Topic 3 How to write CV and cover letters, tips on job applications, validation process of previous degrees
The importance of CVs and cover letters
- When applying for a job, your CV will give a glimpse to your potential employer about who you are and why you want to work there
- It is therefore the first thing your potential employer sees
- If your CV is intriguing, relevant with the job position, and well-structured, there is a good chance that you might be asked for an interview
→ But what exactly makes a CV stand out? (Discussion / reflection)
- Short and sweet! Maximum 2-pages long
- Clear and well-structured. Concise
- No typos, spelling or grammar mistakes.
- Relevant. You don’t have unlimited space. Make every word count.
- Contact information
- Work experience
- Educational background
- Skills
- Professional certifications
- Hobbies and interests
- Languages
- Volunteering
- Awards
- Conferences / seminars
How to make your own CV - Europass
- There are so many ways to develop your own CV, from finding templates online to doing it yourself from scratch – although the first option is always more efficient
- However, we will focus on creating a Europass CV
- The Europass CV is one of the best-known CV formats in Europe. It is easy-to-use and familiar to employers and education institutions.
- You will first have to create your Europass profile with information on your education, training, work experience and skills.
- After you complete your Europass profile, you can create as many CVs as you want with just a few clicks. Just select which information you want to include, pick your favourite design and Europass will do the rest.
Click in the link here to start. Then, click on “Create my profile” if you don’t already have a profile on Europass (if you do, then just click on Upload my Europass CV)
After you click on “Create my profile”, you will be directed to a page where you are asked to complete your personal information in 4 steps: “Personal information”, “Work experience”, “Education and training”, and “Personal skills”. Take the time to carefully complete all fields. When you finish one section, go through what you have written once again to make sure there are no typos or spelling mistakes. When you are ready, click “Next” and proceed in the same way with the rest of the steps.
After you finish your profile, then you can go back to this page, click on “Create a new CV” and start working on it!
- In this page, there are multiple fields to complete regarding the information to include on your CV. When you finish with a page, simply click “Save” at the bottom of the page and then “Next” to be directed to the next one. You can always go back and review or change your CV content.
- After you complete all sections, you have the choice to download your CV in PDF format. Simply click on “Download” and you are finished!
- A great feature of Europass is that you can easily create different CVs depending on the job position you are applying for, without having to go through the process of creating a CV all over again
- To do that, it is first necessary to download your CV in PDF format and have it on your device – computer / phone (see previous page)
- Then, you can go to this page and click on “Upload my Europass CV”, then select “My device” as shown below. You can then select the CV PDF you already downloaded from the previous step.
- Once you do that, you are ready to make any changes or adjustments on your CV and download it again – different version!
Validation of previous academic degrees – Process
- The only available procedure to validate your academic qualifications is through KYSATS – The Cyprus Council of Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications. It is the only formal procedure that can enable a person to register in the association related to their profession in a later stage.
- There are no restrictions related to the status of migrant when following the KYSATS procedure. In contrast, people are encouraged to begin the procedure, so they complete it if they are granted the international protection status, in order to be able to register in the associations and start working in the fields relevant to their studies.
Recognition of foreign diplomas and degrees in Cyprus
The Cyprus Council of Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications – KY.S.A.T.S.
- National Council for recognition of degrees awarded by institutions of higher and tertiary education.
- Established in 1996 based on the provisions of the Recognition of High Education Qualifications and the Provision of Relevant Information Laws of 1996 to 2015.
- Education National Information Centre
Address: KYSATS
Kimonos and Thoukydidou Corner
Akropoli, 1434, Nicosia
Cyprus
Τelephone: +35722806357
Fax: +35722800866
Email: info@kysats.ac.cy
Website: www.kysats.ac.cy
KYSATS awards two types of recognition:
Equivalence is awarded if:
- The duration of studies, conditions of evaluation, promotion and graduation of students and the teaching and learning procedures meet the requirements of the University of Cyprus or the other State Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions of Cyprus
- The whole programme of studies has been conducted in recognized educational institutions or it has been conducted in an educationally evaluated-accredited programme of study and a major part of the studies has been conducted in the institution which awards the qualification
- It fulfills certain conditions such as for non-traditionally awarded degrees (i.e. those obtained from Open Universities, distance learning or external programmes)
Equivalence and correspondence is awarded if:
- In addition to the criteria for recognition of equivalence, the specific programme of studies includes at least two thirds of the required subjects including the compulsory subjects of the corresponding programme of the institution which is used as the basis for evaluation.
- For some programme of studies, the Council may require the attendance and success in examination in additional subjects to award equivalence and correspondence.
Validation of skills and certifications in Cyprus
- In Cyprus there is no legislative framework or system in place for the validation of non-formal and informal learning
- Only on a tertiary level (i.e. public and private universities and colleges) can recognize previous work experience of individuals to allow them to transfer credits and defer specific courses/modules towards the attainment of a specific degree/qualification
- If for example, an employer asks a job applicant to get recognition of his/her qualifications from KYSATS, and this qualification includes credits from work experience, the Council will grant recognition. However, such credits from non-formal or informal learning can only comprise up to 10 % of the qualification in question. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), although autonomous, try to adhere to the 10 % limit of KYSATS
https://help.unhcr.org/cyprus/integration-support/higher-education/
Training programmes
- In the non-formal learning sector, Human Resource Development Authority is the leading organisation, as it funds and promotes vocational training either at the premises of training institutions or in companies.
- HRDA is governed by a tripartite 13-member Board of Governors, including government, employer and trade union representatives
- Some training programmes are offered in English. For an updated list please see here: http://www.anad.org.cy/easyconsole.cfm/page/project/p_id/309/pc_id/17139
In alignment with the “Opening Up Education Communication” and the new priorities for the strategic framework for European Cooperation in Education and training (ET2020), in 2016, the Directorate General Joint Research Centre (DG JRC) of the European Commission commissioned the “Study on MOOCs and free digital learning for inclusion of migrants and refugees.” In this study a catalogue of free digital learning initiatives targeted to develop the skills needed by migrants and refuges in EU countries was produced.
The final report of the study and the catalogue of initiatives can be accessed here: moocs4inclusion.org
- CSI & RESET – often implement free trainings addressed to migrants and TCNs
- Send an email to info@csicy.com / info@resetcy.com to express your desire to be updated for similar trainings or “Like” their social media pages for frequent announcements
- CSI Facebook page
- RESET Facebook page
Online volunteers with the Online Volunteer Service: https://www.onlinevolunteering.org/en - Cyprus Red Cross Society: https://www.redcross.org.cy/en/get-involved/become-volunteer
- UN Volunteers: https://www.unv.org/become-volunteer
- Refugee support: https://www.refugeesupport.eu/volunteer-with-us/
- OneWorld 365: http://www.oneworld365.org/volunteer/cyprus
- The Friends’ Hospice Paphos” Support Group: http://paphoshospice.org/support-group/