David Denny

CV WINNERS MANUSCRIPT 2019G edited

First published by GREENMAN PUBLISHING 2019

Copyright © 2019 by David Denny

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

First edition

This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy
Find out more at reedsy.com

1

CVWINNERS - FREE CV GUIDE by David Denny

There are a thousand and one CV advice books out there, with a thousand and one CV types and philosophies on what your CV should look like on the page. All of this adds to the immense confusion to those seeking advice. CV writing is not rocket science; anyone can write an effective CV with sound advice and writing methodology, which this guide gives.

Your CV is a key to a door, a carefully crafted key designed to open a particular lock.

One CV for ALL jobs won’t do the trick. You need to make your CV, along with the covering letter, fit the job specification for the job you want. Then tweak it and fine-tune, or the door to the interview room remains firmly locked. This CV guide will illuminate what you are attempting to do, and show you how to do it, step by step.

Good Luck with your job hunting

David Denny

PART TWO: Your CV and its Life!

So once I write and post my CV, what happens to it?

So; you spend hours writing it and get so involved in it that eventually, you begin to lose sight (and objectivity) of why you have written it. You fumble over what you need to put in it. The spell checker picks up endless spelling mistakes. The grammar check makes you write grammatically precise sentences, and you are still not sure it says what you want. But then, with some urgency, you send it off anyway.

By the time you have finished it and got it in the post, there are hundreds of other C. V.s already on the recruiter’s desk and in their email box. In some cases, there is a cut off once they reach a certain number C. V.s arrive. The recruiter hasn’t the time and knows he can fish out a few great candidates from the pile he has already created. So perhaps you don’t make the cut even though you meet the specifications of the job -your CV ends up in the shredder. It’s unlikely anyone will keep you on file. So you need to act fast!

If by some chance you do slip in before the ‘cut off’ number or date, it’s most likely you will go into a sifting for a shortlist reading. In some companies and agencies, it’s not a decision-maker or direct management individual who does the sifting. It’s often a lower-level time-challenged employee who will pick out the C. V.s that obviously meet the person specification and generally look presentable.

So off goes your successfully sifted CV to a ‘short lister’. This person does the same, but with a more experienced and technically focussed eye perhaps – and probably a bit more time, and often applying their unpublished person specification to it.

If you pass this stage, you have made it into the interview room, and your CV will accompany you there! Remember what you wrote and always take yours with you.

The story is often the same of those CVs who sit in electronic systems and databases waiting to be pulled – except its keywords and categories that matter here, waiting for the recruiters’ search. If you do have such CVs, then try to check them regularly,

update them and make sure your aims with the CV remain the same.

And don’t believe the same CV, will do for all jobs. You need two or three versions – at least a different type of CV, for each job type.

ALWAYS REVIEW the PERSON SPECIFICATION and how your CV MEETS and MATCHES IT

3. Some Top Tips

Here are a few tips to digest fully, before you get to the main task of writing your CV – bear them in mind when writing! I make no excuses for repeating myself with the principal points throughout this short guide; I want them in your head!

In the first instance you CV will probably NOT be read by a decision-maker at all. It will be sifted through by administrators and various gatekeepers to see you match the critical points of the person specification. It is not uncommon to be electronically scanned for the same purpose. Make sure it is Clear and Accessible

.

PART THREE - CONTENT – ACCESSIBILITY – IMPACT

Your CV has to answer the person specification found with most job applications OR at least the Job Advert requirement. For speculative applications, it’s the same – imagine you are applying for a particular job. It’s going into a MATCHING PROCESS.

# Your CV needs the appropriate content to meet the above requirement.

# The content needs to be clear and concise, don’t ramble and don’t worry too much about precise grammar – unless it’s a job requirement.

# Your CV needs to be well laid out, on decent paper (if being used in such a way) but the visual impression should be good instantly in all cases.

# Your CV needs an excellent structure to make the information accessible to the reader quickly – interviews, like first impressions with your CV count. A poorly laid out CV with a small, obscure font might end up on the scrap pile without even being read!

# Sending a CV electronically? Make sure it’s in an accessible format that the recipient can open. Later Word or Adobe, for example. If it’s pasted into the email, make sure that it retains its formatting when opened – test this by sending to a friend.

So make sure you know what they are asking. Ensure your CV gives it ALL to them in a clear and easily accessible format. Do this, and then you make the shortlist for the decision-makers perusal.

PART FOUR Hints & Tips – Language and Layout

# Try and match the person specification, consider your CV as an application form – because it is! Write your CV with the person specification in mind, or the absence of one, use the actual job advert along with some research of similar *job profiles for the skills and abilities needed.

*Try https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/job-profiles/home

# Don’t use the same CV time and time again for different jobs – it will not work because it won’t MATCH the job specifications.

# If there is no CV/covering letter-person specification match it will probably fail to get you to the next step.

# Use short and concise sentences and avoid over-complicated language and punctuation.

# You need to Construct sentences that are easy to read, which is essential because shortlisting staff have little time and are often not the decision-makers.

# Format your CV with simple fonts such as Arial. Use standard font sizes up to 14 except for headings. Make you name big enough to be very easily read, but not so big it makes you look like a self-absorbed lunatic.

# For MOST purposes, two pages are sufficient. Put them on one sheet of paper, back to back – this avoids the possibility of losing one of the leaves – it does happen too often!. Producing a CV on one sheet of paper also gives conveys other information. For example, about environmental awareness, economical bits of intelligence and the fact you have the technical knowledge to produce a CV on one piece of paper!

PART FIVE Hints & Tips – Content and Format

# Include contact details such phone number, email and address, postal address. There is NO reason to include age, marital status or sexual orientation! Keep details up to date always –a list of where your CV is posted in job sites etc. is still useful if you have changed contact details.

# Ensure employment history, including title and dates, can be easily read and each laid out in the same style. Order them with the most recent first. DON’T cover your CV with bullet-pointed lists. Some are OK, but over-use of bullet points not recommended.

# If you have a long work history use the last 5-6 years, and then summarise other significant and relevant work history, perhaps as a list, depending on space available.

# Include your personal and past achievements in a separate sector - remember, voluntary work and other experience outside work is often relevant to the job you apply for.

# When any particular qualifications are requested in the person specification, make sure you enter them as written in the person specification. The CV might be scanned electronically for them, your spelling might not match and you’d bee assessed as not having required qualifications.

# Ensure you have appropriate referees ready for different applications. Either attach references (space permitting) or state that they’re available.

# ALWAYS ask your referees that you can use them if you are providing their details on the CV as recruiters may contact them without asking you in advance, something you don’t want if you didn’t approach them for permission, don’t assume if you haven’t requested they still will provide - be courteous and they will...

And Finally, use spell checking tools when creating, but don’t rely on them for your final draft – FIND SOME HUMAN EYES. This also works on getting an opinion on the impression your CV gives from someone else. Grammar checks can be turned off. As long as it’s clear, it needs NOT to conform to stringent grammatical rules.

PART SIX. Before you begin – Skills Evaluation.

Something I have slipped into this CV is a collection of skills under the heading #SKILL PROFILE.

A CV is a collection of skills you possess – your skill and knowledge set. It isn’t that easy to come up with such a list off the top of your head. You have to bear in mind that you should be able to substantiate, qualify, and quantify the elements concerning how long, where and when, if asked.

Compiling your SKILL PROFILE is an excellent exercise to assess what skills and experiences you have, you’ll surprise yourself!! So do it.

SO HOW DO I DO IT?

You could do the proverbial ‘brainstorm’ or a little ‘mind-mapping’. Also, go and take a look at the SKILLS SECTION on the *Résumé Writing Dictionary. You’ll soon have a great list of skills you never even knew you had which you can use in the CV.

*http://www.resumedictionary.com/resume-skills-checklist/

WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE?

This is the Skills Profile I included in my CV as a distinct section. It’s easy to edit to match specific person specifications.

Counselling, Career Counseling, Educational Advice, Benefits and Welfare knowledge, Resume Writing, Coaching, Mentoring, Event Management, Public Speaking, Workshop Delivery, Writing, Microsoft Office, Staff Development, Personal Development, Interviewing, Administration. Social Media, Performance Management, Policy, Problem Solving, Fundraising, Planning, Event Planning, Supervision and Management Skills.

Usually, people find it easy to come up with a few essential skills, and then find they have a lot more to offer. It is a very worthwhile exercise before writing your CV – I recommend it!

So let’s begin to Write!

1. LAYOUTS?

There are a thousand and one CV writers and Advisers who will suggest as many different types of CV. This mass of information muddies the water when attempting to provide guidance is writing a CV. In my opinion, you can do a lot with the layout I am suggesting here!

There is No real format that can be raised above others. As long as your CV meets the crucial criteria of Accessibility and Clarity discussed previously, it will work.

The CV layout below is a generic and flexible one, with a few aspects I have added, which will generally function and perform well in most individuals circumstances. Once compiled, the sections can be moved around to fit particular needs. But for the general job seeker and career changer, it’s not so much the format as the content which is essential.

ESSENTIAL SECTIONS ON YOUR CV

These sections are the elementary information sections, each with specific requirements and ways which they can be made most effective, transparent and accessible. I have put them in a general order which provides essential information fast.

I will provide a step by step guide to each section. Most CV formats will have these sections in one form or another, organised for maximum effect for the type of application. If you are responding to job adverts or applying speculatively, the CV Winners format is most effective and widely used, familiar to the reader. It makes the most sense in terms of easy, quick access to information by the reader.

SUGGESTED LAYOUT GUIDE

NAME, ADDRESS, CONTACT DETAILS

OVERVIEW/SUMMARY/CAREER GOALS

GENERIC WORK EXPERIENCE SUMMARY

SKILLS PROFILE

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

EDUCATION

PERSONAL INFORMATION

HOBBIES & INTERESTS

REFEREES

2. NAME, ADDRESS, CONTACT DETAILS

General Stuff:

As I have suggested before, use a decent quality of white or cream paper, a simple standard font like Arial – a size of 10-12 for body text, perhaps 14 for headings. Any of this can change if you are trying to shrink your CV to 2 pages. Incidentally, two pages was once a Résumé standard. Two pages back to back are generally seen as preferable for C.V.s in general terms nowadays. But it’s by no means fixed. Bear in mind that ‘more IS more’ when it comes to CVs.

Name and contact details

A straightforward section that you can get wrong, you might think?

# In my experiences as a recruiter, it is quite definitely is something that you can get wrong. It’s the first thing seen, and it’s a first impression – of the writer of the CV - YOU.

# First your name – Put your full name here, no initials, miss out your middle name if it’s perhaps a little peculiar or very uncommon.

# Centre your name and make it a few sizes more prominent than the standard text you are going to use. I suggest Arial 16, but experiment. Do not make it insanely huge – make it the first thing that comes into focus!

# Avoid Photographs unless you’re a model or entertainer – people can be so fickle with a photo and shred you because they don’t like your looks!. It happens!!

#Keep it simple - boxes are acceptable, but keep them simple and purposeful, if you must use them – and don’t use for some decorative effect.

#Address and postcode, include these on next line

#Email and phones – one each of mobile and landline. No more is needed unless requested.

No more is required — no need for marital status, sexual orientation or age here – or indeed any personal information. There is a section for that later, and it still not a requirement other than certain ‘excluded occupations’ when the sex of an applicant might be important.

3. OVERVIEW/SUMMARY/CAREER GOALS

People always have trouble with this part. Like the proverbial eating of an elephant and should be approached that way – in bite-sized chunks. But it’s easy when you consider what I have said all along here – it’s about meeting a person specification, and it’s about being clear and concise.

Paragraph length should be relatively short, a snappy advert for YOU and your skills and experience, with and an eye always on the person specification. It might also be more of a collection of sentences than a strict paragraph. I stick my neck out and tell people that grammar isn’t essential in a CV, but clarity is.

What do I call it? This section gets titled in different ways for different purposes. If the CV is pointed at a particular job either in response to adverts or speculatively, then call it a SUMMARY. If it’s a career starting CV, then display your objectives here, alongside your skills and experience, personal attributes and qualities. What it’s called isn’t that important – it’s what is in it that is.

First Person or Third Tense? The jury is out for me on this. I prefer the third tense when reading and writing. Using a narrative first-person ‘I’ comes more naturally to many – and both are good if the style is kept consistent in the CV.

Content – What do I put in? Well, what does the sifter or recruiter want to see? They want to see the person specification there (or parts of it summarised), or a refection of the job advert. They want to tick boxes.

Pull out the person spec/job description ‘Essentials and Desirables’ and make a list. Does it require a particular skill or qualification, a level of experience in some aspect? Now relate these yours? Write a few sentences to summarise you in this light.

Then perhaps add a few personal attributes (e.g. hard working, flexible, driven and adaptable) related to the post or its environs. Maybe an objective can be included– which refers to the company and their goals (you did research the company right?)

So THREE bites make the whole thing more digestible:

1) Jobs Essentials from person specification that you have – quantities information is excellent (“20 years as a gamekeeper”)

2) Personal Attributes – flexible, adaptable, friendly, hardworking,

3) A single line summary of your vocational objective related to the company and job – an option but good!

The previous information should get you moving in the right direction and have you create something that will have an IMPACT. Impact means relating to the person specification, the information and match the recruiter is looking for, in a format that’s easily accessed.

Here’s an example from my CV. It’s probably useful to present what I preach and to show you how it might pan out and the length and style in a real situation. This example was used and got me on shortlists, especially when a CV was the means of application, and no other factors included.

“Highly qualified and widely experienced Level 6 Employability and Careers guidance professional with a successful track record. David has worked with adults and young people in a comprehensive range of different contexts and clients and customers. Very approachable, adaptable and flexible, an innovative and intuitive people person with a proven track record of developing ideas and delivering to targets in challenging settings. A professional communicator with the ability to build positive relationships with a high level of empathy with all levels of people. Creative and analytical, able to work effectively in a team and individual contexts. ”

Use of Words – choose what comes naturally to you, after all your CV is about YOU. There is a school of thought that suggests the usage of ‘power verbs’*. I think it’s overused. If you look at my CV, I don’t use many. It’s not my style or me, and the suggestion that C.V.s are scanned for so-called ‘positive power verbs’, isn’t that widespread. But add a healthy sprinkle if you wish!

More here:-*http://www.jobskills.info/resume_edge/power_verb.htm

As for personal attributes that are vocationally valued – look here, or ask how your friends would describe you. More here:-

*http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/skills-and-personal-qualities-that-employers-want.html

4. MAIN SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

This section is an excellent place to bullet point your PRIMARY SKILLS and EXPERIENCE to emphasise what you do daily. To a certain extent reinforcing and expanding the ‘snapshot’ or summary, you have written previously. It’s not a repeat of your summary; it’s a natural expansion. Give the reader a fuller picture of what you are about and again priming the match to the person specification.

The latter is why I asked you to do a skill evaluation earlier. You should now EASILY access your primary skills and experience areas, and bullet point them – choose them carefully and don’t overdo the list.

Here is an example of how this looked on my CV.

Main Skills and Experience

-One to one advice and guidance at all levels of ability.

-Group and workshop delivery from small groups to 300 plus.

-Work with all age groups and educational levels.

-Work in Higher Education, Further Education, schools, prisons, YOIs, community-based projects. Welfare to work, job centres.

-Management and supervisory experience, staff development.

-Planning, management and administration skills in management roles and self-employment.

-Fully I.T. competent with knowledge of web-based delivery systems.

So what we are looking for is a bulleted pointed list of your primary skills areas. These should be stacked to match the skills and experience as outlined in the, yes you’ve got it, the person specification, or as outlined requirements in an advert.

This section will CONNECT your Summary to the Actual Employment History coming up on your CV next, pulling the reader through the CV in a positive manner. Each section is reinforcing how you MATCH the PERSON SPECIFICATION.

5. SKILLS PROFILE – I asked you to do this before you wrote your CV earlier in the guide. You can use this section, but don’t make it too long and even leave it out if you need space to get your CV onto two pages. It’s a blow by blow outline of ALL your skills and bolsters the last section. In some contexts, it might be too much, but it can work in well if the CV is likely to be scanned for keywords.

To RECAP on how to do it – Read on. Here’s what I include on my CV

SKILLS PROFILE

Counselling, Career Counseling, Educational Advice, Benefits and Welfare knowledge, Résumé and CV Writing, Coaching, Mentoring, Event Management, Public Speaking, Workshop Delivery, Writing, Microsoft Office, Staff Development, Personal Development, Interviewing, Administration. Social Media, Performance Management, Policy, Problem Solving, Fundraising, Planning, Event Planning, Supervision and Management Skills.

It is isn’t that easy to come up with such a list off the top of your head. You have to bear in mind that you should be able to substantiate and even quantify, the elements concerning how long, where and when.

Compiling your SKILL SET or PROFILE is an excellent exercise to assess what skill and experiences you have, you’ll surprise yourself!! So do this. You’ll suddenly focus, and it will become clear where your significant skills and experience/knowledge lie.

SO HOW DO I DO IT?

You could do the proverbial ‘brainstorm’ or a little mind mapping. Alternatively, you could go and take a look at the SKILLS SECTION on the Résumé writing dictionary (link provided previously). Soon you’ll have a great list of skills you never even knew you had which you can use in the CV,

*http://www.resumedictionary.com/resume-skills-checklist/

Once you have done it, then slip it into the CV here. It’s not something you will find on many C.V.s, and you could treat it as an option – but put it in and see how it works.

6. EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Find a simple layout for each job you feel happy with. You will need to include EMPLOYER, JOB TITLE, DATES and an overview of what you have done in that role. Here’s an example where I worked on a short term project:-

CAREER ADVISER - Foston Hall Prison - Lincoln College

March 2011 – October 2011 (8 months) Derby

Working part-time (21hours) at Foston Hall HMP Women’s Prison as a Careers Information Advice Service adviser on a fixed-term

contract. Provided one to one guidance, group work and introductory talks, assessing for prison education, providing help on applying for Higher Education and other courses to inmates. Administration and report writing. Liaison with the Education Department and other prison departments and staff.

Here be very specific and describe what you did, but as succinctly as possible. The CV reader already knows you have the skills and experience from previous sections. Now they want to see you prove it – you are nearly there, nearly shortlisted.

You can bullet point here if you have space, but fewer bullets points are always good if you can. When writing in a narrative, the first-person style can also work if you have that skill to be clear and concise in that way.

HOW MUCH EMPLOYMENT HISTORY DO I PUT IN?

My rule is to put five years, and then summarise other relevant experience beyond this as a list if it’s appropriate. Most employers wouldn’t be interested in what you did beyond this unless you were doing this job 20 years ago.

7 EDUCATION & TRAINING

Once again, we are looking to match the person specification, and perhaps a little bit more. SO include qualifications and courses listed as ESSENTIAL and DESIRABLE in the Job Specification.

Format as the Employment Section, keep it easy to read, include qualification names as laid out in the person spec, in case it is scanned for the latter. If it asks for English and Maths etc., include them also and specifically in terms of where and when – for all other secondary qualifications, you can list in a general way.

IF you have done a lot of company or specialist training, then include it. Especially if it’s a requirement for the post as it displays your willingness to train and improve yourself.

8. PERSONAL INFORMATION

Any other information you feel is relevant and not covered elsewhere is welcome here, but there are no essentials. Most –people will include experiences and qualifications in a general sense, such as car or equipment licenses etc.

Age, marital status could be put here, if you must, but not mandatory unless the job is in an ‘exempted’ category.

9. HOBBIES & INTERESTS

Reading and walking the dog, those old chestnuts? Obscure activities and hobbies? Just a section to mull over for 30 seconds and not important? Not relevant? THINK AGAIN!!

Many recruiters, or at least those who are going to line manage you, want to know more about the NON-VOCATIONAL you. They want to see the person behind the person specification.

Therefore, throw it all in; show how you are a little different, how you stand out, or how you are a human behind the CV. When a recruiter has 20 people as potential candidates, and only six interview slots, one of the ways to split them is by reading sections of hobbies and interests. (One way, but not all)

Be wary of including odd or anti-social activities. Avoid anything which might present a personality which won’t fit the company culture or ethos, or seen as anti-social etc. You did research the company, didn’t you?!

So here again is how the ‘none vocational’ me, carefully selected may I say, and with some stuff strategically excluded filled my Hobbies and Interests spot!

“Personal projects have included the setting up and running of the local Civic Society as Secretary, also Uttoxeter Archaeology Society which provided after school club in primary schools for five years. Founder of Local Community Action Group. Described as a community leader and social activist. Sole Organiser of the Uttoxeter May Festival for nine years. I am a keen writer of prose and poetry and have work in the latter category regularly published, part-time actor and film extra. I am a trained hypnotist and have experience of psychodynamic counselling and NLP.”

Get the idea? This guy is undoubtedly qualified and what’s more – possibly attractive to some!

10. And finally REFERENCES

My preference is to use “AVAILABLE ON REQUEST” It’s simple and generally accepted, and saves a lot of space.

Get the permission of the referee before you include them. If a recruiter rings your referee and you haven’t asked permission, and you have just taken the liberty of doing so, they might say refuse. And recruiter will have a few your character traits they don’t like perhaps! Otherwise, don’t take the chance and use “Available on Request” when application time is limited.

Some companies will ask you for references before the interview if you are a leading candidate if you don’t list them in full. The advantage of this approach is that you can choose and contact them without having to sit on your CV and wait. Where there are large numbers of candidates, this will take up crucial time.

IF you have some in mind and know they will provide information, you can use TWO as a general rule – one work-related if possible, and most recent. Include WORK addresses, phone and email contact details.

11. NOW, WHAT?

A few things to remember:-

Use this CV as a general starting point, your basic, from which others can derive for other jobs. It’s also a starting point for any application, as it (and your skills profile) puts all the information at your fingertips.

Always read the person specification or the job advert carefully and see how your CV matches it – tweak as required always. If you apply for the same type of job STILL check. If it’s different jobs, then once again use the theory here to each section in an attempt to MATCH. The phrase “on this occasion, we had clients better matching the requirements of the job...” is often due to bashing out the same CV at jobs.

Apply the same procedure to stored online C. V.s on sites such as CV Library, Monster, Jobsite. It is quick and easy to hit the ‘Send CV’ Button, but it is not wise or profitable...

The CV I have given you here is not original in its composition. It’s one you can move sections around, and maybe lose one or two. And that’s the key; eeping it flexible and adaptable to each new opportunity which comes along.

Good luck and Happy Job Hunting

David Denny

Feel free to email me with comments or for some brief advice on the CV you produce with this guide.

daviddenny@live.co.uk

About the Author

David Denny was born in Uttoxeter, England in 1959. His career has taken him all over the U.K. and abroad. He has worked as a manager, recruiter and advising on the opposite side of the recruitment desk to job applicant and career changers at all levels.

After ten years in the Motor Industry, David spent 25 years as an employment and career adviser, which took him all around the U.K. He took in all types of illuminating work from prisons to Universities, meeting many interesting people from all walks of life.

David was described as a pioneer in the area of career guidance on the internet, working on the debut sites of AOL and Jobsite as a content provider, consultant and expert, amongst other activities. His career guidance site, Careerzone-uk.com, was a groundbreaking market leader for many years, with around 30K visitors a day at its peak back in the late 1990s.

His career started in Essex in a traditional role as a career adviser in schools and colleges. As his career developed, he moved into work with adults and has worked in the community, on welfare to work programmes, the community and jobcentres and male and female prisons.

In 2002 he set off again with his own company Career Changers.co.uk. He provided career guidance, assessment and employment advice to adults across the U.K. His clients ranging from chief executives of large companies to ambitious career changers of all ages.

He lives in North Wales

DAVID DENNY

Phone: (Mobile 07999 50619 (Home) 01283 84060

daviddenny@liv.co.uk

Summary

I am a fully qualified and widely experienced L6 Employment and IAG adviser with 25 years of successful front line practical experience in education, welfare to work, prisons and training. I have worked with adults and young people in a comprehensive range of different contexts and clients and customers, including Jobcentres and welfare to work. A very approachable, charismatic and personable, adaptable and flexible, innovative and intuitive people person with a proven track record of developing ideas and delivering to targets in challenging settings.

I am a professional communicator, with direct sales experience, with the ability to build positive relationships with a high level of empathy with all levels of people in target driven environments. Creative and analytical, able to work effectively in a team and individual contexts.

Experience

Successfully provided one to one advice and guidance at all levels of ability.

Delivered group and workshop delivery from small groups to 300 plus.

I have worked with all age groups and educational levels.

Work in Higher Education, Further Education, schools, prisons, YOIs, community-based projects. Welfare to work, jobcentres.

Good knowledge of welfare, benefits, debt advice and educational adviser.

Successful management and supervisory experience, effective and efficient staff development and professional management of mixed-level teams up to 24 across three centres and outreach locations.

15 years of direct sales and field representative experience in the motor industry

Flexible and adaptable, good time manager, evidenced as successful work delivering temporary contracts.

Planning, management and administration skills in management roles and self-employment. Successful tendering of project bids up to 5 million.

Fully I.T. competent with knowledge of web-based delivery systems.

Previous successful work as direct sales and area representative in the Motor Trade

Skills

Counselling, Career Counselling, Educational Advice, Direct Sales, Benefits and Welfare knowledge, Resume Writing, Coaching, Mentoring, Event Management, Public Speaking, Workshop Delivery, Writing, Microsoft Office, Staff Development, Personal Development, Interviewing, Administration. Social Media, Performance Management, Policy, Problem Solving, Fundraising, Planning, Event Planning, Supervision and Management Skills.

Employment

SELF EMPLOYED IAG Consultant –East and West Midlands

October 2011 - present

Providing independent one to one IAG services on a contract basis via Agencies and Contract Career Companies. Locum work in schools and on IAG contracts’ in the West and East Midlands when staff off sick to maintain contract delivery. This included work one to own work with Adults in Welfare to Work, Schoolwork and some Tertiary. Also, online assessment and guidance, formally David Denny Consulting.

CAREER ADVISER - Foston Hall Prison - Lincoln CollegeMarch 2011 – October 2011 (8 months)Derbys - Working part-time at Foston Hall HMP Women’s Prison as a Careers Information Advice Service adviser on a fixed-term contract. Providing one to one guidance, group work and introductory talks, assessing for prison education, providing help on applying for Higher Education and other courses to inmates. Administration and report writing. Liaison with the Education Department and other prison departments and staff.

CAREER AND EMPLOYMENT ADVISER - David Denny Consulting

January 2000 – March 2011 - Freelance career adviser providing independent consultancy services to individuals and businesses at all levels. Working on individual contracts for organisations. IAG Assessment developer.

IAG ADVISER - Telford and Wrekin CouncilJuly 2009 – July 2010 - Providing information advice and guidance to unemployed adults as part of ‘Next Step’ contract across Shropshire Jobcentres. One to one work-focused interviews, transferable skill assessment, group work and presentations, CV writing, providing reports and completing the appropriate paperwork. Working to quality standards.

GUIDANCE ADVISER - The Manchester CollegeFebruary 2008 – December 2008 - Career Guidance adviser, youth liaison work, welfare and student support, providing advice on careers, education, finances and general information and advocacy to college students of all levels in a busy, multi-ethnic city-centre environment. Providing one to one interviews and group works on topics from career choice to higher education funding. Career Planning and course advice, enrolment interviewing.

Other Relevant PostsEMPLOYMENT ADVISER - The Richmond Fellowship Stoke Feb 2008 – March 2008GUIDANCE AND WELFARE ADVISER - City College ManchesterJuly 2007 – December 2007 IAG ADVISER High - Peak & Derby Connexions November 2006 – July 2007 CAREER AND EMPLOYMENT ADVISER - Banbury Connexions Oct 2006 – Nov 2006 CAREER AND EMPLOYABILITY ADVISER - Coventry University February 2006 – July 2006 SELF EMPLOYED CAREER CONSULTANT Career Changers Oct 2002 – Feb 2006 ASSISTANT DIVISIONAL MANAGER Staffordshire Connexions July 1999 – Oct 2002 Previous experience in work as a Sales and Area Representative in the Motor Industry pre - 1990EducationStaffordshire University 1990 – 1993 - B.A. (Hons), Philosophy and Politics 2:1College of Guidance Studies 1993-1995 - Diploma in Career Guidance Part One and TwoPersonal InfoFull clean driving license and own vehicle. Personal projects have included the setting up and running of the local Civic Society as Secretary, also Uttoxeter Archaeology Society which provided after school club in primary schools for five years. Founder of Local Community Action Group. Described as a community leader and social activist. Sole Organiser of the Uttoxeter May Festival for nine years. I am a keen writer of prose and poetry and have work in the latter category regularly published, part-time actor and film extra. I am a trained hypnotist and have experience of psychodynamic counselling and NLP.References Available on Request

* * *

Feel free to email me with comments or for some brief advice on the CV you produce with this guide. Happy to help!