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87 Soft Skills "Soft skills" is an unfortunate term. It sounds
weak or dull. The fact is that soft skills are the most important
skills for your career. They are the skills that are difficult to
systemize and automate. They are the skills that define leadership
and creativity. By definition, soft skills are those skills that
are difficult to measure. In other words, hard skills can easily be
measured by a test but soft skills can't. It's easy to determine
who has the best math skills. It's difficult to determine who's
best at innovation or diplomacy. Communication Skills
1. Verbal Communication 2. Body Language 3. Physical
Communication 4. Writing 5. Storytelling 6. Visual Communication 7.
Humor 8. Quick-wittedness 9. Listening 10. Presentation Skills 11.
Public Speaking 12. Interviewing
Leadership
13. Team Building 14. Strategic Planning 15. Coaching 16.
Mentoring 17. Delegation 18. Dispute Resolution 19. Diplomacy 20.
Giving Feedback 21. Managing Difficult Conversations 22. Decision
Making 23. Performance Management 24. Supervising 25. Managing 26.
Manager Management 27. Talent Management 28. Managing Remote Teams
29. Managing Virtual Teams 30. Crisis Management
Influencing
31. Facilitation 32. Selling 33. Inspiring 34. Persuasion 35.
Negotiation 36. Motivating 37. Collaborating
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Interpersonal Skills
38. Networking 39. Interpersonal Relationships 40. Dealing with
Difficult People 41. Conflict Resolution 42. Personal Branding 43.
Office Politics
Personal Skills
44. Emotional Intelligence 45. Self Awareness 46. Emotion
Management 47. Stress Management 48. Tolerance of Change and
Uncertainty 49. Taking Criticism 50. Self Confidence 51.
Adaptability 52. Resilience 53. Assertiveness 54. Competitiveness
55. Self Leadership 56. Self Assessment 57. Work-Life Balance 58.
Friendliness 59. Enthusiasm 60. Empathy
Creativity
61. Problem Solving 62. Critical Thinking 63. Innovation 64.
Troubleshooting 65. Design Sense 66. Artistic Sense
Professional Skills
67. Organization 68. Planning 69. Scheduling 70. Time Management
71. Meeting Management 72. Technology Savvy 73. Technology Trend
Awareness 74. Business Trend Awareness 75. Research 76. Business
Etiquette 77. Business Ethics 78. Diversity Awareness 79.
Disability Awareness 80. Intercultural Competence 81. Training 82.
Train the Trainer 83. Process Improvement 84. Knowledge Management
85. Writing Reports and Proposals 86. Customer Service 87.
Entrepreneurial Thinking
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CV Action Word Worksheet Use Action Words SMARTly
Specificity Measurability Attainability Relevance Timing Ive
used a verb to My action words intro- The verbs Ive selected are My
action words intro- I have focused on the clearly introduce each
duce accomplishments true indications of what Ive duce points that
are experience and accom- accomplishment. and experiences that are
done. relevant to the job to plishments of the last
measurable. which Im applying. few years, which are the most
relevant.
3 Steps to Using Action Words in Your CV 1. Verb List Verbs
indicate actions you have taken to make something happen. They can
be extremely powerful and persuasive when used appropriately.
Sending the right message about your action-orientation to
potential employers will increase your chances of moving to the
next stage - the interview. Action verbs should be used to
introduce each bullet pointed accomplishment in your CV to give
them greater impact.
a) Consider the difference between the following statements:
Responsible for cupcakes Created 300 award-winning cupcakes in 2
hours, surpassing the competition by 50%.
How else might I use action words to introduce this point?
b) Ive reviewed the list of action words below to help me
qualify my own statements, and perhaps added some of my own:
Achieved Delegated Guided Led Raised Acquired Delivered Headed
Maintained Ranked Adapted Designed Identified Managed Reduced
Administered Detected Illustrated Mastered Referred Advised
Determined Implemented Maximized Responded Analyzed Developed
Improved Mentored Reviewed Approved Devised Improvised Minimized
Solved Assembled Diagnosed Increased Modified Specialized Attained
Directed Indicated Monitored Strategized Bolstered Discovered
Influenced Narrated Strengthened Briefed Drove Initiated Negotiated
Studied Built Edited Inspected Observed Taught Coached Established
Instituted Obtained Trained Collaborated Evaluated Integrated
Offered Translated Collected Exceeded Interpreted Organized
Upgraded Communicated Excelled Introduced Originated Utilized
Completed Expanded Investigated Provided Validated Composed
Expedited Launched Publicized Wrote Coordinated Created Facilitated
Lectured Published
Copyright 2008 ReadySet HIRED! SHW-2052908-2
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CV Action Word Worksheet 2. Animating My CV
a) Have I used a variety of action words to introduce my
experiences and accomplishments? If I use the same word more than
twice, how can I vary them? Can I use another verb instead?
b) If I already have verbs introducing the points in my CV, can
I use more impactful ones?
3. Variety and Verity
a) Have I used a variety of action words to introduce my
experiences and accomplishments? If I use the same word more than
twice, how can I vary them? Can I use another verb instead?
b) Are my statements factual? Are they credible? Can I support
them if probed? For example, if say Led a team of 5 did I really
lead the team or was I a participant?
Copyright 2008 ReadySet HIRED!
RSHW-2052908-2
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CV Worksheet BRAINSTORM YOUR STRENGTHS The most important part
of a CV is the content. Make sure that you are emphasizing your
strengths that you want to use going forward. Think of your
strengths as those areas in which you have a high interest level
and high ability level. For example, if you have an ability to
balance your checkbook every month to the penny, but have no
interest in working with numbers; accounting isn't something you
would consider strength CHOOSE SECTIONS OF YOUR CV Typically, all
CVs start with a heading of contact information. An "Objective"
which explains to the employer what you are seeking can be the
following entry, but is optional if you will be personally
delivering your CV to an employer. Unless you have some impressive
professional experience, "Education" will be included next.
Following your education can be any of the following: "Skills,"
"Experience," "Awards," "Activities," "Publications," "Community
Service," or "Professional Associations." Organize your strengths
and accomplishments under relevant headings in rank order of the
most impressive. EDIT YOUR CV Your CV must be one page. Go through
each section and ask yourself, "Is this relevant to the job and my
objective?" "Is this valuable to the employer?" "Is anything
repetitive?" This will help you omit the less important information
and keep the CV focused. ASK AN EXPERIENCED PERSON FOR A CV
CRITIQUE Remember to have others look at your CV and ask for
feedback on your information. People that know you well may
remember something that you overlooked or forgot to include.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heading: Personal Information Name
___________________________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________
City _____________________________________ State __________ Zip
____________ Phone ___________________________________ Email
__________________________ Employment Objective:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Employment History: (List your most recent employment first) Leave
out months if you have a spotty work history Employer
______________________________________ City ____________ State
______ Dates of Employment: from ____________________ to
_____________________ Job Title
________________________________________________________________
Responsibilities (list your duties and responsibilities using
action words)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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Employer ______________________________________ City
____________ State ______ Dates of Employment: from
____________________ to ___________________ Job Title
________________________________________________________________
Responsibilities (list your duties and responsibilities using
action words)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Education: (List your most recent education first; include all
degrees, diplomas,
certificates, licenses, honors, and significant course work)
High School (This is only necessary if you have not completed
college.): _________________________________________ City and
State: __________________ Year Graduated: ____________ List any
academic honors or special
achievements________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
College:
________________________________________________________________
City, State:
_______________________________________________________________
Degree: __________________________________ Major:
_________________________ Year Graduated: ____________ Include your
GPA or Class Rank only if you feel that it will help in your job
search. Academic honors or special achievements
_____________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Skills: (list your relevant skills, use action words) (special
skills: language, art, laboratory, computer systems, software,
technical skills, secretarial skills, machinery skills, licenses.
Write your experiences in which you used these special skills.
Think of jobs, course projects, club activities, volunteerism,
etc.) _______________________________
_______________________________ _______________________________
_______________________________ _______________________________
_______________________________ _______________________________
_______________________________ _______________________________
_______________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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Experience: (list your relevant experience) When you write about
any experience, try to recreate it so another person will be able
to understand what you did and how you did it. Initially, it may be
best to write, in paragraph form, all you can remember about your
specific duties or the tasks you performed, the skills you used to
perform those tasks, and your accomplishments. Later you can edit,
clarify and prioritize.
_________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Accomplishments / Contributions: You may want to note an aspect of
the job of which you are proud, or something about the experience
which simply made you feel good. For example, you may choose to
highlight listening, communication, or management skills on your CV
in the hope of finding a job that will allow you to use the skills
that come naturally to you.
_______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Other Training: In-service training classes, workshops, or
seminars. On the job training sessions; professional seminars.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Honors (and dates awarded)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
References: (Do not include on your CV. Contact several people and
ask their permission to use them as references. Choose both
professional and personal references. Do not use relatives as a
reference). Professional references (people who can speak about
your work abilities)
Name
_____________________________________________________________ Phone
________________________ Title ________________________________
Name
_____________________________________________________________ Phone
________________________ Title ________________________________
Name
_____________________________________________________________ Phone
________________________ Title ________________________________
Personal references (people, other than relatives, who can speak
about you as a person)
Name
_____________________________________________________________ Phone
________________________ Title ________________________________
Name
_____________________________________________________________ Phone
________________________ Title ______________________________
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Your Name Contact Details (including Town and County)
Telephone numbers including mobile contact details Email address
& professional linkedin address
Do not include any further personal details including martial
status, gender, nationality as this does not add any value and may
impede your application. You should use Arial or similar business
font and the size should be 10.5 to 12.
PROFILE This section should include a brief history of your
academic and employment career to date, it should include details
of the sectors that you are keen on working in and it should also
include some of the skills you have used in your career to date.
This section should never be in bullet point format and should be
no more than 8 to 10 sentences long. This is your opportunity to
present your unique skill set and the value you can bring to a new
organisation. Example: Resourceful, goal-oriented, personable, hard
working, motivated, proactive individual with extensive experience
in culinary arts, upper management, team work and organization.
Strengths include organization, managing and motivating team and a
strong work ethic. Track record of successful projects saving the
company money and ensuring satisfied customers. KEY
ACHIEVEMENTS
This section should include a list of 4-8 achievements using the
STAR method and should be presented in bullet point format. Use
this section to highlight any achievements you may have had in a
voluntary capacity.
You should include outstanding academic qualifications, results
etc. You should include details of group presentations that you
have led, presented etc. If you have employment experience then you
should provide examples of your
achievements, you need to show employers that you have solved
problems similar to theirs and that you achieved the results for
which they are looking.
Example: Secured 90% in group project on statistical research,
allocated tasks and led project through to conclusion.
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE Remember you should start with your most
recent employment first and work backwards even if this position
was not in your chosen field. You should also include details of
voluntary work including supporting fundraising activities or
memberships of societies etc Name of Company Dates of employment
Title Held
Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities.
Remember to use active verbs including sold, solved performed
etc.
Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities.
Remember to use active verbs including sold, solved etc.
Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities.
Remember to use active verbs including sold, solved etc.
Example: Reorganised stock room improving operational
performance of the team. Name of Company Dates of employment Title
Held
Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities.
Remember to use active verbs including sold, solved etc.
Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities.
Remember to use active verbs including sold, solved etc.
Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities.
Remember to use active verbs including sold, solved etc.
-
EDUCATION and TRAINING List any qualifications gained University
Name, dates (if applicable) List any qualifications gained College
Name dates (if applicable) PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS Insert details
of memberships Example: Associate member of the Institute of
Chartered Surveyors since 2010 CORE SKILLS
Include details of all skill you have to offer potential
employers. Include details of all skill you have to offer potential
employers. Include details of all skill you have to offer potential
employers. Example: IT Skills: Microsoft Office: Word, Excel,
PowerPoint, Outlook and Explorer Example: Well developed analytical
and numerical ability.
INTERESTS Include brief details of interests if you have the
space on your document however avoid phrases including
'socialising', 'partying' etc. References available on request
Privacy and identity theft have become an issue in recent years and
it is best to protect the details of your referees, do not include
their contact information on your CV. Employers don't need this
information within the early stages of the recruitment process.
-
Your Name Contact Details (including Town and County)
Telephone numbers including mobile contact details Email address
and professional linkedin address
Do not include any further personal details including martial
status, gender, nationality as this does not add any value and may
impede your application. You should use Arial or similar business
font and the size should be 10.5 or 11.
PROFILE This section should include a brief history of your
career to date, it should include details of the sectors you worked
in, and it should also include some of the skills you have used in
your career to date. This section should never be in bullet point
format and should be no more thank 8 to 10 sentences long. This is
your opportunity to present your unique skill set and the value you
bring to a new organisation. Do not include details relating to
your period of unemployment and ensure that all statements are
positive. Examples of opening your document could include:
Resourceful, goal-oriented, personable, hard working, motivated,
proactive individual with extensive experience in culinary arts,
upper management, team work and organization. Strengths include
organization, managing and motivating team and a strong work ethic.
Track record of successful projects saving the company money and
ensuring satisfied customers. . KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
This section should include a list of 4-8 achievements using the
STAR method and should be presented in bullet point format. Use
this section to highlight any achievements you may have had in a
voluntary capacity during your period of unemployment.
You should include details of a situation you were involved in
that resulted in a positive outcome for your employer. You should
describe the tasks involved in that situation, talk about the
various actions taken and the results relating to the actions
taken.
Employers want to know that you have solved problems similar to
theirs and that you achieved the results for which they are
looking.
Example: Acted as Treasurer of local hockey club, in addition
set up club website and maintained website content.
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE Remember you should start with your most
recent employment first and work backwards. If you have had a long
period of unemployment then you should include details of training
and voluntary work. Example: Supporting fundraising activities in
the local school, supporting tenant association etc If you have
completed training or further education during your period of long
term unemployment then you should include details of this training
in this section in addition to including it in the Education
section. Title Held, Name of Company Dates of employment
Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities.
Remember to use active verbs including sold, solved performed
etc..
Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities.
Remember to use active verbs including sold, solved etc.
Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities.
Remember to use active verbs including sold, solved etc..
Example: Recruited, led and developed team of 10
-
Title Held, Name of Company Dates of employment Insert further
details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use
active
verbs including sold, solved etc.. Insert further details of
your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active
verbs including sold, solved etc.. Insert further details of
your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active
verbs including sold, solved etc.. Continued/. EDUCATION &
TRAINING List any qualifications gained University Name, dates (if
applicable) List any qualifications gained College Name dates (if
applicable) List qualifications gained (do not include GCSE results
if you have a Degree qualification) School Name: dates (if
applicable) Employers will always review the education section.
Include details of the qualifications and training you do have. If
you are concerned about your lack of qualifications don't worry,
many highly regarded business professionals do not have academic
qualifications. Employers generally value experience over
education. CORE SKILLS
If your experience is weak you may wish to include a list of the
skills you have to offer potential employers.
If your experience is weak you may wish to include a list of the
skills you have to offer potential employers.
If your experience is weak you may wish to include a list of the
skills you have to offer potential employers.
If your experience is weak you may wish to include a list of the
skills you have to offer potential employers.
Example: IT Skills: Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint,
Outlook and Explorer INTERESTS Include brief details of interests
if you have the space on your document however avoid phrases
including 'socialising', 'partying' etc.. References available on
request Privacy and identity theft have become an issue in recent
years and it is best to protect the details of your referees, do
not include their contact information on your CV. Employers don't
need this information within the early stages of the recruitment
process.
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Your Name [email protected]
07712 345678 | 99 Example Street, Example Town, EX4 3PL PERSONAL
STATEMENT Your personal statement is perhaps the single most
important part of you CV. Get it wrong and your chances of being
invited to interview are drastically reduced. Its aim is to
highlight your professional attributes and goals, summarising why
someone should consider your application. KEY SKILLS Technical
Skills Show that you have the knowledge required to succeed in the
role Include computer software you have used and relevant training
courses
Personal Skills Include some of your main attributes that are
vital to the role Good communication and flexibility are qualities
that all employers look out
for CERTIFICATES & MEMBERSHIPS Include any relevant
professional qualifications here Make sure you most impressive
accreditations are
highest Add any professional associations of which you are a
member
Date gained Date gained Date joined
EDUCATION
University Name, Location Course Title, Grade College Name,
Location Course Title, Grade School Name, Location Grades
Briefly explain how the courses you took have led you to your
chosen career path.
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EMPLOYMENT Job Title Company Name - www.examplelink.co.uk -
Location Dates of Employment
You should give your reader a brief introduction to what the
company does and explain a bit about the responsibilities your role
covered.
Key Achievements:
Provide a list of the key achievements you have made in your job
Try to show evidence such as percentage increases or financial
figures Provide enough information to entice your potential
employers to call you Always keep examples relevant to the role you
are applying for
Job Title Company Name - www.examplelink.co.uk - Location Dates
of Employment
For older jobs you should keep the details slightly shorter,
only offering information that will help you reach the next stage
in your career.
Key Achievements:
Try to avoid clich phrases that dont differentiate you as a
candidate Always tailor your CV for each job application to match
the
requirements If something isnt relevant, dont be scared to leave
it out
PERSONAL INTERESTS Outside interests enable a potential employer
to gain an understanding to what motivates you, what personal
skills you may have and how you will integrate into the team. Look
at how job advertisements stipulate certain personality traits
required for positions. Identify what they are and show how your
hobbies can relate to their requirements. REFERENCES References are
available on request.
-
First Name Surname PERSONAL STATEMENT A statement of about 30 to
40 words that describe your work skills, such as highly organised,
ability to work in a team or alone, motivated by a challenge. Dont
just list your own personal ambitions here, employers want to hire
people that will contribute and add value to organisations so, what
are you going to do for them? PERSONAL DETAILS Address 123 Anywhere
Avenue, A city, XX1 ZZ2, UK Mobile 01234 5678910. Email
[email protected] EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS University of
Anytown, BSc Accounting and Financial Management 2007 Onwards
Financial Accounting Financial Management
Accounting and Finance Business Economics
Financial Reporting International Business
I am currently averaging more than 65% in all my modules and I
am on target to achieve a 2:1 or 1st class degree.
Old Town High School, Old Town 2005 2007
A Levels: Law (A), Business Studies (B), Psychology (C)
Awarded Principals Prize for Highest Academic Achievement in
2007
GCSEs: English (B), Mathematics (B), Business Studies (B), Law
(B), Geography (B), ICT (B), Modern Materials (D), History (D)
WORK EXPERIENCE Hoods Online Catalogue Service, Tele-Sales
Advisor September 2008 - Present
I currently work in a Call Centre for 12 hours per week Duties
included taking orders, answering queries, dealing with
complaints
This experience has enabled me to develop selling skills,
improve my communication and interpersonal skills; and learn to
persuade and influence people.
-
Electrical Stores, Customer Service Advisor January March
2008
Worked within Customer Service department. Responsibilities
included dealing with customers complaints, warranty
issues; booking deliveries and collections; communicating with
other departments.
In this position I improved my IT skills and learnt to use
commercial data base systems; and I developed strong
problem-solving, listening and organizational skills.
Worldwide Restaurants, Old Town 2006 Summer
Worked in a team as a waiter I gained customer service
experience and developed strong team-
working skills.
VOLUNTEERING WORK Anytown University International Student
Welcome Week 2008 September
Meeting new international students; organizing city and campus
tour; helping them to settle into their accommodations
This enabled me to develop my leadership skills, cultural
awareness and empathy skills.
Earthquake Relief Work, Pakistan 2005 October
Helped to supply basic goods for the victims of earthquake
Developed skills in working under pressure, working long hours,
IT SKILLS (or SKILLS) MS Office Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint,
Project Advanced searching skills on the Internet Use of specialist
company databases
OTHER ACTIVITIES (or INTERESTS, AWARDS etc) Chairperson of the
Business Students Social Club (BUSSOC) this role involves me
leading a small committee and organising a series of
business-related and social events each year. This provides me with
opportunities to network with leading business people. In 2007 we
won the University prize for being the most innovative and
inclusive student society. Member of the University Squash Club I
am a member of the committee and also represent the University in
inter-university matches. Squash Coach I coach local teenagers once
a week as part of the Universitys community activities. REFERENCES
Available on Request
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Example: SUMMARY Resourceful, goal-oriented, personable, hard
working, motivated, proactive individual with extensive experience
in culinary arts, upper management, team work and organization.
Strengths include organization, managing and motivating team and a
strong work ethic. Track record of successful projects saving the
company money and ensuring satisfied customers.
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Writing'a'Cover'Letter'When it comes to the application process,
you should know by now that everything you do matters. There's so
much attention given to resumes that we often forget how important
a cover letter can be for our job prospects.
The cover letter is an opportunity for you to tell the
recruiters and hiring managers why you're the perfect person for
the job. It's also the place for you to show them you have good
communication skills.
1. Address the cover letter directly to the hiring manager or
recruiter. If this person's name isn't in the job listing, take the
extra effort to call or email the company and find out.
2. Don't reiterate your resume. The purpose of having a cover
letter is to zero in on why you should be the one considered for
the position. Otherwise, there's no point in having one.
3. It's a professional document, so don't go too over-the-top.
Yes, trying to figure out ways to be creative may be difficult, but
don't go overboard out of desperation. And especially don't say
anything like this summer analyst did in his cover letter, which
made him a laughing stock on Wall Street:
"I am unequivocally the most unflaggingly hard worker I know,
and I love self-improvement. I have always felt that my time should
be spent wisely, so I continuously challenge myself ... I decided
to redouble my effort by placing out of two classes, taking two
honors classes, and holding two part-time jobs. That semester I
achieved a 3.93, and in the same time I managed to bench double my
bodyweight and do 35 pull-ups."
4. Make sure the reader knows you've done your research. Convey
that you understand the company and its goals, and explain how
you'd help it reach those goals.
5. Always close your cover letter with an action statement. Tell
the reader what you're planning on doing next for example, calling
in a week or two to follow up.
6. Keep your letter no longer than one page. Your cover letter
is an introduction to yourself. It's supposed to show that you have
strong communication skills. Be brief and concise.
-
7. Show the recruiter that you'd be a good match based on your
skills. This is a highly recommended approach: Make two columns in
the cover letter. On one side, list the top five requirements that
the company wants, and on the other, list how you'd meet each
requirement:
'
-
When you send off your resume in a cold contact witha potential
employer or with a job application youshould always include a cover
letter. This worksheetgives you some tips for writing a cover
letter.
PresentationCover letters win interviewsnot jobs! A cover
lettershould: capture the employers interest show why you are
writing indicate how you will benefit the company convince the
employer to ask you for an interview.Cover letters target your
skills, highlight your sellingpoints and answer these questions:
Can you do the job? What are your abilities, skills,
knowledge, experience and qualifications? Will you do the job
well? Are you motivated,
dependable and enthusiastic? Will you fit into the organisation?
Do you match the
companys image, values and goals? Will you getalong well with
clients and co-workers?
Time pressures and the number of applications give anemployer
approximately 30 seconds to decide whetherto consider your
application further. At a glance anemployer looks for:
how you match the selection criteria how well you communicate,
including structure,
grammar, spelling and punctuation of the letter your experience,
skills and qualifications your level of professionalism clues to
your personality your attention to detail (eg errors or wrong
information).
How should I write it?Use simple, natural language and: be
honest, professional, warm and friendly use positive words and
phrases such as:
I have I am able to
I can Experienced in
dont use negative statements such as I hadpersonality conflicts
with
dont start every sentence or paragraph with Itryto limit
yourself to one I per paragraph or less
make the letter interesting to read, short and to thepoint
be enthusiastic and assertive but not pushy orbegging for a
position.
What should a cover letter look like? Type your cover letter on
a computer and print on
clean, white A4 paper. Leave space around the edges and clear
space
between each paragraph. Use an A4 envelope if your cover letter
and
attachments dont fit a DL size envelope. Staple your cover
letter neatly. Dont send cover letters that are photocopied. Use a
basic font such as Arial, Bookman Old Style
or Century Gothic.
WHAT SHOULD A COVERLETTER CONTAIN?Check that it contains the
following: Contact details Date Name and address of recipient
Salutation Opening paragraphintroduction to the topic of the
letter Second paragraphyour qualifications and skills Third
paragraphyour interests and
personal qualities Fourth paragraphconclusion Closing
On page 2 you can see an example.
W O R K S H E E T 6
Write a cover letterCommonwealth Government
FACT SHEET 6 26/2/03 10:05 AM Page 1
-
Example layoutKathy Porter
1 Looking StreetADELAIDE SA 5000
Phone: (08) 8123 4567Mobile: 0405 111 111
E-mail: [email protected]
Date
Ms Sarah JobThe PrincipalBurnleigh Primary School11 High
StreetBurnleigh SA 5432
Dear Ms Job
Ref: Teacher Aide
I wish to apply for the position of teacher aide as advertised
in theAdelaide Advertiser on 2 September 2002.
Last year I completed Year 12 at Valley View Secondary School. I
obtainedgood results in English, mathematics, home economics,
biology andgeography. I am particularly keen to obtain a position
as a teacher aideas I am interested in working with children and
have held severalvoluntary and paid positions as a baby sitter for
children up to ten yearsold. I relate well to children and can sing
and play the guitar. I also havea portfolio of my art work.
Since leaving school, I have been employed part-time as a
checkoutoperator. In this role I have demonstrated that I am
responsible andreliable and a good team worker. Customers have
often complimented meon my attention to their needs and my
willingness to go beyond the callof duty.
Thank you for considering my application. I have enclosed a copy
of myresume. I look forward to meeting you and providing further
informationin an interview. I can be contacted at anytime on my
mobile phonenumber which is 0405 111 111.
Yours sincerely
Kathy PorterKATHY PORTER
Enc
W O R K S H E E T 6
Write a cover letter
Salutation should use correct spelling ofpersons name.
If you started with DearMs Smith you should endwith Yours
sincerely. If you started with DearSir/Madam you shouldend with
Yours faithfully.
First paragraph explainsthe purpose of the letter.
Use this abbreviation if you enclosed yourresume or other
pages.
Name and address:Persons full name
title Company name Street number and
name or PO Box Town or suburb, state,
postcode.
The second paragraphdemonstrates that you cando the job, why you
are thebest fit for theorganisation and how yourskills meet
theorganisations needs.
The third paragraphshows you are willing todo the job, motivated
andenthusiastic and can fitinto the organisation (egcommunicate
well withco-workers and clients).
The fourth and final paragraph:Refers to your enclosedresume,
application formor other attachments.Thanks the reader
forconsidering yourapplication.States you wouldwelcome an interview
todiscuss your suitability(include your phonenumber again).
Your contact details.
FACT SHEET 6 26/2/03 10:05 AM Page 2
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Addressing selection criteriaYour cover letter should contain a
brief summary of howyou meet the selection criteria. It is easier
to write acover letter after you have prepared your resume
(seeWorksheet 7: Write a resume).
Make sure you have addressed the selection criteria bychecking
off all the following steps.
SELECTION CRITERIA CHECKLIST Read the advertisement, job and
person
specification or selection criteria carefully. Phone the
employer for more information if you
dont understand something. Highlight all the requirements.
Divide the requirements into hard and soft
requirements. Hard requirements include thedesired work
experience, qualifications andparticular skills. Soft requirements
are personalqualities such as energetic, a goodcommunicator and
organised.
Identify what you have done that proves you canmeet the job
requirements. These are your sellingpoints.
Think about how well you meet the requirements inthe categories
of: skills qualifications experience desirable personal
qualities.
Collect proof of your skills, knowledge, experienceand personal
qualities.
Decide how you will address any barriers to yourapplication (eg
demonstrate how you could managethe job with a few weeks experience
and transferof skills if you dont have knowledge of a
particularsoftware program).
Summarise your skills, knowledge, experience and personal
qualities under each of the selection criteria.
Different types of cover lettersThere are four different types
of cover letters:
responding to an advertisement cold-call or canvassing letters
referral letters online letters.
Identify which type of letter you are writing and followthe
hints below.
Responding to an advertisementThese letters should highlight
your skills and respond tothe requirements stated in the
advertisement.
You should write directly to the contact person stated inthe
advertisement.
When responding to a recruitment agency, refer to yourclient or
your clients organisation rather than you oryour company.
Cold-call or canvassing lettersThis type of letter is written to
find out about andexpress interest in jobs that may be available
now orin the future.
Because youre not writing to answer a specific jobadvertisement
you need to:
say in the opening paragraph that youre enquiringif a position
is available
describe the type of position youre looking for research the
company to match your selling points
to the needs of the company interest the reader enough to
contact you.
Referral lettersA referral letter is written to a person in a
company orrecruiting firm on the recommendation of someone inyour
network (see Worksheet 4: Find a job).
The main difference and advantage of a referral letter isthat
you begin with mentioning the person who hasreferred you as an
introduction.
Make sure that the person who has referred you hasgiven you
permission to use their name.
Online lettersAn online letter uses e-mail to respond
toadvertisements on the Internet, in the newspaper or ona
touchscreen.
You need to consider the following features of an online
letter:
The letter is briefer, but still includes the top two orthree
selling points.
Short paragraphs or bullet style format is common.
W O R K S H E E T 6
Write a cover letter
FACT SHEET 6 26/2/03 10:05 AM Page 3
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The letter should be easy to read and to the point. The title of
the position you are applying for goes
in the Subject line of the e-mail. Dont put the full mailing
address of the person you
are sending it to in an e-mail. Use the salutationline only (eg
Dear Mr Jones).
Remember that writing in all upper case in an e-mail is seen to
be a form of yelling.
Dont use bold type or italics.
W O R K S H E E T 6
Copyright Notice
This worksheet is one of a series which supplements the booklet,
Getting A Job future directions. The worksheets and the booklet can
be downloaded from the DEST website at
www.dest.gov.au/schools/careers/ciproducts.htm . Further
information about careers and job searching is available on the
Australian online careers site, myfuture, at
www.myfuture.edu.au.
Commonwealth of Australia 2003.
This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and
reproduce this material in unaltered form only (retaining this
notice) for your personal, non-commercial use or use within your
organisation. All other rights are reserved. Requests and inquiries
concerning
reproduction and rights should be addressed to Commonwealth
Copyright Administration, GPO Box 2154, Canberra ACT 2601 or e-mail
[email protected].
Write a cover letter
TIPS FOR COVER LETTERSA cover letter should accompany your
resume.
Cover letters communicate what you can offer,not what you
want.
Write a rough draft first to refine, order and editthe letter,
and get someone else to read it.
Keep copies of letters so that you have a record ofwho you have
written to and what you said.
Make sure your contact details are up to date.
Use similar terms the employer uses in theadvertisement or terms
that are industry specific.
Dont list your work history if you already have iton your
resume.
Highlight points from your resume you want todraw attention
to.
Remember you have less time to catch anagencys attention. An
agency wants someonewho matches the hiring companys criteria, so
behonest and quick.
FACT SHEET 6 26/2/03 10:05 AM Page 4