Free Career and Job Search Advice

Stylus_XL · Newbie Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Posts: 2 Career Advice: +0/-0

I'm a "career changer" I suppose and a complete novice when it comes to CVs. I'm trying to get into the planning side of the construction industry. Here is an example of a covering letter I'm going to send out and a CV with it. Really looking for some advice, since I don't have any experience in this field I need to put my best foot forward! The formatting is a bit garbled because I've copied and pasted it straight from Word, but it should still be legible.

[Covering Letter]

To XXXXX XXXX,

I am a retail manager and graduate looking for a route into the quantity surveying profession, and I am looking for a trainee opportunity or possibly an assistant opportunity. Voluntary work opportunities would also be of interest to me since I am very keen to gain experience. I have structured my CV to highlight the skills and experience that I have gained to date, and show how this understanding may benefit my progress in training for a Quantity Surveying role.

I look forward to hearing from you,

XXXX XXXX

[CV]

Hard working retail manager with a creative and analytical mind. Dedicated apprentice and student, patient instructor and reliable team player. Computer literate to an advanced level.

Employment History

William Hill Bookmakers LTD - Manager April 2006 to Present

o Manager for industry leading retail gambling chain

Flight Path – Tutor & Sound Engineer February 2005 to February 2006

o Sound Engineer and course tutor for community recording studio project

MPR – Assistant Sound Engineer June 2002 to February 2005

o Assistant to the resident Sound Engineer in commercial recording studio

Experience

- BUDGETING

o Management of all expenditures including stock and utilities, in accordance with approved running costs
o Monitoring of gross profit, reporting figures back to District Manager
o Reviewing proposed staff shifts and overtime for each week in relation to the agreed total shop staff hours
o Keeping amount of money in shop within agreed security limits at all times

- LAW

o Passed compulsory course on the in and outs of retail gambling law to Gambling Commission standards
o Completed “retail compliance” sheet on a daily basis, a checklist of criteria that proves that gambling laws have been adhered to
o Assisted training course director on a teaching a gambling law course
o Responsible for making sure shop staff fully comply with fundamental gambling rules and regulations

- AUDITING

o Daily check of scanned copies of customer receipts in computer database as part of anti-fraud initiative
o Reporting back to District Manager regarding discovered cash discrepancies with explanations
o Making sure that staff have not knowingly or unknowingly served self-excluded customers in accordance with gambling law
o Checking that all bets have been settled correctly to avoid underpayment or overpayment
- TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

o Successfully saw through the training and development of seven new employees
o Liaised with the District Training Coordinator to discuss trainee progress and ways of improving their learning
o Assisted training course directors on various training courses
o Keeping staff up to date and knowledgeable on the latest betting opportunities and sporting news

- MARKETING AND CUSTOMER SERVICE

o Excelled in various company promotional campaigns, and surpassed targets
o Consistently received high results in several “mystery shopper” assessments
o Helped in improving the shop’s grade and gross profit by sustaining its reputation for excellent customer service and successfully building a rapport with large staking customers
Always made sure that the latest marketing displays were presented in shop before instructed deadlines so as to have maximum effectiveness

- PROBLEM SOLVING AND DECISION MAKING

o Dealing with failures to utilities or computer systems, and finding a work around that means that the shop’s business or image is not impacted negatively
o Efficient delegation of duties when manpower is low, i.e. staff are moved to other shops or a staff member goes sick
o Dealing with customer disputes or disruptive customers in a professional manner, applying an attitude that diffuses confrontation
o Prioritizing duties and tasks during busy periods so that customer service standards are not compromised and customers leave satisfied

Training

Customer Service, Marketing Strategy, Manager Development, Gambling Law, Health and Safety, Job Instruction.

Education

- Educated to degree level in Popular Music w/ Music Technology

o BA Popular Music w/ Music Technology (2:1) - University of Derby, 2004
o ‘A’ Levels in English Language (B), Music (C), Music Technology (B) and Mathematics (C) - Solihull Sixth Form College, 2001
o GNVQ Intermediate in Business (Merit) and I.T. (Distinction) - City Technology College, 1999
o GCSEs in Music, Mathematics, English Literature/Language/ Business Studies - City Technology College, 1999

Pauloz · Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 1:06 am Post subject:

Stylus XL

You've picked a very interesting, but very demanding, industry and part of that industry.

This material needs to be targeted to specific elements of a career path. You obviously have a very broad range of skills, but they need to make a good fit with your goals.

At entry level, they'd be too advanced for the work.

They're a good indicator of your capabilities, and clients are the very big issue in the planning side of the industry, but those skills would kick in later.

I'd suggest a "from scratch" approach, map out the road first, then see where you can apply your obvious fortes.

Step 1. Contact your local college, or people in the industry, get a good look at where you get maximum exposure to the skill sets for the industry.

Step 2. Always talk to a professional, in the planning business. Getting from A to B is their life's work. You don't get HR babble from them, either. As you probably know, a real professional can explain anything to do with their business clearly, and usually do it in minutes, not days.

Step 3. Your CV is very strong in management fundamentals. Those are very good assets. The construction industry is a really tough industry, where good management is a survival skill. That's a particularly good option for you, because you can show your management experience across a wide range.

Step 4. Money management is the real Godzilla in construction. You have a reasonable shot in the Business Management area in practically any industry, and you've got a good track record.

(Suggestion: You might want to spell out your credentials in these nuts and bolts skills like accounts. You're dealing with an entry level approach.)

CVs in general:

There is a bit to learn, if you're not used to the CV methodology, which is rapidly turning into a branch of employment science.

Have a browse through the CV sections on the site. There are degrees of difficulty, and it's best to go through the basics as orientation.

The Job Search Guide book has a few pieces on targeting CVs to jobs, which will help with your planning job, but you need to have a good idea of what you're targeting.

Good luck

Stylus_XL · Newbie Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Posts: 2 Career Advice: +0/-0

Thanks for sparing the time to respond in such detail, your advice has given me alot to think about!

Stylus

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