7 minute read
Writing a CV and cover letter
First impressions are lasting and this is especially true when it comes to CVs and cover letters for graduate jobs� After all, the content of your application is only half the game� As a business graduate, it is expected that you can write clearly and persuasively� Moreover, recruiters are often time-poor professionals who want to separate the wheat from the chaff quickly, before reaching out to candidates who distinguish themselves with academic credentials, work experience or diverse interests� So, to help you put your best foot forward, we’ve assembled some tips on how to create a killer cover letter and CV�
Creating a standout cover letter
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The basics
A cover letter is like a sales pitch, and what you’re trying to sell is your own suitability for a target job� Successful cover letters:
Highlight the important parts of your CV Provide a sample of your written communication skills Show how your skills, education and experience are relevant to the position for which you’re applying Address any specific selection criteria in the job advertisement Draw attention to your achievements Use appropriate formatting and a professional and confident tone of voice Encourage prospective employers to read further into your CV Demonstrate one’s command of the rules of grammar and style�
Why invest in writing a good cover letter?
Cover letters can be time-consuming, and that’s largely due to the importance of writing a new one for each application� Nothing turns off a prospective employer quite like the sense that they’re reading a template letter� It’s vitally important that your submission – or at the very least, the bulk of it – is specific to the employer in question. It’s a chance to convince them that you want to work in their industry, for their specific organisation and in the role they advertised� For example, why do you want to use your degree at a large auditing or accounting firm? What, to you, is the appeal of pursuing a public sector career, instead of a private, commercial one?
The contents
A cover letter should include the following:
Your personal/contact details The date A salutation/greeting How you heard about the job/organisation What attracts you to the job or organisation (you can mention some of their projects or significant staff members) Why you believe you would be an asset to the team How you will follow up A closing/signature�
The trick is to have a clear idea as to what the company does and what the job entails, then draw out evidence of your own relevant skills� Here, the more specific you can be, the better. For example, instead of simply writing that you ‘interned in a private clients team’, you could say, ‘As an intern, I worked with the private clients team where I was responsible for providing tax advice to meet specific client needs� ’
Structure and tone
Your cover letter should have a clear structure with an introduction that leads into a summary of your relevant skills and experiences� This should be followed by a closing statement that reiterates your interest in the job, thanks the employer for their time and includes a ‘soft pitch’� For example, you might write something like:
Throughout the letter, your tone should be polite and professional� This doesn’t mean, however, that you should tie yourself in knots trying to sound overly formal� Simply avoid colloquial language wherever possible and focus on providing evidence of why you should be hired (as opposed to simply claiming to be ‘excellent’ or ‘talented’)�
Finally, keep your cover letter succinct� It should be no longer than one A4 page and have your details clearly written as part of a letterhead�
Get to the top of the pile: writing a successful CV
A curriculum vitae (CV) is a written overview of your experience and other qualifications for a job opportunity� Creating a good CV generally takes more time than writing a cover letter� However, once complete, a CV can be submitted to each new employer with only minor adjustments�
The basics
A CV should concisely outline your relevant educational history, work experience, professional accomplishments and qualifications. It may also include details of referees (if requested)�
A successful CV:
Can be read easily and uses a clear font in a reasonable size with logical headings and well structured bullet points Uses a skills-focused or chronological format Emphasises skills or job experiences that are particularly relevant to the job description�
Why invest time in writing a good CV?
The role of a CV is to provide recruiters and prospective employers with an easily scannable summary of your achievements so they can decide whether or not to progress your application by offering you an interview�
As a graduate, you’ll often find that your educational pedigree is similar to other applicants, many of whom will have completed near-identical degrees at equivalent institutions� Consequently, it’s worth taking the time to figure out what differentiates you from the crowd before subtly emphasising this in your CV�
For example, you might bill yourself as having strong communication skills and include in your CV the fact that you volunteered at community organisations� Or perhaps you speak another language, love coding or have a specific five-year goal that the role you’re applying for will help you achieve� Giving your CV a novel ‘twist’ is a sure-fire way to make sure it doesn’t get lost in all the noise�
The contents
A CV should include the following:
Your contact details Your residency status (if applicable) A career overview, with an emphasis on industry positions or transferable skills gained through other jobs you’ve held A summary of your education and training A list of any professional accreditations or other qualifications you have (for example, a certificate of proficiency in a different language) Details of your referees (or an explicit offer to provide them)�
Education
Your educational history from your university years should include your predicted or actual degree grades, information on group projects and your dissertation, any units relevant to the job, and relevant academic awards. Employers don’t need to know the specifics of units that don’t relate to them�
Work experience
You should prioritise any work experience you have, and highlight specific accomplishments that are relevant to the position for which you’re applying� Of course, as a graduate, your experience in business may be limited, if you have any at all�
Fortunately, many employers look very favourably on a diverse range of achievements and experiences� Examples worth mentioning include fundraising, voluntary work, independent overseas travel, sporting achievements or leading roles in university clubs or societies� You needn’t go into too much detail – a summary of your achievements and any relevant transferable skills (leadership, teamwork or problemsolving skills) will suffice.
Structure and tone
The most common CV format is the reversechronological, which presents your most recent work experience and educational accomplishments first, before moving backwards� If you follow this approach, make sure the chronology is clear, well constructed and there are no large gaps that could confuse or worry employers� For example, if you took a year off to go travelling between jobs, you might even include that as a CV entry�
As with your cover letter, your tone should be polite and professional, and your entries as specific and detailed as possible� Here are some tips to get you started:
Describe achievements, not just job titles� Instead of saying you were an intern at EY, mention specifically what you accomplished, learned or contributed� Emphasise more recent jobs and achievements� Be honest� You should expect your CV will be read critically and important points will be cross-checked with referees or industry databases� Keep paragraphs to three or four lines and space them well� This helps the reader pick out the main facts and assimilate a number of points quickly� Use bullet points wherever they add clarity and visual style� When writing bullet points, use direct action words such as ‘designed’, ‘built’ and ‘organised’� This has the effect of assigning credit to you for your achievements and enhances the CV’s overall credibility� Prioritise relevance but also leave room for things that make you seem interesting or well rounded� For example, there’s no reason not to include a cooking qualification as a point of interest, but you needn’t claim it will be integral to your success in business�
