MIDTERM/FINAL COVERAGE

RESEARCH AND PREPARATION

Objectives:
At the end of the lesson the students may able to:

∙ Define a job
∙ Differentiate job from career
∙ Identify the stages in the Job Application Process
∙ Demonstrate Job Application Process
∙ Identify one’s strengths and weaknesses
∙ Highlight one’s Skills and Experience
∙ Research the Job Market

Presentation of Topics/Concepts:
Job- is something you do simply to earn money. It has minimal impact on your future work life and offers few
networking opportunities. A work or occupation and a person’s role in the society. It consists of duties,
responsibilities, and tasks that are define and specific and can be accomplished, quantified, measured, and
rated.
Career- is a series of connected employment opportunities. It provides experience and learning to fuel your
future.
Job Application – is the official form that employers ask all applicants for a position to fill out. It is legally
defensible listing of job applicant’s employment history, educational background, degrees, qualifications,
references, and others.
Stages in Job Application Process:
1. Researching Yourself
2. Researching the Market
3. Reading Job Advertisement
4. Sending a Cover Letter
5. Sending a Curriculum Vitae/Resume
6. Sending a Follow-up Letter
7. Making interview small talk
8. Responding to Interview Questions
IDENTIFYING THE STAGES IN THE JOB APPLICATION PROCESS a Teresa Fernandez, a recent
graduate, is applying for a job in marketing. Match the extracts from documents and conversations (a-
h) to the stages in the job application process (1-8).
b Read the extract again. Which extracts mention:
1. details of Teresa’s work experience? _____
2. details of Teresa’s studies and qualifications? ____ ______ 3. the job salary? _____
4. Teresa’s weaknesses? ______ _______
5. evidence of Teresa’s skill with numbers? ______ _______ 6. where the vacancy is
advertised? _____ _____
7. evidence of Teresa’s research skills? ______
8. teamwork? ____ _____
9. a compliment from Teresa about the company? _____ _______
10. evidence of Teresa’s research into the company? ____ _____

C Do you think Teresa has a good chance of getting the

job? Why (not)?
ab
Alfred?

‘Yes Hello.’
‘Good morning. My name’s
John Allen. Sorry to keep you
waiting.’
‘That’s alright. I’ve been
enjoying your company
brochure. It all looks very
 impressive. It’s nice to meet
you at last’.

‘Thanks. Have you travelled far

to us today?
‘Quite far. I’m currently based
in Philippines so I came on the
plane this morning.

C d I am a recent Information Technology graduate

I am writing to thank you for giving me
with first- hand experience of marketing,
the opportunity of an interview today.
e

customer service, and sales. I would like to apply

Everyone in your office was friendly and
for the position of Marketing Assistant as
made me feel very welcome.
advertised online. I feel confident of working for your company very
‘What would you say are your main weakness’?
As we discussed during the interview, I
believe my skills and experience would
attractive because it will enable me to put my
enable me to make a very useful
‘Well I did not use to be very
deep theoretical knowledge of human nature into well organized. Nothing be
contribution to your team. On my
a very practical context in a successful very serious, but for example I
journey home I gave more thought of use to forget my
friends’
your question about pricing. I checked
creative work well with people hardworking problem solving good at communication
birthday or try to rush not very well-organized
I LIKE
f a bit moody
MY STRENGTHS
your prices against how much your university assignments swimming sports
to get MY WEAKNESSES
competitors are charging….
them done at the last minute. I DON’T LIKE
But in the last few years I’ve
learnt some nice tricks to help
doing research decisions without thinking impatient
me organize my life-simple
tasks for the day and not relaxing until I’ve done everything I
things like writing down all my
need to do’.

2015- 2019 NMSCST

BS in Information Technology
 2020 Costumer Service Assistant Resolved costumer
complaints
Created customer loyalty program
hg

‘Good morning. Faster forwarding logistics. How can

I help you?

‘Hello my name’s Teresa Fernandez. Could I speak to

Mr. John Allen in Marketing, please?

‘I’m afraid he’s in a meeting. Can I take a message?

‘I’m not sure. I was calling to see if there are any
vacancies in your marketing department. I’m a
recent Information technology graduate, and I’m
RESEARCHING YOURSELF
very keen to work for a company like yours, because
of your excellent reputation’. Researching yourself is the key of finding job that is right
for you.
‘Actually, I think there is a vacancy. Have you seen Your Strengths and Weaknesses
it? ’No, I must have missed that? Do you have a
copy of the …. hunting process is a self assessment of your own
The first thing you need to do when starting the job- strengths and
weaknesses. This process will help you identify the skills, qualifications, experience, knowledge and personal
characteristics that employers are looking for.

Skills Personal Characteristics Experiences Achievements Knowledge Interests

a Draw a mind map using the headings in the box below.

b Match the personal characteristics (1-6) to the questions (a-f).

1 creative a Do you always do what you say you’ll do? 2 decisive b Are you good at getting other people to agree with you?
3 flexible c Are you good at making your mind up quickly?
4 organised d Are you able to plan ahead successfully? 5 persuasive e Are you able to cope with last-minute
changes? 6 reliable f Are you good at coming up with imaginative solutions?

c Make the personal characteristics negative by adding a prefix (dis-, in-or-un) 1 creative
2 decisive
3 flexible
4 organised
5 persuasive
6 reliable

Speaking Activity
In pairs, take turns to ask and answer the questions in Exercise B. Discuss your individual strengths and
weaknesses, giving specific evidence.
YOUR JOB QUALIFICATIONS

All stages in the job application process you will need to be able to describe your academic qualifications clearly.
Education includes high school, post-secondary courses, college and advanced degrees as well as licenses and
certifications. For example, the job qualifications for an accountant might include CPA certification in addition to a
bachelor's degree in accounting.

Award complete graduate hold obtain read

a Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verbs in the box. You can use some verbs
more than once.
 1 I ___________ with a BSIT- Automotive Technology from the Northwestern Mindanao State College of
Science and Technology in 2018.
2 I ___________ Biology at the University of the Philippines. I then ________ a Master’s in Biology at the
Mindanao State University, Iligan Institute Technology.
3 I _______ with a BA in Hotel and Catering Management from Northwestern Mindanao State College of
Science and Technology. I also _____ an MBA in Marketing, which I _______ last year.
4 After ________ from the School of Oriental Languages and Communication with BA in Mandarin Chinese
and English in Massachusetts, USA. I was ______ a scholarship to ______ International Relations at the
Harvard University, USA.

b Complete the sentences using the prepositions at, from, in, or with.
1 I started my career _______ Johnsons Group ______ Lasalle University ____ a BA and Ma ____
Chemical Engineering.
2 I graduated ______ 2008 ____ an MS in Biology ____ Tokyo University.
3 I also obtained in BS ______ Computer Science _____Central Mindanao University ______ 2005.
4 I read Modern Languages ______ The National University of Singapore.
c In pairs, discuss the following questions.
1. What qualifications do you have?
2. Which qualifications is most likely to impress a future employer? Highlighting

your Skills and Experience

Employers will ask for transferable skills or competencies- the skills, knowledge and behaviour they consider
necessary for a particular job. Reviewing your previous experience will help you to identify your transferable skills
and recognize jobs that you are qualified for.

∙ Skills: include verbal and written communication, analytical, research, computer literacy, interpersonal,
planning and organizing, problem-solving, customer service, leadership, and teambuilding. For example,
the qualifications for a computer technician might include knowledge of software applications and
associated hardware.
∙ Work Experience: includes prior roles and / or responsibilities, industry knowledge, as well as the ability to
use certain tools (ranging from simple hand tools to complex software applications). For example, the
qualifications for a chemist might include familiarity with science laboratories, spectrophotometers, and
safety practices.

To impress in an interview, you need to make the most of every opportunity to stress your strengths and
suitability for the role. Employers routinely ask certain questions in interviews. With this in mind, there are
some answers that you can prepare ahead of time. This ensures you use every opportunity to sell yourself.
a In pairs, discuss the following questions.
1. What general skills and knowledge do most employers look for a particular job?
2. Apart from specific qualifications and technical expertise, what skills and knowledge have you got that make
you employable?
b Match the transferable skills (1-8) to the examples of the professional behaviour (a-h).
others.I am able to persuade, conv
1. analytical I have a justified belief in my ability to do the job. others.
express my opinion or provide advice3.when necessary.I am good at
self-confidence
making decisions. I am able to formulate new ideas to
skills 2. think ahead to spot or create oppo
I set aside thinking time to come w
I actively seek feedback on my performance and carefully consider
feedback. 4. done more efficiently.
communication
I demonstrate an interest in and understanding of my own and other
creativity
cultures. skills I can work with sustained energy a
I understand my own strengths and limitations. find ways to overcome obstacles to
strive towards my own targets and
I am good at getting a good deal. 5. independence
I am good at developing and managing relationships with I am good at data analysis.
I am excellent at interpreting data
 to use this information to make effective decisions.

6. I am able to express myself effectively.

interpersonal I am able to make my opinions totally clear and am rarely
skills misunderstood
I produce clear, well –written reports that can be easily understood.
7. negotiation
skills I am good at working cooperatively.
I am good at working and communicating within a team to achieve
8. self-awareness shared goals.

c. Write your own examples of behaviour for the following

transferrable skills.
1 flexibility
2 leadership skills
3 team working skills
4 organizational skills

d Complete the phrases for demonstrating transferrable skills using the correct verbs in the brackets.
1 analytical skill (analyse/conduct/identify)
a_________ a mistake b ______ data c ______a survey 2 creativity (invent/solve/suggest)
a ___________ a machine b ________ an alternative c ________ a problem 3
communication skills (explain/give/write)
a __________ a report b ________ an idea c. ____________ a presentation 4 interpersonal
skills (listen/resolve/work)
a _________ a dispute b. ________ to a point of view c. _______ with difficult people 5
leadership skills (chair/delegate/motivate)
a _________ a meeting b. _________ a team c. _______ task 6 organisational skills
(decide/implement/meet)
a _________ deadlines b. _______ on priorities c. _______ a plan 7 teamworking
skills(contribute/discuss/support)
a _________ an issue b. ________ to a meeting c. ________ a colleague 8 negotiation skills
(change/convince/negotiate)
a _________someone’s mind b. _______ with someone c. _______ someone to do something.
e Identify three of your transferrable skills. Make notes about the things that you have done in the past that
demonstrate these skills. Use the phrases in exercise d.
f In pairs, take turns to tell each other short stories about the things you have done that demonstrate your
transferrable skills, using your notes from exercise e. Try to guess which transferrable skills your partner’s
stories demonstrate.

RESEARCHING THE MARKET

Finding a Job
Once you know yourself, it’s time to start researching the market- finding out more about the type of job you
want and the companies and the organizations that have similar post. Doing this will help you make a short list
of the places where you would like to work.
In pairs, discuss the following questions.
1 Where would you start looking for a job?
2 Which of these methods would you consider using?
∙ job agencies/headhunters
∙ newspapers/magazines
∙ networking
∙ the internet
∙ cold calling/mailing

Job Agencies- is an organization that matches employees to employers. Networking- means asking friends
and relatives working in a company if there is job vacancy. Cold calling- means phoning to a company to
inquire about job opportunities which have not
advertised. The phone conversation is used to generate interest in you as a potential employee.
The aim of the call is to get an invitation to send your CV.

Job Advertisements
A good job advertisement is designed to attract the most suitably qualified applicants. It is not just applicants
that are competing with each other for jobs; employers are also competing with each other to attract the best
candidates for their vacancies.

a In pairs, discuss the following questions.

1 What information would you expect to find in a well-written job advertisement? 2 What makes a good job
advertisement?

b Employers usually try to squeeze as much information into their job advertisement as possible.
However, because advertising is expensive and space limited, they tend to use abbreviations to
describe roles in as few words as possible. Write the full meanings of the following abbreviations using
the words in the box.
agency annum clean current curriculumdriving earnings experience license of on per per point sale target vitae
week

1 CCDL __________________________ 2 CV _________________________3 EXP

___________________________ 4 AGY __________________________5 OTE
___________________________ 6 PA ___________________________7 PW
____________________________ 8 POS __________________________

c Which abbreviation would you expect to see in the job advertisement: 1 if you need relevant
professional experience for the position? ______ 2 if the salary mentioned was for the whole year?
_______ 3 if a job agency is advertising the job? ___________
4 if the position requires experience of selling products to customers? ____ 5 if the take-home pay will be part
basic salary and part performance related pay? _______

d Independent Study/Online Search

1 Research the market and find a number and find a number of job advertisement for vacancies that match
your criteria for work. Analyse the advertisements and identify whether you have the transferrable skills and
experience required for the position.

e Speaking Test
In groups of three take turns being the interviewer, applicant and assessor (max. 5 mins per interview) Use
questions related to your transferrable skills and experience. Swap role after the first-round interview.

Making and Responding Interview Questions

Interviews are not “rocket science”, they are simply a sale meeting- an opportunity for you to sell yourself. An
interview is simply a way for the interviewer to obtain information about yourself so that they can make a
balanced business judgement as to whether you are right for the role.

UNIT 2
WRITING AN IMPRESSIVE CURRICULUM VITAE
Objectives:
∙ Create their own CV and avoiding common CV mistakes
∙ Develop a strong first impression CV
 ∙ Identify their key skills and highlighting their work experience in writing CV ∙ Specifying their education and
qualifications
∙ Demonstrate their personal interest
∙ Identify and provide references

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A curriculum vitae, often shortened to “CV”, is a Latin term meaning “course of life.” A CV is a detailed
professional document highlighting a person’s experience and accomplishments. Employers often require a CV
when considering applications. This document shares an overview of your career history, education, relevant
awards and honors, scholarships, grants, research, projects and publications.

A CV may also include professional references, as well as coursework, fieldwork, hobbies and interests
relevant to your profession. You might also choose to add a personal profile that lists your skills and
positive attributes to ensure employers have a well-rounded view of your personality and achievements.

Three (3) CV Format Types

All three types of CVs should include the above information. The primary difference between
formats is the order of these elements.

1. Chronological
This is the most common type of CV. For a chronological CV, list your academic history and
professional experience first after your contact information. This type of CV focuses largely on your
academic and professional experience.

∙ Contact information
∙ Academic history
∙ Professional experience
∙ Qualifications and skills
∙ Awards and honors
∙ Publications and presentations
∙ Grants and scholarships
∙ Licenses and certifications
∙ Professional associations

A chronological CV is best if you have consistent employment within the same industry, and your work
experience displays advancement within your field.

2. Functional/ Skills-Based CV

This CV format places more emphasis on your skills, awards and honors. If you are writing a functional
CV, you should place your relevant skills near the top under your contact information. In a functional CV,
you will allocate more space to your qualifications, skills, awards and honors and less space to your
professional experience. Here are the sections you should include:

∙ Contact information
∙ Qualifications and skills
∙ Awards and honors
∙ Academic history
∙ Professional experience
∙ Publications and presentations
∙ Grants and scholarships
∙ Licenses and certifications
∙ Professional associations

A functional CV may be the right choice if you have recently graduated and are entering the job market
for the first time, have multiple gaps in employment or you’re changing careers.

3. Combination CV

This CV type is a hybrid of the chronological and functional formats and allows adequate space for
details about both your professional and educational history, as well as your skills and accomplishments.
The elements you place first depend on your experience, career goals and what you believe is most
relevant to the types of positions you’re seeking.

For example, if you’re hoping to earn a teaching position at a university and you’ve spent the past ten
years as an educator, you should list your professional background first.

Five Factors to consider in writing CV

1. Choose the right font type and size

It’s critical your CV is legible and easy to follow. To improve readability, be sure to choose the proper font type
and size.

The two primary font categories are serif and sans-serif. Serif fonts (Times New Roman, Courier, Georgia) have
small, decorative flourishes while sans-serif (Helvetica, Arial, Geneva) fonts do not. It’s best to choose a sans-
serif font because, in most cases, they’re easier to read.

Additionally, keep your text between 10–12 points. While it can be tempting to reduce your font size to reduce the
number of pages, you should never sacrifice readability for length.

2. Check your margins

Be sure to check your CV margin size. Margins that are too large will leave too much white space on each page
while margins that are too small can make the page seem over-filled. A good rule is to keep your margins
between 1–1.5 inches.

3. Utilize your space effectively

CVs can become lengthy, especially if you’ve been in your industry for several years and have amassed a great
deal of experience. To ensure you’re using space effectively and your CV is easy to read, consider using the
following techniques:

Bulleted lists: Make lists, (such as your collection of skills or awards) easier to consume by adding small bullets.

Section headers: Distinguish section headers from the rest of your CV content by making them bolder, larger or
underlined.

Bolded words: In addition to section headers, consider bolding other important words, such as your name and
job titles, to set them apart.

4. Proofread

Before you send your CV to employers, always take time to check your spelling, grammar and syntax. A clean,
error-free CV increases readability and demonstrates professionalism.

A well-composed CV shares all the most essential information employers need when considering you for job
opportunities. By making sure your CV is comprehensive, correctly formatted and easy to read, you’re one step
closer to landing the job you want.

Avoiding Common CV Mistakes

1. Names of person, company, and words are commonly misspelled.

2. Don’t list all your experience and qualifications, only the stuff that is relevant for the job that you are
applying for. Cut it down to the most relevant and impressive achievements. Less is more, and being
concise and to the point will demonstrate your ability to edit. Keep it short, so you can grab the
employer’s attention.
3. Do not lie in a CV, write whatever is true. Be honest.
4. Do not use the same CV for all your applications.

Creating a strong first impression

Writing a personal statement

A personal Statement is a brief statement of the type of person you are, your skills and achievements. It always
comes near the top of the CV, before the main body, and presents the facts in the most positive way. A well-
written personal statement will immediately capture the attention of the employer and make them want to find out
about you. The statement is in response to the job advertisement.

Discuss the following questions.

1 What is the main purpose of a CV?

2 What are the key qualities of a successful CV?
3 What is the best way to structure the contents of your CV? 4 Which type formats of a
CV is best for you? Why?

Independent Study
Find an advertisement for a job you would like to apply for. Make a list of key points the employer is looking for.
Plan your personal statement with those key points in mind. Think about the following questions.
∙ How long will your personal statement be?
∙ How many sentences do you want to include?
∙ What key questions will you address with each sentence? ∙ What additional information
will you include?
∙ In what order will you put your sentences?

Identifying your key skills

Key skills may form the body of your CV (in a skills-based CV) or they may be demonstrated throughout (in a
conventional chronological CV).

a Look at the following list of transferrable skills. In pairs, discuss how you could demonstrate these
skills in your CV. Use examples from your work experience, your studies, and your hobbies and
interests.
∙ Communication Skills (written and oral)
∙ Foreign language skills
∙ Intellectual skills (e.g. critical, analytical and problem- solving skills) ∙ Interpersonal skills
(e.g. working with or motivating others, flexibility) ∙ IT skills
∙ Numeracy skills (e.g. statistical skills, data handling)
∙ Organisational skills (e.g. working independently, meeting deadlines) ∙ Research Skills

Highlighting your work experience

This is the section in the CV where you highlight your professional achievements which are directly relevant to
the position you are applying for. As well as highlighting periods of full- and part time employment, the work
experience section may also include professional training, voluntary work, and any extended periods in which
your life focused on a particular activity.

Think about a job or position of responsibility you have held. In pairs, tell each other about the
position.
∙ What were your duties?
∙ What did you do?
∙ How did you do it?
∙ What were the positive results of the action you took?

When you give information about past work experience and achievements in a CV, use verbs in the past
simple without a personal pronoun: Chaired weekly meetings (not I chaired weekly meetings). Look at
the following table of action verbs commonly associated with professional experience. Select five (5)
verbs and write sentences suitable for your CV that are true for you.

achieved compiled edited improved operated researched anticipated consulted established increased organized resolved
approved convinced evaluated interpreted persuaded scheduled arranged coordinated examined investigated planned
supervised budgeted created facilitated led presented taught calculated delegated formulated listened recommended
trained chaired demonstrated identified motivated repaired translated clarified collaborated designed implemented
negotiated represented wrote develop
Detailing your education and qualifications
If your education and qualifications are your strongest selling point, then you will want to put this information
close to the top of your CV. This is especially true if you are a recent graduate, obtained academic results or
have gained a professional qualification which is pre-requisite for the job you are applying for.

Read the article about how to write about your education in your CV and answer the following
questions.

1 Why should recent graduates put the education section near the top of their CV? 2 What term does the
author use to mean just the main pieces of information, nothing more?3 Under what two circumstances would
you include you’re a-level results in a CV? 4 What qualification should you mention first?
5 What should you do if you’re searching for employment in the IT field?

EDUCATION EDUCATION EDUCATIONShould your education be proudly at the top of the CV or

among the optional sections at theend? It all depends on who you are and what job you are trying to get. If you
have just left school, college or university, your education experience is going to be more immediately
relevant and should therefore be prominently displayed early on. Your potential employer may be keen to hire
recent graduates and will wish to see exactly what your educational attainments are. This means you can give
plenty of detail of curricula, theses and grades. However, if you have been in the world of work for 20 years,
your education is of little interest to an employer and should go in skeletal form near the bottom of the CV.
What you haveachieved since leaving full-time education is obviously more indicative of your value.

Another thing to bear in mind is that higher qualifications imply lower ones. If you have only got GCSEs fine. If,
however you have a bachelor’s degree it is unnecessary to mention your GCSEs or even you’re a-levels. Unless
they are spectacularly good. A recruiter will simply assume they were taken at the usual time and is unlikely to
be interested in how many therewere and what grades they were. The same applies to a Master’s degree or
PhD. The higher qualification makes the mention of any lower ones redundant.

If you feel you need to mention more in the way of academic attainment, for example as a recent graduate or
as someone with professional qualifications or other post graduate training, the section should be organized
in reverse chronological order, like your work experience section.

Finally, the education section can be the place to mention the all-important computer skills that continue to
dominate working life. Different jobs and professions will require to have anunderstanding of different
computer packages, and if you have good working knowledge of these it is worth mentioning that you know
they exist, or have been trained to use them. If you are applying for a job more closely related to IT, your
technical proficiencies should havea relevant section of their own (entitled “computer efficiency” or ‘computer
skills’ or ‘technical expertise’) much higher up the priority list.

What five (5) types of qualification are mention in the text? Put them in order from highest to lowest.
1 ____________ 2 ___________ 3 ____________ 4 ____________ 5 ___________ DEMONSTRATING YOUR

INTERESTS

The things you like doing in your free time say a lot about you as a person, and your personality is relevant to
every job application.

In pairs, discuss the following questions.

1 If you have produced a CV before, what did you put in the personal interest’s section?2
Why do employers want to know about your interests?
It can be more effective to present your interests in terms of who you are, instead of what you like doing,
using adjectives and nouns to describe yourself. In pairs, try and add more words and phrases to each
column in the following table.

Adjectives Nouns

active former ballroom dancer rock guitarist avid keen blogger sailor committed proficient jewelry maker ski
instructor dedicated qualified mountain climber stamp collector experienced regular Spanish Speaker tennis
champion expert successful reader volunteer

Match the adjectives with the nouns to make true phrases for you. avid reader
regular blogger

Write sentences about your own interests. Be as specific as possible and highlight the skills you
need to achieve the things you enjoy doing.
PROVIDING REFERENCES

References provide further evidence to potential future employers that you are who you say you are, and that
you have done what you claim to have done for previous employers. It is highly likely that your referees will be
contacted if you are shortlisted, so it is essential to select them carefully.

In pairs, discuss the following questions.

1 Why are references important?
2 How many references do you need, and who should you choose? 3 When is a reference no
longer useful?
4 What happens if you don’t get on with the most obvious choices for your referees? 5 Is it ok to use someone
you know well who works for the organization where you are applying for a job?
6 Do you have to give your current employer?
7 How can you find out what a refence says about you?

Write your own Curriculum Vitae (CV) in three different formats; Chronological or Conventional,
Functional/Skills-Based, and Combine CV.

UNIT 3

WRITING EFFECTIVE COVER LETTER

Objectives:
∙ Define Cover Letter, its content, importance and purpose
∙ Identify types of a Cover Letter
∙ Create the beginning of a Cover Letter
∙ Compose the main body of the letter
∙ Develop an effective final paragraph
∙ Write a Cover Letter
What is a Cover Letter (CL)?

A cover letter is a document sent with your resume to provide additional information on your skills and
experience. The letter provides detailed information on why you are qualified for the job you are applying for.
Don’t simply repeat what’s on your resume -- rather, include specific information on why you’re a strong match for
the employer’s job requirements. Think of your cover letter as a sales pitch that will market your credentials and
help you get the interview. As such, you want to make sure your cover letter makes the best impression on the
person who is reviewing it.

A cover letter typically accompanies each resume you send out. Employers use cover letters as a way to screen
applicants for available jobs and to determine which candidates they would like to interview. If an employer
requires a cover letter, it will be listed in the job posting. Even if the company doesn’t ask for one, you may want
to include one anyway. It will show that you have put some extra effort into your application.

There are three general types of cover letters. Choose a type of letter that matches your reason for
writing.

∙ The application letter which responds to a known job opening

∙ The prospecting letter which inquires about possible positions
∙ The networking letter which requests information and assistance in your job search

When you are applying for a job that has been posted by a company that’s hiring, you will be using the
“application letter” style.

What to Include in Your Cover Letter?

A cover letter should complement, not duplicate, your resume. Its purpose is to interpret the data-oriented, factual
resume and add a personal touch to your application for employment.
A cover letter is often your earliest written contact with a potential employer, creating a critical first impression.
Something that might seem like a small error, like a typo, can get your application immediately knocked off the
list. On the other hand, even if your cover letter is error free and perfectly written, if it is generic (and makes no
reference to the company, or to any specifics in the job description) it is also likely to be rejected by a hiring
manager.

Effective cover letters explain the reasons for your interest in the specific organization and identify your most
relevant skills or experiences. Determine relevance by carefully reading the job description, evaluating the skills
required and matching them to your own skills.

What to Leave off your Cover Letter

There are some things that you don’t need to include in the cover letters you write. The letter is about your
qualifications for the job, not about you personally. There is no need to share any personal information about
yourself or your family in it. If you don’t have all the qualifications the employer is seeking, don’t mention it.
Instead, focus on the credentials you have that are a match. Don’t mention salary unless the company asks for
your salary requirements. If you have questions about the job, the salary, the schedule, or the benefits, it’s not
appropriate to mention them in the letter.

One thing that’s very important is to not write too much. Keep your letter focused, concise, and a few paragraphs
in length. It’s important to convey just enough information to entice the hiring manager to contact you for an
interview.

Each cover letter you write should be customized to include:

∙ Which job you're applying for (include the job title in your opening paragraph) ∙ How you learned
about the job (and a referral if you have one)
∙ Why you are qualified for the job (be specific)
∙ What you have to offer the employer, and why you want to work at this specific company (match your
skills to the job description, and read up on the organization’s mission, values and goals to mention
in your letter)
∙ Thank you for being considered for the job

Cover Letter Writing Guidelines

Header
A cover letter should begin with both you and the employer's contact information (name, address, phone
number, email) followed by the date. If this is an email rather than an actual letter, include your contact
information at the end of the letter, after your signature.

Your contact information should include:

First and Last Name
Street Address
City, State Zip
Phone
Email

Salutation
Begin your cover letter salutation with "Dr./Mr./Ms. Last Name." If you are unsure if your contact is male or
female, you can write out their full name. If you do not know the employer's name, simply write, "Dear Hiring
Manager." This is better than the generic and formal, “To Whom It May Concern.”

Review information on how to choose the right cover letter greeting to select one that works for the job and
company you’re applying to.

Introduction
Begin your introduction by stating what job you are applying for. Explain where you heard about the job,
particularly if you heard about it from a contact associated with the company. Briefly mention how your skills and
experience match the company and/or position; this will give the employer a preview of the rest of your letter.
Your goal in the introduction is to get the reader's attention.

Find a job advertisement that interests you, and write introduction of a cover letter in response.

Body
In a paragraph or two, explain why you are interested in the job and why you make an excellent candidate for the
position. Mention specific qualifications listed in the job posting, and explain how you meet those qualifications.
Do not simply restate your resume, but provide specific examples that demonstrate your skills and abilities.

Remember, actions speak louder than words, so don’t just “tell” the reader that you are, for example, a great
team player with strong communication skills and an excellent attention to detail. Instead, use tangible examples
from your work experience to “show” these traits in action. Highlight your most relevant experiences and skills as
they relate to the position you are applying for and demonstrate evidence of your skills clearly.

Read the following extracts from Cover Letters. For each extract underline the two main skillthe
applicants demonstrate.

1
My past experience of working overseas has brought me a greater understanding of International cultures and
traditions, as well as a better appreciation of my own culture. These insights would certainly benefit a
multinational corporation, such as yours.
Skills: intercultural awareness / dependability / flexibility /self-awareness

2
Within my role as a project manager, I am responsible for leading a team of five people. We often have to
work unsociable hours under difficult conditions. I ensure that team morale is maintain by regularly
counselling team members to check they are coping with the demands of the job.

Skills: flexibility / lateral thinking skills / language skills / interpersonal skills

3
Although I do not possess any experience in the hotel industry, I was a Holiday Representative for Xtreme
Holidays for two consecutive summers, where I learned that customer satisfaction is the key to success in
the service industry. I implemented a new way for customer feedback to be recorded, which helped
Xtreme Holidays develop the service that they provide by identifying areas needing improvement. I believe
I can apply the skills obtained from my previous employment to this position.

Skills: IT skills/ customer service skills/ communication skills/ initiative 4

This summer I worked at Alton Towers Themepark, where I was initially responsible for operating various
rides. However, as I can speak both Italian and English fluently. I was quickly moved into the gift shop to
deal with customers. Working in the shop helped me to learn the importance of dealing with customers in
a friendly and efficient way. During this month I suggested changing the layout of some of the gifts displays.
These changes lead to a significant increase in the sales of souvenirs.

Skills: customer service skills / entrepreneurial skills/ leadership skills/ numerical skills 5

I have a strong history of staff management, working closely with my current team on their personal
development plans, and understand my role assisting and promoting staff member success. I regularly seek
feedback on my performance from my superior and colleagues to identify areas I need to improve in.
Skills: reliability / leadership skills/ self-awareness / technical skills

In pairs, discuss your recent work experience, or time at college. Highlight the skills you feel you have developed
through these experiences. What are the main skills you have that make more employable?

Closing
In the closing section of your cover letter, restate how your skills make you a strong fit for the company and/or
position. If you have room (remember, just like your resume, your cover letter should be no longer than one
page). Discuss why you would like to work at that specific company. State that you would like the opportunity to
interview or discuss employment opportunities. Explain what you will do to follow-up, and when you will do it.
Thank the employer for his/her consideration.

Read the following final paragraphs. What do you think is good or bad about them? 1

My experience and other technical skills are too extensive to be listed here. I would appreciate the
opportunity to meet with you to discuss my credentials at your earliest convenience.

2
 I would welcome the opportunity to discuss with you how I might contribute to your company in fulfilling its
present goals. I will be available for appointment from 1st July. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Signature
Use a complimentary close, and then end your cover letter with your signature, handwritten, followed by your
typed name. If this is an email, simply include your typed name, followed by your contact information, after the
complimentary close.

Format Your Cover Letter

Your cover letter should be formatted like a professional business letter. The font should match the font you used
on your resume, and should be simple and easy to read. Basic fonts like Arial, Calibri, Georgia, Verdana, and
Times New Roman work well. A font size of 10 or 12 points is easy to read. Standard margins are 1” on the top,
bottom, and left and right sides of the page.

Add a space between the header, salutation, each paragraph, the closing, and your signature. You can reduce
the font and margin sizes to keep your document on a single page, but do be sure to leave enough white space
for your letter to be easy to read.

Follow these cover letter formatting guidelines to ensure your letters match the professional standards expected
by the hiring managers who review applications. Follow these guidelines if you are sending your cover letter by
email.

Edit and Proofread Your Cover Letter

Remember to edit and proof your cover letter before sending it. It may sound silly, but make sure you include the
correct employer and company names - when you write multiple cover letters at once, it is easy to make a
mistake. Printing out and reading the letter aloud is a good way to catch small typos, such as missing words, or
sentences that sound odd.

Always double-check the spelling of your contact's name, as well as the company name. Here are more tips for
proofreading a cover letter. If possible, enlist a friend or a family member to help proofread your cover letter, as
two pairs of eyes are better than one and even professional proofreaders don’t always catch their own mistakes.

Research a real job that you would be interested in applying for. Spend some time researching the
company and the position in more depth. Think about the skills and experience that you have that are
relevant for the post and then write a Cover Letter for the job.

1. Researching Yourself
2. Highlighting Skills and Experience 3. Researching the Market
Listening
1.1 Getting Started
1.2 Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses 1.3 Identifying
Transferable Skills 1.4 Different Job-Hunting Methods

Exercises/Activities:
Rubrics/Assessment Criteria:
References: