CVs

Re: CVs

tess — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 19:23:38 GMT

Try to make personal contact either by making a phone call first, or by visiting to drop off your CV if you are nearby.

People will remember a friendly telephone manner, good body language or a cheerful face. It will give you the edge over those who just mail in a CV.

Re: CVs

Matt Hilary — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 18:36:25 GMT

You might find this useful:

http://vetgrad.com/show10MinuteTopUp.php?type=Jobs&Entity=10MinuteTopUps&ID=11

More here:

http://vetgrad.com/core_modules/entitylist.php?Entity=10MinuteTopUps&type=Jobs

Re: CVs

mariette asselbergs — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 16:10:03 GMT

There is also this: try to get into the practice you are applying for. Give them a call and say you want to see the practice. One: nothing is better than a visit to get a feel of the atmosphere and the environment you may be working in. Two: they 'll see and remember you. Three: applying for a job is not just one way, you being grateful to get one. The practice is also looking for the right and wonderful person they hope to get. It is no use to write a VCV full of how excellent and wonderful and brilliant you are in everything everybody knows they want. Every HR person knows that CVs are full of "lies" about how wonderful you are. They'll only believe what they see and what you show in how you go about it. We once had a vacancy for which we did not want (could affored) to take on an inexperienced graduate. However, one of the applicants phoned us that she happened (?) to be in the country and could she come and have a look. She had no experience, she was not the right person to take on, but guess what.... And we didn't regret it !

Mariette

Re: CVs

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 15:30:43 GMT

Also, there's a student support stream at BSAVA this year, so if you're attending it's on sunday; good stuff there! (disclaimer - i'm speaking on CVs and getting jobs on the day.)

vetinpractice.co.uk also has articles on CV writing. (Very vet specific.)

Re: CVs

Anthony Dennison — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 10:26:38 GMT

There was a thread about this subject about a year or so ago, full of advice similar to this.

A CV shouldn't be more than 2 pages. Use your name as the title, don't put 'Curriculim Vitae', at the top, it looks naff. Summarise GCSE's just by the number of grades you got, don't go in to individual subjects. Have a section for previous employment, but also one for 'notable/relevant EMS' - so put your foster practice down, or places where you spent a decent length of time, or an interesting placement. If you've been involved in any research or writing of papers, put that in too. Tailor the 'relevant EMS' section to where you're applying - if it's equine, there's no point putting farm work in there.

The big thing is the covering letter, this is where to put the most effort in to, and each one will be different for each job; do your research, look at the practice website, see if there is anything that interests you about the practice.Get lots of people to read it, friends, parents, your personal tutor, friendly vets at your foster practice. The more often you read it the less likely you are in spotting something that doesn't quite fit.

And finally, don't panic about finding a job yet! Most of my year didn't start applying till April/May at the earliest, unless they had already been offered jobs after EMS. Applying now will just mean your CV is kept for any possible future jobs.

Re: CVs

Emily Rainbow — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 07:29:05 GMT

Thanks for the replies everyone, I wasn't expecting so many. I'll try and get a first draft cover letter written this evening then I can send both to those who have kindly offered to have a read. Thanks for the tips!

Re: CVs

Braden Collins — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 07:25:52 GMT

[quote user="Thomas Ward"]

A good covering letter! My first boss told me the reason he asked me for interview was the fact that I'd bothered to write a relevant and interested covering letter explaining where I was and why I wanted that job. CVs are all similar aren't they? - qualifications, previous jobs/work experience... yawn.

[/quote]

Another +1 here.

Attitude is so much more important than skills as a new grad as you can learn the skills.

Make sure you submit the CV and cover letter in the way the ad requests - if they ask you to email it, make sure you email it rather than sending it in the post, and vice versa.

Re: CVs

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 21:10:36 GMT

Emily - I'm more than happy giving honest feedback if you want to email your CV to me.

If you are very brave you can upload it to your file area on the site and we can all see it!

Re: CVs

Hanna Bennett — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 21:06:19 GMT

[quote user="Thomas Ward"]

[/quote]

+1 - you need to stand out from the other new grads, and realistically you are all much of a muchness. at that point it comes down to personality. both the last two new grads we employed I picked out of a batch on the strength of their covering letter, not their CVs.

Re: CVs

Tom Ward — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 16:25:49 GMT

Re: CVs

ChrisBVSc — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 15:59:17 GMT

Also, even though I've never been in the position of reading through job applications, I think the layout & presentation of your CV is really important - I've seen some that to be honest look rubbish, and certainly wouldn't make me look twice if they were stacked in a pile. Also it's well worth printing onto good quality paper e.g. Conqueror, not just the standard flimsy inkjet stuff.

Re: CVs

ChrisBVSc — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 15:48:28 GMT

I can highly recommend a book called "How to write a CV that works" by Paul McGee (I think there's possibly a slightly newer version available having had a quick look on Amazon) - I read through this & used a couple of the templates to write my 1st CV after vet school (and others since), and I'm certain it made a big difference to the success of my job applications. Having been through the process of 1st job application & 2 further job moves (my own choice & into jobs I really wanted) within the last 6 1/2 years I'm quite happy to have a read through your CV if you like - PM me & I'll send you my email address.

Chris

Re: CVs

Holly Norman — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 15:38:00 GMT

Try and stand out!

Everyone applying will have a list of practices and placements they've done so try and cherry pick some interesting bits that are unique to you. Instead of listing placements, my CV has categories of "Medicine", "Surgery", "Business" and had bullet points of skills/competencies. I'd focus on your good points, so "I'm confident with routine neutering of small animals", not "I reckon I'd be fine with dog castrates but I'm terrifed of bitch spays" (even if it's the truth!).

Also, as a new grad, they will teach you clinical skills, it's your personal skills they want. I wrote about the time I spent working on the complaints/customer service desk at various shops during the summer which means I can deal with awkward clients. I also stressed my interest in the business/sales side of practice. It's no use being fantastic at bitch spays if you can't persuade the useless chav owner of a Rottie to get it done in the first place!

Re: CVs

Jenny Smith — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 14:13:40 GMT

I read an article which said to include your key skills... just to try and make it obvious what you can already do, and also to try and stand you out from everyone else who will write a paragraph about basic surgical skills/consulting speed/in house lab

So, if you can use a particular PMS well, put it in there (I worked as a recep so knew a couple of systems inside out), if you can use a certain lab system (vet tests etc) say so. Say which surgeries you are confident with etc

Be honest, and be enthusiastic. Try and tailor each CV to each job you apply for - if it's farm/smallies they probably don't care if you can dental a horse!

Jenny

Re: CVs

Jo Dyer — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 13:58:16 GMT

Hi Emily,

However you lay your CV out, the important things (speaking for myself looking at CVs) are somehow to:

Show enthusiasm,
Show confidence (even if you don't feel it!)
Show that you have gone the extra mile to get experience of the stuff employers really want (reasonable consulting speed, ability to perform neuterings, speaking as a small animal vet) This latter can demonstrate the other two in spades.

When you get to interview, do all of the above again, plus smile!

You've shown initiative by posting on here. Well done and good luck.