| Question: |
I’ve invested a lot of time in my CV but I don’t want to ruin it all with a bad cover letter, what are the common mistakes people make when writing their cover letter? |
| Answer: |
We are all aware of the impact that first impressions can make (i.e. positive or negative) and job seekers should not under estimate the power of an effective cover letter and the vital importance in preparing a suitably tailored one. A cover letter is the initial “stepping stone to job success”. The overall purpose of a typical cover letter is to introduce yourself, highlight key skills/experience/interest that complements your CV. It should generate sufficient interest to a prospective employer to proceed to read the CV. The Recruitment, Selection and ultimate appointment of any position is a step-by-step logical process in that candidates should typically do well at each stage to successfully progress to the next – i.e. from the initial screening (cover letter and CV/Application Form), comprehensive screening (interview, psychometric testing etc) through to actual final selection. Remember, that in an ever increasing competitive marketplace, Job Seekers may be vying for vacancies against tens/hundreds or more of other candidates. Job Seekers should put 100% effort into every stage of the selection process (which often varies from job-to-job and from company-to- company); endeavor to clearly distinguish them apart from the crowd and make screening/selection as easy as possible for the recruiter/employer. Some of the common cover letter mistakes encountered (and to be avoided) include:- Too long/detailed, too short or absent. Illegible handwriting, spelling mistakes, uneasy to follow/understand. Impolite/somewhat arrogant language. Lack of reference to the job in question. Not stating reason for job interest and personal statement of suitability. Irrelevant information about self to the job in question. Unprofessional/ casual/inappropriate language. Duplication of information already contained within CV Highlighting lack of experience in certain areas. One statement only letters – i.e. “please find attached my CV for your perusal”. Unsigned letters. |
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| Question: |
Should I discuss my CV in the cover letter? |
| Answer: |
Yes, but in summary only and in highlighting your suitability based on the factual information contained within the job advertisement and/or job description.– i.e. qualifications/skills, experience, accomplishments etc. The Cover letter is designed to ‘wet the employer’s appetite’, so to speak, and is not intended as a replacement or duplication of a person’s CV. It should interest the employer so that they read the CV in full. Anticipate any negative questions an employer may ask and try to answer positively within the cover letter. For example, if you are lacking a particular industry experience, address other aspects of your background that might complement or compensate. Perhaps you have worked in a similar role across diverse industries, just not this particular one; you should indicate your proven versatility and the value this would bring to the role. If you are lacking particular management experience in an employment capacity but have all other relevant experience ie you may have gained management experience from a leisure / interest capacity or voluntary experience, this can be stated. The cover letter is an opportunity to display your personal attitude, motivation, potential suitability for the role/company and availability and to give the employer/recruiter a positive impression of your potential suitability. |
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| Question: |
Should my cover letter differ when applying online or applying via email? and what personal details should I include? |
| Answer: |
Include contact details; name, address and contact daytime number. All other information should be specific to your suitability to do the job well and fit the company. Cover letters contents for the same job should not be different whether applying on line or otherwise. You should attach cover letter with CV when sending via email OR use cover letter in main body of email and attach CV. |
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| Question: |
Is there a standard layout my cover letter should follow? |
| Answer: |
As a general guideline, one page max with two to three concise and courteous paragraphs as follows:- Introduction – reason for writing. Refer to the job and where you saw it advertised. Quote the job reference as letter title. Main Part – What you have to offer, why you are interested, and why you applied? This may vary from job to job. Conclusion – Next steps – attach CV, and indicate your interest/availability/flexibility in being called for interview to discuss job and your suitability further. |
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| Question: |
Does one cover letter cover all applications or should it be tailored? |
| Answer: |
Usually not - cover letters should be tailored for each job applied for as it may require a different emphasis on certain and varying aspects of your career which could undoubtedly vary from job to job. Your CV will always remain the same but the cover letter is your opportunity to highlight what, in particular, you can bring to the position and company. Many job seekers find the cover letter the most difficult task in applying for jobs in trying to link their backgrounds with the job/company in question. |
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| Question: |
Does my cover letter have to be typed? |
| Answer: |
Cover letters do not have to be typed but we would recommend doing so; particularly if handwriting is poor or somewhat unclear. The last thing any applicant should aim to achieve is to make life difficult for a prospective employer and create a negative impression. This may somewhat affect your opportunity for progression / overall success which could have been avoided. If you do type your cover letter ensure you sign it before submitting. Remember, for anyone applying for a role that involves secretarial/report writing work, the cover letter and CV presentation may give an overall impression of work ethic/style/quality; in advance of any interview. |
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| Question: |
Please give some heading which could be used in writing an effective resume? |
| Answer: |
Typical CVs may include some or all of the following headings: Personal/Contact Information --name --address --phone number(s) --email Academic Background --postgraduate work --graduate work/degree(s), major/minors, thesis/dissertation titles, honors --undergraduate degree(s), majors/minors, honors Professional Licenses/Certifications Academic/Teaching Experience --courses taught, courses introduced --innovation in teaching --teaching evaluations Technical and Specialized Skills Related/Other Experience --other work experience Professional/Academic Honors and Awards Professional Development --conferences/workshops attended, other activities Research/Scholarly Activities --journal articles --conference proceedings --books --chapters in books --magazine articles --papers presented/workshops --ezine articles --work currently under submission --work in progress Grants Service --academic --professional --community Academic/Research Interests Affiliations/Memberships Foreign Language Abilities/Skills Consulting Volunteer Work References |
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| Question: |
You don't always need to send a cover letter with your resume when applying for a job. |
| Answer: |
FALSE. Unless an employer specifically states in a classified ad or job posting not to send a cover letter, you should always send a cover letter -– no matter the method of delivery, even when you are faxing or emailing your resume. Cover letters serve a vital purpose in the job search process and serve to focus your qualifications and skills for the job at hand as well as opening a window to your personality. |
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| Question: |
What is the difference between CV and Resume? |
| Answer: |
Vitas and resumes both have similar purposes -– as marketing documents that provide key information about your skills, experiences, education, and personal qualities that show you as the ideal candidate. Where a resume and a curriculum vitae differ is their use, format, and length. A curriculum vitae -– often called a CV or vita -- tends to be used more for scientific and teaching positions than a resume. Thus, vitas tend to provide great detail about academic and research experiences. Where resumes tend toward brevity, vitas lean toward completeness. Unlike resumes, there is no set format to vitas. While vitas do not have the one-page rule of resumes, you need to walk the line between providing a good quality of depth to showcase your qualifications and attract potential employer interest and providing too much information thus appearing verbose and turning off potential employer interest. |
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