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Writing a CV & a Covering Letter

Writing a CV

• When you apply for a job, it is usual to include a curriculum vitae, or CV (called résumé in the US). This is a list of your personal details, educational history, qualifications, experience, and interests—that is to say, the story of your life from a professional point of view.

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Writing a CV. Parts of a CV

• There are many different models of CVs. The ones that you are going to see here are just some examples. But the parts that are included in these CVs are the parts you should include in any CV you may write. When writing a CV, you should include:

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• PERSONAL DETAILS (name, address, telephone, email, date of birth, nationality, etc).

• PERSONAL STATEMENT (brief summary of your status and personality, make it relevant to the job you are applying for).

• EDUCATION/PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION (include dates, places, etc).

• WORK EXPERIENCE (include detailed data relevant to the job you are applying for).

• LANGUAGES (specify your command of languages: level, certification, etc. Some people put this information in “Other Information”).

• INTERESTS AND HOBBIES • OTHER INFORMATION (include any other information that has not been included before and can be relevant for the job i.e: driving licence,own car, computer literate, etc).

• REFERENCES/REFEREES (include two people that know you professionally so that they can give reference about your work when asked, you should provide as much information as possible about them (email, telephone, work address, etc)so that your future employer can contact them easily.

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Name: Mary Phyllis

Address: 16 Victoria Road Brixton LONDON SW2 5HU

Telephone: 081 677 9683

Nationality: British

Date of birth: 11 March 1963

Marital Status: Single

Personal Statement: A self-motivated and hard working professional with experience

in all aspects of business work. Able to use own initiative and work as part of a team.

Proven leadership skills, including managing and motivating other staff to achieve

company objectives. An effective communicator at all levels within an organisation.

Good problem solving and analytical skills.

Education/Qualifications: 1985-6 University of Essex Business School Postgraduate

Diploma in Business Management with German.

1981-5 London School of Economics, Department of Business

Studies BSc First Class Honours in Business Studies with Economics.

1983-4 in Bonn, studying business German at evening classes and

working in various temporary office jobs.

1974-81 Colchester Grammar School for Girls. 4 “A” Levels:

Mathematics (A), History (A), Economics (A), German (B).

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Employment to date: 1992-PRESENT Deputy Manager, Retail Outlets Division, Delicatessen International, Riverside House, 22 Charles St, London EC7X 4JJ. 1991-2 Assistant Purchasing Officer, Delicatessen International, 77 rue Baudelaire, 75012 Paris, France 1989-91 Assistant Manager, Sainsway Foodstores PLC, Lincoln Arcade, Faversham, Kent. 1987-9 Trainee Manager, Sainsway Foodstores PLC, 69-75 Aylestone Street, London EC5A 9HB.

Hobbies and Interests: Tennis and swimming, Judo-brown belt, Wine tasting and vineyard

Other Information: Language Skills (English-French Bilingual,C2;Spanish, A2), driving license, computer literate.

References: Mr. J. Byers-Elllis. Manager, Retail Outlets Division, Delicatessen International, Riverside House, 22 Charles St, London EC7X 4JJ. Dr. Margaret McIntosh, Director of Studies, University of Essex Business School, Colchester CR3 5SA

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Writing a Covering Letter

• Together with your CV it is usual to send a covering letter. Job advertisements often need a covering letter to highlight the applicant´s best qualities. Every time that you send out your CV you will need to send out a covering letter with it, whether you are sending your CV in response to an advert or directly to an employer or recruiter. This covering letter needs to tell the person you are sending it to why they should read your CV.

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Writing a Covering Letter

• A covering letter needs to say a lot more than just: 'Here is my CV!', which is all some people seem to think a covering letter should say. It needs to tell the person why you are writing to them and outline why you are the ideal candidate for the job. You need to pick out the highlights from your CV that are relevant to this specific application.

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11 North Street

Your address Cambridge,

BN7 2BT

Date aligned with the address 25th February, 2008 The Personnel Director,

J.M. Kenyon Ltd, Firebrick House, Person you are writing to and his/her address

Clifton, MC45 6RB

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to apply for the position of senior receptionist as advertised in this months´ Hotel

Review.

I am a fully trained receptionist with a diploma in Leisure and Tourism Studies, and I have three

years´ work experience. I currently work as a receptionist at the Excelsior Hotel in Leeds.

I would like to apply for the position advertised as I feel I have the necessary experience for

the job. I have experience using the Fidelio and Galileo systems and excellent computer skills. I

am sociable and well organized, and I enjoy working with people.

I enclose a copy of my CV and a completed application form. I look forward to hearing from

you.

Yours faithfully,

Mary Stuart

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Writing a CV & a Covering Letter

GENERAL TIPS - When writing your CV (US. résumé) and/or your

covering letter, please be very careful and take your

time to do it.

- Don´t write your CV and/or your covering letter in a

rush!

- Remember that a good CV and covering letter is a

decisive step towards that job you really want to get.

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Writing a CV & a Covering Letter

SPECIFIC TIPS for writing CVs

-Keep your curriculum vitae simple.

-Your CV must be concise and easy to read.

-Your CV must sell you and must be tailored to what the reader/employer is looking for.

REMEMBER: CV writing is a form of

marketing or advertising, where you are

the product!

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Writing a CV & a Covering Letter SPECIFIC TIPS for writing Covering Letters

• Address Your Covering Letter to a Specific Person. • Explain Why You Are Sending the Covering Letter. • Specify How You Learned About the Position or Organization. • Customize Your Covering Letter to Each Position You Apply To. • State the Elements of Your Background That Are Relevant to the Position. • Provide or Refer to Any Information Specifically Requested • Market Yourself. • Keep the Tone and Content Professional. • Be Clear, Concise, and Focused. • Don’t Repeat Your CV. • Make Yourself Available and Tell Employers How to Reach You. • Proofread.

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You can find more about CVs (Résumés) and covering letters at:

-CVs: http://www.goodenglishgoodjob.com/12.html • Tips & Templates

• Example 1

• More examples

• Application Forms

- COVERING LETTERS: http://www.goodenglishgoodjob.com/13.html • Example 1

• Example 2

• Tips

• Format

• Structure

Some other websites are: •http://www.cvtips.com/

•http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/curriculumvitae/a/curriculumvitae.htm

•http://www.businessballs.com/curriculum.htm

•http://www.cv-resume.org/

•http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/641/01/

•http://www.soon.org.uk/cvpage.htm

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THE BASICS TO BUSINESS LETTERS

• The Start Dear Personnel Director, Dear Sir or Madam: (use if you don't know who you are writing to). Dear Dr, Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms Smith: (use if you know who you are writing to, and have a formal relationship

with VERY IMPORTANT use Ms for women unless asked to use Mrs or Miss). Dear Frank: (use if the person is a close business contact or friend). • The Reference With reference to your advertisement in the Times, your letter of 23 rd March, With reference to your phone call today. Thank you for your letter of March 5 th . • The Reason for Writing I am writing to inquire about… I am writing to apologize for… I am writing to confirm…

• Requesting Could you possibly? I would be grateful if you could… • Agreeing to Requests I would be delighted to…

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THE BASICS TO BUSINESS LETTERS

• Enclosing Documents I am enclosing… Please find enclosed… Enclosed you will find… • Closing Remarks Thank you for your help. Please contact us again if we can help in any way. Please contact us if there are any problems. Please, contact us if you have you have any questions. • Reference to Future Contact I look forward to ... hearing from you soon. I look forward to ... meeting you next Tuesday. I look forward to ... seeing you next Thursday. • The Finish Yours faithfully, (If you don't know the name of the person you're writing to). Yours sincerely, (If you know the name of the person you're writing to) Best wishes, Best regards, (If the person is a close business contact or friend)

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