Cover letter handout applying for a job.doc

7/27/2019 Cover letter handout applying for a job.doc

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World of Work Job satisfaction/Applying for a Job - 3 MK Sem 5 1

Applying for a Job

Writing a CV and Cover Letter

Introduction: Getting through the gateConsider the following questions.

What other activities could you compare to applying for a job?

What do you expect are the different steps in the application process?

What purpose does a CV have?

How is a CV different from a cover letter?

What would a prospective employer generally want to read, see or hear?

What do you expect from a prospective employer?

Why are there often formal tests as well as several interviews?

Who are you?As an applicant, you will have to persuade the employer that his organisation will

benefit if they appoint you and that hiring you would be a sound investment.Persuading employers of your assets might be a little easier if you have your

arguments ready and lined up. One way to achieve this is by taking an inventoryof your qualifications. In other words, it is handy if you create a small databasewith all the information you could need for an application. Of course, it needs tobe updated regularly.

Prepare an electronic file with the following information:

your formal qualificationsyour skillsyour accomplishmentsyour experience

your preferencesyour goals

What is the market like?Job ads inform you as an applicantof a vacant position and the requirements forthat position. Read the advertisement on the next page.

CT Engels 5 Marketing- 2012/2013 1


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Sales Manager/ Senior Sales Executive online marketing affiliate marketing

Central London

Sales Manager/ Senior Sales Executive online marketing affiliate marketing

Calling all Sales Managers and Senior Sales Executives! My client is a market leading online marketing

agency; they are urgently recruiting for a Sales Manager/ Senior Sales Executive to work in their online

marketing sales department.

This is a varied position; the Sales Manager/ Senior Sales Executive will be responsible for attracting

and recruiting new clients and affiliates. Your main responsibility is to build a targeted hit list of

prospective client partners per quarter via cold calling, incoming sales enquiries and networking. The

Sales Manager/ Senior Sales Executive will have the freedom of selecting the prospective clients from

a variety of sectors (including travel, fashion, finance, retail etc).

The Sales Manager/ Senior Sales Executive must have the ability to write articulate and professional

proposals, and will be expected to have face-toface meetings presenting the case for using my client

via PowerPoint. Reporting directly to the Director of Sales and Marketing, you will also handle leads

passed on by the Brand Sales Managers.

The successful candidate for the Sales Manager/ Senior Sales Executive position will have an excellent

grounding and understanding of sales, first class communication skills, very strong customer focus and

strong commercial awareness. You will also need excellent computer literacy, strong technical

aptitude, experience of proposal writing and the ability to work independently.

The Sales Manager/ Senior Sales Executive will have previous commercial sales and business

development experience; my client is particularly interested in candidates with experience of affiliate

marketing, online advertising or online marketing. Ideally you will currently be working as a Sales

Manager, New Business Manager, Business Development Manager, Online Sales Executive, Account

Manager or Senior Sales Executive.

My client can offer the Sales Manager/ Senior Sales Executive an excellent basic salary, a high,

realistic OTE, a unique working environment and a range of perks that are the envy of the industry.

There is also plenty of scope for long term career progression.

This role offers an immediate start so if you are a Sales Manager/ Senior Sales Executive looking for

the perfect job, apply now!

Additional Information

Location: Central London

Status: Full Time, Permanent

Reference Code: FC-MON-SM

Job Category: Sales/Business Development

Salary: 25,000.00 - 47,000.00 GBP per



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year

25 - 29K basic, 47K+ OTE

Contact:

Richard OkoloFrancis Consultancy LimitedApply by EmailPhone:020 8785 5690

Source:http://jobview.monster.co.uk/GetJob.aspx?JobID=71761495&JobTitle=Sales+Manager

%2f+Senior+Sales+Executive++online+marketing+

+affiliate+marketing&q=marketing&cy=UK&vw=b&AVSDM=2008-08-

22+11%3a42%3a00&pg=1&seq=19

Answer the questions:

1 Which organisation has got a vacancy?

2 What is the job advertised?

3 What are the duties and responsibilities?

4 What are the educational and skill requirements?

5 What are the social and personal requirements?

6 What is the company offering?

7 What action do you have to take if you are interested?

Job ads also provide you with a good deal of vocabulary that you can use in your

own cover letter and CV.

Exercise 1. Fill in the missing words. The translation is given.

Our client, a long-established Mutual Insurance Company, seeks a

(pas afgestudeerde) accountant to join their friendly team.

The (functie) will involve preparation of financial

statements, monthly reports and analysis for three companies. It also includes

the (leidinggeven) of an assistant. You will assist in the

(uitvoering) of a new accounts system, Oracle Financial.

Strong IT (vaardigheden) or

(ervaring) of working with similar accounts packages would be

(gewenst). This is a(n) (mooie,

uitstekende) (kans) for an enthusiastic

(generalist) to join this hardworking and sociable team.

This will (passen) a (vol

zelfvertrouwen), professional person looking for a



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(loopbaan op lange termijn) within a company that

(beloont) hard work.

The ideal candidate is (kan met een computer omgaan).

S/he has (doorzettingsvermogen en energie), but is also

(rijp) and (drukt zich duidelijk uit).

If you have a(n) (schitterend)

(coherent dossier, cv) and you are a (persoon die initiatief

neemt), you can expect an attractive (loonpakket)

including superb financial (voordelen) and a

(een verhuispremie) where applicable.

Writing your application letter

An application letter traditionally consists of two parts: a cover letterand a CV.

Writing your CV

In the CV you provide factual information about your qualifications and previouscareer path. It is best prepared first, as it contains the facts that will be touchedupon and highlighted in your cover letter. A job advertisement provides anapplicant with a good angle of approach to the CV. The CV does not just list allyour possible qualifications for any job, but it is written in response to therequirements and job description you find in the advertisement. Your CV might

well be more than that, but not less. More does not mean unlimited text,however. The key guideline is that all the information on the CV should be as

relevant as possible.



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Look at an example:

Compare to the next example.


Francine Landman

Tudorstraat 101040 BrusselsTelephone

[email protected]

Position sought: Financial analyst responsible for financial planning and cost analysis

Experience:

August 06-present Junior accountant, Arthur Andersen Inc. 263 Bd. Churchill, 1050 Brussels. Full-time.Key responsibilities:-prepared internal & external financial reports-maintained liaison with independent auditors.

October 04-June 06 Treasurer, Viking Student Union.c/o Jan Klaas Prinsstraat 8, 2000 Antwerpen, Part-time, volunteer.

Responsibilities: bookkeeping, budgeting and fundraisingAugust 04, 05 Assistant manager fast food outlet. Motorest N.V. Grote steenweg 654, 2600

Berchem. Summer jobs.

Education and training:

KHLeuven, Business School, accountancy (three-year degree)Date of degree: 29 June 2006. Final grade: magna cum laude.Important courses: Fundamental accounting, job and process cost accounting, standardcosts and analyses, advanced problems in cost accounting, English, French andGerman business communication

Activities: Student representative at ECHO (KHLeuven). September 2004-June 2005.

Personal data: Born 18 February 1985, Gent. Belgian nationality. Single.

References:

Mr J.R. Richmann, financial manager, Arthur Andersen Inc. (phone )Mrs D. Ehrlich, lecturer of cost accounting, KHLeuven (phone)Mr P.Noel, management co-ordinator, Motorest N.V. (phone)


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Answer the questions.

1 How are CVs structured?

2 What is the most important information in the CVs?

3 Which structural pattern do you find most effective for a CV?

4 Assuming that the CVs were written in tune with the ads they responded to,

what do you think the ads emphasised?


Francine LandmanTudorstraat 101040 BrusselsTelephone

[email protected]

KEY SKILLSIn-depth financial analysis and reportingCost accountingCompetence in the latest SPSS softwareManagement experienceDutch, English, French and German language skills

QUALIFICATIONS

2006 Katholieke Hogeschool Leuven (KHL), Department of economicsAccountant, (three-year degree).Final grade: magna cum laudeImportant courses: fundamental accounting, job and process cost accounting, standard costs and analyses, advanced problemsin cost accounting, SPSS, English, French and German business communication

CAREER HISTORY

August 06 - present

Junior accountant, Arthur Andersen Inc. 263 Bd. Churchill, 1050 Brussels. Full-time .Key responsibilities:

prepared internal & external financial reports

maintained liaison with independent auditors.

October 04 - June 06

Treasurer, Viking student union.c/o Jan Klaas Prinsstraat 8, 2000 Antwerpen, part-time, volunteer.Key Responsibilities

bookkeeping

budgeting

fundraising

August 04, 05

Assistant manager fast food outlet. Motorest N.V. Grote steenweg 654, 2600 Berchem. Summer jobs.Key responsibilities

Management of a team of co-workers

Responsibility for the accounts


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Here follows a checklist with elements that are often included under theseconventional headings in a CV, in no particular order.

How will you order them in your CV? Why? Are some of these headingsmore mobile than others? Which?

Activities and accomplishments

school, academic and community memberships and service, offices held,

dates, publications

travel, self-support, other facts (skills, languages, computer etc. could also

come under education)

Education / qualifications

secondary and post-secondary schooling, names and locations, dates

attended, degrees and certificates

major, significant, pertinent courses, grades if high, significant writings, off-

campus workshops, seminars and so on, study leaves abroad, skills

Opening section

your name, address, telephone number, e-mail

position you apply for or job/career objective in case of speculative application

Personal data

age, nationality, (optional: gender, marital status)

hobbies (if relevant), date of availability

References preferably more than one reference

Supporting data

academic transcripts, letters of recommendation (on request)

samples of your work

Experience/ Career history

employer names and locations, dates (beginning and ending month and year),

titles and positions held, supervisory positions, specific accomplishments

volunteer work, research, tutoring, publications etc.

Remember that not all readers want the same thing. If you are applying for amanagement assistants job in a secondary school, your employer might want to

know much more personal information than when you are applying for aresearch job in a large company.

Mechanically composed CVs and application letters according to standard recipesare therefore probably less effective than carefully considered ones. Then there isalso the company culture and the wider cultural environment you have to take

into account.



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Electronic CVs

Large companies may want you to send in your CV by e-mail. These mails are

quite often electronically scanned. In that case your CV is searched for key wordsthat match the required skills or qualifications for the job with your data. So, if

you suspect your CV might be scanned, pay attention to choosing the right keywords. Use the job ads vocabulary and the technical terms of the job for whichyou are applying.

Sometimes job ads may request you to download an application form from theirweb site. In that case you dont write a CV but you send in the completed formwith a cover letter to the employer.Electronic application forms may be offered on the web by larger companies.

Here you dont have to worry about the type of information your future employerwants to know because the form says it all. However, space is usually limited on

these forms. If you feel you need to add some extra information, add anotherelectronic file. Before you do this, consider the situation very carefully.

Compare the headings of an electronic application form to the CV headings youhave studied. How are they the same and how are they different?CVs allow you to personalise your application, but how can you personalise anelectronic application form?

Types and structure of the cover letter

The most important function of the cover letter is to explain why you want thejob, why you want to work with that firm and why you think you are suited for it.Dont repeat all the information that can be found in the CV.

The cover letter highlights your key selling points and puts a personal slant onthe factual information youve given in the CV. The quality of the linguistic

material in the letter deserves a good deal of attention.

1 Answer to an advertisement:

refer to the advertisement (in first , source, date)

state qualifications (diplomas, skills as required in the ad)

state motivation (reasons for applying: nature of the work, particular line ofbusiness, company offering the position, benefits, etc)

refer to data sheet

ask for an interview

thank in advance

Exercise 2.

Look at the next cover letter. Make notes on what kind of information

you find in each paragraph.How could this cover letter be improved?



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Consider the following tips when writing a cover letter in response to anadvertisement.

1. Subject heading at the top of the letter.

2. Introduce yourself and mention the purpose of your letter. Say which advertyou saw in a paper/specialist journal,


25 Biezenlaan3547 Kuppen

30 July 2005

Mrs FR Johnson

Personnel managerLeyland and Bailey LtdPlymouth

Vacancy for a TRAINEE OFFICE MANAGER

Dear Mrs Johnson

I was interested in your job advertisement in todays TheGuardian and would like to be considered forthis position.At the moment am working as a trainee with an advertising agency. In the past I completed a courseof work experience at a manufacturing company where I worked in different departments. I wasexpected to be punctual and accurate and to co-operate in a friendly way with the employees of the

company.The kind of work in which your company is involved particularly interests me, and I would welcomethe opportunity to use my language abilities.A copy of my curriculum vitae is enclosed with copies of testimonials from my work experiencesupervisor.I hope to hear from you soon and be given the opportunity to present myself at an interview.

Yours sincerely

Frieda Bleiberg


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3. Give your background and experience and emphasise why you are suitable forthe job. Refer to your abilities and achievements, perhaps linking directly tothings mentioned in the advertisement.

4. Ask the reader to look at your CV and focus on one or two key points.

5. Close by thanking them for taking time to read your CV and say when you areavailable for an interview.

2 Spontaneous/unsolicited/speculative application:

If youre sending in a speculative application, your cover letter should besomewhat different. For instance, you cant mention any details of the vacancy orthe advertisement. You will also have to add something.

Exercise 3. Complete the text below and youll know what:

Your cover letter should include a . that explains why youre

. them and what has . you to do this. It could bea . about them in the press, the fact that you are a user of their

., because theyre an . youve always wanted towork for or because you . about them from other people whowork there. You will also have to include details of what you . .. actual jobs they have that you could . .

state reasons why you write to a prospective employer

state qualifications

state motivation

refer to data sheet

ask for an interview

thank in advance

Exercise 4Read the statements below. Offer a better or more truthful version wherenecessary.

a) In Flanders, a cover letter always needs to be hand-written, even if this is notexplicitly stated in the advertisement.

b) Your letter should explain why your prospective employer needs you and not

someone else for the job.

c) The more complex your language, the better, as it will show your languageproficiency.


story can offer name paragraph contactingemployer services do motivated hear


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d) The more you write, the better.

e) Write your letter and then leave it for a day or two. This will allow you to takea fresh look at it and judge whether it is good enough to be sent out.

f) Creative typography helps to personalise your letter.

When youre talking about your abilities and your present and past achievements,be sure to present them in the best possible light.

Exercise 5.Fill in the missing words. Choose from the textbox.

I have . the opportunity to . extra qualificationsthat were . offer at the college. That has helped me. part-time work as a pool attendant. I am called. to . cover during busy times so I am used toworking different hours at short notice and have to get . with

people of all ages from toddlers to grannies. I have also . alunchtime aerobics class at college since the start of this year. That has taught

me a lot about . people motivated enough to come to me insteadof going to the chips shop.

3 Useful expressions

When you structure your cover letter some expressions come in handy.

Opening paragraph

a) Catch the readers attention! So begin by mentioning your key selling points.The subject line can neatly list all the references of the ad without cluttering up

your opening paragraph.

years of formal training ina college degree inexperience in/as a a sincere interest in..Mr at has informed me that your firm is looking for a

b) Connect the qualifications you mention with what they can do for the job.

(qualifications) are assets I can bring to your firm have helped me learn the basic requirements for the position of which I would like to put to work for you would enable me to perform well as a member of

would allow me to serve your new division well has helped to understand some problems facing


keeping run provide on (3x)gain get taken


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enable me to analyse, study and recommend methods of

Middle paragraphs

a) Give supporting evidence for the key selling points mentioned in the opening

paragraph. Fact and figures may be more convincing than the writers opinions.Of course, these facts must relate to the employers needs.

Using the skills gained from, I developed

The training I received in .. enables me to analyse, study, and recommend Additional studies in .. provided the knowledge to

While working as a , I have gained considerable knowledge of This previous work experience with .. will enable me to adjust to .. quickly.

b) Deal with each requirement specified in the ad. If you are deficient in any of

these requirements, stress other solid selling points to help strengthen youroverall presentation.

When I was a full-time student, I trained hours each day withAdditionally I worked in order to be totally self-supporting while I was a student.To your company, I can offer the same level of effort and perseverance.

c) If you genuinely like people, you have an invaluable quality to sell. You canconvey this to your reader as in:

As a I developed the ability to get along with people well. For both .. and it wasnecessary to exercise good judgement, sometimes based on incomplete information,in varying situations or difficult circumstances. I enjoy opportunities to workconstructively with people.

d) If you claim an interest in the field, company, or area, you had better back thisup!

To supplement my I sold .. for years part-time or full-time during school. Ienjoy selling, and want to continue to sell. Whats more, I proved my sales potential

by winning the Arrow Shirt contest, which I have mentioned on the enclosed CV.

e) If you claim certain skills (knowledge of language e.g.) you should substantiate

these claims:

I am a native speaker of but my language training at and the international

environment at .. have greatly contributed to my fluency in .. andWorking on has been part of my daily duties in and has been a very usefulcomplement to the theoretical knowledge I gained in college.

Final paragraph

Here you ask the reader for an interview and make a reply easy. Offer to come tothe employers office at a convenient time. Make the request easy to fulfil, e.g. bystating your phone number and the best time to reach you.

At a time convenient to you, I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss my

qualifications for beginning a career with your company. I can be reached anyafternoon between 3 and 5 PM at



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Final checklist of your written application:

Does it look good before I even read it?

Has it been checked for spelling, vocabulary and grammatical errors?

Is it a reasonable length?

Is the style appropriate?

Does it sound right for this particular job?

Is it a true and accurate description could I back up all these claims at the

interview?

Is it clear what type of work Id be good at from this?

Exercise 6.

Fill in the correct preposition.

1 I studied Marketing the Business School of KHLeuven.

2 I graduated June.

3 this professional bachelors degree I think I have the right qualifications

the job.

4 I am interested the job, especially because of the training I took a

similar firm.

5 My friend has applied British Airways a job as an assistant the

Marketing Director.

6 The application form, which you have sent , must be sent May 20.

7 He has been that job two years.

8 She retired the age of 58.

Exercise 7Look up some useful vocabulary on different websites and write down

the words and expressions that you would like to remember.

http://jobsearch.about.com/library/blcv.htmhttp://www.e-r.co.uk/aboutcvguide.cfmhttp://www.itweek.co.uk/Careers/Features/CVwriting/index.jsp.

Phrases, expressions, collocations I would like to remember:

http://jobsearch.about.com/library/blcv.htmhttp://www.e-r.co.uk/aboutcvguide.cfmhttp://www.itweek.co.uk/Careers/Features/CVwriting/index.jsphttp://jobsearch.about.com/library/blcv.htmhttp://www.e-r.co.uk/aboutcvguide.cfmhttp://www.itweek.co.uk/Careers/Features/CVwriting/index.jsp


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Sources used:

Braecke, Chris & Jacobs, Geert & Pelsmaekers, Katja (2001). English at Work. Leuven: Acco.


Documents

Cover letter handout applying for a job.doc