Worksheet 7: a CV guide for anglophone countries

General advice and cultural differences:

Make it clear, concise, job-specific and 1 page if possible .
Do you the difference between US and British CVs? Take the quiz and tick the correct country!

US UK Both
1. A CV is also called a resume.   
2. Your name should be in big letters.   
3. You do not need to add a photo – except if it is specified in the job offer.   
4. You should include “full clean driving licence”, your nationality and your date of   
birth with your contact information (address…)
5. The objective/personal statement section is recommended.   
6. You should describe your actions for each job/skill you list, selecting the ones   
that are relevant for the job offer.
7. Try to explain the results of your actions   
8. You should limit your education section to the latest (Baccalauréat and later)   
9. You should not mention a language that you have studied but are not able to   
use.
10. You should indicate your level in the languages you mention   
(fluent, solid command, intermediate command, basic command)
11. You should add the CEFRL level (if you know it): B1 – B2 – C1   
12. You should add your TOEIC score if it is high enough   
>450 (B1= 550 mini), many engineering schools require 785 (B2)
13. You should add a list of the computer software that you know well   
14. If you choose to have an extracurricular activities/other interests section, you   
should select those that reflect the skills necessary for the job (leadership, team
spirit, learning, self-motivation…)
15. You should add a list of referees or write that you can supply one.   

Action verbs, skills and personality adjectives

I analysed (j’ai analysé) I created I learnt I repaired
I achieved (j’ai accompli) I delegated I led (j’ai mené, j’ai dirigé) I reported on (j’ai fait un
I acted as (j’ai agi en tant que) I demonstrated I listened rapport aur)
I anticipated I designed (j’ai conçu) I listed I represented
I approved I determined I managed I researched (j’ai fait des
I applied (j’ai appliqué) I developed I maintained recherches au sujet de…)
I arranged (j’ai pris des I discovered I maximised I scheduled (j’ai planifié, j’ai
dispositions pour) programmé)
I edited I met
I budgeted for (j’ai budgété I set (up something/ goals) (j’ai
I established I motivated
pour…) organisé/ j’ai fixé des objectifs)
I evaluated I negotiated
I calculated I solved (j’ai résolu)
I examined I observed
I chaired (j’ai présidé) I studied (j’ai étudié)
I facilitated I operated (j’ai piloté, j’ai fait
I clarified (j’ai clarifié) I supervised (j’ai supervisé)
I formulated fonctionner…)
I coached I supplied (j’ai fourni)
I identified I organised
I collaborated I taught (j’ai enseigné)
I informed I participated
I compiled (data) I tracked (j’ai suivi (un projet, un
I implemented (j’ai mis en place) I persuaded
I communicated with colis…)
I improved (j’ai amélioré) I planned
I consulted I trained (je me suis entrainé)
I increased (j’ai augmenté) I presented
I convinced someone to I translated (j’ai traduit)
I interpreted I provided (j’ai fourni)
I coordinated I wrote (j’ai écrit)
I investigated I recommended
Personality adjectives and skills
calm independent sociable organisational skills
creative persuasive well-organised teamworking skills
decisive reliable (fiable) analytical skills intercultural awareness
detail-oriented resourceful creativity (conscience des différences
(minutieux) result-oriented (qui communication skills interculturelles)
determined accorde de l’importance interpersonal skills initiative
energetic aux résultats) negotiation skills a good command of
flexible self-confident (qui a excel
leadership skills
loyal confiance en soi) a good command of
language skills
self-motivated English

Qualifiers for interests

Avid (fervent proficient (qui a un bon qualified
Dedicated (dévoué) niveau) experienced
Committed (engage) successful (qui a du succès) regular (régulier, habituel)
Expert active
Former (ex) keen (appliqué, assidu)

=> As a dedicated musician, I am able to… = En tant que musicien dévoué, je suis capable de…

The job ad that you are applying for:

Robert Bosch Ltd. (UK) is one of the 300 regional companies that form part of the Bosch
Group. Bosch has been active in the United Kingdom since 1898. The UK head office is
based in Denham, Buckinghamshire. This is where you will work for our Planning department.
It is part of the Division for Automotive Original Equipment, where we support the logistics
5 flow for our more than 60 automotive customers and liaise with our production plants in Europe and
worldwide.

Your responsibilities include:

- Co-ordinating between UK customers and Bosch manufacturing sites.
10 - Analysing and improving quality control processes.

You must bring:

- Understanding of logistics, quality and basic organizational methods
- Good command of MS Windows applications
15 - Friendly nature and good communication skills in a multicultural environment
- Organised, structured and self-motivated working style
- Good problem-solving skills and good reliability in meeting deadlines
- Advanced in written and spoken English, German skills welcome

20 Please note this is an opportunity is for a 3- to 5-month student internship position starting in April 2022
Please address your CV and covering letter to Ms Smith, Recruitment manager, Bosch headquarters, Denham Drive, Denham UB9 5GP.

1. What is this ad for?

a) Tools and equipment b) A permanent position c) A temporary job d) An internship
2. Which company would you work for? BOSCH
3. Where would you work? AT THE HEAD OFFICE, IN DENHAM, IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, IN THE UK
4. What does Bosch manufacture at this site? AUTOMOTIVE EQUIPMENT
5. Which department would you work in? THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT
6. True or false? Justify with a (few) word(s):
a. You will be in charge of communication with the customers. True – False: COORDINATING WITH UK CUSTOMERS
b. You must have good IT skills. True – False: A GOOD COMMAND OF WINDOWS APPLICATIONS
c. The ad doesn’t mention respecting schedules. True – False: MEETING DEADLINES
Extra exercises: Complete the sentences with during, for, since, ever, never:

Kate: How long have you worked for Abacus?

Matt: For about 4 years?

Kate: I see. Have you ever done any business in China?

Matt: No, we’ve never tried the Chinese market.

Kate: Well, our business in China has been rising since the beginning of the 2000s.

Matt: And you’ve been making a profit since then?

Kate: Well, not always. For 3 years, yes.

Matt: Have you personally ever visited China?

Kate: Oh yes. Many times. In fact, my husband is Chinese. We went there during the last winter holidays.

Present perfect or preterit?

1. I (study) studied (passé daté: collège) German in collège but (forget) I have forgotten (passé qui continue dans
le présent) it now.
2. My parents (grow up) grew up (ils ont fini de grandir) in Madagascar. I (always/want) have always
wanted (commence passé et continue) to go there.
3. My sister (never/visit) has never visited (never: bilan d’expérience au jour d’aujourd’hui) Paris but she
(always/dream) has always dreamt (passé qui continue) of going there one day. (you/ever/be)
Have you ever been (ever: experience) to Paris?
4. Mary (go) went (fini) to Egypt for a holiday but she’s back home in England now.
5. I (play) played (fini: il/elle a arrêté) football for 3 years but I (hurt) hurt (passé, daté: il y a 3 ans) my knee
(mon genou) during a match, 3 years ago so I (stop) stopped and I (be) have been (for 2 years: depuis
deux ans, continue dans le présent) a coach for 2 years now. I like it too.
6. I (finish) finished (passé, daté) high school in 2017.
7. (you/be) Have you been (recently: passé immédiat) on a holiday recently?
8. Molly lives in Dublin. She (live) has lived (continue dans le présent) there all her life actually.
9. “(you/go) Did you go (passé, fini daté) to the cinema, last night?” “Yes, but it (be) was
(idem) a mistake. The film (be) was (idem) terrible.”
10. The company (sell) has sold (action non datée avec consequence sur le présent) its London offices.
They belong (ils appartiennent) to a South American company now.
11. The CEO (le PDG) (retire) retired (3 years ago: il y a 3 ans: passé, daté) three years ago.
12. The new intern (arrive) arrived (passé, daté) yesterday.
13. She (already/work) has already worked (already: déjà: bilan d’expérience) in the retail industry so she
knows the business well. She (not/get) has not got (not yet: pas encore: bilan d’expérience) her degree
in supply chain management yet but she (already/accept) has already accepted (already: déjà: bilan
d’expérience) an offer for a position in the company.
14. I (apply) applied (last month: le mois dernier: passé, fini daté) for the job in Paris last month but it (be) was
(idem) too far and too complicated.
15. When (the new shop in town/open) did the new shop in town open (when -> il va y avoir une date finie)?
16. “Where do you live?” “In Boston”
“How long (you/live) have you lived (commence passé et continue) there?” “For 5 years.”
“Where (you/live) did you live (fini) before that?” “In Chicago”
QLiO S1 Ms Boulesteix
A vous de préparer votre CV ! N’hésitez pas à me poser des questions/me le montrer. La partie personal
statement (entre les 2 lignes en haut de la page) et la partie skills sont obligatoires le jour de l’évaluation.

Page | 2 SYLVIA CARlIna