CVS and Covering Letters
Cvs and covering letter give you the opportunity to show an employer or work experience placement, why they should employ you. This is your chance to show your experience, skills, and qualifications which are relevant to the role. Below are some top tips to help you write a CV or covering letter.
How to write a CV
CVs are an important part of applying for a job, below there is information on how to write a CV.
1. Include your personal details.
This should include your name (centered and in bold) at the top of the page together with your home address, email address and telephone/mobile number. Date of birth is not relevant and unless you are applying for a modelling or acting job, you don't need to include a photo.
2. Personal Profile
This should include at least two or three positive sentences about yourself. This should include some information about what career/job you are aiming for, what you are currently doing and what you are doing well. Include some of your positive skills and qualities. You can include something about your responsibilities whether this be at college, home or work.
3. Education and Qualifications
Start with your most recent qualification first (e.g. Lincoln college) then your secondary education include your qualifications and grades. (If your grades are poor you can just list subjects studied)
4. Key Skills
List of skills you have which you could bring to work with examples. These could be skills you have developed through work (either voluntary or paid), studying your course, home responsibilities, hobbies or interests.
5. Employment History/ Work Experience
Start with the most recent employment or experience first. Include bullet point of job roles or a short paragraph explaining what you did in your job and what skills you used/developed (if you did not do a key skills section).
6. Hobbies and interests
Give some examples of the activities you enjoy in your spare time. it is good to use examples which provide some evidence of your personality and attributes.
Covering Letter
Below are some useful links, for advice on writing a cover letter.
- Barclays Life SkillsBarclays Lifeskills is a really useful website supporting with employability skills including writing CVs and Covering letters, you can register to access all their free, interactive tools, films and articles.
- British Council Cover EmailFind examples of how to format a Covering Email.
- British Council Cover LetterFind examples of how to format a Cover Letter.
- National Careers Service Cover LettersFind information on cover letter and how to write them.
- Prospects Cover LettersFind out more on writing a covering letter.
- UCAS How to write a cover letterFind out more on the UCAS website on writing a cover letter.