CVs and Cover Letters
What is a CV?
A Curriculum Vitae, or a CV for short, is a summary of your previous education, experience and skills which intends to persuade an employer that you are the right for the position.
Whether you’re interested in finding opportunities for work experience or wanting to apply for part or full-time employment, you will quite often be asked to send your CV to the employer. Remember, a CV may land you the interview, not necessarily the job!
There is no right or wrong way of writing a CV and there are three different types (shown below). It will be unique to your application and your individual interests and experience. However, there are some common guidelines that you should follow to make sure that the information is presented clearly and is likely to be interesting and relevant to the person reading it.
CVs final.pdfChronological CVs
Chronological CVs usually show the activities you have done with a focus on what you have done and when. They are a record of the experience and learning you have done, displayed in reverse order. This is the most common of the CV types.
Skills-Based CVs
A skills-based CV is a good alternative for someone who does not have a lot of experience to explore. It has a focus on the skills you possess based on the things you might have done through your studies or personal life and what the employer is looking for.
Digital CVs
Digital CVs are a newer forms of CVs that you can use. This normally takes the form of a personal website or a Linkedin page, but it could also be a document you have designed. This can be helpful for creative roles - like these here.
What you will need to include:
Contact details - make sure they are up-to-date, you want employers to be able to contact you!
Personal profile - a quick introduction to who you are and what you're looking for to sell yourself to the employer, needed especially when you don't have a Cover Letter (see below).
Education/Qualifications - include a section for this, highlighting your achievements and grades. You can include pending qualifications onto this list.
Employment and Work Experience - give details of any experience (paid or unpaid) that you have done and the tasks that you had to complete.
Volunteering and other interests - include any other relevant activities you have been involved with in your spare time to prepare you for work. This includes volunteering, sports and hobbies.
Skills, strengths and achievements - when describing your experiences, make sure that you highlight the relevant skills, strengths and achievements that you have demonstrated in each role.
References - you will normally need to provide the contact details of two references, these are people you have worked with professionally who can talk about you as a person - make sure to ask them first!
CV handout.pdfBefore you submit your CV, have you checked...?
Format
It is important that your CV has a clear and professional “look”. If you make a good first impression, the employer is more likely to read on and consider inviting you in for an interview.
Length
The standard length of a CV in the UK is one or two full pages, too long and the employer won't read it.
Font
Try to use a clear and professional-looking font such as Arial or Calibri, sized between 10 and 12 point.
Headings
Should stand out from the rest of the text – consider using a different style, size or bold so that there is a clear distinction between the headings and main text.
Accuracy
Make sure that you proofread your CV carefully so that you pick up any spelling mistakes and inaccuracies.
Tailored
The best CVs are tailored against the job application, using the job specification to create a relevant and engaging CV.
Learn more about CV tailoring here
CompletingCVGraphic.v2--2-_51318 (1).pdfWhat is a Cover Letter?
A Cover (or Covering) Letter is a letter that you send with your CV to introduce yourself and to explain briefly why you are the right person for the job you are applying for. It is your chance to make a good first impression and to persuade the employer to take a closer look at your CV. Therefore, it’s important to highlight what you can offer in terms of skills and any relevant previous experience.
The letter should generally be 3-4 paragraphs long, and no longer than a single page. If you’re sending your CV electronically, it can be put in the main body of the email or be sent as an attachment along with the CV.
Cover Letters final.pdfWhat you need to include:
Clear layout - make sure that your present your Cover Letter with a formal layout by remembering to include your address (right-hand top corner), the company address (left-hand side), and the date in full (underneath your address)
Greeting - you should use a formal address i.e. if you know the person you are sending the application to, address them by title and name “Dear Mr/Ms Smith”. If unknown, you can use a general address such as “Dear Sir/Madam”
Sign-off - if you’ve used the person’s name at the beginning, use the sign-off “Yours sincerely”, or “Yours faithfully” if you’ve used a general greeting
Good grammar and spelling - make sure that you proofread your letter carefully so that you pick up any spelling mistakes and inaccuracies
Positivity - Be positive about why you are the perfect candidate, clearly highlighting how your skills and experience meet those detailed in the job description
Tailoring - make sure that you rewrite your Cover Letter every time you apply for a different position to show that you have a good understanding of the company and what they are looking for – it pays to show that you’ve made the effort to consider how you might fit in
Suggested Structure:
Paragraph 1 – Explain briefly why you are writing, the position that you are applying for and how you heard about the job e.g. on a website
Paragraph 2 – Explain and expand on why you are the right person for the role. Give examples from your CV of the skills and knowledge that you have developed and can contribute to the role/company. This should match closely with the job description and the skills the company are asking for
Paragraph 3 – You should show here your knowledge of the industry and the company and how you might fit in
Paragraph 4 – You should close positively by explaining that you look forward to hearing from them