Effective CV and Cover Letter Writing İstanbul Arel University Career Planning, Application and Research Center
Content What is a CV? Types of CV CV Contents CV Layout Tips for an Effective CV Cover Letter
What is a CV? O CV is the abbreviation of Curriculum Vitae which
provides an overview of a person's experience and other qualifications. O CV is a summary of your qualifications, competences, experiences and other information related to the position you apply to. CV must be clear and coherent, and intend to impress the reader. O CV must also express how and to what extent you will contribute to the job you apply to. O CV has a direct impact on your chance of being employed, because employers decide which applicants to invite to an interview based on their evaluation of the CVs.
Types of CV O There are different types of CVs according
to the order in which the content of the CV is arranged. O Chronological CV O Functional CV O Mixed CV
Chronological CV O It’s the most frequently used CV. O Applicant’s previous jobs and experiences
are written in reverse chronological order (starting from the latest date). O Applicant orders his/her education and work experiences in reverse chronological order with the most recent education and work experience detailed first and going backwards detailing previous experiences.
Functional CV O Applicant’s qualifications and experiences are arranged
under separate headings. For instance, under the heading ‘Sales’ the applicant states his/her qualifications and experiences related to sales, whereas under the heading ‘Leadership’ s/he states those related to leadership. O After the applicant’s qualifications and experiences are separated according to their functions, the ones under the same heading may be arranged chronologically. O This type of CV may be especially preferred by applicants who have extensive work experience. O This type of CV is more appropriate in case there’s a long time period that the applicant quited working.
Mixed CV O This type of CV combines the characteristics of
chronological and functional CVs. O In this type of CV, the whole structure of functional CV is preserved, and work experience is presented more prominently. O In this type of CV, work experience is more prominent than in functional CV, and less prominent than in chronological CV. In this way, qualifications, competences and achievements can be presented more clearly and completely. O Although mixed CVs are useful in many ways, many employees still find chronological CV more clear and understandable.
CV Contents Name and Contact Information Personal Information Education Information Work Experience Foreign Language Skills Computer Skills Courses and Certificates Hobbies & Interests Association & Club Memberships References
Name and Contact Information O CV should include a phone number and/or an e-
mail address via which you can be contacted. O This isformation is usually written on the first page of the CV, on the upper left or upper middle. O Name is written in a big font size on the upper left or upper middle of the first page. O If a photograph is attached to the CV, it should be a high quality and recent headshot photograph.
Name and Contact Information
Personal Information O This part includes personal information that the
employer may consider important, such as date of birth, place of birth, and marital status. O This part should also include other personal information that is relevant to the job that the applicant applies to. O Contents of the Personal Information part may be ordered according to their relevancy and importance to the job being applied for.
Personal Information
Education Information O If the applicant has little or no work experince, it's preferable to O
O
O O
continue the CV with education information. If the applicant has extensive work experience, it's preferable to continue the CV with work experience information. Because as work experience increases, experience gets ahead of education. If the applicant is a newly graduate or don’t have much work experience, the Education Information part may be long; high school, undergraduate, master’s and doctoral studies may be indicated. If the applicant is a university graduate and has extensive work experince, indicating high school information is optional. It’s not right to indicate primary and secondary school information unless there’s a special situation.
Education Information O Education Information includes: O O O O
Beginning and Graduation Dates Name and Place of the School Department/Program Graduation Grade
O Education Information may include; schools,
courses, seminars, theses, projects, studies, scholarships and awards. O If the applicant is a student or newly graduate, courses that are relevant to and advantageous for the job being applied to may be included in the Education Information part.
Education Information
Work Experience O If the applicant is not a newly graduate, the Work
Experience part of the CV is the most important part. Employers and HR specialists believe that one of the best ways to predict an applicant’s future performance is to review his/her past performance. Therefore, the Work Experince part has many important details to be considered. O Work Experience part includes: O O O O
Beginning and Ending Dates of the Work Position/Title Name and Place of the Company/Institution Achievements at the Work
Work Experience O O
O O
O
In the Work Experience part it’s not necessary to include headings like ‘tasks and responsibilities’ or ‘job definition’ to indicate the tasks and responsibilities of the position. Newly graduate applicants may include their internship and part-time work experiences in the Work Experience part. Applicants with extensive work experience do not need to include this kind of information. Contents of the Work Experience part may be ordered according to their relevancy and importance to the job being applied for. If work experinces are written in reverse chronological order, information regarding the latest work should be the most detailed, because employers are mostly interested in the applicant’s latest work experience. Information such as ‘Reason of Leaving Work’ or ‘Last Wage Earned’ should not be included in the CV. These are kind of information that should be indicated at the first interview, it’s not necessary to include them in the CV.
Work Experience
Foreign Language Skills O In the Foreign Language Skills part, foreign languages that the
applicant knows are stated, also indicating the level. O In the Foreign Language Skills part:
Indicating graduation from an educational institution that provided education in a foreign language, provides support for the applicant to indicate his/her foreign language level as ‘advanced’. O If the foreign language has been learned through a course, name, level and dates of the course may be indicated. O If the job posting is in a foreign language, the application must be made in the same language and using the same terminology. O
O Foreign Language level shouldn't be exaggerated. Exaggeration
will put the applicant in a difficult situation when s/he faces an oral or written examination regarding the Foreign Language level.
Foreign Language Skills
Computer Skills O Computer
Skills part includes the applicant’s computer skills, also indicating the levels and user experince. O If the applicant has acquired a computer skill through a course or certificate program; name, level and dates of the course/program may be indicated.
Computer Skills
Courses and Certificates O Information regarding the courses that the
applicant has completed, and certificates s/he has received are stated in this part, also indicating: O Name/subject of the course/certificate O Name and place of the institution/organization
that provided the course/certificate O Date of completing the course/certificate program O Time period of the course/certificate program
Courses and Certificates
Hobbies & Interests O O O O O
This part includes the applicant’s hobbies and interests, and gives an idea about his/her social life. It’s advisable to especially include in the Hobbies & Interests part activites that emphasize the applicant’s strengths and skills. Daily, routine activities such as reading books, listening to music should not be included in the Hobbies & Interests part. Hobbies & Interests part may include activities such as writing poems, playing a musical instrument, mountain climbing, parachuting, scuba diving, playing chess, etc. Instead of using general expressions such as playing sports or taking photos, it’s better to use explanatory expressions. O
O
For instance, instead of writing ‘I play sports’, it’s better to write ‘I’ve been playing volleyball for 5 years’.
If the applicant doesn’t have any particular hobbies or interests, the Hobbies & Interests part may not be included in the CV.
Hobbies & Interests
Association & Club Memberships O This part includes the applicant’s memberships to
associations, clubs and other organizations. It should especially include memberships that are relevant and important to the job being applied to. O Full name of the association/club/organization and the level of membership should be indicated. It’s advisable to especially include in the Memberships part memberships that emphasize the applicant’s strengths and skills. O Memberships that have no relevance to the job, and do not indicate any qualification or skill related to the job may not be included in the CV.
Association & Club Memberships
References O References indicated in the CV should include people O O O O
who know well about the applicant and his/her works, and can provide right information about him/her. References should not include relatives or close friends. References should include people who occupy higher positions at work than the applicant, such as academicians, managers, supervisors. Applicant should get the permission of the references before including them in the CV, also indicating their position, address and phone number. If the applicant does not have any references, the References part should not be included in the CV.
References
CV Layout O More readable fonts should be preferred while writing a
CV.
O The mostly preferred fonts in CV writing are Times New
Roman (size 11 and 12), Arial (size 12) and Calibri (size 11 and 12).
O Writings should be open, clear, and well-ordered, and
shouldn’t include any misspelling. O The paper should be well arranged as a whole, contents should be appropriately grouped under highlighted headings. O CV’s not exceeding one page for newly graduate applicants, and not exceeding two pages for experinced applicants increase the chances of being evaluated by the recruiter.
Tips for an Effective CV O The first half of the CV is the part that attracts
interest at first sight, therefore this part should include the information that emphasizes the applicant’s strengths and best qualifications. O Information that the applicant wants to emphasize should be stated on the upper part of the CV. O The visual layout of the CV is important. Creativity and colours may be used to design the layout for an outstanding CV, while also bearing in mind that exaggerating the use of design and colours in the CV would diminish professionalism.
Tips for an Effective CV O CV shouldn’t include any misleading or
exaggerated information. O Qualifications and experiences of the applicant should be expressed clearly and plainly in the CV. O Unnecessary information should not be included in the CV. O At least 2-3 hours should be allocated to write a good CV. As experinces increase, more time will be needed to prepare the CV.
CV in a Foreign Language O If the applicant is proficient in a foreign
language (such as English), it is advantageous to prepare a CV in that language in addition to Turkish, and send it to employers who look for proficiency in that foreign language. O If the applicant is not proficient in a foreign language, it’s better not to prepare a CV in a foreign language than to prepare a CV that includes mistakes.
Benefits of Writing a CV O Writing a CV, first of all, provides the applicant
with a summary of his/her qualifications, experiences, strengths and development needs. O Updating the CV once or twice a year, even if not looking for a job, shows the applicant how much s/he has progressed and where s/he currently stands. O Preparing a CV raises the applicant’s awareness on his/her professional identity and helps him/her in setting career goals.
Cover Letter O Cover Letter is the short letter that the employer
O O O O
reads before the CV. It is the first part representing the applicant, which is not as detailed as the CV. Cover Letter is attached as a separate first page to the CV. Cover Letter should not exceed one page. Content of the Cover Letter should complement the CV. Cover Letter shouldn’t be too long or detailed which may decline the interest of the reader.
Writing a Cover Letter O Cover Letter is composed of three parts as
introduction, body and conclusion. O Cover Letter starts with the name of the addressee; O Dear Michael Brownfox
O If name of the addressee is unknown; O To whom it may concern;
Introduction Introduction part includes: O The position being applied for, O What the applicant can contribute to the job and the company, O Why the applicant is interested in the job and the company.
Body Body part includes: O Applicant’s education and work experience, O Applicant’s important qualifications, supported with examples. O Paragraphs in the body part are ordered according to their significance.
Conclusion Conclusion part includes: O Mentioning of the attached CV, O Interview request for the opportunity to provide more information, O Applicant’s phone number and e-mail address via which s/he can be contacted, O Thanking the employer.
Resources O Bobbi Linkemer, Etkili Özgeçmiş Yazma Teknikleri, O O O O O
Rota Yayınları, 1993, İstanbul Cemal Engin, Kariyerinize Yön Vermek, Optimist Yayınları, 2008, İstanbul Cemil Özden, Kariyer Planlaması ve Yönetimi, Ödül Yayınları, 2008, İstanbul İstanbul Arel Üniversitesi Kariyer Planlama, Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi, Kariyerinize İlk Adım, İstanbul İstanbul Üniversitesi Kariyer Geliştirme Merkezi, Özgeçmiş Hazırlama Kılavuzu, 2010, İstanbul Suat Soysal, İş Ararken, Remzi Kitapevi, 2006, İstanbul