Tailoring

Your CV and
Cover Letter
for
Academic
and Jobs
Sunday, 22 August 2021

Vania Florensia Hutagaol

vaniafhutagaol@gmail.com
LET’S GET TO KNOW
OURSELVES,
AND YOUR CUSTOMER
 Who are you?

Research on Yourself
• Imagine your life in order, starting
from undergraduate, first year Write everythink
• What skills and experience did you
get every year? Have you ever faced you can think of.
challenge?
• Did you join organization? What did This is the history of yourself.
you do? We call this “long foundation
• Have you been working? When was CV”.
you feel the most proud of yourself in
your work and what was it?

What skills do you have?

What does that skill mean?
Do you have evidence to back it up?
 Skills and Evidence

Skills Activity Evidence backed

Leadership Lead a group project. Manage group project and

lead team to complete
projects one week before
deadline. Awarded
distinction.
Marketing Responsible for products Develop marketing program
marketing (offline and for product A. Increase
online). awareness level by 50% and
online engagement by 70%.

For academic/technical specific: list your skills in familiar terms

Laboratory SDS-PAGE, western blotting, tissue dissection, embedding, sectioning,

antibody staining, RT-PCR, histological techniques and protein extraction
Action Words
Action Words
Action Words
 What/Where are You Applying to?
Check job description
• What kind of company is this? – Local, Multinational, Government?
• What is the nature of business? – Specific, Diverse?
• What is the culture? – Innovative, Fast-paced, Research & Devleopment
• What is the role? – Check the profile, can you do it?

Check job requirement

• Any match with your skill? Make it priority
• List any keyword, especially soft competency (leadership, creative,
communicative) – prepare your evidence

Research
• Company website, company product
• Current employee on LinkedIn

CV NEEDS TO BE TAILORED TO EVERY FUNCTION/JOB

 Basic Competencies
Interpersonal Skill
• Communication, Relationship, Delivering, Listening, Persuasive

Analysis and Decision Making

• Gathering Data, Make Judgement, Create Alternative Solution

Planning and Execution

• Taking Action, Scheduling, Monitoring, Risk Management, Prioritize

Leadership
• Managing, Delegating

Teamwork
• Collaboration, Responsibility, Respectful

Initiative
• Adaptable, Focus, Brave, Proactive
DING DING DING,
LET’S BUILD THE CV!
 Basic Structure of CV
General CV Academia CV
• Headings • Headings
• Profiles (Optional) • Profiles (Optional)
• Education • Education
• Working Experience • Research/Teaching/Working
Experience
• Extracurricular Activities
• Publications
• Skills
• Awards

Optional:
• Awards and
Scholarship/Publication
• Certification (not Workshop)
 General vs Academia CV

General CV Academia CV

Length of Page Maximum 2 A4 No maximum page

Working Experience & Education &
Focus
Education Publications
References No need Available

Format More flexible Based on institution

 Headings

John Smith
johnsmith@gmail.com | +6281364780934 | linkedin.com/JohnSmith
(optional: address)

• Write your name in different size and bold

• No need to write Curriculum Vitae/Resume
• Use professional email, create one if you don’t have
• Linkedin is optional – make sure it is updated, you can include professional
website (for professional articles, writings - for researchers) or portfolio (for
programmer, designer). Avoid personal blog such as Blogspot.
• Picture? Age? Sex? Unnecessary (academia CV: prohibited)

for academia: include your titles, ex: Dr., PhD, MSc, MBA (optional) – this is
different in several institution
 Profiles – do I need them?
I am a dynamic individual who thrives in
a fast-moving team orientated
environment. Looking for a career in an
international organisation which will
match my aspirations.
Finance and Economics postgraduate with
work experience gained in an leading
Italian investment bank. Detailed
knowledge of complex financial risk
analysis. Looking for position as an analyst
with Goldman Sachs.

• Too general, soft skill can’t be proven • Concise, summarize qualification and
knowledge
• Tailored to receiver (analyst position in
Goldman Sachs).

• OPTIONAL: Not necessary for fresh graduates, esp with minimum technical skills. Suitable
for experienced candidate (>5 years experience).
• Not necessary for academia CV, if want, keep it concise for 2-4 lines. Details more on CV
items, cover letter/research proposal.
 Education
• Always put on reverse chronological
order. Undergraduate level is enough.
No need to mention high school.
• Headings: Institute name, major, years
of study, institute location, grades.
• Body: relevant courses, thesis title,
awards.
• Include relevant courses to your applied
job, don’t write everything.
 Working Experience
• Talks about skills, achievement, results.
• Quantifies success with figures or
measurables outcomes.
• Use proactive languange in 3rd person.
• Grammar: past tense.
• Explains organization and role when
necessary – first line.
• Put in bullet points. Max 2 lines per bullet
point. Keep it to 1, use comma.

The formula for achievement statements =

VERB + KEYWORDS + QUANTITATIVE INFO
(NUMBERS)
For Example: “Applied organisational and
time management skills to resolve
construction delay problems which prevented
a 2 month delay”
 Technical Skills (or Skills)
• No need to put your level
understanding. Make sure the ones you
put are the ones you are really good at.
• Basic skills: Ms Office, but elevate it (ex:
complex formula on Ms Excel).
 Chronological/Hybrid CV

• Personal details
• Personal profile (optional) - specific, evidenced, targeted
• Education (reverse date order)
• Work History
• Positions of Responsibility / Voluntary experience / Awards (all optional)
• Specialist skill eg. IT, languages
• Interests (optional)
 Academia CV

• Name and contact details • Prizes and awards

• Education • Other relevant qualifications
• Research interests • Personal interests
• Conference papers • Referees (3 or more)
• Publications
• Teaching experience
• Administrative experience
• Work history
• Professional memberships
 General Consensus
• Always in 3rd person
• Max 2 A4 pages for general CV;
no limitation for academia CV
• Use bullet points, action words as
well as facts and figures
• Corect spelling and grammar
• Use action words
• Needs to be tailored for each job
• SELL YOUR SELF!
Format and Style
• Keep it simple – no need for
colourful design
• All text neatly aligned according to
set margins/tabs
• Font size 11 or 12 and one style
(Arial/Calibri/Times New Roman)
• One method of emphasis for
headings – choose between bold,
italic, or underline
 Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
More likely to be used by large organisations

Wording
• Keep it ultra conventional -- use standard formats, section headings,
conventional job titles, dates
• Keywords - see job / person spec & ad

Formats
• Beware “eye catching” templates with graphics etc
• TOP TIP : Save your CV as plain text (.txt file) see what’s lost
• Saving your CV: .PDF are the safest formats

Humans still matter

• CVs picked out by ATS will be read by humans
COVER LETTER?
PERSONAL STATEMENT?
MOTIVATION LETTER?
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE?
 Cover Letter

Main Point:
Format:
• Why you are interested in working for the
organisation. • Similar to business letter
• Why you are particularly interested in the
• One-page length
job/function.
• What makes you a strong candidate for the • Clear structure, clear theme for
job.
each paragraph
Your CV contains the facts, the cover letter is • Formal address: “Dear
about your motivation and fit for the organisation
Sir/Madam”, “Dear Mr. xxx”
and role. Cover Letter also enables you to explain
anything in your CV that an employer may • Give reference vacancy on the
question, for example, low grades, changing
letter
course, time taken out from studying for a degree
etc. • Use first-person view (“I”)
 Cover Letter

Why you are interested in working for the organization/interested on the job :
• Avoid common info (ex: “You are a large multinational firm with 30 offices worldwide”)
• Demonstrate an understanding of the job and organization (ex: quote an article/publication from organization,
achievement)
• The main benefit you’re looking for by working for this organization (ex: “I find the prospect of contributing to a
firm which organises events that are so highly regarded within a competitive industry truly appealing”)
 Cover Letter

What makes you a strong candidate for the job :

• Focus on how your skills, experiences, attributes and knowledge will be of benefit to the organization, if possible,
give evidence (ex: “I have strong communication skills, developed from giving regular presentations at
university”).
• Mention specific knowledge you may have such as computer applications, foreign languages, lab techniques,
writing and editing capabilities.
• Do not include any new information on your covering letter that is not on your CV.
 Personal Statement
Why this university?
• Be specific – don’t make generic statements such
as “Because you are an internationally-renowned
university with an excellent academic reputation”.
• If the university itself made a difference in your
choice - what was this?
• Have you studied there before and enjoy
the environment?
• Is it's location and the opportunity to gain
work experience locally a factor?
• Has it got a strong reputation in this
particular field of research?
• Are there specific academic staff you want
to do research or study with?
• Perhaps it offers something else unique?
Why this subject?
• Your motivation - When did you become interested in this subject
and what have you learned about it?
• Explain what drives your interests and provide strong evidence
to back up your claims - e.g. include authors you admire,
theories / problems which interest you, conferences you have
attended, or relevant work experience.
• What is it about the structure of the course, or the choice of
modules, that appeals to you? Did you attend an open day or
talk to lecturers?
• Demonstrate subject knowledge, through relevant prior
learning, projects, dissertations, case studies etc.
• It is especially important to demonstrate your commitment if you
are applying to a conversion course – why the change of
direction?
• In the case of PhD applications, explain what of their research
you’ve read. Reference their journal articles or books, explain
what interests you and where you have further questions.
 Personal Statement

Academic ability? Personal Skill and Experience

• Academic achievement - have you got what it takes to do this Work experience, volunteering and extracurricular activities
course? Grades in key relevant subjects.
in more depth here, related to course and future career.
• The standing of the institution where you are studying / have
studied.
• Do you stand out? Academic prizes for exams or dissertations.
• Does it match your learning style - can you demonstrate this?
When you have to do group projects, can you demonstrate Future Plan
teamwork or leadership? What are your career aims? How will this course help you
• Can you demonstrate the dedication and resilience required to achieve them? Knowledge, skills, accreditation with
complete the course? Ability to use initiative, problem solve,
professional bodies etc. If, for example, if you have a
manage workload, work to deadlines, work under pressure.
particular career or job in mind, talk briefly about this on your
• Other academic skills relevant to the course, computing skills,
application. The same applies if you plan to go on and do an
knowledge of relevant scientific techniques, analytical or
research skills etc. Explain your skills in detail - do not assume the MPhil / PhD in your chosen subject.
reader will understand your capabilities just by reading the title
of your final year project.
 Research Proposal
Research Proposal:
• Concise and coherent summary of your
proposed research.
• Explain central issues or questions that you
intend to address.
• Demonstrate that you have the aptitude for
graduate level research, for example, by
demonstrating that you have the ability to
communicate complex ideas clearly, concisely
and critically.
Format:
• Title: Tentative title for intended research.
• Abstract: Summary of intended research (100
words).
• Research Context: Background and brief overview
of study (recent debates and current state of
knowledge).
• Research Questions: Questions you aim to answer
through research.
• Research Methods: How the research is going to be
conducted (ex: interview, field work, laboratorium
work) and the planning (timeline, budget)
• Significance of Research: Why the research is
important, expected impact towards current state of
knowledge.
• Reference and Bibliography
 Tips

How to Look for Credible Example:

Google: “CV Guide + name of university”

Example: CV Guide University of Melbourne

Replace CV Guide with Cover Letter Guide, Personal Statement, or Research Proposal
THANK YOU
Appendix

CV Example
Cover Letter/Personal Statement Example
General CV Example from Massachusetts Institute of
Technology

http://careers.mit.edu 25
Academic CV Example from The London School
of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Sarah Jones
London School of Economics and Political Science
Department of International Relations
Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE
+44 (0) 1234 567891 s.jones@lse.ac.uk
www.linkedin.com/pub/sarah.jones

EDUCATION

PhD, International Relations Department, The London School of Economics and Political
Science, London, United Kingdom, 9/2011-9/2015 (Viva held on 4/08/15; passed with minor
amendments)
 Thesis title: Hybrid Truth and Reconciliation Commissions and National
Reconciliation in Sierra Leone and Peru
 Thesis supervisors: Professor Michael Broad (LSE) and Doctor Anne Laws (LSE)
 Viva Examiners: Professor Robin Silver (University of Oxford) and Doctor Rachel
Plane (School of Oriental and African Studies)
 Academic fields of interest: conflict and peace studies, transitional justice,
reconciliation, human rights, memory, International Relations, international
organizations, international law, African politics, and Latin American politics
 Obtained training in qualitative research methods at the LSE Methodological Institute
and Department of International Relations
 Carried out field research in Ayacucho and Lima, Peru and in Freetown and
Kailahun, Sierra Leone

MSc, International Relations, The London School of Economics and Political Science,
London, United Kingdom, 9/2007-9/2008
 Dissertation title: “Gender-based Violence Against Women and Girls: the Case Study
of Darfur”
 Graduated with distinction

BA, Joint Honours, Political Science and International Development Studies, McGill
University, Montreal, Quebec, 9/2002-9/2006
 Dean’s Honour List; High Honours Award

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Tutor, University of Oxford Foreign Service Programme, Oxford, United Kingdom, 10/2014-
Current

 Teaching “International Politics” to postgraduate diplomatic students in seminars of 6-10

students
 Supervising a Masters dissertation, entitled, “From Non-Intervention to the Responsibility
to Protect – a Normative Shift in International Politics? A Case Study of the Intervention in
Libya”
 Overseeing a postgraduate diploma dissertation, entitled, “Strategic and Normative
Imperatives: Assessing NATO’s Intervention in Kosovo”
 Supporting a postgraduate diploma dissertation, entitled, “The Choices of Small States:
Mongolia’s ‘Third Neighbor’ Policy”
 Supervising a postgraduate diploma dissertation, entitled, “Securitisation in the Post-9/11
Context”
Academic Advisor, University of Oxford Foreign Service Programme, Oxford, United
Kingdom, 10/2013-06/2014
 Providing guidance and support to students completing Masters dissertations
 Developed a web learning forum to monitor students’ progress, facilitate discussion
boards, and share resources

Summer School Teacher, LSE, London, 7/2013

 Holding seminars, providing student support, formative course assessment, and exam
marking for a new intensive summer course, “International Organisations”

Lecturer and Co-Course Convener, American University in Kosovo, Pristina, Kosovo,

7/2012
 Designed and co-taught a course, entitled “Human Rights, Collective Memory, and
Transitional Justice” in a summer peace-building programme for undergraduate and
graduate students

Graduate Teaching Assistant, London School of Economics and Political Science, London,
United Kingdom
 Leading seminars, providing student support, formative course assessment, and exam
marking for undergraduate students. Delivering courses such as:
 “International Organisations” for Chris Johnstone and Jane Copely, 10/2009-07/2013
 “Sovereignty, Rights and Justice: Issues in International Political Theory” for James Stern
and Grace Alban, 10/2010-07/2011

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Brandeis University, Boston, Massachusetts

 Delivering seminars and assessing undergraduate student’s coursework and exams for
courses including:
 “Introduction to International Relations” for Elizabeth Smith, 1/2009-7/2009
 “Constitutional Law” for Peter Woll, 9/2008-12/2008
 “Introduction to Political Theory” for Alistair Green, 9/2008-12/2008
 “Introduction to International Relations” for Simon Wright, 1/2008-7/2008

PUBLICATIONS

Sarah Jones, Edward White and Giovanni Acardi, “Introduction” and “Conclusion”, After
Liberalism? The Future of Liberalism in International Relations, edited by Sarah Jones,
Edward White and Giovanni Acardi (Palgrave, 2015)

Jane Copely, Helen Rigby, Sarah Jones, and Robert Sand, “Ten Years On: Transitional
Justice in Post-Conflict Sierra Leone” (Conference Report, Justice and Security Research
Programme, 2015)

Sarah Jones, “A Future Security Architecture For Southeast Europe: Framing the Issues”,
The Aspen Institute: A Future Security Architecture for Southeast Europe, edited by Valeska
Esch, Juliane Kabus, and Charles King Mallory IV (Berlin: Aspen Institute: 2014).

Sarah Jones, Edward White and Giovanni Acardi, “Introduction” in “After Liberalism?” edited by
Sarah Jones, Edward White and Giovanni Acardi, Special Issue, Millennium: Journal of
International Studies, Volume 38, Issue 3 (2012) Eprints.lse.ac.uk/6884
ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Manuscript Editor, Aspen Institute Germany, 7/2012-Present

 Editing several papers including ‘Reforming American Public Diplomacy’

Event Organizer and Chair, “Fambul Tok Documentary Screening and Panel on
Restorative Justice”,
 Featuring speakers from the Sierra Leonean community reconciliation project, Fambul
Tok, at the LSE, London, United Kingdom, 2/2013

Conference Co-Organizer, LSE Conference, “Ten Years On: Sierra Leone’s Post-Conflict
Transition”
 Organising and securing funding for a major conference on transitional justice in Sierra
Leone, bringing together leading practitioners from the Special Court for Sierra Leone and
academics from Sierra Leone, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, London, United
Kingdom, 12/2012

Rapporteur, Aspen Institute Conference, “A Future Security Architecture for Southeast

Europe: Framing the Issues”, Pristina, Kosovo, 7/2012
 Compiling reports for the conference committee and reporting on the proceedings

Research and Training Coordinator, Forum of Conscience, Freetown, Sierra Leone, 6-

7/2009
 Researching the impact of the Sierra Leonean community reconciliation project, Fambul
Tok, in villages in Kailahun district in Eastern Sierra Leone

Co-Chief Editor, Millennium: Journal of International Studies, London, United Kingdom,

11/2008-11/2009
 Reading incoming articles, holding weekly editorial board meetings, editing accepted
articles, helping authors prepare for publication as well as managing and hiring staff
 Attending conferences in the U.K. and the U.S. to promote the journal and solicit
contributors
 Initiating a major international relations conference, entitled, “After Liberalism?” featuring
presentations by over seventy International Relations scholars, and organising a special
journal issue based on the conference
 Designing the Millennium: Journal of International Studies Reader Project to write
abstracts and introductions for older articles to improve circulation
 Creating articles for a forum on collective memory and grief

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS AND INVITED LECTURES

Oxford Transitional Justice Research, “Evaluating Truth and Reconciliation Commissions:

Restorative Justice and Civic Participation in Sierra Leone”, Oxford, United Kingdom,
11/2012

International Studies Association Conference, “Pragmatism and Collective Agency in

Sierra Leone: a Functionalist Analysis of Reconciliation Processes”, San Diego, California,
4/2012

Millennium: Journal of International Studies Conference, “Truth and Reconciliation

Commissions and Peace-building: Participatory Nation-building in Sierra Leone”, London,
United Kingdom, 10/2011
Universidad Nacional de San Cristobal de Huamanga, Anthropology Department, “Hybrid
TRCs and National Reconciliation”, Ayacucho, Peru, 11/2010

Universidad Nacional del Antiplano, Sociology Department, “Institutionalizing Reconciliation”,

Puno, Peru, 12/2010

The American University of Kosovo, Summer Peace-building Programme, “Truth, Restitution,

and Reconciliation”, together with Jane Copely, Pristina, Kosovo, 7/2010

International Studies Association Conference, “Truth Commissions as Instruments of Social

Capital Formation”, Montreal, Quebec, 3/2009

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

 LSE Montague Burton Scholarship, £3000, 2011-2012

 LSE Research Studentship, £18,000/annum, 2009-2012
 LSE Fieldwork Grant (£7000) to conduct research in in Peru (2010-2011) and Sierra
Leone (2009)

LANGUAGES

 English: native speaker

 German: fluent comprehension, reading, speaking and written
 Spanish: fluent comprehension, reading, speaking and written
 Hebrew: basic comprehension, reading, speaking and written
 French: basic comprehension and reading

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND COMMITMENTS

 International Studies Association – Full member

 American Political Science Association – Full member
 International Journal of Transitional Justice - Peer Reviewer

REFEREES

Edward White, Professor Jane Copely, Lecturer

London School of Economics and Political Science London School of Economics and Political Science
Department of International Relations Department of International Relations
Houghton Street Houghton Street
London WC2A 2AE London WC2A 2AE
+44 (0) 20 7955 1234 +44 (0) 20 7955 1234
e.white@lse.ac.uk j.copely@lse.ac.uk

Ian Thorpe, Lecturer Giovanni Acardi, Lecturer

University of Cambridge London School of Economics and Political Science
Department of International Relations Department of International Relations
Cambridge Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE
+44 (0) 1223 123456 +44 (0) 20 7955 1234
i.thorpe@cam.ac.uk g.acardi@lse.ac.uk
CV Example from National University of Singapore

Rachel Lim Mobile: 91234567 Email: rachel.lim@nus.edu.sg

EDUCATION
National University of Singapore (NUS) Aug 13 – Jul 17
• Bachelor of Social Sciences (Sociology) Honours
• CAP: 4.2 ( 2nd Upper Class Honours)

Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Student Exchange Programme Jan 16 – May 16

• Gained insights into Chinese culture through active participation in project meetings and
networking sessions with business leaders.

WORK EXPERIENCE
Fine Electronics Singapore Pte Ltd, Part Time Sales Coordinator Jun 16 – Sep 16
• Designed and introduced marketing collaterals such as customer interviews and product
infographics on our social media account thereby increasing web traffic by 10%.
• Grew the customer base by implementing innovative public relations campaign with the
marketing team to promote the latest digital products.
• Exceeded monthly sales target by 15% and was awarded the Best Sales Person of the Month.

Assistant Research Team Lead for Prof Buk Srinivasan, NUS Business School Aug 16 – Dec 16
• Led a team of student researchers to conduct market research about purchasing trends of lower
income group for the purposes of policy design by the Ministry of Family and Social Development.

Part Time Tutor May 15 – Dec 15

• Taught one-on-one English lessons for 5 ‘O level’ students and improved their grades by 30%.
• Designed and executed bespoke tailored curriculum for students according to their learning
abilities, which in turn improved their learning experience and interest in the subjects.
• Inspired the students through close mentorship and imparted knowledge beyond academics to
help explore their interests.

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Sponsorship Team Member, NUS Giving Society Jul 16 – Jul 17
• Collaborated with teammates to implement outreach strategies that increased financial
contributions of students, alumni and NUS Senior Management by 20% in 2017.
• Pioneered new initiatives, after conducting a donor needs assessment, thereby increasing student
donations by $!5,000. Initiatives included partnerships with GrabPay.

Recruitment Director, Malay Students Society Jan 15 – Dec 15

• Stepped out of my comfort zone to join the Malay Students Society so as to learn more about the
regional heritage and culture of Singapore and Malaysia.
• Deployed qualitative and quantitative research to identify reasons for low student engagement and used
findings to influence team to introduce new programs such as Malay Professional Networking.

Online Engagement Team – NUS Wellness Club Dec 13 – Dec 14

• Project managed the production, editing and the sharing of of 9 wellness videos over the year
that increase student knowledge of personal wellness practices.
• Negotiated win-win partnerships with other student clubs and administrative departments to increase
viewership, thereby resulting in 8000 unique views for our final video.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Ulead Video Studio, Adobe Premiere Pro,
• Fluent in English, Malay and Mandarin (both spoken and written)
• Enjoys outdoor sports and participates in at least 2 marathons annually
Cover Letter Example from Imperial College
London

Bedford House
Front Line Genomics Tennyson Road
Studio 202, Building J Colindale
The Biscuit Factory London
Drummond Road NW9 2XB
London
SE16 4DG
12th December 2020

Dear Dr Lumb,

As an MRes Biomedical Science student at Imperial College London, I am writing to apply for the
Science Communication (Writing & Research) Officer vacancy at Front Line Genomics as advertised
on JobsLive through the Imperial College Careers Service.

While I enjoy the science and research that I am currently training in, my true interest lies in
communicating this vital knowledge to practitioners, patients and the public with the aim of
increasing awareness and facilitating faster development of effective solutions. My work as the
Science Writer for Felix (the Imperial College Union weekly newspaper) was extremely satisfying and
what I enjoyed the most was interviewing academics, reading research papers and translating this
into engaging content for a range of different audiences. I also enjoyed my secondment to the
marketing team within John Lewis, where I used my writing and social media skills to develop more
persuasive, creative content using many different interactive media platforms. This taught me the
importance of understanding and tailoring to specific audiences. My interest in Genomic stems from
my work on RNA Enzymes and this led me to apply for a research Masters in the broader field of
Biomedical Science. While my projects for next year are yet to be confirmed, I am hopeful that one
of them will be in collaboration with the Imperial Genomics Faculty which will increase my
knowledge of both sequencing and bioinformatics. This combination of writing, media and the topic
of genomics is why I would like to apply for the role of Science Communication Officer.

I would like to work for Front Line Genomics as from reading your website, I think our values align.
While working on my final year project with a multidisciplinary team of scientists, I admired their
absolute focus on what was best for the patient. This value was the driving force behind every
decision they made and it created an environment where I felt like what we were doing had real
purpose and impact. I want to work in this sort of environment within my next job. I also know I
prefer to work within a small team where I will get the chance to support and be involved in many
aspects of what the organisation does. As the student representative for the Royal Society of
Chemistry (RSC) I had an overview of the full range of activities and was able to support all of the
small (eight members) staff. I really enjoyed working with the range of people on many different
projects and the community feeling this created inspired me to extend myself. Having researched
the Front Line Genomics team online, I hope to meet and work with them in the future.

I have attached my CV for your consideration. Many thanks for this opportunity to apply and I look
forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Yours sincerely,

Rumi Jones
MRes Biomedical Science Student
Imperial College London

30
Cover Letter Example from University of Manchester

Fairfield Hall
Manchester
M60 7LH
Kato.ade21@gmail.com
Tel: +44(0)7443151465
ABC Tax Services
www.linkedin.com/in/katoadewali
23 Manchester Street
Manchester
August 10, 2017
M1 1BC
Dear Sir or Madam
Re: Client Relationship Manager, Institutional Investor Group
ABC Tax Services are well-known for its expertise in tax services, the use of innovative techniques and
technologies, being a responsible and highly rewarded institution, often named as one of the best in its
category, providing high quality services to its clients. As a consequence, I would be extremely glad to
join your team in London as it would be the perfect position towards a challenging and rewarding career
in the tax services industry.

After having obtained a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting with excellent results, I decided to
supplement my education abroad with a master’s in International Business and Management. My
academic curriculum gives me a wide range of competencies, not only managerial with strong
negotiations skills but also technical and analytical in market finance, corporate finance and asset
management. In the academic context, I have often been granted the role of team leader, which
strengthened my team spirit, project management skills as well as my competencies in dealing with
pressure and deadlines. I also had several professional experiences for international financial firms such
as AXA, Banque de France or Deloitte. By working closely with asset managers, senior financial
consultants and European regulators, these opportunities enabled me to gain core and complementary
knowledge about the finance industry that I can directly apply in your company. I can conduct
quantitative studies, build innovative strategies or lead meetings in an international context to cater to
the specific needs of institutions and clients, in a challenging and fast moving environment. I am driven,
energetic and have the passion for delivering results. I am confident I can make a valuable contribution
to your existing team and contribute efficiently to ABC Tax Services daily challenges.

I am able to work full time on a fixed term contract, for up to four months from the date I submitted my
dissertation (5th September 2015) without additional visa requirements. I will receive my degree result
in mid-late November and will then have the option to apply for a sponsored working visa in
conjunction with an employer who is on the Sponsor Register. If I apply before my student visa expires,
there will be no need for a labour market test by the employer. An introduction to working visas for
international graduates can be found on The University of Manchester’s career webpages for employers
at: http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/international/ukworkafterstudy/ The official government site
is: www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/working It is my ambition to establish my career in
the UK and to settle here in the long term.

With rich academic achievements and several professional experiences that gave me a strong
knowledge of the tax services industry, I would now like to join a universally recognised institution, in a
rigorous and dynamic team. I will be available to start in your services in September 2017. Thank you for
your time and your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Yours faithfully,
Kato Adewali
© The University of Manchester Careers Service 11
Personal Statement Example from The University of Sussex

From an early age I have possessed an instinctive curiosity and been intrigued by
the workings of the human mind. The relationship between the underlying
biological phenomena and the behaviours brought about by such mechanisms have
always fascinated me. It was not until my grandmother was diagnosed with
Parkinson’s disease and ischaemic dementia however, that the link between brain
functioning and cognition became a passion. Although a most unpleasant
experience, the enormity of the precision at which the brain functions to produce
our cognitive abilities, socially acceptable behaviours and intricate physiological
processes astounded me. I thereupon found myself questioning the cognitive
functions and human behaviours I had previously just accepted, desperate to
understand how the unseen and seemingly small entities within the brain could
impact our daily behaviour.

Studying Psychology AS level furthered my interest in cognitive psychology, with

my enthusiasm reflected in the full marks I obtained on each paper. The prospect
of exploring the relationship between biology and psychology led me to study
Neuroscience at degree level. This has enabled me to expand my knowledge of
neuroanatomy and physiology, as well as developmental, cognitive, social and
biological psychology through a psychology open unit. As an interdisciplinary
field, Neuroscience often overlapped with psychology covering psychological
aspects of learning and memory and stress.

Of particular interest to me are neurological and psychological disorders, most

specifically the mood disorder; depression. Having studied the neurochemical
changes thought to underlie this disorder, I am particularly interested in exploring
the cognitive and psychoanalytic theories of depression. For this reason, the
mandatory unit ‘Abnormal and Clinical Psychology’ initially drew me to the
course. Studying the unit ‘Neurological and psychiatric disorders’ this year has
given me a good basic knowledge of the underlying pathology and current clinical
treatments available but hope to explore the concepts of ‘faulty’ thinking and the
role of parenting in the development of self worthlessness and hence depression at
the postgraduate level.

As an individual who loves to learn, the prospect of studying the Experimental

Psychology conversion course at the University of Sussex is extremely exciting.
As a resident of West Sussex, I have always been aware of the universities high
standards and friendly atmosphere, emphasising my desires to study there. In
studying this course, I hope to obtain the Graduate Basis for Registration, so that I
may put my knowledge into practice and work as an assistant psychologist, gaining
indispensable experience before applying to train as a Clinical Neuropsychologist.
I thrive upon challenging situations and enjoy the prospect of both helping others
and variety in the day ahead, so feel it is a career that will allow me to combine and
utilise my hard working nature as well as my academic passions. In preparation for
such a career, I have gained experience of interacting with patients suffering from
dementias and other age-related disorders on geriatric wards through a voluntary
library service at a local hospital and am currently awaiting my CRB check to
allow me to participate in the ‘Barrow project’ which will entail spending a few
hours each weekend listening and chatting to patients recovering from
psychological disorders.