2018-2019
Tips to write a CV and a covering letter in English
What should a CV include?
A Curriculum Vitae (meaning the course of one's life) is an outline of a person's educational and professional history, usually prepared for job applications. Another name for a CV is a résumé.
A CV conveys your personal details in the way that presents you in the best possible light. Your CV is a marketing document in which you are marketing something: yourself! You need to "sell" your skills, abilities, qualifications and experience to employers.
There is no one best way to construct a CV; it is your document and can be structured as you wish. It can be on paper, online or even on a T-shirt!
Every CV should include the following sections:
A Curriculum Vitae (meaning the course of one's life) is an outline of a person's educational and professional history, usually prepared for job applications. Another name for a CV is a résumé.
A CV conveys your personal details in the way that presents you in the best possible light. Your CV is a marketing document in which you are marketing something: yourself! You need to "sell" your skills, abilities, qualifications and experience to employers.
There is no one best way to construct a CV; it is your document and can be structured as you wish. It can be on paper, online or even on a T-shirt!
Every CV should include the following sections:
- Personal details - name and address, telephone number and email
- Education
- Experience
Tips for a Covering Letter
First Paragraph
- State the job you’re applying for.
- Where you found out about it (advert in The Guardian newspaper etc. - organisations like to know which of their advertising sources are being successful)
- When you're available to start work (and end if it's a placement)
- Why you're interested in that type of work
- Why the company attracts you (if it's a small company say you prefer to work for a small friendly organisation!)
- Summarise your strengths and how they might be an advantage to the organisation.
- Relate your skills to the competencies required in the job.
- Mention any dates that you won't be available for interview
- Thank the employer and say you look forward to hearing from them soon.
Example of a covering letter for a pupillage (stage)
https://www.kent.ac.uk/ces/student/Pupillage%20Covering%20Letter.pdf
Example of a covering letter for a part-time job
https://www.kent.ac.uk/ces/student/PartTimeWork%20Covering%20Letter.pdf
https://www.kent.ac.uk/ces/student/Pupillage%20Covering%20Letter.pdf
Example of a covering letter for a part-time job
https://www.kent.ac.uk/ces/student/PartTimeWork%20Covering%20Letter.pdf