II – Analyse Current Practise

CV analysis.

Some of the pro’s of this CV is that it shows off a range of colours and shapes that the person has done. It is very eye catching which is needed for a CV like this. Creative media needs creative cv’s so to have this dystopian plinth shown is very unique and definitely caught my eye whilst looking online for CV’s. It is very important it has a lot of information about the person in question and this cv definitely has that. I like how it lists their skills and with what applications. I also like their profile section, it’s straight to the point and isn’t too informal or formal. Everything is easy to see the text is big enough and a colour that doesn’t look too ugly compared to the background and fits in very well. Everything is relevant to what is shown on the CV and what is expected to be put on one.

Something that takes away from it is the lack on what they have actually done on the cv. It is very blank in terms of what they have done in the past. This could be down to the fact this cv has a few pages and all I was able to find is this page shown above but it leaves you wanting to know more which a CV shouldn’t do. There is a lot of writing which doesn’t make it 100% clear to read and can drag quite a bit. There is only one font used throughout which looks like Ariel black. Which is quite thick and although I like it, a lot of people don’t so it may not be the best font to use on a CV like this.

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The second CV I have to examine is one here by someone called Amelie Wallace. I like this one quite a lot because it offers a bit more than what you expect from a CV. It reminds me of a main menu on a DVD, this is because you have tons of options of things to explore and little Easter eggs hidden waiting to be found. By this I mean when you look further into the CV itself you can see little pie charts that your eye gets drawn to that show off her skills and it’s a good way to keep the reader interested. I also like how the person has kept the layout looking very clean and tidy. Her name and all her personal information is placed to the top and left hand side and the right side is sectioned off for the long paragraphs. It shows how clean and tidy the person is as well as how much they take care with presentation which could come in very well with the job. This CV is very clear and is very informative. Everything about it is relevant and simplified making it easy for the employer to analyse it especially if they have a lot of CV’s to look at. The font choices are very clear and simple. Nothing too fancy but its a nice unique font that isn’t the common Ariel font.

I don’t have many negatives about this CV except for the fact it could do with a little bit of colour but that’s just me nitpicking. I really like this one, especially the fact there is a picture reference too. Everything about it just comes together to look really nice.

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Showreel analysis.

This showreel by Niklas Christl is very fast and upbeat. It highlights all the breathtaking shots taken by Christl. The titles are just a plain title card right at the very end that lasts a couple second with a unique font and is on beat with the music.

The showreel is in 4k which means it is shown in very high quality and looks amazing. Most people who check out this showreel who are looking for someone to hire will factor this in quite a lot because it goes to show they have some very good and expensive equipment.

The music is not very drowning at all and compliments the shots very well, It’s not too loud and fits with the tones of the showreel as well. Overall Niklas Christl made a very compelling showreel. One negative is that there are no contact details actually in the showreel. This makes it very hard for companies to contact you because they have no easy way of doing it. Although there is a contact email in the description of the video, there isn’t anything in the video itself.

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One thing that stood out a lot with this showreel was the awards that Jack Burke had won, I feel this is quite important and the fact they’re shown on screen will help filmmakers be able to choose him. The music is although very loud, fits rather well with the shots and shows the wide range of skills the director has and easily shows all the different types of shots he has done in the past. The shots chosen use a lot of breathtaking shots.

It is quite short. Although fitting in everything that needs to be put into the showreel it is quite short and sweet. I’d made it a little bit longer if I was making the showreel.

The font is quite small and although bold and white it stands out very well. The choice to do all the writing in white is a good choice because all the award logos are also in white meaning that it all fits in very very well.

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Overall, I have learned a lot watching these showreels. They need to be quick and upbeat. Not too long maybe 1-2 minutes. The text needs to be bright clear and stand out from the shots I need to put some sort of contact details at the end as well. This will help anyone who’s looking for more details easily contact me. There needs to be music that will be is in beat with the shots and all the shots show the wide range of what I can do.

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How to write a cover letter.

From the article: How to write a Cover letter by Amber Rolfe – https://www.reed.co.uk/career-advice/how-to-write-a-cover-letter/

Although there are no set rules on how your cover letter should be structured, making sure it flows well is vital if you want to impress recruiters.

Here’s a rough guideline on what to include when writing a cover letter:

Opening the letter – Why are you getting in touch?

The opening paragraph should be short and to the point, explaining why you’re getting in touch. It’s also useful to include where you found the ad i.e. as advertised on reed.co.uk. If someone referred you, mention their name in this section.

Example: I wish to apply for the role of IT Manager, currently being advertised on reed.co.uk. Please find enclosed my CV for your consideration.

Second paragraph – Why are you suitable for the job?

Briefly describe your professional and academic qualifications that are relevant to the role and ensure you refer to each of the skills listed in the job description.

Example: As you can see from my attached CV, I have over three years’ experience in the IT Industry, and I believe the knowledge and skills built up during this time make me the perfect candidate for the role.

Third paragraph – What can you do for the company?

Now’s your opportunity to emphasise what you can do for the company. Outline your career goals (making it relevant to the position you’re applying for) and expand on pertinent points in your CV – including examples to back up your skills.

Example: In my current role as Senior Marketing Executive at Software Company X Ltd, I have been responsible for increasing incoming client enquiries for our B2B product lines by 156% in under 12 months, which helped the business increase its revenue by 55% year-on-year.

Fourth paragraph – Reiterate

Here’s where you reiterate your interest in the role and why you would be the right fit for the role. It’s also a good time to indicate you’d like to meet with the employer for an interview.

Example: 
I am confident that I can bring this level of success with me to your company and help IT Company LTD build upon their reputation as one the UK’s fastest-growing software houses. With my previous experience and expertise, I believe I can start actively contributing to the business as soon as possible.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss my application further.

Closing the letter

Sign off your cover letter with ‘Yours sincerely’ (if you know the name of the hiring manager), or ‘Yours faithfully’ (if you don’t), followed by your name.

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And finally from the article “How to Write a Cover Letter” – https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/blog/guide/how-to-write-a-cover-letter/

A cover letter is your chance to elaborate on relevant skills and experience in your CV by telling stories of past accomplishments and successes while explaining how they are relevant to the position you are applying for.

In order to write an effective cover letter you need to know the basic format and high points that you need to cover before you can write a great cover letter.

Here’s what you should include in a cover letter: 

1. Your contact information at the top 
2. The specific role that you’re applying to 
3. An address to the hiring manager 
4. A brief description of why you’re a good fit for the role (more on this next)
5. Your relevant experience and skills 
6. A conclusion that reiterates your interest and ends with a call-to-action 
7. Your signature

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To summarise I’ve learnt that a cover letter needs to be not too informal but be slightly formal as well. It should reflect on the skills I have whilst telling the accomplishments I have made with the skills I have. They should also talk about what I can do for the company themselves as well as what I can bring to the job. This should be assessing all the skills that I will use at the job. I also will need to put in an address and some sort of contact information that I can be found at. Armed with all these tips and tricks I should be able to write a very good cover letter I can use for job interviews and when I progress in my career.

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