USW Careers Service

CVs Applications and Assessments

This is your opportunity to demonstrate and evidence your employability, putting your best self forward through brilliantly showcasing your unique offer. Be relevant, be targeted, be responsive and be you.

Students sitting in the USW Careers Service office

Your CV

Showcase your relevance to the role through targeted content.

USW Careers CV Advice

Your Cover Letter

Introduce your CV, your reasons for applying and your understanding of the role and organisation.

USW Careers cover letter advice

Making Applications

Be responsive to the person specification and job responsibilities and clearly evidence your skills and experience.

USW Careers applications advice

Using LinkedIn

Set up a profile to increase your employability reach. Network, engage, find and apply to opportunities.

USW Careers Linkedin advice

Performing at Interview

Be prepared, know yourself and how to evidence your offer. Understand the role, the organisation and how your skills, experience and personal brand match up.

  • Explore further content on how to prepare and effectively perform at interview.
  • Practice your interview technique via our online simulator. Access Interview 360 via MyCareer.
  • Get pitch perfect by crafting a targeted and engaging Elevator Pitch – a 60 second highlights reel of why you’re perfect for the job. Use our Elevator Pitch Builder via MyCareer.
  • Find out more about the STAR technique – a way to effectively structure and evidence your interview answers.
  • Gain further insight into PERFORMING AT INTERVIEW via MyCareer E-learning.

USW CAREERS INTERVIEW ADVICE

Assessment Centres

Practically demonstrate your skillset, play a part in the process and showcase how you work within a team, bring forward your ideas, listen to others and make a difference to the task at hand.

  • Explore further content on Assessment Centre insights and how to prepare.
  • Get an overview of Assessment Centres, typical activities and tips on how to be successful via the Assessment Centre Tool on MyCareer.

USW CAREERS ASSESSMENT CENTRES ADVICE

Psychometric Tests

Tests designed to reveal your skills, your personality, how you think and how you work. You may be required to undertake as part of the early application process, get help practicing with the following.

  • Explore further content on how to prepare for and be successful at Psychometric Tests.
  • Practice a variety of Aptitude Tests – including Numerical, Verbal, Diagrammatic, Situational Judgement and Logic - via MyCareer.
  • SHL Is a popular provider of Psychometric Assessments. Explore their practice tests.

USW CAREERS PSYCHOMETRIC TESTING ADVICE

Our AI statement

Generative AI is increasingly present, and as a tool for career planning and applying provides many advantages to the user. It is however a tool that should be used with some caution and consideration.

What is generative AI?

“Generative AI, also referred to as GenAI, allows users to input a variety of prompts to generate new content, such as text, images, videos, sounds, code, 3D designs, and other media. It “learns” and is trained on documents and artifacts that already exist online”. https://www.coursera.org/articles/what-is-generative-ai

In a Careers context, it serves as a valuable resource for ideas and streamlining your application process by offering suggested wording.

You can use GenAI to:

  1. Research jobs and employers.
  2. Craft CVs, cover letters, and application forms.
  3. Prepare for interviews.
  4. Create presentations.
  5. Prepare for Assessment Centres and Psychometric tests.

Here are five guiding principles to maximising the use of GenAI:

  1. Review, modify, and personalise:
    • Avoid directly copying content from AI tools; use them as a foundation or inspiration.
    • Be sure to enhance generated content by incorporating details and touches that are individual and personal to you. Ensure that your content clearly represents you.
    • Be aware that using copied content from AI tools can be detected by some employers, potentially disqualifying you from the application process or leading to duplicate submissions.
    • Always check with employers what their guidelines are in using GenAI in the recruitment process. Some employers for example openly state that applicants should, ‘not use GenAI in psychometric tests’.
  2. Cross-reference and verify facts:
    • Verify the accuracy of information generated by AI, as it may contain errors or false data.
    • Evaluate content critically and cross-reference it with reliable sources.
  3. Seek guidance from USW Careers Service:
    • Use generative AI for writing assistance but ensure your CV /Cover letter/ application materials are properly structured and formatted.
    • Refer to our online resources for advice on structuring CVs, cover letters, and application forms effectively.
  4. Utilise effective prompts:
    • Optimise AI usage by providing clear and specific prompts.
    • Explain the purpose of your request and provide relevant background information.
    • Use follow-up questions or refocus on specific areas of your question.
  5. Exercise caution with data sharing:
    • Do not include personal or sensitive information in an AI tool as you do not know where your information is being stored.

Further information

USW Library have provided AI guidance here.

student sat on campus in treforest

Want to take the conversation further?

Book an appointment to talk to one of our Careers Consultants.

Book an appointment