KS3 / KS4 Business: How to prepare a CV and perform in a job interview

AIMEE:So, the first thing to look at is your CV. Now, a CV is a document that basically lays out all of your skills and experience-

AIMEE:and it's the first introduction to an employer. So, if you're selling yourself to somebody, you want to really impress them. So, make sure it's full of power, full of impact. The first thing you need to do is look at your personal profile.

AIMEE:Come up with something genuine to you, personal to you, talk about your goals, a couple of lines of what it is that you want to achieve in your career. The next thing you need to do is lay out any experience that you've got. And I would tend to do this in a bullet-pointed format, rather than script-essay style. The reason being is that when you're in a rush, bullet points are much easier to read, and to gather that information. The next section is called hobbies. So, fine to talk about all of your hobbies, but as an employer, I want to know how you benefit me. So if you run a marathon, that's great, but you can then say, it shows that, "Everything I put my mind to, I achieve." Okay? And then that tells me what kind of character you're gonna be. What type of employee you're gonna be. I want to know how you're gonna get on with the team I've already got, okay? So talk about your values and your motivators. And then the next section you've got is your references, and people often just put the references available on request. I don't think that that sells you, not really. I think many years ago, that probably would have been okay, but people really need to up their game in this market. It's very competitive out there. So, if you've got somebody that's saying fabulous things about you, put it on the CV. Put a line, say this is my referee, this is their names, this is where they work, and this is what they said about me. You have to remember that your CV isn't about you, and I know that sounds really, really weird, but your CV isn't about you. Your CV is about how you benefit the company that you're applying for.

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AIMEE:You always need to write a cover letter with a CV, But not a cover letter that just says,

AIMEE:"Please see my CV attached." Again, that's a massive opportunity to communicate with an employer that you've missed. So, in your cover letter, keep it really short, full of impact, really punchy. Tell them why they should pick you. Don't tell them why they should pick you. Actually give them examples of why they should pick you. But also, tell them why you picked them. No employee wants to feel like you've just written to a hundred different people, just hoping somebody will give you an interview. If you want somebody to like you, you've got to make them feel special. And if you want somebody to be interested in you, you need to show that you are genuinely interested in them.

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AIMEE:So, now, it's time for the interview, and you need to really impress them, okay? So, the first thing you need to do before you impress them is prepare, okay?

AIMEE:So, sit down, and actually prepare, research the company, okay? So, when they turn around and say, "What do you know about us? What do you know about our business?" You'll be able to give them some really, really good answers. So, talk about their competitors. What type of person in this business succeeds. And remember-

AIMEE:you need to be really, really interested and focused on them.They're the people you wanna workfor. So, now you need to do somehomework on yourself, because whenthey turn around and say to you,

AIMEE:"Why you? Why should I pick you?" you need to have a really good answer. Sit down and think about all of the things that you're really good at, okay? What are your unique selling points. Make a list of them, and be prepared. And something that works really well is sending a thank you note. Tell them what you really loved about meeting them.

AIMEE:Pick out something special from your conversation. That will have a massive impact.

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AIMEE:So, you've got the job. Now what? Well, apart from obviously doing the job, I want you to really remember that the first three months might be a bit scary, might be a bit crazy. You'll probably be doing things that you've never done before. And being out of your comfort zone can feel a little bit uncomfortable, but bed in and power through. Next, I think it's really important to remember that you will have days that are better than others, and that's normal, but you need to keep really, really positive, okay? Always show up to work tomorrow, always want to do better than you did today, always wanna be the best you can be. And that will have a massive impact on your employer, and it will make you go far.