Coming to apply for a part time jobs for this semester and I realise that I've never written a proper CV before. This might seem a bit stupid but I'm not really sure what I should put in...

Also, what to write in a covering letter. Obviously I'm going to use a general scattergun one for the part time jobs, but what things would make a good covering letter just to send out to bars and other places that I'll be applying for part time work in, and also to companies that I'll be applying to for 'serious' jobs in the not too distant future?

Tell them you know me, that ought to do it.

Avoid the usual approach of listing qualifications and boring them to death with your hobbies. I don't care if you play chess every Sunday honestly.

Look up the company and what they do on their website and find out about the job that you are applying for. It may be just a way to earn a few quid but you have to get them to believe its what you were born to do.

Adjust your CV for each application concentrating on the abilities that you have which are relevant to the job. Don't underestimate any experience that you have; emphasise it, even non work related. For example organising a piss up in a brewery shows organisational skills. Any involvement with organisations on campus are worth putting in as are any charity work. Avoid the fact that you are a leading light of the university communist party!

Keep your CV to 2 pages at most, one if you can manage it, people look at each CV for 20 to 30 seconds.

The letter; brief and friendly without being familiar. again, emphasise what you can offer them.

That's pretty sound advice. Gone are the days when you didn't need a CV and could a job on the spot there and then.

Nearly every job these days seem to involve a long formal interview,even if it's just part time. One tip from me, is again research about the company and try and sneak something into the interview to impress them. E.g. Someone once asked me if I'd had any questions and I said, "I've understood you've experienced rapid expansion from 1999 onwards, will my section of the business be effected by this". Obviously that's a proper dodgy way to put it in but they'll be oppertunities during the interview to put stuff like that in.

At the end of the day, the CV usually only gets you an interview, an interview gets you the job.

Obvious stuff I know.

Tell them you breed Rottwielers!!!! :sweet:

Just to qualify that, I noticed that I never finished my sentence.

When I say don't bore them with reams of qualifications I mean up front at the top. Of course you tell them what quals you've got but on the last part not a list at the top of the page.

Mampi, you should create 2 separate CVs, one for part time work in bars etc, and one for 'serious' jobs. In trying to appeal to both audiences you might not succeed with either.

Put your name, address, contact details and date of birth all at the top.

List all your key skills which will be relevant to the job eg team player, punctual, reliable, good communicator etc.

For part time jobs:
List all the places you have worked giving dates, starting with the most recent first then work backwards. Give your job title and a brief list of duties.

Then list your places of education and qualifications, starting with the most recent first, then work backwards.

Then briefly list your hobbies.

For 'serious' jobs:
Put education first and job history second.

It is worth getting advice from your careers people at University as well.

Go to your careers service when you're done - they're bound to have a drop in CV clinic. Your personal tutor should also look at it.

Cheers for the advice guys! :sweet: