GMT

[quote user="Claire Roberts"](Or if anyone wants to offer me a job straight out so we can save all the paperwork!? )[/quote]

Sadly I don't represent a veterinary practice. But if I did, that remark made me smile and would have got you the interview!

Re: CV for new graduate

Neal Palk — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 08:04:09 GMT

I'll let the Vets comment on the content they seek, but as a general 'rule' treat a CV as if it was you reading it! Brief personal details at the top, followed by a few words (typically 3-4 lines on A4 max) that describe your professional summary: This means content like 'particular expertise in XXXX and YYYY' and NOT 'I am a great leader....'.....so anything that is factual and not opinionated.

Follow with headline academics (10 GSCEs is all that needs to be said, no need to list by subject!) then work history in reverse order (most recent first) and remember when you're starting out, most work experience IS relevant (bar work = cash handling, hotel receptionist = customer engagement etc) even if it has not direct veterinary link.

Don't worry too much about filling 2sides of A4 - waffle and padding is a lot less attractive than brevity and succinctness!!

Good luck - I too am happy to give a draft the once-over but cannot comment on the professional content!

Re: CV for new graduate

Alan Tevendale — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 21:32:16 GMT

Hi Claire

Firstly best of luck with your final year. You want a basic structure to your CV although I would alter the exact detail depending on what job your applying for. For a SA job I wouldn't go into a huge amount of detail about your cattle/equine practices for example although it is still worth mentioning them.

You make a good point that keeping the CV short is very important. I hate reading long CVs and it really puts me off a applicant to have to read reems of text.

A good covering letter can make all the difference so really well worth working on that one. Research the practices you apply to.

Feel free to send me a copy of your CV (PM if you like) and I'll try to give you some help.