Professional and Critical Practice: Creating a good CV

When creating a CV it is important to showcase yourself in the best light. Before you apply for the job it is important to approach your CV in the right way.  By this I mean you must update your CV and adapt it to the job you are applying for. 

When adapting your CV: 

- Think about your skills.  What are you strong at? What skills are the company looking for?  It is always good to list the skills the job is advertising.  

- Identify the skills you wish to gain.

- Update your name and contact details.

- Create a career profile that applies to the job you are going for.  Let them know who you are as a person, what your abilities are and what your overall goal is.

- Include your education qualifications.  Start with your most recent qualification. It is usually the most important. 

- When applying in the TV industry, experience is very valued.  List all of your work experiences that are relevant to the job you are applying for first, then list your 'transferable' skills that you have from your other work experience, like working in a cafe. 

- In your Key skills, list your technical capabilities.  For example, what software you are experienced in for editing? What cameras can you work? Can you drive? 

- Give a reference for a previous employer.  Always check that they are happy to be your reference first. This is an optional step and not a requirement however it can reinforce confidence in what you have put in your CV will be backed up by an external source. 


When thinking about your CV's design:

- Be creative.  It is a creative industry, it doesn't need to be plain.

- Your CV should be no more than 2 pages. 

- There should be no photo of yourself as it isn't needed (if you're applying for a modelling job, a photo will be needed).

- Think about a personal branding.  This can come across very professional and should instantly tell the reader what it is you specialise in. 


Covering letter:

- Don't address with Dear Sir/Madame.  Research who the letter is meant to be addressed to.  It shows that you have researched and taken the time to personalise the letter. 

- Explain why you are interested in the role. 

- Put all of your contact details on the letter in the top left corner. 

- Put the date you are writing the letter.

- Name the company in your letter, this adds an extra personal touch. 

- Be positive about yourself.

- Check your spelling and grammar.  It isn't professional to have spelling mistakes in your final letter.

- Reference the job with it's reference number. 

- State where you found the job. 

- Have a confident personal statement.

- Bullet points are nice and clear to use in the letter. 

- You need to be able to provide evidence for what you say. For example: if you say 'I am a top salesman' you need to be able to prove it on request.  You could have one an award that states you 'have been recognised as the leading salesman for the past three years'. 

Final points:

- Save your documents as a PDF. It keeps your layout in order. 

- If appropriate, phone the company a few days after submitting to check it has been received.  If you are applying for a runners role, it is not appropriate to call. 

- Download the job application tracker.  This helps to keep track of how all your applications are going and allows you to build your contacts. 


Interview tips:

- Take your CV in with you as a hard copy.  It helps to make you look professional. 

- Walk in confidently and shake hands firmly.  This helps to give the impression that you are pleased to be there. 

- Smile, be polite and friendly. 

- Be interested and ask questions about the job.  This shows the employer that you are keen and prepared for the role. 

- Try to answer questions with examples of your previous work. 

Here is my CV after following these tips: