ONLINE

TRAINING WORKSHOP

FOR ICAP STUDENTS

PURSUING
TRAINING IN ICAP
TRAINING
ORGANIZATIONS
 AREAS TO BE
COVERED
TRAINING ORGANISATIONS
HUNTING & SELECTION
COVER LETTER
CV / RESUME WRITING
INTERVIEWING SKILLS 2
 TRAINING
ORGANISATIONS
HUNTING &
SELECTION
3
IMPORTANT FACTORS FOR
CONSIDERATION OF TRAINING
ORGANISATIONS TO APPLY
Approved Training Organisation Inside or Outside
Practice.
 https://icap.org.pk/files/per/students/edu-training/tr
aining/List-of-Approved-TOs.pdf

 https://icap.org.pk/students/training/training-outsid
e-practice/approved-toop/ 4
 IMPORTANT FACTORS FOR
CONSIDERATION OF TRAINING
ORGANISATIONS TO APPLY
 Do not focus only on CA Firms on approved panel
of auditors of SBP i.e. A, B, C Category (wrong
practice which in very much common)
 Before applying and going for interview, do
appraisal T.O by seeking information from its
offcial website, facebook official page and
linkedin official page. (easy to search from 5

google)
 COVER
LETTER
6
COVER LETTER
A cover letter is a one-page document that
accompanies a job application or resume.
The purpose of a cover letter is to;
 introduce yourself to the potential employer,
 highlight your relevant skills and experience,
and
 explain why you are the best fit for the job. 7
 COVER LETTER
Cover letters typically include:
 A brief introduction of yourself and why you are interested in
the job.
 A summary of your relevant experience, skills, and
qualifications.
 Examples of your accomplishments and how they relate to the
job requirements
 A closing statement expressing your interest in an interview
and thanking the employer for their consideration 8
HOW TO WRITE A COVER
LETTER
To compose a successful cover letter, it is
crucial to clearly convey how your
professional background aligns with the
company's culture and job requirements in
a concise manner.
9
 SUGGESTIONS FOR CRAFTING AN
IDEAL COVER LETTER
 Personalize the Cover Letter - For each job, customize your cover
letter to fit the specific company. It is crucial to include the correct
company name, as sending out a generic letter for all applications
isn't effective and can indicate a lack of effort.

 Pay Attention To Formatting Make sure it is well-organized, use

the same font and size as your CV, and avoid clutter. If submitting
the letter in hard copy or in person, print it on high-quality plain
white paper 10
 SUGGESTIONS FOR CRAFTING AN
IDEAL COVER LETTER
 Highlight Your Unique Selling Points (USPs) - Highlight your distinctive
strengths and demonstrate how your qualifications and experience align with
the ones outlined in the job description. Display confidence in your
capabilities and clarify why you are the perfect candidate for the position.

 Provide Examples - You can enhance the credibility of your claims in the
cover letter by using concrete examples from your past experiences. This
approach shows how you have utilized your skills and experience in real-life
situations, making it easier for the employer to evaluate your potential fit for
the job. 11
COVER LETTER
FORMAT
Header
Similar to a regular business letter, the header of your cover letter
should contain specific personal and job-related details at the top.
Include your name, address, email, and phone number. Leave a
space, and then include the date. This will aid the hiring manager or
recruiter in contacting you easily.
Example: [Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State ZIP Code]
[Your Email Address] [Your Phone Number] [Date]
12
COVER LETTER
FORMAT
Employer's contact information: Below the date, include the
employer's name, title, company name, and address
Exmaple
[Employer's Name] [Company Name] [Address] [City, State ZIP
Code]

Salutation: Address the employer with a formal greeting, such as

"Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear [Employer's Name]"
13
COVER LETTER
FORMAT
Opening Paragraph: Introduce yourself and the purpose of the
letter. State the job title you are applying for and how you heard
about the position. Include a brief statement that highlights your
interest in the company

Body Paragraphs: Use one or two paragraphs to highlight your

relevant experience and qualifications. Explain how your skills align
with the job requirements and why you are the best candidate for the
position. Use specific examples to demonstrate your experience and
achievements 14
COVER LETTER
FORMAT
Closing Paragraph: Thank the employer for its time and consideration,
and express your interest in the job. Provide your contact information
and state that you look forward to hearing from them.
Closing: End with a professional closing, such as "Sincerely" or "Best
regards". Leave a space, and then include your name and signature (if
sending a printed copy)
To ensure a professional appearance, your cover letter should be
limited to one page and employ a simple, business-oriented font like
Arial or Helvetica, with a size ranging from 10 to 12 points. The content
should be aligned to the left, with single spacing and margins of one
15
inch.
COVER LETTER
FORMAT
Closing Paragraph: Thank the employer for its time and consideration,
and express your interest in the job. Provide your contact information
and state that you look forward to hearing from them.
Closing: End with a professional closing, such as "Sincerely" or "Best
regards". Leave a space, and then include your name and signature (if
sending a printed copy)
To ensure a professional appearance, your cover letter should be
limited to one page and employ a simple, business-oriented font like
Arial or Helvetica, with a size ranging from 10 to 12 points. The content
should be aligned to the left, with single spacing and margins of one
16
inch.
TIPS FOR WRITING AN EFFECTIVE
COVER LETTER
Customize:
Personalize your cover letter to the particular job and organization you are
seeking to apply for. Utilize the job description and company website to
research the values, mission, and culture of the company.
Be Specific:
To make a strong impression, provide specific examples of how you have
used your skills to solve problems or achieve results. Do not rely on generic
statements about your abilities. Show hiring managers your skills in action
through meaningful anecdotes. For instance, instead of saying your skills
would be a good fit, give a specific example of how you have applied your
skills in a previous role.
17
TIPS FOR WRITING AN EFFECTIVE
COVER LETTER
Be Concise And Straightforward:
While there is no set length for a cover letter, it is important to
prioritize the most relevant information for the job. Carefully review
the job description to identify opportunities to showcase your
qualifications. Highlight one or two professional achievements that
align with the desired experience or attributes mentioned in the job
description, using brief but detailed sentences. Use the cover letter to
demonstrate the traits that the employer is seeking in a candidate.

18
TIPS FOR WRITING AN EFFECTIVE
COVER LETTER
Proofread Before You Submit
Before submitting your cover letter, meticulously review it
several times, with particular attention to spelling, grammar,
and punctuation errors. To identify any awkward phrasing or
excessively long sentences, try reading the letter out loud.
Since we often overlook our own mistakes, take your time and
conduct a thorough review of each word. If you address the
hiring manager by name, be sure to triple-check the spelling.
19
SAMPLE COVER LETT
ER

20
21
22
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CV
& RESUME
CV RESUME
is intended to be Is a brief,
a full record of targeted list of
your career skills and
history; whereas achievements. 23
Writing An
Effective
Resume / CV
24
 WRITING AN EFFECTIVE
RESUME
◈ Effective resume / CV writing requires the proper
presentation of every section in resume / CV.
◈ Many people think that resume writing is a simple job
and does not require many efforts.
◈ But this isn't true. Writing resume / CV is a tricky job
and one should take proper care while presenting
his/her details on resume. 25
WRITING AN EFFECTIVE
RESUME
Start your resume with your contact details
on the top (Header). Write your contact
details on the top of every page of your
resume. These contact details should include
your name, address, contact number and your
e-mail ID.
26
BRIEF PROFILE / 30 SECOND
RESUME
Brief Profile / 30 Second Resume is First Section in
your Resume. A thirty-second resume is also known as
an elevator pitch. Think of it as your personal
advertisement. Within half a minute you are to describe
what you can do for an employer and why they should
hire you. 30-second resumes are powerful tools for
networking, personal branding and for use in preparing
resumes as well as for performing well in interviews. 27
30 SECOND RESUME –
TEMPLATE 1
My name is _______. I offer your organization my _____ [unique,
relevant strength #1], ______ [unique, relevant strength #2] and
_______ [unique, relevant strength #3]. My achievements include
_______ [unique, relevant achievement #1], ________ [unique,
relevant achievement #2] and _________ [unique, relevant
achievement #3].
A _______ by education, my career goal is to
________________________ [fit with employer based on your
research]. I am thus looking for a _________________ [job title]
position at your organization. 28
30 SECOND RESUME –
EXAMPLE 1
My name is Saira. I offer ABC Company my strong zero based
budgeting skills, excellent grasp over Peachtree and unmatched
teamwork abilities. My achievements include my two terms as the
President of the Finance Club at my college, my distinctions in
Finance and Accounting and my A+ rating received from my
supervisor while working at XYZ Consultants.
An ACA by education, my career goal is to help ABC Company
increase its profitability in Pakistan by 10% through the
implementation of cost control measures based on zero based
budgeting. I am thus looking for an Accounts Executive position at
ABC. 29
30 SECOND RESUME –
TEMPLATE 2
My name is _______. I can __________________________
[value you can add at the organization] using my _____ [unique,
relevant strength #1], ______ [unique, relevant strength #2] and
_______ [unique, relevant strength #3]. My achievements include
_______ [unique, relevant achievement #1], ________ [unique,
relevant achievement #2] and _________ [unique, relevant
achievement #3]. With _______ [title of last relevant degree] and
__________ [certifications if any] I am looking to serve your
organization in a _________________ [job title] capacity.
30
30 SECOND RESUME –
EXAMPLE 2
My name is Arshad Kamal. I can help ABYZ Textiles save up to
15% in annual inventory costs using my cost budgeting skills,
prior shop floor costing work experience at ZXC Textiles and
my strong forecasting abilities. My achievements include my
passing the ACA exams in the first attempt, my publications in
the LCCI newsletter on Cost Budgeting and my blog for
aspiring Accounting and Finance professionals. With an ACA
and SAP certifications I am looking to serve your organization
in a Junior Finance Manager capacity.
31
 ACTIVITY
Exercise of Preparing Brief
Profile / 30 Second Resume
, Memorizing and Presenting
before all Participants 32
RESUME FRESH GRADUATE
If you are writing the resume for the recent
graduate or fresher, you can write the academic
credentials after your Brief Profile / 30 Second
Resume. Fresher candidate do not possess any
work experience to attract the employers and hence
one has to focus on educational details and
acquired skills to grab the attention of the
employers. 33
RESUME OF EXPERIENCED
CANDIADATE
In case, if you are experienced
candidate, you can write the experience
section after career objective followed by
the skills section. Your job relevant work
experience will make you stand out from
the crowd 34
SKILLS SECTION OF
RESUME
The skills section consists of transferable skills like
interpersonal skills and management skills, and the
technical skills. The fresher candidate should focus on
writing the skills on resume. Give examples of how
you can utilize the skills to work efficiently. For the
experienced candidate, it is not necessary to mention
the soft skills; instead you can mention only technical
skills. 35
 WRITING AN EFFECTIVE
RESUME
◈ Awards and honors during previous employments
or academics can be listed under separate heading
reading "Awards and Honors".
◈ Make sure that you don't make simple
grammatical or spelling mistakes in writing
resume. Proof read the resume before finalizing it
for sending. 36
 CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFECTIVE
RESUME
 Focuses on skills. Uses action words to define the
responsibilities of your job-related experience.
 Easy to read and understand.
 One page, or at most 2 pages long.
 Language is grammatically correct.
 Spelling has been checked.
 Font Style should be simple, decent and eye catching.
37
 CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFECTIVE
RESUME
 Font Size of headings should be 12 and other text should
be 11.
 Must always be 100% truthful.
 Contains no inappropriate personal information.
 Neat, clean, and professional looking.
 Margins at sides and bottom.
 Layout makes reading easy. Use of white space is
effective. 38
 CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFECTIVE
RESUME
 Important titles should be emphasized. Experiment
with fonts & styles; bold, italic, and underlines. No
more than 2 or 3 different sizes.
 Information is logically recorded.
 Use Action Verbs for accomplishments & results.
 Bullet points when possible for accomplishments.
 Quantify your results whenever you can. 39
VIDEO TUTORIAL ON RESUME
WRITING

◈Resume Writing T
utorial.mp4

40
41
 INTERVIEWING SKILLS
◈ First Impressions Count ……………
◈ Do You Make The Best Impression You Can?
 On-Time
 Dress
 Physical Contact
 Eye Contact
 Smile
 Avoid Fidgeting (be impatient or uneasy) 42
INTERVIEWING SKILLS
Characteristics of a Successful
Interview
 Preparation
 Presentation
 Content
43
 INTERVIEW PREPARATION
 Visualize Yourself In the Interview
 Should believe in yourself that;
a) There is no question you cannot answer
b) You are well suited to the position
c) You will be an asset to the organisation
 Bring Extra copies of resume Breath mints 44
 INTERVIEW PREPARATION VIDEO
TUTORIAL

How to Prepare for a Job

Interview.mp4

45
 INTERVIEW PREPARATION
 Research about Target Employer Company's
Website, Official Facebook & Linkedin page etc.
 Know your Resume
 Know Where You Are Going
 Anticipate Questions
 Be Prepared to Sell Yourself!
46
 INTERVIEW
PRESENTATION DO’S
 Be thoroughly prepared  Sit up, maintain stable and
 Arrive 20 minutes early, Fresh correct posture
yourself and relax.  State the truth and believe
 Be nice to everyone at the yourself
organization  Observe the workplace for
 Smile, be confident and offer cues
firm handshake  Be passionate about your
 Listen carefully career 47
 INTERVIEW
PRESENTATION DO’S
 Do accept tea, coffee or juice if
offered
 Be likeable Remember the
interviewer’s name and use it
 Maintain good eye contact with
all interviewers
 Ask the interviewer to repeat a
question if you don’t
understand it
 Write a thank you letter the
same day
 Act professionally
 Demonstrate that you have a
clear career plan
 Pause and think before you
answer.
 Sell yourself with complete
faith 48
 INTERVIEW PRESENTATION
DONT’S
 Treat the interview or
 Chew gum and Be arrogant
interviewer as if they are not
important  Talk endlessly without
understanding what is being
 Come across as greedy and
asked
Seem desperate
 Drop names i.e. casually
 Be negative and Take calls
mention the names of famous
during the interview or keep
people one knows or claims to
your phone on loud
know in order to impress
 Take friends and family with you others. 49
 INTERVIEW PRESENTATION
DONT’S  Talk about your personal
 Lie and Give excuses for Past
Failures life and problems
  Crack rude or vulgar jokes
Be unsure about which position
you are interested in  Bring up sensitive topics
 Smoke before or during the like politics or religion
interview  Use ‘ahhh’ and ‘umm’s
 Slouch (stand, move, or sit in a  Use flattery i.e. excessive
lazy way) or fiddle (an act of and insincere praise, given
defrauding, cheating, or especially to further one's
falsifying.) own interests. 50
 COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS BY
INTERVIEWER
 Please tell us about yourself. (30 Sec Resume)
 What qualifies you for this position?
 Why have you applied for this job?
 Do you believe that you have achieved success / how would you know
that you are successful?
 What are your career goals?
 Where do you see yourself in 5, 10, 15, 20 years?
 Why did you choose this career?
 What did you learn from your last degree?
 What do people who know you say about you? 51
 COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS BY
INTERVIEWER
 What are you looking for in an employer?
 What are some of your strengths? or Why should we hire you?
 Why do you want to work for us? or What do you know about our
organisation?
 What are some of your weaknesses?
 What do you think of your present [or past] employer, if any?
 Where else have you applied and why?
 What are your achievements and why do you value them?
 What kind of people do you enjoy working with?
52
 Do you have any questions for us?
QUESTIONS TO ASK THE
INTERVIEWER
Asking questions demonstrates that you can
think, that you are serious about your career
and wise in making decisions. Here are some
good questions you can ask your interviewer
at the end of an interview when given the
opportunity.
53
 QUESTIONS TO ASK THE INTERVIEWER –
GOOD ONES
 How is exceptional performance rewarded at your organization?
 What learning and development opportunities will I get?
 What will be my three biggest goals for the first year?
 How can I help my immediate supervisor achieve his or her
goals?
 What is the biggest headache I can take away from my
supervisor?
 What is the culture at your organization like? 54
 QUESTIONS TO ASK THE INTERVIEWER –
BAD ONES
 What perks will I get?
 How many leaves will I get?
 Will I have to come in at 9 am every single day?
 What does your organization do?
 Will I have to dress up formally?
 I hope the workload here is not too much, is it?
 When was your organization started?
55
 GUIDE TO PROPER INTERVIEW ATTIRE
FOR MEN
 Wear a two piece suit
 Choose conservative colors in the blue, grey family.
 Avoid colors like pink, peach & green
 Make sure all clothes are clean
 Press your clothes
 Wear a white or light blue full sleeves shirt
 Put on dark socks
 Wear black comfortable shoes with laces 56
 GUIDE TO PROPER INTERVIEW ATTIRE
FOR MEN
 Wear a belt, which matches the shoes color. A black leather
belt with a conservative buckle is best.
 Choose a medium width silk tie with small patterns
 Shave well. Remove excess facial hair
 Get a professional haircut.
 Remove all forms of jewelry
 Smell nice, but do not apply too much cologne
 Wear a conservative watch. 57
 GUIDE TO PROPER INTERVIEW ATTIRE
FOR WOMEN
 Wear a Shalwar Kameez etc. in conservative colors which match the
weather
 Make sure your clothes, especially cotton clothes are well pressed
 Avoid excessive make up
 Choose makeup colors which are conservative
 Do not wear excess perfume
 Find a pair of shoes which are comfortable, give you height and which
match your clothes.
 Make sure your hair is not a distraction for you or for your interviewer
 Cut down on the jewelry. You should not make noise when you walk. 58
 GUIDE TO PROPER INTERVIEW ATTIRE
FOR WOMEN
 Your nails should be clean and of medium to short length
 Choose conservative nail polish colors
 Carry a small purse if you need to matching with shoes.
 Choose the right conservative fit for your clothes
 Wear a watch which is not flashy (ostentatiously attractive or
impressive.)
 Clean your accessories with a wipe
 Keep yourself warm in the winter, choose clothes appropriately
59
 IN-INTERVIEW BODY
LANGUAGE GUIDE
 Sit with your lower back straight and firmly fixed with
the chair
 Plant both feet solidly on the ground
 Keep your chin up & shoulders back
 Maintain good eye contact
 Don’t cross your arms or legs
 Don’t touch your face 60
IN-INTERVIEW BODY LANGUAGE
GUIDE

61
IN-INTERVIEW BODY
LANGUAGE GUIDE

62
 INTERVIEW FOLLOW UP
 Common Interview Mistakes
a) Coming Unprepared
b) Not Smiling or Showing Enthusiasm
c) Negativity
 The Thank You Note
 References
63
 CHECK LIST FOR THE NIGHT BEFORE THE
INTERVIEW
 I have thoroughly researched the organization and industry.
 My resume and covering letter are updated and neatly printed out.
 My clothes are ready and pressed.
 I know the directions to the place of the interview.
 I have practiced my 30 sec. resume and I know my unique selling
proposition.
 I have been through mock interviews.
 I have packed all my relevant original transcripts.
 I have set multiple alarms for the morning.
 I believe I can do this! 64
THANKS!