Help with C.V., application form or interview

Whether you are looking for a job, applying for further study, or trying to get a loan to start your own business, you will need to market your skills, experience and personality effectively.

Things to think about

• Good preparation is essential and extremely time consuming. Set aside a realistic amount of time and adopt a thorough and detailed approach.
• It is difficult to do a good C.V., application form or interview if you do not really know what you want to do, if you are half-hearted, or if you have not researched the job, the courses or the company. Good career decision making needs to come first.
• Recruiters are not looking for clones. It is OK to be yourself and have a bit of flair.
• Some employers use telephone interviews, assessment centres and/or psychometric tests. We have information in the Careers centre to help you prepare.

Where to get advice

• Book an appointment with the careers adviser, who will check over your C.V. or application.
• Your personal tutor or the tutor that writes your reference for you may well be able to give advice.
• Ask your friends, family and any previous/existing employers how they see you-what are your strong points, your skills, how would they describe your personality?
• Use careers and recruitment fairs to ask employers what they are looking for in an application.
• Harper Adams Careers Fair.
• Follow up any unsuccessful applications- be brave and ask for feedback.
• Remember the key to all this is being organised and motivated.

In the resource area of the Faccenda Centre

• Pick up your free copies of the AGCAS booklets on job-hunting, applications, and interviews.
• We have videos and DVDs available on applications and interviews.
• We have a number of reference books and leaflets on CV's, applications, interviews and how to approach psychometric tests.

On the web

• See the relevant sections of our web site; lots of good information, with links to other sites, e.g. psychometric testing
• The Careers Service has noted website information useful to students studying courses from Harper Adams. This information can be found on the Useful Links page.
• Prospects Web (www.prospects.ac.uk/links/appsinterviews/) has appropriate sections to consult.
• You will come across lots of advice about applications etc on recruitment consultancy sites and sometimes employer sites - this is fine, read it all, but remember that there are often no hard and fast rules. You are the one who needs to feel happy with the content and format of your C.V. or application form.

Planning your Career

Planning is the key to making a successful job application. The careers service will guide you through the steps neccessary to give yourself the best opportunity to land your dream job. A number of the services offered by the careers service are described below:

Individual interviews

A chance to talk about your experiences and the factors effecting your career choices. Your choice of options while you are studying or how to develop your career further once you have left.

Filling in applications and covering letters

What employers look for and what will get you to interview. Group sessions or by individual advice sessions with support material. Videos are also available.

Interviewing skills

Practice at improving confidence under pressure.

Job Vacancies and the Vacancy Bulletin

Hundreds of employers including Recruitment Consultancies notify us of vacancies every year. All vacancies are available to be viewed on the Current Vacancies page and includes all part-time, seasonal and local job opportunities.

Having Difficulties Writing Your CV?

• Download our CV writing guide to help you on your journey to employment