How to Create an Effective CV and Cover Letter

The CV

A CV is an opportunity to show an employer why you're an ideal candidate for the job. In this, you can show your relevant skills, experience, achievements, and potential.

Good CV

• All about me
• Need to convince
• Good impression
• Include your skills
• Stand out from the others
• Good grammar, spelling, etc.

Do

• Use a standard font size
• Include relevant and recent work experience
• Skills and achievements with evidence
• Keep it short
• Use positive action verbs
• Include career aspirations
• Be honest but positive
• Have someone check it

Don't

• Leave gaps in employment
• Lie
• Include irrelevant info

Bad CV

• Not in order
• Not good vocab
• Informal
• Not the best interests
• Not good experience

Possible Contents of a CV

• Personal details
• Personal career/profile
• Other headings, summary, achievements
• Education
• Work experience
• Skill profile
• Interest/extra-curricular activities
• References

What You Need to Do or Put

• Experience
• Positive action/verbs
• Consistency
• Statement about career
• Check CV structure

Structure

1. Write your full name at the top with your contact info (phone, mail, address)
2. Personal goals: make a summary about your personal goal, with the most important aspects of your work history
3. Education: add your education details in chronological order
4. Work experience: work experience in chronological order, including the position you held, name of company, location, and the time when you were working
5. Skills: highlight abilities that haven't been previously mentioned
6. Awards and voluntary work: certification details, community service, etc.
7. Interests: cultural interests or extracurricular activities
8. References: pick the ones that will speak best about your job and add their contact info

Chronological CV

• Traditional
• Useful if you have work experience
• Skills present in different sections of the CV
• Danger because it's a little boring

Skills-Based

• Include a separate skill section
• Focus on the skills
• Include unrelated work experience
• Dynamic

Mix of the Two

• Best relevant elements
• Shorter skills section
• Space with work section

Cover Letter

A cover letter is a document sent with your resume to provide additional info about your skills and experience. It accompanies your CV and is an important part of an application (not just a formality). It should highlight your key skills and suitability for the job, and be targeted to the job/sector you're in.

Objective

• Introduce and represent your resume to the recruiter
• Can help you to get a job

Responsive Applications

• Why you're writing this
• Why you want this job
• What's your motivation for wanting the job
• Illustrate your understanding of the job role
• Evidence of your relevant skills/experience

Speculative Applications

• Why you're writing
• Be clear about what you're asking for
• Need to be convincing
• Make a link between your skills/experience and the job/sector

Opening Paragraph

• Why are you writing?
• Responsive: name of the specific job vacancy and where advertised
• Speculative: state the broad type of work you're interested in and why you're available
• Why are you?

Middle Paragraph

• Why that organization and why that company and job
• Knowledge and interest
• Link through your degree subject
• Why you
• Why they should consider you
• What skills can you offer
• Support your statement with evidence

Closing Paragraph

• Interest and enthusiasm in the role
• Indicate any times available for interview
• Show that you will follow the letter so you will wait for the call
• Start with 'Dear Sir or Madam' or 'Dear Ms. X' and finish with something like 'Yours faithfully' or 'Yours sincerely'

How You Should Present Your Cover Letter

• Maximum 1 page
• Consistent font type (same as your CV)
• Correct grammar
• Formal
• Send it with your CV