How To Write Amazing Cover Letters & Applications...Cover Letters & Applications UCL CAREERS...

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UCL Careers Essentials

With Raj Sidhu

How To Write

Amazing

Cover Letters

& Applications

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Question:

How do

Application

Forms make

you feel?

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All recruitment relates

to just 3 things…

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1. You can do the job

2. You want to do the job

3. They will like working with you

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1. Leonardo __ ____ Principle

2. How to show ____ (without showing off)

3. Making a personal ______

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E.g…

Q: Raj, how long should

cover letters be?

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1. Leonardo Da Vinci Principle

2. How to show ____ (without showing off)

3. Making a personal ______

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11.

“Also I can execute sculpture

in marble, bronze and clay.

Likewise in painting, I can do

everything possible as well as

any other”

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Job Description

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Job Description

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Example Application form question:

“What skills make you a good fit for the role?”

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Example Application form question:

“What skills make you a good fit for the role?”

I believe I could be a good fit for the role because of my experience in the

Chemical and Physical society at UCL. While there, I organised an employer

panel event, with representatives from Astra Zeneca. This helped develop my

communication skills – as well as my teamwork skills, as I had to work with 3

partners. We learned about how regulation worked in the pharmaceutical

sector, and I’m interested to learn more and to develop in the Regulatory Affairs

graduate role at GSK. My 67% mark in my dissertation shows my ability to

multi-task, as I worked part-time at the Students Union, whilst also showing my

passion for science, attention to detail and analytical mindset.

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Example Application form question:

“What skills make you a good fit for the role?”

Relationship building has been a key part of my success in recent roles.

Working as a restaurant usher last summer, I built trust with queuing customers

by asking them open questions about their experiences of London, and how I

could help them. By responding to their questions, which ranged from afternoon

travel planning to best evening spots, I built a rapport by identifying and

addressing their needs. As a result, partnership opportunities were opened up,

allowing me to communicate food orders directly from queuing customers;

giving the kitchen more time to prepare, lowering waiting time for customers

and increasing table turnover rates. My relationship building skills resulted in

approximately 50% fewer customers abandoned the queue.

Proactivity and self-motivation were features of my success in the …

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Takeaways…

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#1: Start with their skill

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#1: Start with their skill

(Lessons from Eye Tracking Software…)

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Example Application form question:

“What skills make you a good fit for the role?”

Relationship building has been a key part of my success in recent roles.

Working as a restaurant usher last summer, I built trust with queuing customers

by asking them open questions about their experiences of London, and how I

could help them. By responding to their questions, which ranged from afternoon

travel planning to best evening spots, I built a rapport by identifying and

addressing their needs. As a result, partnership opportunities were opened up,

allowing me to communicate food orders directly from queuing customers;

giving the kitchen more time to prepare, lowering waiting time for customers

and increasing table turnover rates. My relationship building skills resulted in

approximately 70% fewer customers abandoned the queue.

Proactivity and self-motivation were features of my success in the …

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#2: Think of the mark-scheme

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Job Description

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Example Application form question:

“What skills make you a good fit for the role?”

I believe I could be a good fit for the role because of my experience in the

Chemical and Physical society at UCL. While there, I organised an employer

panel event, with representatives from Astra Zeneca. This helped develop my

communication skills – as well as my teamwork skills, as I had to work with 3

partners. We learned about how regulation worked in the pharmaceutical

sector, and I’m interested to learn more and to develop in the Regulatory Affairs

graduate role at GSK. My 67% mark in my dissertation shows my ability to

multi-task, as I worked part-time at the Students Union, whilst also showing my

passion for science, attention to detail and analytical mindset.

UCL CAREERS

UCL CAREERS

#3: The examples

supporting skills

don’t have to be

flashy

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#4: Quality & Depth of

examples > Quantity

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#5: How to show skills

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#5: How to show skills

• Skill + Evidence + quantification

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#5: How to show skills

• Skill + Evidence + quantification

• Harvard Competency Dictionary

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Example Application form question:

“What skills make you a good fit for the role?”

Relationship building has been a key part of my success in recent roles.

Working as a restaurant usher last summer, I built trust with queuing customers

by asking them open questions about their experiences of London, and how I

could help them. By responding to their questions, which ranged from afternoon

travel planning to best evening spots, I built a rapport by identifying and

addressing their needs. As a result, partnership opportunities were opened up,

allowing me to communicate food orders directly from queuing customers;

giving the kitchen more time to prepare, lowering waiting time for customers

and increasing table turnover rates. My relationship building skills resulted in

approximately 70% fewer customers abandoned the queue.

Proactivity and self-motivation were features of my success in the …

UCL CAREERS

1. Leonardo Da Vinci Principle

2. How to show skills (without showing off)

3. Making a personal ______

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1. Leonardo Da Vinci Principle

2. How to show skills (without showing off)

3. Making a personal connection

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UCL CAREERS

Watch

from 37

seconds

to 1m50

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Watch

from 37

seconds

to 1m50

Then let me know what you like / don’t

like…

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Cover Letter Tip #1:

Start with the organisation

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Cover Letter Tip #2:

Subsequent Paragraphs

Focus on 1 skill each

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Cover Letter Tip #2:

Subsequent Paragraphs

Focus on 1 skill each

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Cover Letter Tip #3:

Optimal Cover Letter Length

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#4: The Cover Letter

As A Marketing

Document

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Any

questions

or

comments?