Cv Presentation

TRAINING SESSION ON…

Writing Effective Curriculum Vitae (CV)

PART ONE

What is a CV package?  A CV package consists of two items:  A Covering Letter  A Curriculum Vitae

What is a Covering Letter? • A letter containing extra information that you send with something. • In other words, a covering letter for Curriculum Vitae is an extra chance to sell yourself to the employer.

The Order… • First, the Covering Letter • Next, the Curriculum Vitae

General Guidelines for writing a Covering Letter • A covering letter can either be used for – applying to an advertised vacancy – to make speculative applications – to the companies you like to work

Layout and Appearance • In a highly creative field, where a more ‘off-the-wall’ approach is expected, your covering letter should always be laid out as a business letter.

Layout and Appearance • Always word-process the letter. – keep a basic letter on the PC and simply amend it for each application.

• Use a clear, plain font - ‘Arial’ is a good one. Times New Roman is rather over-used. • In your own handwriting – if the company prefers so.

Address • Place at the top left hand corner of the letter or

in the center - either is correct. • Include your telephone number (both land and mobile) and e-mail address. • Make it easy for the company to get hold of you.

Date • Either at the end of your contact details, or on the left hand side of the letter, immediately above or below the recipient’s address.

Salutation and Heading • The salutation (e.g. ‘Dear Mr. Brown’) comes before the heading. • Heading (subject) makes easier for the recipient to see straight away what you’re writing about. • A bold typeface is better than underlining.

Body of the letter • Use A4 paper. • If it requires a second page, it’s too long. • Break it into short paragraphs for each new topic or aspect.

Body of the letter • No more than six paragraphs. • Most covering letters will need only three paragraphs.

Ending the letter • ‘Dear Sir’ is followed by ‘Yours faithfully.’ • ‘Dear Mr. Brown’ is followed by Yours sincerely’. • Note the small first letter in ‘faithfully’ and ‘sincerely’. • Yours not Your’s.

Ending the letter • Leave a fairly large gap for your signature - six ‘returns’, then type your name. • ‘Dr’, ‘Mr., ‘Miss’, ‘Ms’ or ‘Mrs. - will depend on the kind of organization you are applying to.

Ending the letter • Include your title if you are applying to companies likely to be formal in their style of address: banks and the Civil Service are two examples. • Since you’re bound to be sending an enclosure (your CV or application form) you should type ‘Encl.’ underneath your name.

Choice of Paper • Paper quality and size be used both for letters and your CV.

• A pale grey -for a position in finance,marketing or any other area where speed and efficiency are prized.

Choice of Paper • A pale cream - for a ‘people’ job (for example social work or teaching).

• Bright colours - for a highly creative position.

Choice of Paper • If in doubt, stick to plain white: it’s always a safe choice. • Don’t choose paper that is very thick or very thin: it is uncomfortable to handle. • It should be the same paper as used for your CV.

The Content

Name of recipient • Make sure you know the name of the person you’re writing to. • If you don’t get, simply use ‘Dear Sir/Madam,’

Heading • For an advertised vacancy, just quote whatever is shown in the advertisement: ‘Application for the position of Executive Engineer – Reg.’ • For a speculative application, ‘Trainee Positions in Accountancy’.

Body of the letter • Three essential things are on your letter: – – –

Why you’re writing to them. What’s so special about you that they should consider you for a position. What you want them to do about it.

Paragraph 1 • Don’t start your letter with ‘I am writing because...’.

Paragraph 1 • A far more effective way of starting is to talk about the company. Refer to: Any (flattering) media articles you’ve read about them Information gained from their own promotion about their products or services Information on their website. Complimentary things heard from friends, lecturers and so on.

Paragraph 2 • Ignore repetition of main CV points. • Highlight the most important points.

Paragraph 2 • Read the advertisement (if there is one) very carefully.

• Try and work out exactly what they are looking for and what skills are the most important. You can then briefly reflect these in your letter.

Paragraph 2 • If there is no advertisement, work out what the most important skills would be for the role and/or employer. • Make sure that if you mention a particular skill or attribute, your CV contains evidence of how and where you have used that skill or attribute.

Paragraph 2 • Don’t forget to include leisure activities as well as work experience and qualifications. • Mention the other languages known. • The points vary ,depending on the position and the organization.

Paragraph 2 • Identify your selling points, two or three points only if possible. You just want to whet their appetite and make them want to read the CV. • If Give so much information, the CV becomes redundant. • Apply the twenty-second rule.

Paragraph 3 • Don’t use ‘I look forward to receiving your reply’ and ‘I hope you will look favourably on my application’. • It’s better to concentrate on moving the process onto the next step: offering you an interview. The selector will appreciate a letter that comes to the point.

Paragraph 3 • Tell the selector when you are available for • •

interview: rather than saying ‘I am available for interview at any time convenient to you’ It’s better to say ‘I can make myself available for interview...’ Say instead that you can attend for an interview by arrangement, or, say, at two days’ notice.

Ending the letter • The beginning and the end of the letter should be predictable, not adventurous.

• Stick to the standard ‘Yours sincerely’ and ‘Yours faithfully’ format.

General Tips: Always keep the tone of the letter positive:  don’t justify anything, apologize for anything or complain about anything. Use positive words, such as ‘keen’, ‘enjoy’ and ‘hope’. Don’t attempt to be humorous.

General Tips Get a friend to check your spelling and grammar: don’t rely on the spellchecker. don’t say in your letter ‘I will telephone you on... to discuss my application further’ unless you are certain you will be able to call on that date. Failure to call when you say you will completely destroys your credibility.

THANK YOU