HOW TO WRITE A CV HOW TO WRITE A COVER LETTER

As graduation approaches, students start thinking about their future employment, either full time or part time. One of the first things they have to do is to write and submit a job application and a CV or résumé*.   In different countries, different conventions apply to the process of job application and interviews. On the other hand, a CV or résumé contains all the unchanging information about the student, i.e. education, background and work experience. This usually accompanies a letter of application, which in some countries is expected to be hand-written, not word-processed. Sometimes, if you have already had some working experience, a supplementary information sheet containing information relevant to this particular job may also be required. _______________________ *CV abb. for curriculum vitae = a written record of your education and employment, that you send when you apply for a job; pronounced in AmE [kə,rikjələm ‘vaiti:] and in BrE [kə,rikjələm ‘vi:tai]; Americans use résumé /’rezjumei/ more often

When you apply for a job, you may need to fill in a company application form (a standard company form) which asks for personal details, your qualifications, and your work history or you may be asked to supply a CV, which gives similar information, but which you write yourself. In either case, you will need to write a cover letter to go with the application form or CV. Since most jobs are advertised in the papers or specialist publications, before you write your covering letter you should study the wording of the advertisement carefully. Find out exactly what the employer is looking for (e.g., your working experience, knowledge of foreign languages, etc). Then in your covering letter, try to show that you have all the qualities, qualifications, and experience that the employer is looking for. Do not simply repeat all the information in the CV, but highlight the most important parts.

A CV format should include: 1. contact information name address telephone mobile phone e-mail 2. personal information date of birth place of birth citizenship visa status (if you apply for a job abroad) sex 3. optional personal information: marital status wife’s/husband’s name

4. employment history: position details and dates (in chronological order) work history 5. education high school graduate school 6. professional qualifications certificates computer skills 7. languages 8. references 9. interests & hobbies

RESUMÉ American style ___________________________________________________ Jennifer Roberts Married 1320 Forest Drive No children 1 Palo Alto, CA94309 tel: (650) 498-129 email: jlroberts@mailbox.com  _____________________________________________________________________ Objective To obtain a position as a German-English translator with a firm in the Bay Area.  Education_____________________________________________________________ 1996-98 Master of Arts in Translation, Stanford University 1990-94 Bachelor of Arts (cum laude*) Major: German; Minor: Russian, Georgetown University 2 ________________________  *at the third level of the three highest levels of achievement that students can reach when they finish their studies at college

Experience___________________________________________________ 1998-present Freelance technical translator, German-English 3 mostly for hi-tech industries in California 1996-98 Teaching Assistant (German), Stanford University 1994-96 English Teacher, Cambridge Institute, Heidelberg, Germany   Languages Fluent German and Russian Personal Interests sailing, cooking and entertaining friends. ____________________________________________________________________  Reference 4 Dr. M. Rosen, Chair, Department of Modern Languages, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA94305

RESUMÉ American style 1 On an American resumé you may choose whether or not to include your birth date, marital status, children, etc. 2 Begin with your most recent qualification and work backwards. 3 Begin with your most recent employment and work backwards. 4 One or more references may be included on the CV / resumé or they may be included in the letter of application instead.

CURRICULUM VITAE British style Name Peter James Green   Name Peter James Green Address 26 Windmill Road, Bristol BS2 6DP Telephone 0117 945649 Mobile 1 0779 9238182 Email pjgreen@vjbworld.co.uk Nationality British Date of birth 11 March 1977 Marital status Single ____________________________________________________________________  Profile 2 A highly motivated, well-travelled and creative graduate with practical design experience in a large company. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Education / Qualification 1998-2001 Anglia Polytechnic University: BA in Graphic Design (First Class) 1990-1997 Clifton School, 3 A levels: Art (A); Design and Technology, (A); Mathematics (C) 10 GCSEs

Employment to date 2001-present EMS Corporate Imaging, Design Department, Riverside House, 22 Charles St, Bristol   Skills Computer literate: familiar with a number of design and DTP packages; Clean driving license Interests Tennis, swimming, jazz References available on request.

CURRICULUM VITAE British style 1 There is no need for a title or heading other that your own name. Some people omit these labels. Some people omit the Profile section. Other useful phrases for a CV or resumé Native French speaker Near-native command of English Adequate spoken Dutch and German Baccalauréat, série C (equivalent of A levels in Maths and Physics) The qualifications described below do not have exact equivalents in the American system. I enclosed photocopies of my certificates with English translations.

APPLYING FOR A JOB British style Bristol BS2 6DP 24 May 2000 26 Middle Road Bristol BS2 6DP 24 May 2000   Ms Emma Campbell Personnel Manager Multimedia Design 4 Kennnigton Road London SE1 8DD Dear Ms Campbell I am writing to apply for the position of assistant designer advertised in the Evening Post of 23 May. Please find enclosed a copy of my CV. 

I have a degree in Graphic Design from Anglia Polytechnic University I have a degree in Graphic Design from Anglia Polytechnic University. Since graduation last summer I have been working for EMS Corporate Imaging on a contract basis. I have become particular interested in interactive and multimedia work and now I wish to develop my career in that direction. I would welcome the chance to work as part of a small, dynamic team where I could make a significant contribution while developing my skills yet further. I would be happy to show you a portfolio of my work.   I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely Peter Green Enc. CV

A COVER LETTER your address: 32 Green Road K-10004 Freetown March 2, 2011 the person in charge: Mr Frank Peterson, Personnel Manager Jeans and Co. 254 Main Streeet Seattle, WA 98502 Dear Mr. Trimm I am writing to you in response to your advertisement for a local branch manager, which appeared in the Seattle Times on Sunday, February 28. As you can see from my enclosed resume, my experience and qualifications match this position’s requirements.

My current position managing the local branch of a national shoe retailer has provided the opportunity to work in a high-pressure, team environment, where it is essential to be able to work closely with my colleagues in order to meet deadlines. In addition to my responsibilities as manager, I also developed time management tools for staff using Access and Excel from Microsoft’s Office Suite. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to the opportunity to personally discuss why I am particularly suited to this position. Please telephone me at (360) 352-0259 after 4.00 p.m. to suggest a time that we may meet. I can also be reached by email. Sincerely, Peter Smith Enclosure

Applying for a job - British style 1, 2 22 Rocks Lane Bristol BS8 9DF 3 20 April 2011 Ms Patricia Wright Personnel Department 4 5 Multimedia Design 27 Albion Road London SE1 8DD Dear Ms Wright 6 I am writing to apply for the post of ...7 Since graduating from Cardiff University I have been working for .... I would welcome the chance to work as part of a small dynamic team where I could make a significant contribution while devloping my skills yet further. I would be happy to show you a portfolio of my work. I am avaliable for interview next week and look forward to hearing from you. 8 Yours sincerely 9 Mark Wallace 10 Marc Wallace 11 Enc. CV 12

Applying for a job - British style 22 Rocks Lane Bristol BS8 9DF 20 April 2011 1,2 Never write your name at the top of the letter; write your own address in the top right-hand corner. 3 The date can go on either the left or right. Ms Patricia Wright Personnel Department Multimedia Design 27 Albion Road 4 Personnel is sometimes called Human Resources 5 Write the address, name and position of the person you are writing to here. Dear Ms Wright 6 Use Sir or Madam if you do not know the name of the person you are writing to, and use the person’s title (Mr, Ms, etc) and their surname if you do. I am writing to apply for the post of ... 7 In your application use the word post, position or vacancy, not “job”

I am avaliable for interview next week and ... 8 avoid contractions: I am rather than I’m Yours sincerely 9 In British English end your letter Yours sincerely if you have begun it with a person’s title and family name. If you have begun Dear Sir or Madam, then end your letter Yours Faithfully. Mark Wallace 10, 11 Sign your name and print it in full Marc Wallace afterwards. Enc. CV 12 shows you have enclosed something.

PARAGRAPH 1 I am writing ... - explain which job you are applying for and how/where you heard about it other useful phrases: I noted with interest your advertisement for a .... in today’s edition of ... I am writing in response to your advertisement in ... for the position of ... I would like to apply for the vacancy advertised in ... I am interested in applying for the post of ... With reference to your advertisement in ... As you will see from my CV ... I have enclosed a copy of my CV, from which you will see ... Please find enclosed a copy of my CV.

PARAGRAPH 2 Since graduating ... - briefly describe your most relevant qualifications and/or experience other useful phrases: I am currently studying …. at … After graduating from …, I … Since leaving university, I have … On leaving school, I … Having gained a degree, I … While I was working at … During my employment at … I am currently employed at …

PARAGRAPH 3 I would welcome ... - explain why you want the job and why you think you would be good at it other useful phrases: This post interests me because … I would welcome the chance to gain more experience of … I would be greatful for the opportunity to improve my … skills. I have extensive experience of …

PARAGRAPH 4 I am avaliable ... - say how you can be contacted and/or when you are available for the interview other useful phrases: If you consider that my experience and qualifications are suitable … I am available for interview any afternoon and would be pleased to discuss the post in person. I will be available for interview from … to … I can arrange to attend an interview whenever convenient for you.

A CROATIAN COVER LETTER Tijardovićeva 17 10110 Zagreb (01) 3881 477 hrvoje.horvatic@fer.hr April 22, 2010 SIEMENS d.d. Human Resources Heinzlova 70 a 10000 Zagreb Dear Sir, I would like to apply for the post of Development Engineer, as advertised in the April issue of Electronics Today. I enclose my CV with the name of one referee. I consider myself well qualified for this post. My college work was good and I have completed all my modules successfully. I have just graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing in Zagreb and I got my Master’s degree.

I am now looking for a permanent position in a dynamic, interesting and challenging working place which would give me an opportunity to fully realize my interests and qualities and to continue my education. I am confident that with my relevant qualifications, knowledge of English and German, as well as my personal qualities, I will be able to satisfy all your requirements. Please find attached a copy of my CV and reference. Hoping that you would take my application under serious consideration, I remain, Yours faithfully, Hrvoje Horvatić

CURRICULUM VITAE Name: Hrvoje Horvatić Address: Tijardovićeva 17 10110 Zagreb Phone: (01) 3881 477 E-mail: hrvoje.horvatic@fer.hr Date of birth: February 12, 1986 Nationality: Croatian Marital status: single Educational background 2008 – 2011 Graduate Study Programme (MSc), Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, Zagreb University, 2004 – 2008 Bachelor Programme (BSc Undergraduate Programme), Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, Zagreb University, 2000 – 2004 Mathematics high school (MIOC), Zagreb,

Working experience 2007 summer practice in Electronics and Telecommunications, Zagreb Language English – written and spoken fluently German – finished elementary school in Berlin (my parents worked there) Other qualifications computer knowledge: operational systems: DOS, Windows 3.11, Windows 95, UNIX, programming in Fortran, Turbo Pascal and C, basics of SQL-a, developing Web pages, (publishing information on the Web, HTML maps, HTML forms, basics of Java script, etc), using MS office, Internet Skills driving license (category B) since 2002 Interests theatre, movies, reading, swimming Reference Prof __________________, PhD

JUST A FEW MORE SUGGESTIONS, ADVICE AND… Ever since Croatia started democratic processes in the early nineties of the last century, both Croatian and foreign companies and employers have been advertising posts emphasizing the need of applicant’s fluent knowledge of at least one foreign language. Therefore, CVs and covering letters should be written in a foreign language, mostly English. The interviewers usually ask applicants to speak English and if they get the job, they are often sent to specialize aboard, usually to the country from which the employer comes from. For our graduates, knowing at least one foreign language is an imperative not only when European Union is regarded, but the Bologna process requirements are the same.

“Expect the unexpected” There are different kinds of interviews: either traditional one-to-one interviews, or so called panel interviews where one or more candidates are interviewed by a panel interviewers. Sometimes applicants have to demonstrate how they can cope in actual business situations. The atmosphere of an interview may vary from the informal to the formal and interviewers may take a friendly, neutral or even hostile approach. Different interviewers use different techniques and the only rules that applicants should be aware of may be “Expect the unexpected” “Be yourself”.

Of course, the salary is an important part in the process of job hunting. Certain companies, beside a good salary may offer some extra benefits, such as a company car or cheap housing loans, bonuses paid in, the so-called “thirteenth month”, company pension schemes, free canteen meals, long holidays or flexible working hours. All these definitely contribute to the attractiveness of a job. Unfortunately, you can only dream about it. What could help you is a good knowledge of at least one foreign language.

THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING LANGUAGES... is no more a subject of discussion it is a necessity, an obligation it is the way how to make students globally competitive. As Dr. Dan Davidson, President of the American Councils on International Education says: “Learning a foreign language is the first step to getting that job that pays seven figures and gives you two paid Hawaii vacations a year.”

and more about THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES A family of mice was surprised by a big cat. Father Mouse jumped and said, "Bow-wow!" The cat ran away. "What was that, Father?" asked Baby Mouse. "Well, son, that's why it's important to learn a second language." ******* A person who speaks two languages is bilingual... A person who speaks three languages is trilingual... A person who speaks four or more languages is multilingual. What is a person who speaks one language? An American.

A JOB INTERVIEW JOKE Reaching the end of a job interview, the Human Resources person asked a young applicant fresh out of school, "And what starting salary are you looking for?“ The applicant said, "In the neighborhood of $125,000 a year, depending on the benefits package.“ The interviewer said, "Well, what would you say to a package of 5 weeks vacation, 14 paid holidays, full medical and dental, company matching retirement fund to 50% of salary, and a company car leased every two years - say, a red Corvette?" The applicant sat up straight and said, "Wow! Are you kidding?“ And the interviewer replied, "Yeah, but you started it."

Good luck in writing a successful cover letter, impressive CV and most of all, find a good job! THANK YOU!