Future Plan Talks

1: Thinking about CVs and work experience

- When writing about experience, include what you have learnt in lessons (it is also skills)
- Network with people, handout business cards to friends and family who can pass on your details
- Type of work experience can be formal, informal, a placement or shadowing
- Ask questions to people involved in the industry - make connections
- Being an intern is a two-way process - you aid the company while gaining skills/experience
- Make some business cards and have them ready for opportunities
- Short courses can be used to improve skills and can be included on CV
- Voluntary work also counts (especially if its applicable)
- Competitions that you enter (and win/get shortlisted) see eyetheprize.com for opportunities

What is your goal?
- to create images
- commission or promote (publishing work)
- teach or research
- branch out into similar fields
- visual merchandising (designing shop displays and layouts)

How to contact a possible placement:
- Research  the organisation (what they do, how long they've been running etc)
- Find an appropriate person to talk to
- Research this person a little
- Make a script (what is important to include?)
- Email the organisation (or phone call if confident)

Phone Calling
- Make a 30 second pitch (they may not have a long time to talk)
Include:
- Name and education
-The purpose of call
- Check if they can spare the time (if not, call back at a convenient time)
- Make it personal to that business (include something that you learned about them)
- If they are busy, email them a CV and portfolio (or link)

When at a placement:
- Make yourself useful (people should note your absence when you leave)
- State that you want to develop skills
- Actively do new jobs and tasks
- Ask for a fina feedback on your performance
- Socialise with employees (bring biscuits)
- Promote the new skills you have learnt from the placement

This talk was extremely useful and gave me lots of points to consider. The idea of making a list of my skills and experience I found helpful and is something I plan on doing. Also I planned on making some business cards but had not thought about asking friends and family to promote me using them. This is something I will consider doing once I have some.



2: CV Skills

- Make a list of your skills and then choose from this when applying for specific jobs
- Show how you are a better choice than someone else
- Specifically target the company you are applying for
- When writing about education do it in reverse order (degree > A Level > GCSE)
- Have a Key Skills sections (could include point one in this)
- Experience can include: programs you can use
                                         projects you are currently working on
                                         competitions you have entered
                                         publications of your work
- An online portfolio can include a photo of yourself but it should be at work or in a studio (you should not include a photo on your CV)
- Include outside interests (this shows you can switch off from work and relax)
- Express yourself clearly: I did xxx because xxx, this was successful because xxx
-CV can be styled: Conventional: plain looking, white paper, no colour
                               Creative: can be any style or layout (but do not inconvenience the reader)
                                              can include multiple fonts but don't go overboard

Covering Letter
- Puts application in context
- Why you are sending your CV
- Your interest in the job
- Understanding of the company
- End positively

The idea of a creative CV I found very appealing as I had only ever been told about the conventional style. Also, I learned that you can include a sample of your work with the CV if it's appropriate, such as postcards of your designs. Learning about a covering letter was also important because it was something I was not aware of before. Also I learned that the Future Plan team will critique my CV and offer practice interviews should I need it. Having never made a creative CV before, I think it will be helpful having someone look it over and give advice.