ENG212 ENGLISH WRITING II

Cover Letters and resume

Purpose:
- To let the employer get to know you as an individual;
- To let the employer know what benefits you can offer (job-related) - how you will fit
in to the company.

When you are writing your cover letter to a company, you should bear the following
points in mind:

- Avoid informal language but do not use old-fashioned or over-formal language

- Be polite but do not be too humble
- Be brief but make sure you make your points clearly

Business people are busy and do not appreciate unnecessarily long letters. Most
business letters are less than one A4 page long. If you need a second page for your
cover letter, you should think about whether you can say what you want to say using
fewer words.

TASK 1
Read the sample below (Example 1). Discuss with your team:
Is it a good/bad cover letter? How to further improve it?

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Example 1:

Dear Sir / Madam,

Application for the position of Bank Executive (Ref. no. HZ627)

I am interested in applying for the position of Bank Executive at

Citibank (Hong Kong) Limited. In today’s fast-changing banking
area, adaptability and a goal-oriented attitude are among the
most valuable prerequisites a successful bank executive must
have to survive and prosper. I have demonstrated these qualities
as a Regional and Branch Manager for the American Express in
Singapore and Japan.

I am an experienced financial lending professional with strong

analytical and statistical skills in all areas of banking. My
background includes credit analysis, commercial and
construction lending, management and new business
development. As Regional Manager, I have organized a new
construction lending department and established a US$40 million
industrial and commercial loan portfolio that achieved consistent
returns. I have also assisted a major Japanese bank in opening
operations in Singapore.

As I am resettling in Hong Kong, I am now actively seeking a

new banking position as a Regional Manager. I have read about
the innovative lending practices of your bank in Hong Kong and
have been intrigued with your imaginative solutions to common
lending problems.

I believe I can make a valuable contribution to the continued

development of the Citibank (Hong Kong) Limited. I would very
much like to meet with you to describe the work I have done in
implementing new lending procedures. Please contact me by
phone at (+65) 6733 6733 or by email at
pauline_cheung622@gmail.com at your earliest convenience.
Thank you very much.

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Yours faithfully,

[Signature]
Pauline On-Ling CHEUNG
Enclosed: résumé

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Example 2

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Sample Cover Letter (E-mail)
Address your reader politely.
Dear Mr. Cheung,
Letter subject –
Include the position
Application for the post of Customer Service Executive (Ref. no.: #####) and the reference
number (if any)

Having read your advertisement from the S.C.M.P. dated 8th March, 2023, I What are you
applying for?
would like to apply for your post of Customer Service Executive.
Where/When do
you find the job?
I have been working at Light Power Limited as a Customer Service
Executive trainee in the past year. My duties include dealing with routine
You could include
clerical tasks, handling enquiries from customers concerning the company
more than one
policies, both on phone calls or through emails, and providing updates on paragraph here. It
CS-related cases in monthly meetings. The job is challenging but I have includes your
education
learnt a lot about the field. Since Light Power Limited is restructuring and background and
the whole Customer Service Department would move to the Mainland, I am work experience.
You should think of
thus seeking new opportunities in other companies with similar vacancies. how it could
persuade your
reader that you are
Enclosed please find my C.V. for your reference. It would be my pleasure to a competitive
attend an interview with you for further discussion. Please contact me at candidate. Consider
what you read from
9876-5432 two days in advance and I could arrange for the interview. the recruitment
advertisement.

Thank you very much. End it with the call for

action. Be polite.

Yours sincerely,
Carman Li
Carman Li

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C.V.

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1
Length: One to two pages is sufficient for your CV.
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CV Format, Order and Layout
2.1 Photo: A recent headshot is expected on your CV.
2.2 Personal Information: What do you need? Is that too much? Or too little?
2.3 Personal Summary: Though not mandatory, you can include a brief
summary where you describe your skills and career objective if you think it
will help to sell you as a good candidate.
2.4 Work experience: Display your work experience in reverse-chronological
order. Include the company name, job title, and the start and end date of
each position. Describe your responsibilities and achievements in each
position.
2.5 Education: List your degrees and diplomas in reverse-chronological order,
and highlight any awards and achievements that will demonstrate your
capabilities.
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Other CV sections:
3.1 Languages: Be sure to note your language skills, including your written and
spoken fluency in each language.
3.2 References: If you have a referee, it is acceptable to attach him/her to your
CV. If not, simply noting that references are available on request.

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