PRESENTING YOURSELF ON PAPER
Kathryn Scott
Career Development Consultant
WDHB
Job Applications Quiz
True or False?
• Its best to use the same cover letter and CV for all
your job applications.
• I have to include everything I’ve done in my CV.
• Employers spend 5 - 10 minutes reading each cover
letter and CV.
YES
NO
MAYBE
‘The package deal’
Qualifications
+ Clinical Experience
+ Work Experience
+ Transferable Skills
+ Personal Qualities
...to meet their needs
9 Show what you have to offer in each of these areas!
9 Make it easy to see that you match what they are looking
for!
Tailoring your CV and cover letter
START with a close analysis of the job advert/job description + info on the
DHB, service & wards.
THEN
What I’m applying for:
e.g.
Medical
What they’re looking for
e.g. Qualifications
Clinical Experience
Work Experience
Transferable Skills
Personal Qualities
What I have to offer
Emphasise this in
your
CV and cover letter
Top CV tips
9 Easy to read and find information. Uses appropriate headings.
9 Looks professional, organised, and tidy.
9 Maximum 3 – 4 pages.
9Education, Clinical Experience and Work Experience details
are in reverse chronological order.
9 Clearly tailored for the job, includes only relevant information.
9 Includes details of 2 Referees (which must be from: lecturer
from 3rd year; CNM/NE/Clinical tutor or preceptor from pre reg
placement).
9 Grammar & spelling must be correct
Sections in your CV
•
Contact Details
•
Summary/Overview/Profile/Statement
•
Education/Qualifications, inc. clinical placements
•
Work Experience (e.g. part time jobs)
•
Accomplishments/Achievements/Highlights
•
Interests/Extra-Curricular Activities
•
Referees
Top cover letter tips
9 Maximum one page length.
9 Addressed to a person, if possible.
9 Contains three elements:
1. What you are applying for. Be specific about your
preferences (give 2). (NB ensure that this is on offer!)
2. Why they should consider you i.e. your particular strengths
and interests relevant to the role
3. Why you are interested in these roles.
9 Tailored, not generic. Shows that you understand
what the DHB is looking for and how you can help.
9 Explains gaps or unusual information in your CV.
Useful Resources
• http://www2.careers.govt.nz/cv_cover_letter_template
s.html (you can try the CV 4 Me interactive wizard
too – aimed at school leavers but gives good advice)
• Dekker, Christine. (1994). The New Zealand guide to
transferable skills. Auckland: Random House
• Pitcher, Doug. (1998). Writing successful New
Zealand style CVs. Palmerston North: Shoestring
Publications.
• Stenburg, Paula. (2000). Write your own cv: a New
Zealand guide. (Rev. ed.). Birkenhead: Tandem.