Cover letters

Which CV style to choose

What style of CV you choose will largely come down to your personal circumstances. Whether you place emphasis on your skills or work history, by placing either of these sections at the front of your CV, is the major difference between the two CV styles advocated on this website:

· Work-focused CV

· Skills-focused CV.

Skills-focused CV

The skills-focused CV places emphasis on your skills by having them at the front of your CV. If you decide on a skills-focused CV, you may decide to keep the work history information you include in your CV to a minimum, or leave it out altogether if you are applying for your first job.

Use a skills-focused CV if:

· you want to place emphasis on your skills over your work history

· you are applying for your first job or only have limited employment history

· you are re-entering the job market after a long absence.

Example

· Skills-focused CV - Example (RTF - 94KB)

Template

· Skills-focused CV - Template (RTF - 87KB)

Work-focused CV

A work-focused CV puts emphasis on your work history by having it at the front of your CV. If you choose a work-focused CV, you may decide to keep the information you include in the skills section to a minimum.

Use a work-focused CV if:

· you want to emphasise your work history over your skills

· you want to emphasise your career progression.

Don't use one if:

· you are entering the job market for the first time

· you are entering the job market after a long absence.

Example

· Work-focused CV - Example (RTF - 95KB)

Template

· Work-focused CV - Template (RTF - 100KB)

Cover letters

You should always include a cover letter as part of a job application.

A cover letter should be job specific, so tailor your cover letter for each job you apply for.

The cover letter example and template provided here are in a basic format that will meet the requirements of most jobs. However, some professional or specialist roles will require more detail.

Example

· Cover Letter - Example (RTF - 42KB)

Template

· Cover Letter - Template (RTF - 40KB)

CVs - getting started

The purpose of a CV is to get you an interview. It needs to show what you can do, and why you're a good fit for an employer. Learn more about what your CV should look like, and what information to include.

Contents:

· Key things to keep in mind:

· Which CV style to choose

· Things to consider depending on your employment history

Key things to keep in mind:

· Employers may take just 15-20 seconds to initially scan your CV, so it needs to be well organised and clearly set out. If you make a good first impression, they will read your CV more closely.

· Tailor your CV for each job. This means making sure your CV highlights the key skills, experience and achievements that are relevant to the job you are applying for. Look at the job advertisement for clues on what an employer is looking for.

· Use plain, simple language in a business-like tone. Avoid clichés, and jargon and abbreviations that might be unfamiliar to an employer.

· Look at the job advertisement and reflect the words used in the job description. If it talks about 'personnel', use the word 'personnel' rather than human resources.

· Avoid long sentences – bullet points and key phrases keep the word count down and your CV looking tidy.

· Do a thorough spell check before sending off your CV and have someone read over it to check for mistakes.

· An application for a job should always include both a CV and a cover letter.

· When emailing a CV, make sure it is in a very simple file format, such as a Word doc. If in doubt, email your CV and cover letter as a PDF.

"Everybody who is going for a job needs a CV. The point of the CV is to get you an interview. Think of it as a one-page marketing document. It needs to tell an employer what skills and attitudes you have that are relevant to the job you’re applying for, as well as a bit about you."

Дата добавления: 2015-10-24