RECRUITMENT RESOURCES

We recommend you look through these example CVs, cover letter and other resources before you write your own.  For a CV in English, don't forget that all experience is important, particularly things that make you stand out from other candidates (voluntary work, projects, sports, arts...).  Try to make your extra-curricular activities different (NOT  just "reading", "skiing"...). 

Be specific, not wishy-washy and give details and metrics: number of people who attended the conference you organised, for example.

Use ACTION VERBS (see list below), in the past tense for past experience and present for current work.

COVER LETTERS (about 350 words):

Careful... I proofread too many of my students' letters which are "one-size-fits-all" and rather too ME ME ME. 

A good letter focuses on the organisation you are applying to and provides particular details of projects they are working on that you are interested in, intertwined with your experience... 

A cover letter should never be longer than a single page. Although employers don't mention a specific word count in the requirements, the unwritten rule is to aim for 350 words.  See the examples below.

INTERVIEWS

Beware, more and more recruiters are using behavioural type interview questions (BIQ) in interviews, believing, quite rightly, that past behaviour predicts future behaviour in their organisation. You can use examples/anecdotes from all walks of life: college, work (paid or voluntary), sports, clubs, personal...

You will find below a list of behavioural questions.  You will be expected to respond using the STAR format, using the S to "sell your cv" and the A full of action verbs (see list below) and the R as positive as possible, as in (watch the whole video...):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nN7Q7DrI6Q&feature=related

CVs (see the examples below)

And why not try this free CV maker!! https://career.io/app/create-account  or  http://cvmkr.com/

FOR CVS YOU NEED TO USE ACTION VERBS (long list below) TO DESCRIBE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE:

CV guidelines (given by a personnel manager from an international firm based in Grenoble):

1. Make your CV clear and quick to read.

2. Make sure the best parts appear quickly to the reader.

3. Don’t be wishy-washy.  Give concrete details of your responsibilities.

4. Investigate the organisation you are applying to and talk about it and its projects in your letter (not me, me, me…)

5. Distinguish yourself.  Recruiters are fed up of seeing “hobbies: cinema, skiing, reading…

 You need to use action verbs such as the following:

 Make the most of what you have done. Do not underestimate activities that you have done.  Even unpaid work and student jobs should be described in a positive light.  Important: References 

REFERENCES, Give the details of one professional and one academic reference (a person who knows you well), or say "available on request, and make sure you have the agreement of the referees before you give their name to the recruiter.