APPRENTICESHIP TOOLKIT

SESSION 3

HOW TO WRITE A GOOD CV

& COVERING LETTER
SESSION 3: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Learn how to create a professional looking CV and

Covering Letter to give to an employer

By the end of the session students will be able to:

• Understand what employers are looking for
• Identify what needs to be included in a ‘good’ CV
• Understand the purpose of a covering letter
• Produce a CV and covering letter
• Create an email address.

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Activity 1
Ice breaker

• Write name on label provided

• Write one positive word to describe yourself. That you

would use on your CV.

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WHAT DO EMPLOYERS WANT?

Employers are set up to provide goods or services

Employers want someone who can:

• Demonstrate the ability to do the job
• Join the culture of the organisation
• Add value
• Someone who will stay with the company

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Activity 2
WHAT DO EMPLOYERS WANT?

• What key attributes do you think employers might be

looking for? Such as someone who is dependable,
reliable etc.

• Spend 10 minutes in pairs discussing what you think

employers would like in an employee? Discuss

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WHAT DO EMPLOYERS WANT?
Good communicator
Drive and commitment
Motivation
Reliability
Eager to learn
Work-ready
Trustworthy
Determination

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WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE A CV?

• To INTRODUCE yourself
• To show YOUR ATTRIBUTES
• To show YOUR SKILLS
• To show YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS
• To show YOUR QUALIFICATIONS
• To provide RELEVANT information
• To get an INTERVIEW

First Impressions Count!

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WRITING A CURRICULUM VITAE
Do’s Don'ts
• Collect information • Leave gaps
• Be positive • Use relatives as referee
• Think about layout • Tell lies
• Put your name at the top • Use an inappropriate
• Include dates voice message
• Show skills that relate to • Use an inappropriate
the job you are applying email address
for
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CREATE AN E-MAIL ACCOUNT

• Search for a email provider and set up an account for

professional use and follow instructions

• Account Name for e-mail: YourName@mailaccount.com

• Remember First Impressions Count!

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 WRITING A CURRICULUM VITAE

• Personal Details
• Personal Statement
• Skills & Abilities
• Education & Training
• Employment & Work Experience
• Interests or Hobbies
• References
• Extras
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WRITING A CURRICULUM VITAE
Activity 3

Personal Statement
• Spend some time on your personal traits and qualities...
• Attitude
• Personal Style
• Work habits
• Interpersonal style
• Once completed choose 5 words and write an example,
e.g. “I am a positive person who always sees the good in
every situation.”

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WRITING A CURRICULUM VITAE
Skills and Abilities
• Using the handout, underline all the skills that you have
or would be good at ...
• Communication
• Research and investigation
• Organisational skills
• Information management
• Design and planning
• Working with people
• physical
• Circle the top five skills you have gained through work
experience and hobbies. 12
WRITING A CURRICULUM VITAE

Education and Training

Sept 2006-July 2011 The Purple School, Any town, SE38 7AD
GCSE’s Achieved:
English Literature B; English Language B; Science B;
Religious Studies B, Music C; ICT C; Maths C;
Physical Education A.

Sept 2009-July 2011 The Yellow College, Any town, Any place, AT12
BTEC: Childcare, Merit

July 2010 Anywhere Youth Club, Any town, AT12 7AW

Junior Coaching Award

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WRITING A CURRICULUM VITAE

Employment and Work Experience

May 2010 – May 2010 The Carpentry Shop, Woolwich, SE13 6WM
Role: Storeroom Assistant (Work Experience)
Duties: putting together customer orders; storing items
correctly; assistance with storage of large items; customer
home deliveries.

Interest and hobbies

In my spare time I enjoy going to the gym, doing sports such
as football, basketball etc. Only list appropriate hobbies and
ideally those that show you have taken on some
responsibility like Duke of Edinburgh or being a Prefect

References
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COMPLETE A CV

• Using the paper template complete your CV.

• Once your CV is completed – In groups critique each

others CVs .

• Share your findings.

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ACTIVITY 4: COVERING LETTER
DOs
• Plan what to write
• Make it relevant to the job
• Pay attention to detail
• Use good English
• Check spelling
• Read it through
• Ask someone to check it
DON’Ts
• Take short cuts
• Use ‘text’ speak
• Use abbreviations
• Forget to sign it
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COVERING LETTER

Using the template provided, add the following:

• Paragraph 1
– Name of your school or college
– GCSE or qualifications you expect to achieve
– Name of website or newspaper
– Job title
• Paragraph 2
– Personal statement
– Key skills and abilities
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COVERING LETTER

• Look at job advert provided and list the main skills the
employer requires.
• Using your CV and job advert write a covering letter to
the employer.

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AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ACHEIVED?

Learn how to create a professional looking CV and

Covering Letter to give an employer

By the end of the session students will be able to:

• Understand what employers are looking for
• Identify what needs to be included in a ‘good’ CV
• Understand the purpose of a covering letter
• Produce a CV and covering letter
• Create an email address.

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APPRENTICESHIP TOOLKIT
SESSION 3

ANY QUESTIONS?

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