Curriculum Vitae

(CV)
& Cover Letter
L-14
What is a Cover Letter ?
A letter of application, also known as a cover letter, is a document sent with your CV to provide additional information about your skills
and experience to an employer. The letter of application is intended to provide detailed information on why you are a qualified candidate
for the job.
Why include a cover letter?
Many people include a cover letter when they submit a CV during their job search, or when they are inquiring about potential openings
because:
• Introduction: A cover letter allows you to introduce yourself and your job candidacy to a company, whether through the document
itself or via a contact in your network—as with a networking cover letter
• Demonstration of qualities and skills: It provides you a chance to display your personality while showing key skills and knowledge of
the company or person you’re sending it to
• Provide context: A strong cover letter provides context for the skills and experiences present on your resume, rather than repeating
them. It tells a story about your career objectives and aspirations.
• Tips for Writing an Effective Letter

 Always write one. Unless a job posting specifically says not to send a letter of application or cover letter, you should always
send one. Even if the company does not request a letter of application, it never hurts to include one. If they do ask you to send a
letter, make sure to follow the directions exactly (for example, they might ask you to send the letter as an email attachment, or
type it directly into their online application system).

 Use business letter format. Use a formal business letter format when writing your letter. Include your contact information at
the top, the date, and the employer’s contact information. Be sure to provide a salutation at the beginning, and your signature
at the end.

 Sell yourself. Throughout the letter, focus on how you would benefit the company. Provide specific examples of times when you
demonstrated skills or abilities that would be useful for the job, especially those listed in the job posting or description. If
possible, include examples of times when you added value to a company.

• Numerical values offer concrete evidence of your skills and accomplishments.

 Use keywords. Reread the job listing, circling any keywords (such as skills or abilities that are emphasized in the listing). Try to
include some of those words in your cover letter. This will help the employer see that you are a strong fit for the job.

 Keep it brief. Keep your letter under a page long, with no more than about four paragraphs. An employer is more likely to read
a concise letter.

 Proofread and edit. Employers are likely to overlook an application with a lot of errors. Read through your cover letter, and if
possible, ask a friend or career counsellor to review the letter. Proofread for any grammar or spelling errors.
 Sample Job Application Letter (Text Version)

Elizabeth Johnson
12 Jones Street
Portland, Maine 04101
555-555-5555
elizabethjohnson@emailaddress.com
 
August 11, 2020
 
Mark Smith
Human Resources Manager
Veggies to Go
238 Main Street
Portland, Maine 04101

Dear Mr. Smith,

 
I was so excited when my former coworker, Jay Lopez, told me about your opening for an administrative assistant in your Portland offices. A long-time Veggies to Go customer and an
experienced admin, I would love to help the company achieve its mission of making healthy produce as available as takeout.
 
I’ve worked for small companies for my entire career, and I relish the opportunity to wear many hats and work with the team to succeed. In my latest role as an administrative assistant
at Beauty Corp, I saved my employer thousands of dollars in temp workers by implementing a self-scheduling system for the customer service reps that cut down on cancelled shifts. I
also learned web design, time sheet coding, and perfected my Excel skills. 
 
I’ve attached my resume for your consideration and hope to speak with you soon about your needs for the role.
 
Best Regards,
Elizabeth Johnson (signature hard copy letter)
Elizabeth Johnson
What Is a CV (Curriculum Vitae) ?
• A CV (short for the Latin phrase curriculum vitae, which means “course of life”) is a detailed document highlighting your
professional and academic history. CVs typically include information like work experience, achievements and awards,
scholarships or grants you’ve earned, coursework, research projects and publications of your work.

The three types of CV-

• The Chronological CV
• The Functional CV
• The Combined CV
• The Chronological CV
A chronological CV focuses on presenting the candidate's experience on an employer-by-employer basis, with the posts being listed
in reverse chronological order. Chronological CVs should also contain a brief personal statement at the front which sets out the key
skills and strengths of the candidate. This is the most common type of CV.
• How to structure a chronological CV
A chronological CV typically uses the following structure:
- Personal Details (i.e. name and contact details)
- Personal Profile
- Career History in reverse chronological order unless you are a graduate or you have very little work
experience, in which case, it may be best to start with your Education and Qualifications
- Education and Qualifications
- Professional Memberships
- Other Information
- Interests
Advantages of Chronological CV
• Particularly useful for those applying within the same industry as it will demonstrate your career progression
• It is the favourite format for most employers, who simply want to easily identify the roles and responsibilities in each job
• If you do not have many achievements or significant highlights across your career, taking a job-by-job approach can detail your
main responsibilities and take the emphasis away from key achievements which is more expected in a functional CV
Disadvantages of Chronological CV
• If you have gaps in your employment which you would rather not highlight, a chronological CV will make them more obvious
• If you are changing career direction, a chronological CV may not be so relevant to a recruiter who will be more concerned about
the transferable skills that you are bringing rather than the detail of your experience in an unrelated sector
The Functional CV
• Unlike a chronological CV, a functional CV places the emphasis on your skills and expertise rather than the chronology of your
employment to date.
Although not generally the preferred choice by most recruiters, some senior executive positions would require that a functional CV
accompany a chronological one so that their key skills and achievements can be clearly identified.
How to structure a functional CV
• A functional CV typically starts with a personal profile which highlights the achievements, skills and personal qualities that you
possess. This is then followed by a succession of sections, each relating to a different skill or ability. These should be ordered in
decreasing order of importance. Instead of focusing on any particular job, you should describe your experience in its entirety. Since
you are not detailing any specific role, this means you can include any skills or experience gained in voluntary or unpaid work.
Advantages of Functional CV
• If you have changed jobs frequently, or your experience is a combination of seemingly unrelated posts or if you have
several career gaps, a functional CV will help place the emphasis on what you have to offer as a whole rather than your
career progression
• If you are changing industry, a functional CV will help the recruiter focus on your transferable skills
• If you are a more mature applicant, a functional CV will take the spotlight away from your age
Disadvantages of Functional CV
• If you do not have much work experience, you may struggle to highlight achievements in a separate section
• Most employers do not like this type of CV as they prefer to clearly see what the candidate has done and it also raise
questions around whether the candidate is trying to hide something
• A functional CV will not enable you to highlight consistent career progression. If you wish to convey career
progression, you should adopt a chronological format
• To conclude the CV, you should list your employers with the employment dates, as well as a section on your
qualifications. The final section should focus on any other relevant information and hobbies/interests.
The Combined CV
• A combined CV follows both the chronological and functional format, which makes the CV slightly longer than normal. However, it
does offer the best of both types of CV and is becoming a more popular structure to use.
Advantages of Combined CV
• Perfect format if you have a strong career progression with many achievements
• Enables you to sell your strengths as well as your experience
Disadvantages of Combined CV
• Lengthier than a functional or chronological CV so may put off some employers
• Not suitable for those with little experience or achievements
• Not suitable for those with employment gaps
General Rule to write a CV
• While your CV should be specific to your background and tailor to the job for which you're applying, there are
several steps you can take to ensure you write an effective CV. Most CVs include the following information:
• Contact information
• Academic history
• Professional experience
• Qualifications and skills
• Awards and honors
• Publications
• Professional associations
• Grants and fellowships
• Licenses and certificates
• Volunteer work
• Personal information (optional)
• Hobbies and interests (optional)
seven steps for writing a simple CV:
1. Include your contact information
• This includes your full name, phone number and email address. Including your physical address is optional.
2. Detail your academic history in reverse-chronological order
• This can include your post-doctoral programs, graduate school, undergraduate school and high school. Only include your most
recent two educational experiences. Dates attended is optional.
3. Record your professional experience
• List the company or organization, job title and dates employed starting with your most recent job. List your job duties, experience
gained and achievements. Use numbers to measure your impact when possible.
4. Include relevant skills and qualifications
• This can be in a separate skills section. Reread the job description to highlight the most important skills employers are looking for. These
can include both hard and soft skills that make you the best candidate for the job.
5. List honours and awards
• Use this section to outline your achievements in the field related to your application. Start with the award name followed by year
awarded, the organization that gave you the award and details about the award such as how often the award is given, how many
people receive it, etc.
6. Include relevant publications and presentations
• Include relevant citations of presentations, papers, studies, books or other publications important to your professional history.
For publications, include authors, date published, summary, volume, page and DOI number. For presentations, include the title,
date and location of presentation.
7. List your professional associations and affiliations
• This should include the name of the organization, geographic location or chapter and dates of active membership.
• Some employers, especially post-secondary institutions, may offer their own CV template and CV examples to help make sure you
include all required information in the format they prefer. Before you submit your application, look for any special CV guidelines
the employer has outlined. For example, some institutions may require you to list only relevant coursework, fieldwork,
dissertations and professional references.
CV example
Joe Smith
1234 Main Street, Atlanta, GA 30308
770-555-1234
joe.t.smith@email.com
Education
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree, 2018
University of Texas College of Science, Austin, TX
Professional experience
University of Southern California
Professor, Herman Ostrow School of Veterinary Sciences | 2012–2018
Taught multiple undergraduate and graduate courses in veterinary sciences.
Fostered student commitment to lifelong learning and excellence in veterinary sciences.
Acted as a student advisor to first-year veterinary school students.
Skills and qualifications
Team leadership
Seminar instruction
Fluent in English and Spanish
Specialization in livestock science research and development
Awards and honors
AVMA Advocacy Award, 2018
AVMA Animal Welfare Award, 2016
Publications and presentations
Yang, J., Sanchez, C., Patel, A., Johnson, L., (2017) “Study of cocoa product component theobromine
and danger to canines.” Journal of Modern Veterinary Medicine. 272: 1234-56789.
Professional associations and affiliations
American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (2013–Present)
American Veterinary Medical Association (2011–Present)
THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF CV WRITING
Do’s
1.Keep it to 2 Pages
We’re afraid there are very few exceptions to this rule. Perhaps if you are an executive with 30 years experience you can go to three pages but
it should be two for everyone else. There are a few different types of CV format but they all follow a formula. It should be relatively easy to stick
to two pages; especially if you eliminate waffle!
2.Tailor your CV to the Job
Hiring managers are typically very experienced and can spot a generic CV in a heartbeat even though they skim applications. Rather than
trying to shoehorn in all your skills and achievements, focus on a select skills and experience perfectly match the role you’re applying
for. This allows you to expand on these attributes and show how you will be a good addition to the team.
3.Choose the Right CV Type
We all have different work experiences and backgrounds so the traditional Chronological CV is not for everyone. There are actually three
commonly used CV types:
Chronological CV: This is by far the most widely used format and outlines your work experience and education. It is the best option if you
plan to stay in the same industry and have no gaps in your work history.
Functional CV: Also known as ‘Skills-Based’, this CV puts the spotlight on your achievements and skills rather than on experience and
education. It is a good option if you have a gap in your work history, are planning to change careers or are just starting out in the workplace.
Combination CV: This format is a mixture of both a functional and chronological CV. It uses both work history and skills to capture the
employer’s attention.
4.Follow the Correct CV Format:
-Personal details– include: your name, address and contact details
-Personal statement – a well written a personal statement, will help you stand out from the crowd.
-Education – include details of your degree, relevant training and professional accreditation.
-Work History – list your employment history in chronological order, include: dates, job title, duties and responsibilities.
-Skills – list any relevant skills you haven’t mentioned so far.
-Achievements
-Hobbies
However, this cv structure not necessarily set in stone. You need to maximise the impact of your application which may mean changing the
layout. For instance, you might wish to highlight your experience which means placing Work History above Education.
5. Choose the Right Font
Times New Roman is one of the most commonly used fonts but you may find that Cambria or Calibri are better options for digital
applications. The ideal font size is 11; remember, the hiring manager will be scanning your CV so it needs to be nice and easy to read.
6. Keep it Neat and Tidy
As well as getting someone to proofread your CV to check for spelling and grammatical errors, ensure there is plenty of white space
included. If a hiring manager sees a squashed up CV, he won’t even read it! Each section should be clearly outlined and it is also a good idea
to use high quality white or cream paper if sending a CV by mail.
7. Support Claims with Specifics
Merely saying that you “helped reduce overheads” does nothing for your chances of getting an interview. Employers want specifics so include
data to support your claims. A good example would be “I helped reduce the company’s annual overheads from £20,000 a year to £14,000
within 12 months of taking up the role.”
8. Include ‘Power’ Words
Add words such as: achieved, supervised, launched and co-ordinated, when describing your work achievements.
9. Add Details of Professional Qualifications
If you completed a course and received a qualification relevant to the job opening, be sure to include it. This added bit of expertise could be
the difference between getting an interview and being left disappointed. However, you shouldn’t include details of minor courses that offer
qualifications which have no bearing on the job.
10. Include a Personal Statement
A significant number of people neglect to include this at the start of their CV which is a big mistake. Read our guide on 
how to write a personal statement that identifies your strengths and immediately shows that you have the right skills for the job.
Don’ts
1.Tell a Lie
Including even so-called ‘white’ lies is a huge error. Hiring managers are more diligent than ever before when performing background
checks. If you are deemed to be a suitable candidate, a thorough check is likely and your deception will probably be uncovered. Even if you
get the job, there’s a strong possibility that the lie will eventually come back to haunt you. Worst of all, it is unlikely that the lie is the reason
you got the interview or job in the first place!
2.Including Irrelevant Personal Information
You don’t need to include your nationality and you definitely don’t need to mention your age. Although employers aren’t legally allowed to
dismiss your application based solely on how old you are, you’ll never know if that’s the reason they rejected you. Other needless data
includes ethnicity, sexual orientation, health status and marital status. Finally, never include a photo with your CV; unless you’re applying
for a modelling contract!
3.Forget to Include a Cover Letter
You should attach a cover letter to your CV whether it is specified or not. It is the perfect way to reinforce your application as it allows you to
expand on some of the things mentioned in your CV. However, it should NOT merely be a CV in paragraph form.
4.Include Unnecessary References
There is no need to include references or even say “references available on request” unless the job opening specifies it. You only have a limited
amount of space to deal with so why waste it on things you don’t even need?
5.Type or Handwrite Your CV
This should really go without saying! It makes your application look old-fashioned and outdated; plus the hiring manager may not be able to
read your handwriting!
6. Add Fluff
Worried that your CV won’t even reach two pages? First of all, you should be able to expand on your relevant skills, education and
experience and when this is achieved, you will probably be close to the limit. If not, don’t include fluff such as a long list of schools
you attended or hobbies you enjoy. If it doesn’t help you get the job, leave it out!
7. Explain Gaps in Work History
First of all, there won’t be enough space! In fact, you shouldn’t even try to explain work history gaps in your cover letter. The time
and place for such explanations is during the interview.
8. Add Negative Information
This means no mention of divorces, failed exams, driving license points and failed business start-up attempts. Additionally, don’t
complain about a previous employer or even give reasons why you left. You’ll be up against stiff competition for the role, don’t give
the hiring manager any reason to discard your application.
9. Include Jargon Unless Necessary
Adding technical terms and acronyms to a CV is seldom a good idea. While it can show off your expertise, you have to remember
that then hiring manager is probably not an expert in the field and will have no clue what you’re talking about.
10. Mention Money
Once again, all mentions of salaries and benefits can wait until the interview stage and only when the recruiter asks you the
question.
THANK YOU