Writing a Cover Letter/CV

How to Write a CV/Cover Letter?
These are the first hurdles in applying for a job. There are intelligent people who cannot put ideas in a reader friendly manner on paper - being brilliant does not mean that one will necessarily shine through on paper. There have been excellent candidates who have missed out on opportunities they deserve simply because they sent in a crappy application. This should not be the case and the following are some guidelines we've put together.

General Tips:
1. Try and do some research on the firm you are applying for, and make sure you have lots of hard evidence to support your application. It is easier to sell yourself to firms if you know what they are looking for.

2. Do follow instructions, such as if you should send in a covering letter, or if they prefer you to apply online, or if there is a particular application form they want you to fill in.

3. Target your application to suit different employers to make recruiters feel special. This will convince them that you are making an effort to impress them.

4. Do not run away from forms with difficult questions. These are in fact the chance to impress the recruiter. Think about the question seriously and about how it might relate to the job. Then answer but don't waffle.

5. Get a second opinion. Ask a friend or someone else to check your spelling and grammar for you and give you their thoughts on your application so that you can improve it.

6. Make a copy of your covering letter, CV and/or application form so that you can remember what you wrote later.

The CV
- This is not a comprehensive listing of every single fact about yourself. Do try to keep it to two sides of paper.
- Use positive language to appear confident but do not make up anything for the sake of embellishment. The world is a small place and truths can be uncovered when you least expect it.
- Personal details: Include your name, sex, permanent address (and term-time address), telephone number, date of birth and nationality (especially if you are applying in the UK as you will need a work permit). [This might seem obvious but do use a sensible email address.]
- Chronologically: Put the most recent events first.
- Be careful with gaps and be sure to explain why there might be any. Employers will think that you are trying to hide something if they see unexplained gaps.
- The amount of space you give to a particular subject-area indicates the weight you want to give to it. Use more space where you feel you want to show the employer, e.g. what valuable skills you learnt at a law firm on a vacation placement, and use less on things such as GCSE results (don't waste one line each on listing every subject)
- Work Experience: Provide details of employers and a brief job description and make casual jobs sound positive. (Recruiters understand that you might have had to choose whatever job to tend you ailing bank account.)
- Interests and activities: think about those that will relate to the skills that the recruiter is looking for and bring out evidence of those.
- Add any additional skills you might have, e.g. IT skills, languages, etc.
- Referees: supply names and contact details of 2 referees.
- Use two separate sheets of paper rather than on sheet printed on both sides. Use good quality A4 paper.
- Your CV should look neat and tidy with the information easy to find under headings.

The Cover Letter
- Restrict yourself to one side of good quality A4 paper.
- Express what you need to say as concisely as possible.
- Be positive and avoid grammatical and spelling errors like the plague.

a) Beginnings and Endings
- Find out to whom your letter should be addressed. If this is not possible, use Dear Sir or Madam.
- Conclude with "Yours faithfully" or "Yours sincerely".

b) The First Paragraph(s)
- Identify yourself, the job you are applying for and where you found out about the vacancy.
- Possibly summarise your main 'selling points'.

c) The Middle Paragraph(s)
- Give details about why you are applying for this job and specifically, that firm, and convince them that you are genuinely interested in their firm and suitable for that career. Sound keen and enthusiastic and show that you have researched both the firm and the job.
- Give them concrete examples of your main 'selling points', e.g. relevant work experience, related interests and skills, relevant aspects of your course
- You might also want to justify any weak points in your CV or application form.

d) The Last Paragraph(s)
- Restate your interest and your suitability for the job briefly.
- Mention the dates that you are available or unavailable for interview
- End the letter on an optimistic note.