Task 1a: My Profile

My current profile.

I decided to log onto my Starnow account to view my profile which I have used in the past to search for jobs. On this profile I found that the only thing set up from the past years were my old headshot and where I am based. 

Before editing my details of training, key skills and factors I wanted to focus on the first individual look and information that is seen within seconds of opening the profile. I decided to use my basic information and my training. This is because I feel as an employer they want to read my skills straight away so that if I do not have the required skills they then do not have to look at the rest of my profile and if I do have the required skills then the employer can look further into my profile. I also wanted my showreel to be on the front of my profile. This is because as well as seeing my skills and my training I wanted my showreel to stand out and then hopefully be viewed which would give the employer a better understanding of my level dancing.

Although the information is minimal on the first section of the profile I am happy with the initial look of this and the key points shown. I am also going to edit my profile so that the information on training and experiences can be viewed as it can on a CV and try and keep it short and to the point because after viewing my profile if the employer is interested they are still likely to ask you to provide a CV to them. So although I want most information to be shown I am going to give it in shorter forms and still try and keep the necessary information included.  

Below is the information I then edited on my profile: 

After editing my profile and bringing it to date with the knowledge from web 2.0 and other blogs that I viewed I am now happy with this profile and the information provided on it. Although it can always be improved I feel this is a start to a first profile of mine and that the more profiles I view the more I can improve on mine. I know that online most of the information given is that a profile should not change like a CV but, it is not the information I believe I will change, most likely just the picture and the layout if I feel that it is becoming dated. 

www.starnow.com/kirstyhaughton

Task 1a: Updating my CV to a profile.

Updating my CV to a profile;

Before starting to change my CV to a profile I wanted to have a look online and make sure I was clear between with the differences between a CV and a profile. Whilst browsing web 2.0 I came across few sites that shown clearly the differences and made it easy to view. This website is:

http://www.mployability.net/the-difference-between-a-profile-and-a-cv/#

After reading this and being clear of what work needed doing to create the best profile for me I then decided to look at a few blogs for inspiration. I came across Lauren Harpers blog first which I also saw she had found the same website as useful as me. As I read through Laurens CV and then onto her profile I noticed the massive differences between the two and, I felt her reasons behind her changes and improvements were relevant and very interesting and gave me inspiration to my profile. Before creating my profile I then made a brain storm on the key information I thought would be necessary to my profile. 

My CV

Here is my current CV. At the moment, this is the CV that I will use to attend auditions and send off to potential employers. Although this is always being adjusted and improved I feel it shows the best of me as a graduate student with little experience. With this CV I have tried to make some main points stand out and also the information short and straight to the point. This CV has developed over the past year as more people have viewed it, gave their opinions and helped me improve it, which I am hoping posting this online can also help me do.

With my CV I tried to look at it from an employer’s point of view, when I attend an audition the employer has an average of 200 CV’s to look through so how can I make mine stand out? The more I thought about this the more I adjusted my CV and the first thing I decided was to try and put it onto one page which I successfully did by cutting out the information that I feel was not necessary. Another thing I looked at on my CV is, when somebody scans over this CV what points do I want the employer to notice the most to give me the best chance of being employed? This is where I decided to bold some of my work. I wanted the employer to see the best of me, my highest qualification and the skills that could make me different to others applying for the same job.

Although this will never be a finished product and I hope to keep improving this and gaining more qualifications to add to this, at this moment in time I feel this CV is a start to help me become employable in the dancing industry. I am happy with the progress made from people’s opinions so far and hopefully as I blog more and adjust it to a profile I can improve this to a better standard.

A little inside on me.

My name is Kirsty Haughton and I am 23 years old. I graduated from Ks Dance in Warrington in 2015 with a level 6 diploma in professional dance. I then spent over a year working and auditioning in the dancing industry for cruise ships, west end shows, holiday parks, and the odd one of jobs. I found myself loving auditioning but sometimes it can knock you back one to many times. I spent 4 months living with a friend in London so I could attend every audition and take class as much as possible so I didn't loose any strength or technique.
Along side my Diploma I decided to do my DDI and DDE in teaching Cecchetti ballet and ISTD modern which is why now I have decided to further my studies with the BAPP course. I found myself really enjoying teaching, although it can be challenging it can also be extremely rewarding.
 After this course I have really set my aims to be able to achieve my PGCE and then become a teacher at a dance college. As I attended dance college I grew very close to my teachers and peers and because dancing was my passion I found the course made me so determined and the teachers played a massive role in this by supporting and believing in you. This is why now I have grown so much towards this career path. The teachers have made such an impact on my life that I am now hoping to do the same in the future for other people.

Learning to blog!!

So after last nights skype session I realised how much I needed to get into blogging whilst learning to find my feet on the BAPP course. As much as it feels very daunting right now as I am not the best with social media I am excited to learn so much more and hopefully get stuck into blogging.
I felt very comfortable in the skype session, everybody was very welcoming and friendly so I am hoping that blogging is going to be similar. I also feel that this is a chance for us all to share our ideas and get inspiration from each other with our work and hopefully get to know everyone on a personal level too. Sometimes I feel I get very stuck in my ways of making sure everything is done in the correct way and I worry to much about getting things wrong but so far as it has been very based on personal opinions I am thinking I will get much more comfortable with saying my views and hopefully gain confidence blogging.