Assignment 3 - Task 7 | Career Development Materials

Task 7 – Career development materials
Create one of the following career development materials:
·Career Development spreadsheet.
·CV for University/Games Industry.
·Personal portfolio.
·Business Card.

Then reflect on what you have created and discuss:
·How you would use it to gain employment.
·Your creative decisions while making it.

(You are aiming to prepare personal career development material to a quality that reflects near-professional standards consistently using correct formal language).

CV:
A curriculum vitae (English pronunciation: (CV or vita) is a written overview of a person's experience and other qualifications for a job opportunity. In some countries, a CV is typically the first item that a potential employer encounters regarding the job seeker and is typically used to screen applicants, often followed by an interview. CVs may also be requested for applicants to postsecondary programs, scholarships, grants and bursaries. In the 2010s, some applicants provide an electronic text of their CV to employers using email, an online employment website or using a job-oriented social networking service' website, such as LinkedIn.

Pros and Cons: My CV uses the Traditional format, because of this it means that all of my achievements and qualifications have been listed meaning the employer can see everything I am capable of, this ensure that I have ticked all of the boxes and maybe even open up the eyes of the employer that I can do more than they need me to - I am more than capable for the role they are offering. However, some things can easily be overlooked. If I have a qualification that meant I was the best person in the world at using Construct or Unreal Engine which is what the job I was going for requires - but because that was from 4 years ago then it will be overlooked really easily, this is because your more recent qualifications are displayed first and are what are taken into more consideration. Ultimately, this style of CV has its 'ups and downs' but it is a very professional CV which employers like to see.

CV Examples:
Traditional CV
Skills-based CV
Academic CV

Traditional CV:
The traditional CV, sometimes known as a chronological CV is used to match your qualifications and work experience with the requirements for the job role. The CV is structured in reverse chronological order i.e. the most recent qualifications and experience are listed first. This type of CV template makes it easy for employers to identify potential candidates. It allows you to provide clear details of your qualifications, work history and responsibilities which match the criteria provided in the job description. It's important to include: dates - cover any gaps in your history; qualifications and work experience - match these to the role you're applying for; additional skills and knowledge - cover essential criteria for the role.

Pros and Cons: There are many advantages and disadvantages of using a Traditional style of CV, when using it, it allows for your most recent qualifications to be displayed first which could be argued that they are the most relevant. Why would an employer care about something that happened 5 years ago, when you have something just as useful that has happened the most recent - if this is displayed first then it allows for the employer to see the most important information and therefore better your chances of being employed. However, this can also be a bad thing as what if you have a qualification that meant you was the best person in the world at using Construct or Unreal Engine which is what the job you are going for requires - but because that was from 4 years ago then it will be overlooked really easily as your more recent qualifications are displayed first and are what are taken into more consideration. Ultimately, this style of CV has its 'ups and downs' but it is a very professional CV which employers like to see.

Skills-based CV:
The skills-based CV, also known as a functional CV, can be used if you have gaps in your employment history. This type of CV template is also useful if you have limited experience or are applying for a job which is not related to your degree. Employability skills are transferable to different roles and employers. The skills-based CV allows you to focus on the skills you have developed in various areas of your life. It's important to position your skills profile prominently; match skills with the role profile and use the same headings; provide evidence of how you've used your skill in a real life situation.

Pros and Cons: This form of CV is really useful if you just want to show the employer what you are good at, ignoring the long-winded information that the employers are not bothered about, only listing the 'good-stuff' so to speak, this will ensure that your skills are not overlooked and that you will be noticed for what you are good at. It is also really useful if you have gaps in your qualification time periods, for example; if you get one qualification in 2010, but the next in 2013, it will not be shown when you achieve the qualification but only what the qualification is itself. However, sometimes some of the skills you may have labelled will be irrelevant for the job you are trying to get which means that your CV is not as useful and quite simple, which is why using a Traditional CV is a good/safe option as everything on the CV is useful and relevant however some thing can be overlooked easily compared to a Skill based CV.

Academic CV:
Academic CVs are focused on educational achievements and are used when applying for lecturing or research-based roles. Although there's no page limit, it's important to keep your CV concise and targeted to the role's requirements, with each section in reverse chronological order. Your academic achievements, research interests and specialist skills should be placed on the first page. Ensure that your writing style is scholarly but clearly understood to those outside of your field of interest. Include details of your specialist skills, research outcomes, potential future developments, and any funding or grants that you've received, conferences that you've attended, professional memberships that you've gained and publications that you've been featured in.

Pros and Cons: This style of CV is really good as it focuses on your educational achievements and are used when applying for lecturing or research-based roles. It is essential to ensure that when you are writing in this style that you keep your CV concise and targeted to the role's requirements - if you have skills written down etc. that are not relevant to the job role you are trying to obtain then it is really pointless and unprofessional. Each section of your CV should be in reverse chronological order - so your most recent achievements are listed first. Your academic achievements, research interests and specialist skills should be placed on the first page. Ensure that your writing style is scholarly but clearly understood to those outside of your field of interest. Include details of your specialist skills, research outcomes, potential future developments, and any funding or grants that you've received, conferences that you've attended, professional memberships that you've gained and publications that you've been featured in. However, what is bad about this form of CV is that sometimes, you may not have enough qualifications to list to follow this style which is why it is usually always the best to stick with the safe option (Traditional Style of CV) - by doing this, it ensures that all of the required information is there whilst also keeping to a professional standard.

Employment:
How would I use my CV to gain employment? I would be able to hand my CV out to different people so they could see my achievements, being made aware who am I and able to see whether or not I am the right person for the job. I hope to gain experience from College and working to put on my CV to help me gain employment in the Games Industry. Whilst writing my CV, I used a mixture of the 3 examples given, by doing so it means I can use the best parts of the 3 examples to make my CV as good as possible and best presentable to then give to an employer. As previously mentioned, it it essential to have a really good CV - this is basically your microphone, what I mean by this is that, this is how you communicate to the employers. They have no idea who you are and so it is your job to make them aware - by using your CV you are making yourself known to the employer, that way you will have a better chance of being employed. If you are speaking through the microphone (qualifications/achievements on your CV) - it will show who you are as a person and whether you are a right fit, some people may have a better speaking voice (qualifications), so you need to make sure to have as many qualifications as possible to ensure you are right for the job. This is why I am hoping to get as much experience as possible via various methods, including; College (the Games Design course I am currently taking), Work Experience in the Industry, making games myself and generally speaking improving my understanding of how the Games Industry works all-together. By doing this, it will not only improve my CV but open the possibilities elsewhere. 

Bibliography:

Curriculum vitae (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curriculum_vitae (Accessed: 20 December 2016).

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Written (2016) Example CVs. Available at: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/cvs-and-cover-letters/example-cvs (Accessed: 20 December 2016).

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