1. Put your contact information at the top of every page of the CV, rather than just on the first page. The employer won’t have to make any extra effort to contact you and if they lose a page of your CV, they’ll still be able to get in touch.
2. Keep it brief. Nothing makes a hiring manager want to go to sleep than a four page CV. Yaaaaaaawn.
3. Use a large font. There is no need to use a size 20 font of course, but a font of 10 may cause the employer to squint a lot and then give up and throw your CV on the reject pile.
4. Use buzzwords/keywords. Employers in one field tend to be looking for a certain set of skills, so make sure these skills are clearly visible and obvious on your CV. In other words, don’t write two paragraphs explaining how great you are at P.R. when you could instead list a particular P.R. skill that is essential to getting a job. Or maybe list the computer programmes you have studied rather than waxing lyrical about how great a computer programmer you are.
5. Add a photo to your CV. 99.9% of CVs do not contain a photo. A photo can definitely make you stand out from the crowd. Make sure you look professional in the photo though; don’t include the photo of yourself drenched in mud at Oxegen!
6. Don't just tailor the CV to the job; also tailor it to the company. Again use buzzwords/keywords and apply them to the mission statement of the company. Most mission statements can be found on the company website.
7. Make it clear and simple. Don’t ramble on and on when you could say the same thing in two sentences. Steer clear of big words, as you don’t want to seem like you swallowed a thesaurus. Plus, people get frustrated when they can’t understand something and they tend to just give up. There goes your CV onto that reject pile.
8. Come up with a unique presentation. One American student, Chris Spurlock, found that this method worked like a dream. He designed a CV using a graphic design format (rather than the traditional written method) and his CV went viral. He snagged a great job, even though he was just fresh out of college. He now works at The Huffington Post.
9. Think about creating a website or blog of your own and putting your CV up on it. If it is interesting enough, it could go viral, or even just attract suitable employers.
10. Include a brief video of yourself instead of the traditional cover letter. This will definitely make you stand out from the crowd.

Further Information

CVs

Career Choices

How to tailor a cover letter

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Image by Yo, adolescente: Memorias de mis 16 on Flickr

Bullying in Ireland is a real problem today.

The opportunity

In a new series for RTÉ, Clinical Psychologist, David Coleman wants to offer his expertise and therapeutic support to a number of young people who have been affected by bullying - either as a victim or as a bully. As well as offering counselling, David will use practical steps in an attempt to help teens and pre-teens gain perspective on their bullying experiences and show them ways to build their self-esteem.

Keen?

Get your parent or legal guardian to contact (yes, it's gotta be the folks, we checked!):

Call/Text: 087 416 4998
Email: info@firebrand.ie

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Inside the bathroom door of The George, at one of our dedicated Dyke nights ‘Pussywagon’, I stop dead in my tracks. Two lesbians stand before me at the washbasins, engaging in what I can only imagine to be a new form of lesbian foreplay. Head bent to one side, revealing a partially shaved hairstyle, one girl directs another’s hand across the shaved portion of her head, resulting an audible squeak of excitement from the other. As the night continues, the number of lesbian’s I encounter with similar hairstyle’s increases, and I can’t help but self consciously stroke my own long untouched hair. For not the first time I find myself wondering... Am I a real dyke? 

Since coming out, I have struggled to fit into the status quo ‘lesbionic’ role. I’ve suffered infected piercings, spent a ridiculous amount of money on Topshop shirts, purchased high top runners - hell I even bought a GOLA side bag not too long ago (our ownership of these bags must now be a two to one ratio girls!), and yet I can’t help but wonder whether this style is my own, or a style I feel I should own.

‘You’re not very lesbionic...’ so goes the opening line of an article I wrote a few years back for Ireland’s main LGBT magazine – Gay Community News. This observation on my appearance was made by a ‘butch’ lesbian at an LGBT youth group that I happened to be attending for the first time. So why did the girl that I refer to view me as being not very ‘lesbionic’? Was it because I had long hair of a certain length, which was and still is untouched by the blade of a razor? Or perhaps it was my light foundation and eye make up which made her sceptical of my sexuality?

This scepticism towards women who don’t fit into the stereotypical ‘lesbionic’ image (short hair, piercing’s, tattoos, boyish clothing etc) is rampant on the gay scene. Due to this, ‘fem’ lesbians can often feel pressured into disowning their femininity when they first hit the gay scene. I know one such ‘fem’ who completely transformed her appearance following constant negative attention and questioning about the authenticity of her sexuality from her lesbian peers.

True, in many cases, ‘fem’ girls appearances drastically change because coming out gives the girl in question the confidence to ditch the dress she has hated for the past few years and sport the clothes that reflect the real her. Yet, like the girl I speak of, there are a number of girls that feel that they have no other choice but to disown their femininity in order to be accepted by both the straight and LGBT community as a credible dyke.

Scepticism towards ‘fem’ girls who claim to be gay not only stems from the lesbian community, but also from people who are outside of it. Heterosexual men in particular are sometimes guilty of disbelieving ‘fem’ women’s assertations that they are gay. I know one ‘fem’ girl who constantly gets harassed on nights out with her straight friends in straight bars. On numerous occasions following a night out she has joked about shaving her head and exchanging her dress for a checked shirt - ‘Maybe they’ll believe me then and f**k off’ she recently exclaimed, understandably frustrated.

Sometimes this change of ‘image’ upon coming out has nothing to do with external pressure or judgement. It seems like many of us can feel an internal pressure to conform to the stereotypical lesbian image that we have perhaps grown up seeing in the media. Our own rational tells us that upon coming out, we must ditch our old ‘straight’ self and embrace a whole new look. It’s like we become plain and simply a lesbian, as if there is nothing else to our person which defines us. Aren’t we in danger of transforming into les beings, rather than human beings that just also happen to be gay?

For some of us who were perhaps bullied about our sexuality, is this change of ‘image’ essentially a defence mechanism? A statement, showing the world and perhaps those people who made us feel ashamed that we are now proud of who we are? There is nothing wrong with being proud, but if this is the only reason as to why we are changing our appearance is this really healthy? Aren’t there other ways in which we can show the world that we are proud of being gay? Pride for example?

I should add that if you are a lesbian who genuinely loves the style that you sport and fashion that you wear, whether it include a Gola bag, a pair of high tops or a partially shaved head (it is a hot look), then keep doing what you are doing. Coming out is all about embracing who you are, and if this is part of the real you, then more power to you!

Yet for those gay girls that are content with their high heels, dresses and repunzal like locks, whom may be contemplating a number two hairstyle in a bid to fit in with other lesbians, then please PUT THE RAZOR DOWN! Despite what some girls would have you believe, there is no lesbian commandment book, written by some legendary figure from the island of Lesbos (I am picturing a Frankie/Shaneesque figure), that you must abide by in order to be a true lesbian! FACT.

As I write the conclusion to this article I have just been informed by a reliable source that the shaved head look may now be on its way out. Apparently, straight girls have taken a liking to it, and this has somewhat ruined it’s dyke street cred. That’s the problem with trends isn’t it? They’re hair today gone tomorrow.

6 CURRENT LESBIONIC TRENDS
•    The Topman shirt
•    The GOLA sidebag
•    High-top runners
•    Partial head shaving
•    The Blazer
•    Lip piercing

Christine Allen

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Image by Lorena Cupcake on Flickr

With CAO once again badgering 6th year students for a list of their college course choices, the Youth Media Group in Carrickmacross decided to carry out a survey on 6th years from the local schools. Sixth years are getting ready to make a decision that will no doubt alter their lives forever; do you want to know what goes on inside their heads? In these economic times, it’s definitely important to make a wise career choice and the concern of most parents would be to be practical and to get a job by the end of it.

It seems that most 6th years are willing to pursue their interests, whatever that may be!

The study found it encouraging to see that so many 6th years are willing to follow a career that will interest them and no doubt make them happy, but the question must still be asked – should they be thinking about a more practical career?

What do you think? Comment below sure!

Survey and article carried out by Katie Duffy, Emma McEnaney, Hannah Boylan and Victoria Brennan of Youth Work Ireland Monaghan Youth Media Group. The group meets every Tuesday at 4pm in Youth Work Ireland Monaghan Youth Information Centre, Carrickmacross, new members always welcome!

Further info

Contact Melissa, outreachinfo@ywimonaghan.ie

www.youthworkireland.ie/monaghan and www.facebook.com/ywimon

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Work experience with SpunOut!

Applying to the CAO

• First impressions count. If your cover letter is filled with spelling and grammatical errors, you can pretty much forget about getting an interview.
• A good cover letter can make you stand out from the crowd. If yours is engaging, you have a much higher change of getting your CV read and thus getting an interview.
• A good cover letter increases your chances of the employer bothering to read the CV. The employer is likely to have a desk filled with applicants and a good cover letter makes your application much more appealing.

How to tailor a great cover letter:

• Tailor each cover letter to each job. So don’t use the same cover letter for an IT job as you would for a teaching job. Both require different skills.
• Use words and phrases that were listed in the job advertisement. For example, if the job is asking for someone with experience of Adobe or Dreamweaver, make sure your cover letter states that you are experienced at using these programmes.
• Use language that demonstrates what you can do for the company, for example, “My skills as a graphic designer have resulted in several awards and an increase in website traffic at the website I worked on”.
• Try to demonstrate that you have knowledge of the company you want to work for. This shows that you have bothered to research them, which demonstrates enthusiasm. Employers love enthusiastic employees.
• Try to address cover letters to the actual hiring manager rather than ‘To whom it concerns’. Again, this demonstrates that you have bothered to do your research.
• Be as specific as possible. Outline the specific reasons why you meet all the job specifications listed in the advertisement.
• Try not to be intimidated by the job descriptions; most candidates won’t fit all requirements, just some of them. So emphasise what you do have to offer and how keen you are on that company.
• Keep it short and sweet. The cover letter should be brief and to the point. You shouldn’t ramble on for three pages.
• If you really want to stand out, you could always make a video cover letter. This is definitely unique and attention grabbing.

Further Information

Cover letter sample

Funky job application trick

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Irish Wheelchair Association Youth
Web: www.iwa.ie/youth
Email: www.iwa.ie/contact/Default.aspx
IWA has a range of youth services and activities around the country. They cater for young people with physical disabilities to assist them to explore their interests and interact with other young people.

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• Many jobs are never advertised.  Networking allows you to get in touch with many of the employers who never advertise.
• You are more likely to be asked to interview for an advertised job if you have already established contact with the employer.
• Networking tends to lead to more job opportunities than the typical paper or website route, especially in these recessionary times where employers may be reluctant to spend a lot of money on advertising.
• People like to hire people they know. Interviewing strangers is a tricky business and employers are well aware that good interviewees do not always make good employees and vice versa. So hiring someone they already know can be very appealing.

How to do it?

• Remember that networking is not that strange and you don’t have to be the life and soul of the party to do it. After all, you probably take part in small talk all the time, so a small chat about your work is highly unlikely to offend anyone.
• Remember that it takes time to build contacts and to get established.
• Start with your family and close friends and get them to tell others so that your network is constantly building. Once you’ve gotten used to this, then think about widening the net.
• Network everywhere you go. Don’t just restrict your networking to job clubs, seminars and neighbours; instead think about networking in ordinary everyday situations like when you meet friends of friends, for example.
• Consider joining your local trade organisation i.e. a solicitors’ association, artists’ association etc.
• Check out your college career’s service. If you’ve recently graduated, there are bound to be lots of contacts you could make there.
• Go to a jobs fair. This is an excellent way to network. It’s even better if you bring copies of your CV and/or business cards to give to potential employers.
• Get in touch with a recruitment agency and let them know you are ready, willing and able to work.
• Call into potential employers. This one does require a good splash of confidence, but it can be a very effective way to network. Make sure that you are dressed well and that you have a mini speech prepared to say to potential employers. Of course, you’ll also need to give employers an up to date CV.
• Cold calling. This is similar to calling into potential employers, but involves phoning them up instead of visiting them.
• Remember that the Irish are said to have “the gift of the gab”, so you might actually be way better at networking than you think you are.

Further Information

CVs

Confidence

Funky job application trick

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Content developed by Treoir the National Information Centre for Unmarried Parents.

For further supportive information, please contact Treoir on:

LoCall: 1890252084
Tel: 01–6700 120
Email: info@treoir.ie

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Image by Rob Ellis' on Flickr

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This article is part of the SpunOut.ie true life stories section – a space for young people to share their experiences of tough times and encourage others to seek help. This story is just one person's experience and it may be different for you. Remember that no matter what you are going through, there is help and support available. See the Find help section for more information.

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