Cover letters: Your introduction to company

A cover letter has only one purpose: to encourage recruiters to read your CV. The letter gives you the chance to demonstrate that you understand the nature of the job being advertised and to show how your skills and abilities fit the vacancy perfectly.

While your CV tells the employer about you, your letter should concentrate on the position and the company. Remember to research the firm fully by visiting its website or store, using every bit of information you find to help improve your chances. The cover letter is usually your first contact with a potential employer and can make or break your chances of securing a job:

Here are a few important points to remember:

* Include a personalised cover letter with every CV you send out to outline how your experience matches the job requirements.
* Never send out standard cover letters to different employers for different positions.
* Present it in the usual letter format, keeping it short and factual.
* Tell the recruiter where you saw the job advertised and include any reference numbers.
* Refer to the CV you have attached to encourage the recruiter to find out more about what you can offer.
* Highlight what you would bring to the role.
* Explain why you want the job and how it would fit into your career plan.
* If the job is in a different sector from those in which you have previously worked, draw links between the two.
* Demonstrate any research you’ve already made into the organization.
* Include any dates when you might be unavailable for interview.
* Check that you have addressed your letter to the right person, used the correct job title and spelt their name correctly.
* Don’t mention salary at this stage. That subject should be saved for an interview.
* Never underestimate the value of the cover letter. It can increase the impact of your CV if your experience is lacking.

It can be worth sending a speculative letter to a company that you wish to work if it is not advertising vacancies.

* Begin by outlining the type of work you are seeking.
* Explain why you want to work for this organization.
* List the skills you have that might be particularly relevant.
* Ask for your CV to be held on file for any vacancies that may come up.

what to avoid in a CV      As there is certain information that should always be included in your CV, so is there other information that could possibly be included or should definitely not be included if you are hoping to land an interview for that dream job.

Heading

Starting with the top of the document, a very common mistake is to write the title "CV, Curriculum Vitae, Resume” or similar. None of these should be included, as it should be plainly obvious that the document is your CV. If it isn’t clear, then you need to look at the layout and content! Your CV should begin with your name and contact details.

Photographs

Unless you are applying for a modelling job, do not send a photograph of yourself with your CV. It used to be the case previously, but is no longer deemed necessary. An employer cannot determine whether a person is a suitable candidate purely from looking at a photo of them.

Age, race, nationality, sex or religion

Again, these areas were always included in CVs a number of years ago, yet today they should be left out. As above, whether or not you can do a job properly should not be determined by the colour of your skin, your age, sex or religion.

Marital status

If it does not help your chances of getting a job, do not include.

Health and physical description

Unless it is relevant to the post that you are applying for, leave it out. An applicant for a gym instructor’s post or a personal fitness instructor would perhaps include this information.

Hobbies and Interests

This is a tricky one but can be included if they could somehow help your chances of landing the job that you want. For example, if someone was applying for a local reporter’s position, then they could write down that their interests include travelling, photography, reading and creative writing.

Reason for leaving

It is not necessary to state why you left or plan to leave your job on your CV. More than likely, this will be touched upon during your interview.

References

There is a good reason why you should not include your references on your CV. It will suffice to write "References available upon request”. If you are called for an interview, which then goes very well, it is at that moment and not before that your potential employer will investigate further. If he is not interested in you from the interview, then he won’t bother checking up on all the references. It’s all a matter of time.

Salary

Mention of money does not go on your CV. There is no need to say what you have earned in the past or what you want to earn in the future. Details of salary would be covered in the interview if both parties were interested.

Charts and graphs

There is absolutely no need to include any charts, graphs or tables on your CV. They take up space and are not helpful at all. They would just make things very complicated. If producing graphs or tables were part of your job, then maybe you could bring some samples to the interview but do not produce them unless asked to do so.

Terminology

Keep the language you use simple and clear. Do not use any specialist lingo, as often a specialist will not be the first person to read your CV.

Do not lie

Most CVs are certainly exaggerated slightly, as candidates "talk themselves up”. However, it is a sackable offence to lie on your CV and it could cost you your job if you were found out. Actually, it is being found that more and more people are including false information in their CVs and subsequently, employers are carrying out more rigorous checks, so don’t be caught out by including information that just isn’t true.

Layout

This was featured in detail in our "Your CV layout” article. Ensure that a clear font is used and that the document is typed on plain white or cream paper.

Do not use fancy fonts and use tools for highlighting such as bold, underlining and italics sparingly.

On a final note, make sure that when you send your CV off to a prospective employer that you also include a covering letter.

People use the words RESUME, C.V., and BIO-DATA interchangeably for the

document highlighting skills, education, and experience that a candidate

submits when applying for a job. On the surface level, all the three

mean the same. However, there are intricate differences.

RESUME

Resume Is a French word meaning "summary”, and true to the word

meaning, signifies a summary of one’s employment, education, and other

skills, used in applying for a new position. A resume seldom exceeds one

side of an A4 sheet, and at the most two sides. They do not list out all

the education and qualifications, but only highlight specific skills

customized to target the job profile in question.

A resume is usually broken into bullets and written in the third person

to appear objective and formal. A good resume starts with a brief

Summary of Qualifications, followed by Areas of Strength or Industry

Expertise in keywords, followed by Professional Experience in reverse

chronological order. Focus is on the most recent experiences, and prior

experiences summarized. The content aims at providing the reader a

balance of responsibilities and accomplishments for each position. After

Work experience come Professional Affiliations, Computer Skills, and

Education

C.V CURRICULUM VITAE

C.V Is a Latin word meaning "course of life”. Curriculum

Vitae (C.V.) is therefore a regular or particular course of study

pertaining to education and life. A C.V. is more detailed than a resume,

usually 2 to 3 pages, but can run even longer as per the requirement. A

C.V. generally lists out every skills, jobs, degrees, and professional

affiliations the applicant has acquired, usually in chronological order.

A C.V. displays general talent rather than specific skills for any

specific positions.

BIO-DATA

Bio Data the short form for Biographical Data, is the old-fashioned

terminology for Resume or C.V. The emphasis in a bio data is on personal

particulars like date of birth, religion, sex, race, nationality,

residence, martial status, and the like. Next comes a chronological

listing of education and experience. The things normally found in a

resume, that is specific skills for the job in question comes last, and

are seldom included. Bio-data also includes applications made in

specified formats as required by the company.

A resume is ideally suited when applying for middle and senior level

positions, where experience and specific skills rather than education is

important. A C.V., on the other hand is the preferred option for fresh

graduates, people looking for a career change, and those applying for

academic positions. The term bio-data is mostly used in India while

applying to government jobs, or when applying for research grants and

other situations where one has to submit descriptive essays.

Resumes present a summary of highlights and allow the prospective

employer to scan through the document visually or electronically, to see

if your skills match their available positions. A good resume can do

that very effectively, while a C.V. cannot. A bio-data could still

perform this role, especially if the format happens to be the one

recommended by the employer.

Personal information such as age, sex, religion and others, and hobbies

are never mentioned in a resume. Many people include such particulars in

the C.V. However, this is neither required nor considered in the US

market.. A Bio-data, on the other hand always include such personal

Important basic Resume Tips :

Always Follow These Basic Standards….

* Don’t overcrowd your resume; allow for plenty of white space.

* Keep your resume to one page whenever possible.

* Keep the number of fonts you use to a minimum — two at the most.

* Use a font that is easy to read. Times Roman works well.

* Do not justify the lines of type on your resume. Allow the right side of the page to "rag.”

* Do not overuse capitalization, italics, underlines, or other emphasizing features.

* Make sure your name, address, and a phone number appear on your resume and all correspondence, preferably at the top of the page.

* Print your resume on white or cream paper using a good-quality printer.

* Second- and third-generation photocopies must be avoided

* Print on one side of the paper only.

Avoid Mistakes :

SPELLING MISTAKES:

To avoid spelling mistakes:

* Don’t use words with which you aren’t familiar.

* Use a dictionary as you write.

* Perform a spell check on your finished resume.

* Carefully read every word in your resume.

* Have a friend or two proof read your resume for you.

PUNCTUATION MISTAKES :

Things to look for :

* Periods at the end of all full sentences.

* Be consistent in your use of punctuation.

* Always put periods and commas within quotation marks.

* Avoid using exclamation points.

GRAMMATICAL MISTAKES :

Grammar hang-ups to watch for:

* The duties you currently perform should be in present tense (i.e., write reports)

* Duties you may have performed at past jobs should be in past tense (i.e., wrote reports).

* Capitalize all proper nouns.

* When expressing numbers, write out all numbers between one and nine (i.e., one, five, seven), but

* use numerals for all numbers 10 and above (i.e., 10, 25, 108).

* If you begin a sentence with a numeral, spell out that numeral (e.g. Eleven service awards won while employed.).

* Make sure your date formats are consistent (i.e.11/22/01 or Nov. 22, 2001, or 11.22.01. Choose one and stick with it.).

Choose Your Words Carefully :

Phrase yourself well:

* Be on the lookout for the following easily confused words:

* accept (to receive), except (to exclude)

* all right (correct), alright (this is not a word)

* affect (to bring about change), effect (result)

* personal (private), personnel (staff members)

* role (a character assigned or a function), roll (to revolve).

* Use action words (i.e., wrote reports, increased revenues, directed staff).

REFERENCES:

In most instances it is not necessary to include names and address of references on the resume. If you include a reference, make it sure that the referenced person knows very well about you. It is also advisable to add the persons as references, whom the employer can contact easily. If possible add the phone number and e-mail ID of the reference. Never add a person as a reference, about whom you know nothing

STICK TO THE POINT :

Employers have a busy schedule, so don’t expect them to read through a long resume. Ideally, resumes should be of one page, or of two pages only if absolutely necessary, to describe relevant work experience.

WORDS COUNT :

Use of language is extremely important; you need to sell yourself to an employer quickly and efficiently. Address your potential employer’s needs with a clearly written, compelling resume. Avoid large paragraphs (five or six lines). If you provide small, digestible pieces of information, your resume will be read. Use action verbs. Verbs such as "developed”, "managed”, and "designed” emphasise your accomplishments. Don’t use declarative sentences like "I developed the …” or "I assisted in …”, leave out the "I”. Avoid passive constructions, such as "was responsible for managing”. Just say, "managed”: that sounds stronger and more active.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR EXPERIENCE :

Employers need to know what you have accomplished to have an idea of what you can do for them. Don’t be vague. Telling someone that you "improved the company’s efficiency” doesn’t say much. But if you say that you "cut overhead costs by 20 per cent and saved the company Rs 20 lakh during the last fiscal year”, you are more specific.

HONESTY IS A GOOD POLICY :

Employers will feel more comfortable hiring you if they can verify your accomplishments. There is a difference between making the most of your experience and exaggerating or falsifying it. A falsified resume can cost you the job later.

DOUBLE-CHECK FOR MISTAKES :

Check your resume for correct grammar and spelling – evidence of good communication skills and attention to detail. Nothing can ruin your chances of getting a job faster than submitting a resume filled with preventable mistakes. Make your resume easy on the eye. Use normal margins (1″ on the top and bottom, 1.25″ on the sides) and don’t cram your text on the page. Allow for some space between the different sections. Avoid unusual or exotic fonts. Preferred fonts: Arial and Times Roman.

Tips on Impressive Resume Writing :

The following are some tips on writing your resume and effective interviewing that may help you in the job-seeking and placement process.

Resume Writing Tips

An effective resume provides concise, factual, and positive information about you to help employers decide whether you are the best candidate. It is your marketing tool to assist in selling your talents to a prospective employer. Since it remains after your interview is over, it reminds the employer about your background.

It should be limited to one to two pages and summarize your experience, skills, and education to highlight your qualifications for employment.

Your resume should say:

* Who you are

* What you know and have done

* What kind of work you want

* Why you should be hired

A cover letter should accompany your resume, because it serves to focus the aspects of your experience and education that are directly applicable to the job. A cover letter may demonstrate your attitude, work ethic, and written communication skills. A well-written cover letter and resume can play a major role in establishing your candidacy and increasing the likelihood you will be called for an interview.

Your work history should include the name of each employer, your job title, employment dates, and a brief description of your duties and responsibilities, as well as relevant achievements and specials skills, including military experience.

List, if appropriate to your field of work, memberships in professional organizations, knowledge of foreign languages, articles published, inventions or patents, and skills such as typing or computer software knowledge. Avoid religious or political affiliations.

In citing your educational background, don’t provide details (like a listing of major courses) unless the job requires it, your work experience is limited, or you did not graduate but want to show you have taken courses related to your occupation. If you want to emphasize your education, place it before your work history; otherwise, you should place it after your work history.

* List all conferred degrees, starting with the highest. If you have not received a degree but have attended college, you may list the total number of hours completed. Give the name and location of the college, degree(s) conferred, and major field(s) of study.

* Include job-related extracurricular activities and significant scholastic honors.

* Include any other pertinent education, such as vocational, professional, or military schools.

List professional licenses or certificates.

Do not list references on your resume. Simply include a statement, such as "References available upon request,” at the bottom of your resume. Have a separate sheet listing your references and bring this to an interview. Notify your references if it appears you are being seriously considered for a position. It is a good idea to send copies of your resume to the references you plan to use.

Carefully consider the language and format of your resume. Limit the length of your resume by using concise phrasing rather than complete sentences. You should convey a positive tone and use strong action verbs to describe job-related responsibilities and accomplishments. A few examples of action verbs are: instructed, demonstrated, performed, planned, motivated, increased, trained, solved.

* Make your resume easy to read and scan; use white space to make text stand out.

* Use serif fonts (Times New Roman or Ariel), type size 10.5 or 11.

* Avoid using "I” statements; instead begin sentences or phrases with action verbs.

* Devote more space to recent jobs than to earlier ones.

* Write out all numbers from one to nine; use numerals for 10-999,999.

* Write your name and phone number on each page (in case pages get separated).

* Do not misrepresent or exaggerate your experience.

* Do not use abbreviations or jargon, either professional or technical, unless it is relevant to the position and all readers will be sure to understand the terms.

* Do not include a snapshot.

* Be aware of information or dates that could be used to screen you out of consideration.

Neatness definitely counts, so be consistent with the layout- – pay attention to the arrangement of headings, captions, use of capitals, underscoring ... Read more »