Employability and Careers Blog: Info and Advice for AUT Students and Graduates

Applying for jobs does take time. To put your best self forward and give yourself a decent chance, you need a focused CV and cover letter. Many students question the need for a cover letter. Well, our recent employer survey found that 78.5% of the respondents want a cover letter. Find out more about what they consider a good cover letter.

How do you show your best side to a potential employer? By using your CV as your marketing tool. It is usually your CV that will land you a job interview! Here is how to make it work for you!

Tips on how to put together an effective creative portfolio were offered by two experienced industry experts, Milk NZ managing director Ben Reid and senior studio creative Steve Grant, at a presentation on creative portfolios held recently at AUT. Read more about their advice here.

A quick CV check was all Anna Erwood wanted when she attended an AUT Employability and Careers CV workshop. However, the array of tips she picked up to further improve her CV really impressed her. She signed up for other workshops that improved her LinkedIn profile and interview skills and increased her understanding of her values and work preferences. It’s well worth doing, she says.

Students often ask whether they should bother with writing a cover letter. When I surveyed 15 employers recently about CVs and cover letters, I found six of them read a candidate’s cover letter before they read their CV – yep before! Only two employers considered a cover letter optional. So short answer - yes, it is worthwhile. Here’s are some of those employers' thoughts on cover letters.

Do you look at your CV and feel it is a bit thin on activities and experience? How do you show an employer you’re good at being organised or team work, when you don’t have any proof? Have you ever considered the benefits of volunteering.

LinkedIn profiles that include a picture are 14 times more likely to be seen, according to LinkedIn research. This makes your profile picture a very important part of your LinkedIn profile whether you want to have your photo up there or not.

Want to know how to create a more detailed story of you, your brand, your passions and the route your career is taking that can be accessed by potential employers? Emma O’Mahony from Robert Walters specialist recruitment agency generously gave me time to explain why she swears by LinkedIn as a recruitment tool.

A great online portfolio showcases your creative skills and helps you stand out when applying for jobs. Read our 8 tips on how to start to create a great online presence that will help you find work.

How do you put your best self forward when applying for design or other creative roles? By providing a CV and online portfolio – yes you need both and they need to be separate.