HAND-IN DATE FOR Creative Platforms Monday 22nd May by 3pm to CT Admin Office, ELDON A CV is a marketing document. Unlike other industries which employ personnel staff to filter job applications, your CV may arrive directly on the desk of the person with the authority to give you a job. This person will be very busy. Your CV has only seconds to make an impression. So Write your CV with the potential employer in mind. Use only the most relevant information about your career, education and skills. Provide an accurate portrait of yourself. Dont make them hunt for relevant information. They might SCAN your CV - Make words stand out! One standard CV for all employers is not enough. Ideally tailor your CV to each individual employer or, at least tailor it to the type of employer you approach (broadcaster, design agency, sound studio, corporate sector, education sector). Be Positive. Be concise. 2 pages should usually be the maximum length of your CV. A lot of companies are now saying even 1 page. Use the space wisely. This takes a great deal of thought and planning. Dont just use MS Word - consider Adobe InDesign - better control especially for columns, text. Is it on good quality paper? Is the spelling correct? (Don't rely on a spell-check!) The Worst Resume Terms 1. Best of breed: 38% 2. Go-getter: 27% 3. Think outside of the box: 26% 4. Synergy: 22% 5. Go-to person: 22% 6. Thought leadership: 16% 7. Value add: 16% 8. Results-driven: 16% 9. Team player: 15% 10.Bottom-line: 14% 11.Hard worker: 13% 12.Strategic thinker: 12% 13.Dynamic: 12% 14.Self-motivated: 12% 15.Detail-oriented: 11% 16.Proactively: 11% 17.Track record: 10% The Best Resume Terms 1. Achieved: 52% 2. Trained/Mentored: 47% 3. Managed: 44% 4. Created: 43% 5. Resolved: 40% 6. Volunteered: 35% 7. Influenced: 29% 8. Increased/Decreased: 28% 9. Ideas: 27% 10.Negotiated: 25% 11.Launched: 24% 12.Revenue/Profits: 23% 13.Under budget: 16% 14.Won: 13% Is it easy to read? Avoid long sentences. Use the active tense rather than the passive eg "undertook various roles" rather than "various roles were undertaken". Does the font/layout you choose reflect the image of the job? Avoid old-fashioned default fonts such as Times Roman. It is not a good idea to use more than one font in a document. Capitals, italics, underlining, bold, etc. can be used to emphasise headlines and key points - but be consistent and exercise constraint, or the document may appear too fussy. http://www.misterstevenson.com/ http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/04/01/10-handy-tips-for-web-design-cvs-and-resumes/ What an employer is looking for When reviewing CVs employers want to know what you can do for them. They will be looking for the following information, which should be on the front page: What an employer is looking for A 'career objective' - who you are and what you can bring to the job A summary and selling point of you! Relevant key skills and achievements What an employer is looking for If you haven't worked in this area, what new ideas and skills can you bring from other areas you have worked in? Your current address and how to contact you. Website url. You can play about with the order, making sure that you highlight skills and abilities wherever possible. Make the CV work for you and make the most of your experiences. Suggested Layout for Your CV
[NB Don't include a heading such as "Curriculum Vitae" - this wastes space and it's obvious what the document is.] * Your name - this should be visible right at the top and BOLD You can design a logo-type * Contact details (your address, telephone number, plus mobile and email) Could also put Date of Birth and Driving status A Personal Profile Include a short, punchy, positive statement about yourself to make a prospective employer sit up and take notice. Personal profiles are hard to write well and can easily sound arrogant and crass. But a well-written profile can be very effective. Many employers take them seriously and they do get people jobs. Some tips A Personal Profile Describe what you do Describe your key selling points - sought after skills, experience and knowledge Describe your attitude to work/studying and personal qualities that make you desirable to employ. A Personal Profile Be short - no more than thirty words Make sure that the description you provide of yourself can be substantiated with experience cited in the rest of your CV Be positive! !"#$%#&' )'$!'*+$!, multimedia designer -./0123 I am a creative and extremly enthusiastic person who loves everything about digital art. I am organized, motivated and a good team player. My objective is to obtain full time employment as a multimedia designer in a company where I can contribute my ideas, maximise my abilities and learn further. "3234567 3893.136:3 09.2013 - 03.2014 Carole Divall - Flash Developer Created Flash animation for Waterloo200 project. 09.2013 - 04.2014 Claremont school - Flash Developer and Illustrator Created content for Tobii Eye Gaze devices to be used by children with physical disabilities. $;122 $37 Great with: Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, InDesign Good with: Dreamweaver, HTML, CSS, JavaScript +<=:571/6 2011 - 2014 University of Portsmouth (UK) - Digital Media 2004 Professional Certicate - Computer Operator 2004 Baccalaureat Diploma 2000 - 2004 National College of Informatics Gr. Moisil +>92/?>367 04.2012 - present Pizza Hut - Waitress & Back of house sta 05.2010 - 04.2011 Gimmick Media - Computer Operator I was a graphic desiger assistant. My main duty was the retouching of photographs using Photoshop. 11.2008 - 05.2010 Polar - Basic Accountant I worked in a distribution company. 08.2006 - 09.2008 Baby-Sier #673.3@7@ I enjoy outdoor activities like mountain climbing and camping. Ive been practising swimming for 5 years. I have a passion for music, lms and animations. !/675:7 07472 223623 info@cristina-dascalescu.com Cristina Dascalescu tel: 07472 223623 e-mail: info@cristina-dascalescu.com www.cristina-dascalescu.com "303.36:3@ Available on request. www.cristina-dascalescu.com Key Skills/Skillset You can list these as an alternative to a Personal Profile, or to complement it. Describe your key skills and experience succinctly, ideally as bullet points, including any equipment you have worked on, and languages, if appropriate. Put the skills the employer is likely to be most interested in at the top. Personal details Age. This shouldn't be significant, but there is no law against age discrimination. In a "young" industry it may be better to include your age on the second page. Some experts suggest it is better to include your date of birth rather than state your age. No DOB There is no need to give both. Interests & Achievements. Important to show your personality Personal details Passport. If you are applying for work that requires overseas travel, your nationality may be relevant as some passports require visas to visit certain places. Driving Licence. Holding a full licence and owning a car can be essential to location work, so include these details, but only if they are relevant. The Covering Letter
Your CV should always be sent with a covering letter as a matter of courtesy. The covering letter introduces you and should complement your CV. It shows you've taken the time to find out who to contact. It may also give you the edge over someone who has similar skills on their CV, but hasn't bothered to write a covering letter to accompany it. The Covering Letter This is an opportunity to personalise the communication and speak directly to the employer. It's worth spending time getting it right. Remember: The letter should be addressed to the right person - research this thoroughly beforehand. The letter should be brief and to the point. It can reinforce key points from your CV but shouldn't repeat information from it. It should have three parts: 1. The reason for writing, eg "I was very interested in the article in July's Broadcast and your plans...". 2. Your selling points, or how your CV meets this need - flag up relevant points that are expanded on in your CV. 3. A prompt for further action, eg "I'd welcome the chance to meet you". And do follow up. Strike a balance between genuine interest and causing irritation. The Covering Letter
Think about the style of the letter too. It should demonstrate professionalism but, depending on the job and the department, the language can vary in formality, as appropriate. What an employer is looking for
I have included quotes from employers to back-up the format and content of cvs and showreels/portfolios EDITING We expect our editors to be good-natured and hard working. Being in a suite with demanding clients can be a draining experience. We need our staff to keep a level head in pressured situations. Experience, if not directly relevant, must demonstrate an ability to learn quickly, and editors do still need a technical understanding of the equipment, even in these times of convergence. EDITING Poor CVs generally come from those looking for junior or entry level positions. A list of productions worked on at college doesn't tell a prospective employer very much. We need to know what the person is like. A good personal statement is far more useful. A degree is never irrelevant or necessary at entry level. A good degree demonstrates dedication to task and hard work. EDITING An applicant without a degree, but an obvious enthusiasm, displayed e.g. by doing background research on the company and industry, would stand a very good chance at interview. Many applicants send in showreels with a cold application. Nine times out of ten little attention is paid to these reels. We're all busy and only view reels when we're trying to fill a specific post. If the employer is interested they'll ask. Save your money for the pub. Simon Partington, Group Operations Manager M2 Television Ltd, London EDITING Applicants need a healthy dose of realism about their capabilities. They should take the trouble to research the company and our client requirements. They should also acknowledge the limits that a college education can offer them without some commercial experience to go with it. Poorly presented CVs with little information padded out to read like lots is transparent. Offer the qualifications you do have, rather than the aspirations you might want to have! Be realistic about how far you can go with what you know. Rowan Bray , Facility Manager, Arena Digital, London Andrew Painten Freelance Producer/Director 07931 35 35 15 hello@aptvpd.com Watch my showreel at aptvpd.com
Profile Award-winning factual TV Producer/Director with substantial prime-time network experience across many genres including factual, current affairs, lifestyle and entertainment.
The creativity I bring to every script, shoot and edit is strengthened by sound editorial judgement. Efficient and effective, I deliver high quality on time and on budget but with a sense of fun that makes people want to work with me again and again.
Recent Credits
Countryfile, BBC1 2008 - 2012
Directed the first prime-time programme, raising the bar and setting the style for future shows. Achieving consistently high audience figures, share and AIs culminating in a TRIC Award for Best Factual Programme. Producing high profile presenters including Matt Baker, Julia Bradbury and John Craven across all strands of the programme location features, obs doc and journalistic investigations. Frequently working under challenging circumstances - from climbing mountains to abseiling into caves and always under fast-turn around pressures. Re-designed production schedule to improve the quality of the programme. Series Producer: Teresa Bogan
Share, Take Care campaign, BBC Learning 2012
Producer of a campaign film aimed at children and their parents to warn them about the perils and pitfalls of social media. Commissioned animation to give the film extra impact and take it beyond a public information film. Executive Producer: Andrew Tomlinson
Bang Goes the Theory, BBC Learning 2011
Directed two films for the Bang! event that were then broadcast on BBC1, making specialist science accessible and compelling. Successfully negotiated access and worked with the players and staff of Manchester City FC. Negotiated sports rights clearances. Self-editing the films to a high standard using Final Cut Pro. Executive Producer: Helen Foulkes Andrew Painten Freelance Producer/Director 07931 35 35 15 hello@aptvpd.com Watch my showreel at aptvpd.com
Gardeners World, BBC2 2008-2010
Producing stylish inserts for the long-running lifestyle magazine programme. Joined a team in transition and successfully coached junior members of the team on the new way of working. Also produced quick-turnaround VTs at live events Series Producer: Louise Hampden
Christmas Voices, BBC1 2007
Directing and editing inserts for live studio show focussing on issues with a religious and/or ethical dimension. Sympathetically handled emotional films and vulnerable contributors with topics including missing children and alcoholism. Executive Producer: Chris Loughlin
Recipe for Success, BBC1 2007
Producer/Director of five episodes of an experimental food programme. Mixed formatted competition with ob-doc elements. Story-lining and producing on location to emphasise key moments. Series Producer: Mel Stanley Other selected credits Countryfile: Summer Diaries director and edit producer for daytime spin off To Buy Or Not To Buy P/D on long-running property format Housecall Live AP on strands including food, gardening, antiques Come and Have A Go Live OB AP on BBC Entertainment quiz show event BBC Election stringer at several elections for BBC News Panic Mechanics shooting AP on car make-over challenge Top Gear AP/Director on motoring show Freelance Producer in commercial radio Qualifications and Training BBC Training including Health and Safety, Multi-platform production, Ideas Development, Final Cut Pro, Storytelling and Scriptwriting, Single Camera Directing. First Class BA (Hons.) Media and Communication Studies University of Central England.
h t t p : / / a p t v p d . c o m / p u t t i n g - t o g e t h e r - a - s h o w r e e l / INTERACTIVE MEDIA I look for the following from applicants: firstly, creative talent and ideas! (The rest can be taught on the job, if necessary); good presentation skills; an awareness of the market for interactive media; team working and good organisation skills; and, if possible, good references. There is a shortage of sales and marketing skills in interactive media. I'm not looking for sales staff per se, but good production staff who can sell themselves and the company, i.e. producers with client management ability. The worst things I see in applications are: mis-types, bad spelling and bad grammar; hype - it's easy to be found out; too much talk about software skills and not enough creative passion. Stef Brammar, Managing Director, Mousepower Productions Ltd, Wiltshire GAMES We look for relevant skills to match our vacancies, e.g. programming languages C/C++/Java or art packages, e.g. 3D Studio Max. We're also looking for good academic qualifications in relevant subjects, i.e. computing, science, physics, maths. Worst thing in applications? Prior to interview: poorly presented or dishonest CVs; lack of details; poor showreels. GAMES At interview: candidates who are not fully prepared, i.e. haven't taken the trouble to look at our website and find out background information on the company; poor results in tests we set (e.g. Java); poor communication skills; lack of interest in the interview; arrogance; 'stolen material' on examples of work; raw inability and unrealistic expectations. We are looking for candidates with relevant experience, skills and an interest in the games industry. Siobhan Calfe HR Manager Kuju Entertainment, Surrey ANIMATION Send a showreel and/or portfolio. Something unique has to stand out and there are ways to express your creativity, even if you don't have much money. You're taking the viewer on a journey, so send documentation with the showreel, indicating its length, running order and your contribution. ANIMATION Showreels should show your best work to date and be no longer than 5 to 6 mins. Say how long it took you to do the work - we need to know that people can deliver quality work on time. We're looking for basic skills - a walk cycle, a run cycle, as well as acting/ miming ability. Take pride in your work and be professional: check that your work is actually on the tape - some people send in blank tapes, one even sent a recording of the previous night's Eastenders! We're not just looking for animators, we also need art directors, production designers, storyboard artists. Keep an open mind - once in the workplace you may find your strengths lie elsewhere. It's rare for a person to go straight from college to working on commercials and you need to have realistic expectations. There will be lots of knock backs, long hours and you have to start from the bottom. Do it for the passion, love and enthusiasm. Helen Brunsdon Development Executive Aardman Animation Ltd, Bristol CAMERA (documentary) I need to see a reel showing a mixture of situations and demonstrating that the operator has a developed eye, can cope in a controlled situation, can light and has an intuitive understanding of framing. I can tell when watching reels how much is down to the camera operator and how much is the work of the director. Experience is crucial, but many experienced camera operators send in poor CVs. As well as a list of credits, broken down into sub-divisions (e.g. drama, docs, etc.), I am looking for a sense of personality and what makes them tick. Some are good at actuality work and human interest stories, others prefer more controlled situations. Indicate this in a good personal statement and play to your strengths. DIRECTION (documentary) I read between the lines when looking at directors' CVs and very often important information is left out, such as the channel that screened the work, or the commissioning editor or executive producer. Give a context - it acts as a barometer of where people are and what they've done. CVs are critically important and should show your passion and where your interests lie. If you can operate a camera as well, say so. In small teams it's important to know that the director can also operate. The worst thing is directors who can't offer examples of their work, either because they don't have them or they have only poor copies. It's surprising how often this happens. I prefer to see whole programmes, but I'm also happy to look at 4 to 5 minute showreels. What I need to see is how a director develops storyline, character, and narrative. Malcolm Brinkworth, Managing Director, Touch Productions, Dorset CAMERA (TV) Applicants must have experience if they want to work on national television. Ring TV companies and find out where they get people from. BROADCAST JOURNALISM The worst thing is people who say they'll do anything. Be specific. Recruiters see through people who haven't made up their minds and they are very wary of people who want to be on TV. That's a totally different route. Enthusiasm counts. And persistence. Don't take rejection personally. It usually means that someone else had a bit more experience on the day. Try again later and in the meantime keep adding to your CV. Karen Illingsworth, Recruitment administrator YTV, Leeds http://www.wearesource.co.uk/blog/showreel-tips/ http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles excellent resource search job roles great place to start looking at roles, what skills etc Achieving Industry Best Practice - FEB 2013 Key components when looking at applicants is that they are passionate, genuine, honest, self-aware, able to take on board constructive criticism. Importance of making contacts and building industry networks. It is more possible than ever to engage with industry via social media as there are several avenues it takes initiative to do this however. Key things that potential applicants/students need to be aware of: - Being part of a team and recognising the importance of team work is critical to doing well in the industry. - Dealing effectively with change and navigating uncertainty. - Leadership and commercial awareness. - Understanding the mechanics and differences between being employed or freelance.
- Awareness of broader policies around the industry i.e. upcoming tax break incentives. Costing and process mapping. - Mapping the history and the evolution of the industry. - Non-disclosure agreements - need to be aware of use of social media and the power and invested interest that the big companies have in this area. - Convergence - constantly looking at how to leverage the best of new technologies available. - The importance and evolution of the online consumer journey. A guide to creative CV creation http://www.slideshare.net/equatoragency/the-creative-cv-guide also mandy.com as mentioned last time. Loads more links on the module blog. WEB DESIGNER / CREATIVE WEB DESIGNER (MIDDLEWEIGHT / SENIOR) POOLE / BOURNEMOUTH A new Middleweight / Senior Web Designer is needed to join a vibrant dynamic digital agency based on the South Coast. You should be versed in all things design, including the web and interactivity and will love nothing more than working with creative people in producing out-of-the-box concepts. Your CV / Portfolio should demonstrate a keen eye for design combined with a solid working knowledge of Photoshop, Illustrator, HTML, CSS and the Conceptual Design Phase. Advantageous skills include: Flash, .NET and an agency background. Ultimately we need someone who is keen, highly motivated, extremely creative and passionate about web design. *Please include links to your portfolio with your application* Vacancy: Motion Graphics Designer/ Employer: Bizarre Creations Location: Liverpool Duration: Full-time position Here's a great opportunity for a motion graphics designer to join a dynamic and award winning video games developer. We are interested to hear from you if you're an enthusiastic creative with a superb portfolio of work. Working within a multi-skilled team you'll have a keen attention to detail and the ability to produce stunning graphics and animated imagery for all of our studio's AAA titles and their supporting marketing materials. The ideal candidate must be proficient in After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop, Maya and knowledge of video editing would be a great advantage. If you would like to apply for this role, please email your CV and showreel directly........ We have provided the following Art Task for candidates to complete and include with their CV if they wish. Motion Graphics Art Task Using any digital media you would like, design a logo for a fictional game called Hardcore Racing. To help demonstrate your motion graphics skills, take your logo and producing a 10 second sting that can bring your design to life. We will be looking at the creative ideas and technical ability of each candidates work. Submissions to Bizarre Creations A 10 sec video in either .wmv or .mov format @ 25fps. And a brief description of what tools and processes you used. More Info: http://www.bizarrecreations.com/jobs/job_view.php?id=motiongraphicsdesigner EDITOR: (Final Cut Pro) We are looking for either past experience working as an editor on an animated film or TV series coupled with an interest in genre films or past experience working on a genre film (suspense, horror, Sci) and a willingness to get to grips with the different working methods of animation. You will get to work closely with the Director and Creative Development Team and will be expected to contribute to the whole filmaking process not just brought in at the end to fix things. There will be some technical support within the team but we expect a fair degree of self reliance so you will need to be able to organise your workflows and follow good data management practices. Key Tasks: Cut Animatic, Continuity Editing, Assembly of Final Picture (approx 40+ wks) - Daily travel to Cardiff Salary dependent on experience. Welsh translation available on request. More Info: http://www.goodstoryproductions.com CV Format
Name / Contact Details / Date
of Birth / Driving (TV/FILM) / Website url
Profile/Statement
Relevant Experience - list
credits etc
Skill Set
Education
Employment
Interests & Achievements
References X 2 1 Industry 1 Academic
Name / Tel / Email as footnote
bottom of each page CV
Font and Layout is important
Hold it away from you does it balance well? Important parts
stand out?
Does it photocopy well?
Spelling, grammar
Relevant info given priority
Max 2 pages - ideally 1
Name / email / tel at the bottom of each page - footnote
lastly
When your CV is ready turn it into a PDF
(acrobat) file as this transfers well across platforms and the formatting does not get screwed up!
Then send it to industry for feedback
Examples http://jonnybriggs.tumblr.com/ http://creativeplatforms.nickdownie.com/post/47575077230/my-cv-and-a-some-sample-stationary- included-in-my http://algrehan1989.tumblr.com/ Over the coming weeks
Provide initial research for your intended
industry - what format do they want to see?
Show up to 5 pieces of your best work - add to
blog
Work on the development of your CVs - if you
havent sent me a copy of your current CV yet then please do this now - important for my feedback. CREATIVE PLATFORMS - ACTION /CHECK LIST Please send me a copy of your CV. This will need to be constantly updated/ perfected throughout the year ACTION ONGOING TO PUT IN BLOG TO PUT IN BLOG In-depth research of industry - job prospects / roles / skills needed etc Samples of your work Evidence of feedback from industry - try to get contacts Skills and Strengths Development of work - CV Screengrabs - video and or stills of work in progress SWOT Analysis - see samples in handbook Development of work - Business Cards Development of work - Showreels - website / video / print (whatever your industry wants to see) Idea Production and Processes for all elements Sketches and Concepts Mock-Ups Evidence of Testing Consistent appearance with all elements Professional presentation of work Software Analysis Blog - Regular updating - look on blog for examples of other student blogs What to put in your blog Great news, Adobe Certification is now offered for all students. CCI Skills are running drop in sessions and one-to-one appointments to help students work towards this additional qualification. Students can take proficiency exams in Dreamweaver, Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign etc. The CT Study Support Centre is starting this week between 1200 and 1400 every weekday, please see attached for the software/programming support being offered by six demonstrators this year. 2D Graphics Design, 3D Modelling/Animation, Web Development, VFX, Programming, Game Development, and Music/Sound Technology etc. Our Moodle page 'CT Study Support Centre' is available now for all CT students. Please point them here to book an appointment via the Eventbrite system before drop-in to the tutorials. We will be located in the Common Room 1.18, First Floor, North Wing, Eldon Building, please find out more in attached leaflet. 01 $100f $0FF081 0l818l 1Z00 1400 090f N008 l0 ffl08 !"!# !"!#$ !"!% !"!! !"!& !"!&$ !"&& !"&' !"&( !"') !"'* !"'' !"(% !"(! !"(& !"() !"(* !")( !")+ !"*% !")) !"*) !"*& !"*! !"*( !"*, !"*# !"*+ !",& !",* !"#! !"#* !"#' !"#( !"#, !"## !"+) !"+* !"+' !"!%% !"+& !"+! !"+( !"!!( !"!!, !"!!# !"!!+ !"!&) !"!&* !"!&# !"!&'$ !"!&'- !"!&'. !"!&'/ !"!!) !"!&' 01!"!% 01!"%+ 01!"%# 01!"%' 01!"%* 01!"%) 01!"%& 01!"%! 01!"!& 01!"!! 00MM0 800M 1.18, flf8l fl00f 80fl0 Nl, ll00 80ll0l 80f0 N0 f0 North WIng South WIng 80 N008, 1Z00 1400 J0 N000ll. J0$ N8K, N88, $0lllM80 0lll8l $00lll . l8f080 N0ll0 08l0f0 808l8 100808, 1Z00 1400 0, l898$0fll 006l, 0lf00lk 11 Fl88l8ll0 J, 68M000, J0$ N8K, 0K0 I8$ M000lll lfl08l 88lll0 $800I8$l N8l00M8ll08 0l88 N000808 8 100f808, 1Z00 1400 0000 fl880, F00l0800, lll08lf8l0f J0$ N8K, $k0l000 81Nl, 0$$, F8F, 0N$, $J.0, 0f08MN0890f N$#l l, Ff0Ml0f0 Ff0 k0 N000808, 1Z00 1400 l0l0 00l0, $l00ll08 8, $000 008l, N08l0 1000f 80 F0fl0fM800, 00M08lll0 k8fl 100f808, 1Z00 1400 0000 F00l0800, Ff0Ml0f0 Ff0 l000l N00l8, ll0lf00M 0, 8FlZ ll0 Ff0(00l N880M0l 0ll90f ffl08, 1Z001400 J0$ N8K, N88, $0lllM80 f0l0 8000f0f N0000K 800ll, 80k0, l, Ff0Ml0f0 Ff0 00Z00 80llN8f0 800fl Nll0 8 008l0MlI00 l08fl 0K0fl000, 000kl 8088l08 898ll80l0 0 N000l0. '01 $l00 $00fl 00lf0'. http://www.michaelpitts.co.uk/index.inc.php Talk by Michael Pitts Wed pm tbc Next time - Showreels and Portfolios will show loads of examples http://www.vimeo.com/sambrook