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 »

Your CV is a vital tool in the job seeking process. It’s your first chance to impress a prospective employer, providing details that underline your suitability for the role. On average, recruiters take just eight seconds to decide whether or not to keep a CV, so you need to be on the ball.

Our top five tips will give your CV maximum impact:

1. Keep it concise
Recruiters are often faced with mountains of CVs and don’t have the time or patience to trawl through a rambling document. Remember that your CV is only the first step, a way of getting your foot in the door, so keep it punchy. Make it no more than two sides of A4 paper and save the real detail for your interview.

2. Tailor your CV
Take time to adapt your CV for each individual role you apply for. Research the company and use the job ad to gauge what it is looking for in an employee. Link your skills and experience to the requirements of the role. Similarly, if you are logging your CV with a job site database, look at the sort of jobs on the site and the employers who are advertising, and rework your CV accordingly.

3. Don’t leave gaps
Gaps invite the recruiter to guess what you were up to, so instead of allowing them to make their own assumptions give them the details. Even in time out of employment you can develop soft skills such as communication, teamwork or project management. You should update your CV regularly, regardless of whether you are actively jobseeking, to avoid having to recall distant points in your career.

4. Ensure it’s free of errors
One of the easiest ways for recruiters to weed out weaker CVs is to scan them for errors. If you fail to check your CV for basic spelling and grammatical mistakes, you are setting yourself up for a fall at the first hurdle. Most errors can be rooted out using your PC’s spell-checker, but you should also ask someone else to read your CV and ask that person for an opinion.

5. Tell the truth
It’s one thing to highlight the positives on your CV, but telling blatant lies is a bad idea. You are highly likely to be caught out and your application rejected. Many companies check the facts — such as qualifications — that candidates supply. And a good interviewer will soon spot any inconsistency in your story, even if it concerns your leisure activities. It would be hugely embarrassing to be caught out by an interviewer who’s an expert in your half-baked hobby.

It’s a question asked by many working adults: "How often do I need to update my CV?” Though there’s no perfect, cut-and-dry answer, there are some definite considerations to contemplate when deciding when it’s best to dust off your curriculum vitae?

Don’t Wait Until You Need a Job

You’ve been sacked or told your company is "downsizing” and your position will be eliminated. Your mood is terrible. Your self-esteem is low. And with this kind of attitude you’re expected to update your CV.

Even if you’re perfectly happy at your current position, do try to look at your CV every four to six months, just in case. Then, if you need to send it to prospective employers, it’ll be all ready to go.

Add to Your Document with Each New Award/Honour

Did you receive a special honour from an organization with whom you volunteer? Did you earn a promotion based on your abilities? Have you been given special responsibilities from your manager based on your past performance and acumen? Each time you are given this kind of award, make sure you add it to your CV.

Many people do not do this, assuming they’ll remember "when it’s needed.” Unfortunately, they usually forget, and what could be a marvellous addition to any CV is forgotten.

Annually Look over Your CV and Update the Format

What seemed apropos format-wise in 2003 might look antiquated today. Therefore, it’s prudent to look over your CV about once a year, just to see if the formatting seems "fresh”.

To help you determine if your CV is stuck in a rut, peruse the Internet for samples of CVs from fields similar to your own. You can even ask your friends to send you theirs for comparison purposes. That way, you can ensure that your CV remains "modern” and relevant to the current marketplace.

When you Complete Formal Training and/or Courses

Did your employer "force” you and your colleagues to take a course? If so, why not add the info to your CV? Even the most mundane conference can increase the value of your CV… and that way, the hours you gave getting certified will have been time well-spent.

Similarly, if you’ve taken training on your own, feel free to include the data in your document. Of course, one-day continuing education courses might not be pertinent, but longer classes are probably worth popping into your CV.

Update Your CV Whenever You Change Your Personal Info

Did you recently get a new mobile phone? Move to another flat or house? Change email addresses?

The sooner you note such items on your CV, the better. If you don’t, you may wind up sending out a CV with the wrong contact information. That could be potentially disastrous or leave a poor impression (if you send out the erroneous CV and have to resend an up-to-date version with apologies later.)

Make a Note of Anything Immediately After It Occurs

Were you asked to speak as an industry expert at a professional conference? Have you taught classes at a community college (or through an online school)? Did you write an article for the local paper? These are all ideal items to add to your CV.

If you don’t currently have a section in your CV where you can note these special events/ occurrences, why not add them under "training”, "work history”, "community involvement” or even "special skills”?

Curriculum Vitae Introduction

• CV stands for curriculum vitae (Latin for ‘course of life’).
• Your CV sells you to a possible employer.
• It should interest the employer and secure you an interview.
• A CV usually sums up your education and work history.
• It also shows your skills, abilities and achievements.
• Sometimes you can send a CV for a job vacancy.
• You can use your CV to help you fill in an application form.
• Your CV must always be up to date.
• Make sure that your CV is well presented and check it before you send it off.

CV stands for curriculum vitae, which is Latin for ‘course of life. Your CV is a very important document because it sells you to a possible employer. A good CV should interest the employer, showing clearly and concisely why you are the right person for the job.

A CV usually contains a brief summary of your achievements in education, your skills, abilities, interests and work experience.

Sometimes, job advertisements ask you to send in your CV rather than completing an application form. You would also include your CV when sending in a speculative letter to an employer.

If a job advertisement asks younto fill in an application form, you can use the information on your CV to make sure that you include all your relevant qualifications, skills and experience.

Employers receive hundreds of CVs and only have a very short time to look at yours. You need to make every single word on your CV work in your favour. You also need to make sure that it’s well presented, easy to read and that the spelling and grammar is correct.

A CV is not a historical document that stays the same for ever once it’s written. You must keep it up to date by adding in new skills, achievements, experience and qualifications as you obtain them.

You can change the way your CV is presented, depending on the type of job you are applying for. For example, you can highlight your skills to show that they match the skills needed to do the job. Or, you can show that you have had experience of doing the same kind of tasks, or that you have the qualifications needed.

TIPS TO BUILD A GOOD CV

Introduction

• A good CV sells you to an employer and gets you an interview.
• Use positive statements about yourself.
• Use a computer to produce your CV.
• Use section headings to make information easy to find.
• Choose information that presents you in the best way.
• Change the order of the information to your advantage.
• Make use of bullet points and keep sentences short.
• Check your spelling and grammar.
• Keep your CV up to date.
• Try to keep your CV to two sides of A4 and print it on good quality paper (single-sided).

A good CV is one that gets you an interview! It has to be relevant to the job you’re applying for, or to the organization you’re sending it to.

A good CV should contain positive, selected information about your skills, qualifications and experience. It should make the person reading it be interested in finding out more about you.

Your CV needs to be well presented and easy to read; the reader should be able to find all the information they need without searching around the document. Using section headings should make this easier.

It should always be up to date and accurate. Don’t stretch the truth or put anything on your CV that you can’t back up with evidence.

You should use a computer to produce your CV. If you don’t have access to one, try your local library.

Use the past tense for previous experience, and try not to use ‘I’. For example, put ‘Supervised five people’ rather than ‘I supervised five people’.

Don’t use long sentences or paragraphs. Try to make use of bullet points to list things like skills and achievements where you can. Set out your information in columns, tables or neat rows. You could use Bold to make a few key points, but don’t underline headings or text.

You should always check what you have written, and then check it again. Check your spelling and grammar (use the spellchecker and a dictionary). Make use of IT, but don’t be a slave to it. Beware of American spellings and words that sound the same but are spelt differently.

When you have checked it, ask a friend or relative to check it. Try reading it out loud to make sure it all makes sense. Careless mistakes on your CV will usually result in rejection.

The person reading your CV will only spend a very short time looking at it. So, it should be as short as you can make it, without losing any important information. Don’t waste valuable space with unnecessary words (like putting Curriculum Vitae at the top – it’s obvious that it’s a CV!).

Make your CV sound professional; don’t go for the humorous approach.

Guidelines suggest that the ideal length is no more than two sheets of A4, or equivalent. This will depend on your experience and the job you’re applying for.

If you are emailing your CV to an employer, you could firstly email it to yourself to make sure that it is in the correct format when opened as an attachment.

Online recruitment agencies usually allow you to attach your CV to their registration page.

There are a number of important elements involved in creating the perfect CV. These elements can be summed up as the 4Cs. In short these are:

* Content: What to include.

* Clarity: Make it easy to read.

* Concise: Stick to the point.

* Correct: Check for errors.

It may be a good idea to write them on a scrap of paper so that you can see them in front of you while you work on your CV.

Content – What to write

Remember most CVs these days are ‘Ability Based’. For more details read our guide to the different types of CV, and in particular the "Functional CV”.

To summarize, the following things need to be included:

* Name

* Achievements

* Skills and Abilities

* Education

* Career Summary

* Other relevant information

* Contact details

Note: Unless specifically asked for, there is no need to include information about age, marital status, nationality etc. Employers are bound not to discriminate under Employment Legislation.

Clarity – How to write with clarity

Your CV needs to look clean and crisp and must be well presented and easy to read. For further information, read our article on "Your CV layout”, which specifies exactly how the above can be achieved.

Some of the information may seem obvious but is often overlooked, so it is worth stating. Small things can make the difference between success and failure.

Concise – How to write concisely

Perhaps that last sentence should be changed to ‘keep it short and simple.’ Say what you have to say as quickly and crisply as possible. Under ‘Achievements’ (see below), for example try and express each one in a single sentence, preferably on a single line.

Sentence Example: Set up a spreadsheet to capture stock management data.

By doing this you will be able to include more items without cluttering up the visual appearance. The more items you can include, the more you are selling yourself to a potential employer.

Correct – How to ensure it is correct

Always check for errors. In fact, better still, get someone else to check it for you. We all have a tendency, when proofreading our own work, to read what we meant to say rather than what we actually wrote. Don’t forget to use the spell checker programme on your PC. There is no need for any errors at all.

In addition to the 4Cs, you also need to remember the 2Ts –

1.     Tailor

2.     Truth.

Tailor: Develop your own bank of information to draw on for ‘Specific’ applications. Do not just have one ‘blanket’ CV for every application. Check the job description and person specification. Google the company and ‘get a feel for them’.

For speculative applications (where you are sending your details to a range of prospective employers) select the best from your bank relevant to the occupational sector concerned. For sending your CV to agencies etc assemble all your ‘big hitters’.

Truth: Do not falsify information. Misrepresenting qualifications, for example, can result in dismissal if unearthed.

Printing your CV

You might need to send a paper copy of your CV off in the post, or you might need paper copies to hand in at recruitment agencies, for example.

Don’t print your CV double-sided; print each sheet on a separate piece of paper. Research has shown that anything on the back might get missed.

Choose the best quality paper that you can, and don’t fold your CV if you can help it. White or cream paper with black type seems to be the preferred choice for employers.

Always print a fresh copy of your CV each time; don’t photocopy it. Otherwise, it will look as though you have just run off lots of standard CVs and not given any thought to this particular vacancy or employer.

It will not help you to put your finished CV in a folder, binder or any other presentation stationery – it will make it harder for the person reading it to keep it in the pile of other CVs. Just staple the two sheets together and put your covering letter on top.