Personal and Professional Development

S2 Week 4 Lecture: CV & Cover Letter Building

Lecturer: Dr Sandra C. Obiora

Title: Lecturer of Business - BSOE
LEEDS BUSINESS SCHOOL
Lecture Outline

Understanding Understanding cover

letters and how to Conclusion and
CVs/Resumes and Revision
how to improve them improve them
What does CV stand
for? How will you
define what it is?
What is a CV
• A CV is a term derived from the latin
phrase ‘Curriculum Vitae’ which translates
to ‘course of life’. The CV is a document
that provides details of a person’s best
qualities in relation to an open role. It is
standard to submit a CV during the process
of applying for a job. Typically, it includes
an applicant’s professional experience
history, academic/ educational background,
and key skills (Indeed, 2023).
• It standardly follows a ‘typical’ order of
personal details, career summary, education
and qualifications, employment history,
clinical experience, certification,
achievements, hobbies, references.
However, not all CVs come the same way.
Purpose of your CV
• Your opportunity to grab a potential employer's
attention and convince them that you are the
best person for the job.

• Whoever is reading your CV wants to pick it

up, give it a quick scan and, as quickly as
possible, understand what it is you're offering.

• Purpose is to advance to the interview stage!

 Do you know the
difference between a
CV and a Resume?
What is a Resume? Is it
Different from a CV?
A Resume is similar to a CV. In that it
presents an applicant’s relevant skills
and professional background (Birt,
2022). However, while the CV may
present the full history of one’s academic
credentials and and working history, a
resume would be more tailored to
present a concise picture of the
applicant’s skills, qualifications, and
experience relevant to the specific
position being applied to. As such, it
may be shorter sometimes just 1-2 pages.
"It is your marketing document - it is the
only thing you’ve got at this stage to get
across to the employer the skills and the
experience that you're offering, so it's
about getting that across really clear."
Daniel Morrisey, BBC Entertainment and Music and BBC
Factual Entertainment and Events
Some important
considerations
Key Questions and considerations

Why should What value Convince, Give

they choose will you add? not claim... evidence -
you? use examples
Can you do the job?

Will you do the job?

Are you a good fit?

What value will you add

Types of CVs
Chronological CVs –
2 sides A4 maximum
• Name & Contact details (don’t write Curriculum Vitae, use
appropriate email address)

• Profile – 5-6 lines, tailored to the role, specific/relevant skills

& experiences, avoid clichés

• Education – most recent first (MBA), include relevant degree

details – modules or dissertation relevant to the job

• Experience – can come before education. Highlight

achievements & transferable skills, can split into ‘relevant’ &
‘other’ sections

• Other – Skills, Interests, Referees

Other types of CV

• Skills-based – focus on specific skills required, provide evidence

• Creative – only for certain industries
• Academic CV – for jobs in academia
• Online – LinkedIn 'the CV that never sleeps’, Indeed,
CVLibrary…etc
Video CV
• A short video pitch that accompanies a job application or written
CV.

• Gives the job seeker the opportunity to present their professional

strengths and objectives.

• Video CVs are not intended to replace traditional CVs, but to

enhance job applications by providing employers with more
insight into what the individual has to offer.

• Employers can assess a candidate based on their soft skills such as

communication, motivation, professionalism & confidence– skills
that cannot be portrayed through words on a page.

• https://www.jobzilla.co.uk/creating-video-cv/
Putting together a
CV
 1. Contact details
• Put your name at the top of the page - no need to add 'CV'
or 'curriculum vitae'
• A phone number which employers can reach you on
during the working day
• Email address - always use a professional sounding email
address
• You can also provide a link to your professional
networking profile, like LinkedIn or your portfolio
Do not include your:
• age
• date of birth
• marital status
• Nationality – no need to include if you have the PSV and
right to work in UK
2. Personal profile

A chance to sell yourself

This is a few short lines that sum up who you are and
what you hope to do. It should go just under your
name and contact details.

Think about the job you want and what the employer
is looking for. Make your profile sound like you're the
right person for the job.
3..

Skills for
your CV.
docx
4. Education History
•Add this section after your personal
profile if you’re early on in your career, or
if you don’t have much work experience.
Whatever order you choose, you’ll need to
include the:
• names of your qualifications
• school, college or university where you
studied
• dates you attended
•If you’re older and have had a number of
jobs, you might want to change the order
and show your work history and skills
first.
5. Work History
•Include placements, volunteering and any paid jobs you’ve had. You
should list these with the most recent first, and include:
• the employer details
• the job title
• the dates you worked there
• what you did (usually 2 to 3 lines)

Use active words to highlight your strengths and skills,

•to describe things you've done like:
• organised
• created
• built
• managed
• Planned
•Give positive examples of your achievements rather than just
listing responsibilities. Use the STAR method to help.
 6. Hobbies, interests or
achievements
•Try to show the skills you have through your hobbies and interests.
Focus on examples that show you have relevant skills for the job.

•This section of a CV is useful if you do not have much work

experience and is also a good showcase for your personality

7. References
•You can leave out the details of your references at this point, or
mention that 'references are available on request'. The recruiter
will ask for these when you get through to the next stage.
Writing your CV – change it for
every application
Evidence is key: what value will you add?
Recruiters love facts and figures and if you can include them in
your applications, then you build trust in what you have to offer.

EXAMPLE If you wrote Social Media posts for a charity and it

increased followers by 200% …. say that!

Add a touch of personality!

If you have a link to a portfolio or use SM accounts to publish

content, then it’s a great way to show your work

Consistent messaging, you should showcase your USPs. Make sure

your Social Media profile endorses your brand on your CV too
What is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter is sometimes

referred to as a motivation
letter. It is a formal letter
submitted with your CV for
each job application. It serves
to introduce the applicant
succinctly to the prospective
employer and the reasons they
are a perfect candidate for that
position (Indeed, 2023).
 Cover letter suggested format
• Think of the cover letter as a sales document for selling
yourself as the ideal candidate for a role.
• be formal and polite, give a short introduction specific
to that job
• In the first selling paragraph you cover about your
interest in the job.
• In the second selling paragraph you cover about
what you have to offer to the organisation. Your skills,
attributes, experiences.
• In the third selling paragraph, you discuss your
interest in that organisation.
• To close off, mention what you hope will happen next
• Sign off.
(do not just follow this format. Do research on your own
field and the specific job and see what the best cover letter
format should be).
 Another Cover Letter Format
•Introduce yourself and why you’d like the job
•Back this up with your relevant hard skills
•Reinforce this with your transferable skills
highlighting your employability
•Give an overview of your accomplishments and
achievements (CityLit, 2023).
Cover letter length
- Some say keep it under around 400 words
(CityLit, 2023).
- Others say keep it and fit it all to one page.
- Others say 3-5 paragraphs long (Gov.uk,2023).

(do not just follow this format. Do research on your own field and the
specific job and see what the best cover letter format should be).
Final tips and thoughts on CVs
• Photographs do not do well in CVs that go through ATS (Applicant tracking systems).
• Remove referees. When the time comes, they will ask for referees. You can also update it by then.
• Keep introductory paragraphs to the point. Too long is not good.
• Use active words. Not passive words. E.g. instead of ‘I participated in…’ use ‘I contributed to’… instead of
‘my duties included…’, say ‘I played a key role in…’.
• Your CV must have clear and obvious formatting. Put it in a way that the major points can be seen and
understood in the shorted time possible. At a glance.
• Your CV should be tailored to the job. Recruiters can very quickly spot a generic CV and dismiss it. Don’t be
afraid to remove irrelevant experiences.
• Avoid spelling errors. Proofread!
• Do not lie in your CV. You can sell yourself loudly, but this is different from outright lying.
• Unexplained work history gaps can be problematic.
• Avoid listing too many hobbies and interests.
(Smith, 2023)
Final thoughts on Cover letters and CVs
• Cover letters are mostly emails now.
• Try to address the letter to a named person. Shows effort.
• Some people apply a cover letter test: It is not enough to just replace the organisations name in the same letter.
• Don’t be overly friendly.
• Don’t just focus on what the company can or just on your goals and dreams. Research the company and
incorporate it very well through your letter.
• Avoid underselling yourself in both the CV and cover letter.
• Use active words. Not passive words. E.g instead of ‘I participated in…’ use ‘I contributed to’… instead of
‘my duties included…’, say ‘I played a key role in…’.
• Avoid rewriting your CV as the cover letter. The recruiter already saw the CV.
• Avoid grammatical errors at all cost. Proofread!
(Smith, 2023)
Conclusion/Revision
• What is a CV? How is it different from a resume?
• Curriculum vitae. A document that provides details of a person’s qualities in
relation to an open role. A resume is more tailored to present a concise picture
of the applicant’s skills, qualifications and experiences relevant to that specific
position.
• What are the 2 purposes of a CV?
• 1. grab potential employer’s attention 2. advance to the interview stage.
• What are the classic components of most CVs?
• Contact details, personal profile, skills, education history, work history, hobbies
• What are the 5 different types of CVs we studied?
• Chronological, skills-based, academic, online, and video
• What is a cover letter?
• a.k.a motivation letter. Helps introduce an applicant succinctly to the
prospective employer.
• What are the popular cover letter formats presented?
• Introduction and motivation to work there, relevant hard skills, transferable
skills highlighting employability, overview of accomplishments. - Or –
introduction, first par (about interest in job), second par ( aabout skills,
attributes, what you can offer), third par (interest in org.), close off.
• NEXT WEEK: Ethical Issues in the Workplace
MyHub
Let’s have a look at some CVs – if you were a
recruiter who would you want to see & why?

Jamil Jones CV.docx

Experienced applicant CV template .docx
Experienced applicant CV Template 2.docx
Business HRM CV .docx
Adam cv_traditional.pdf
Ashley CV - Skills Based.pdf
Thank you
See you next semester
References
• Several slides related to resources have been gotten from Beckett Careers team.

• Editorial Team, I. (2023c). What Is a CV? Curriculum Vitae Definition and Examples. [online] Indeed Career Guide. Available at:
https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/cvs-cover-letters/curriculum-vitae.

• Birt, J. (2022). What a Resume Is and What to Include | Indeed.com. [online] Indeed Career Guide. Available at:
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/what-is-a-resume.

• Editorial Team, I. (2023c). What is a Cover Letter and Why are they so Important? [online] Indeed. Available at:
https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/cvs-cover-letters/what-is-a-cover-letter [Accessed Feb. 2024].

• Career Hub (2023). How To Present Your Skills In A CV & Cover Letter | City Lit. [online] www.citylit.ac.uk.
Available at: https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/how-to-present-skills-in-a-cv-cover-letter [Accessed 22 Feb. 2024].

• Smith, J. (2023). 5 things to avoid when writing a cover letter | Prospects.ac.uk. [online] www.prospects.ac.uk.
Available at: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/cvs-and-cover-letters/5-things-to-avoid-when-writing-a-
cover-letter.