Policy 2- CV Resume

General Format of a Cover Letter

These five steps are the basis of how to write a cover letter: 1.Greeting: Address your cover letter to the proper person. 2.Opening: Write a personable, inviting opening paragraph that notes how your skills are a perfect fit to the job and displays your enthusiasm. 3.Hook: Highlight your past achievements as they relate to the job you're applying for. 4.Skills: Emphasize additional relevant skills, such as computer languages or certifications. 5.Close: Briefly recap your strengths as a candidate and include your contact information.

Cover Letters

•A cover letter is a one-page document that, along with your resume, is sent with your job application. •A cover letter is your chance to tell a potential employer why you're the perfect person for the position and how your skills and expertise can add value to the company. •The letter should be professional but personable and serve as a sort of introduction. •Tailor the cover letter to the job you are seeking taking care to cover all the job qualification points in relation to you. •A lot of job seekers today wonder if a cover letter is still appropriate to send with your resume—and the answer is yes! •Even if an employer doesn't ask for a cover letter, it couldn't hurt to send one. •In fact, it can help you get someone's attention in a different way, and it can be a great way to display your enthusiasm for the job and company.

More Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid

6. Being vague •If you're replying to an advertised opening—as opposed to writing a cold cover letter—reference the specific job title in your cover letter. •The person reading your letter may be reviewing hundreds of letters for dozens of different jobs. •Make sure all of the content in your letter supports how you will meet the employer's specific needs. 7. Forgetting to customize •If you're applying to a number of similar positions, chances are you're tweaking one letter and using it for multiple openings. •That's fine, as long as you customize each letter. •Don't forget to update the company, job and contact information—if Mr. Jones is addressed as Ms. Smith, he won't be impressed. 8. Ending on a passive note •When possible, put your future in your own hands with a promise to follow up. •Instead of asking readers to call you, try a statement like this: I will follow up with you in a few days to answer any preliminary questions you may have. In the meantime, you may reach me at (555) 555-5555. 9. Being rude Your cover letter should thank the reader for his or her time and consideration. 10. Forgetting to sign the letter •It is proper business etiquette (and shows attention to detail) to sign your letter. Err on the side of formality, and if you need any help figuring out how to close your cover letter. •However, if you are sending an email cover letter and resume, a signature isn't necessary.

Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid

1. Overusing "I" •Your cover letter is not your autobiography. •The focus should be on how you meet an employer's needs, not on your life story. •Avoid the perception of being self-centered by minimizing your use of the word "I," especially at the beginning of your sentences. 2. Using a weak opening •When writing a cover letter, job seekers frequently struggle with the cover letter opening. •This difficulty often results in a feeble introduction lacking punch and failing to grab the reader's interest. Consider this example: -Weak: Please consider me for your sales representative opening. -Better: Your need for a top-performing sales representative is an excellent match to my three-year history as a top-ranked, multimillion-dollar producer. 3. Omitting your top selling points •A cover letter is a sales letter that sells you as a candidate. •Just like your resume, it should be compelling and give the main reasons you should be called for an interview. •Winning cover letter tips include emphasizing your top accomplishments or creating subheadings culled from the job posting. •For example, the ad specifies: -Communication skills -I offer: Five years of public speaking experience and an extensive background in executive-level report. •The ad also specifies: -The need for a strong computer background -I offer: Proficiency in all MS Office applications with additional expertise in website development and design. 4. Making it too long •If your cover letter exceeds one page, you may be putting readers to sleep. •A great cover letter is concise but compelling and respects the reader's time. •1-1.5 pages max - as you progress in your career and your accomplishment accumulate, acceptable to go slightly over 1 page. 5. Repeating your resume or CV word for word •Your cover letter shouldn't regurgitate what's on your resume/CV. •Reword your cover letter statements to avoid dulling your CV/resume's impact. •Consider using the letter to tell a brief story, such as "my toughest sale" or "my biggest technical challenge."

Tips for Cover Letters

1. Parrot the keywords: •Just like with your resume, your cover letters should be customized for each job you apply to. •Use these tips to create a cover letter template, and then fill in the specific details for each position. •Start by reviewing the job description. -In it, you will find important keywords that let you know what kind of employee the company is hoping to find. •Use these same keywords throughout your cover letter. 2. Adapt for the company: •Each version of your cover letter should talk about how your skills will benefit the particular company that you want to work for. •You want to target the company's needs—not your own. •Demonstrate how you could help them achieve their goals. Remember: -You're selling yourself in a CV, and a cover letter, but the employer has to want to buy. 3. Show you "get" them: •Your cover letter should demonstrate that you have done some research into what the organization's pain points are. •Presenting yourself as a solution to a hiring manager's problem can help your cover letter take the right tone. •Always ask yourself: How can I help this company? 4. Proofread: •Don't assume spell check will catch every mistake (it won't). •Slowly review your cover letter to make sure everything reads properly. •Have someone else read your cover letter for backup. •Use free-ware like Grammerly.

General Order of a CV

Identifying Information: name, address, phone numbers and e-mail address. Leave off date of birth, marital status, number of children, or other information that is not relevant. Education: begin with your most recent or expected degree. List degrees, majors, institutions, and dates of completion (or expected date) in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Also include your minors, subfields, and honors. Dissertation or thesis: provide the title and a brief description of your work, its theoretical framework, your conclusions, your director (if their names or departments add breadth or new perspectives to your area of research). Awards, honors, fellowships, scholarships, grants: recognition of scholarship by the university or in the field is very important. Membership in honorary societies belong in this section too, unless they have already been listed under your "Education" section. Professional experience: this category is often divided into several possible categories such as "Research Experience," "Consulting," "Fieldwork," "Teaching Experience," or "Postdoctoral Work," as well as many others, depending on your discipline. Reverse chronological order is again the rule. Publications, invited papers, exhibits, conference presentations, etc: this category may be modified to read "Papers and Publications," "Programs and Workshops" or other titles that accurately reflect the professional work you have produced in your discipline. These should be arranged in reverse chronological order and may be subdivided into sections. You may include works in progress. Teaching, research interests: list the courses you are prepared to teach and topics that indicate your present and future research directions. If your background would allow you to teach in several fields, you may want to include a list of graduate courses taken. Academic Service: list all departmental and university groups, committees, or task forces on which you served. Student groups are valid as well. You should demonstrate that you have demonstrated leadership and you will assume certain departmental administrative duties if hired. If relevant to the position, community service may also be included. Memberships or professional affiliations: list all professional groups (e.g., American Counseling Association) to which you belong and any offices you have held. Languages: list all languages you read and speak and note those in which you are fluent.

Resume

•Concise document •Try to fit on one page •The goal of a resume is to make an individual stand out from the competition •Adapt the resume to every position applied for •In your best interest to change the resume from one job application to another and to tailor it to the job announcement •Doesn't have to be ordered chronologically, doesn't have to cover your whole career •Highly customizable document.

CV and Resume Differences

•Length •Purpose •Layout •Resume is a brief summary of your skills and experience over one or two pages •CV is more detailed and can stretch well beyond two pages •Resume tailored to each position •CV will stay put and any changes will be in the cover letter •CV has a clear chronological order listing the whole career of the individual •Resume's information can be shuffled around to best suit the applicant •Main difference between a resume and a CV is that a CV is intended to be a full record of your career history and a resume is a brief, targeted list of skills and achievements

Curriculum Vitae

•Literally means "Course of life" •Laid out over however many pages it takes •High level of detail •Covers your education, accomplishments (publications, awards and honors) •Also gives the employer some idea of major achievements, duties and responsibilities while in each position you have held in your work career •Organization is key (chronological) over full working career •No specific format, but general guidelines exist •Generally does not change, only your cover letter