If you would prefer read/print the following notes as a wordprocessed document, then please click on the text below to open A111001.doc, a Word file containing the CV & Covering Letter Advice Notes which is for use by our candidates and is free of charge.

It is the aim of these brief notes to provide the reader with useful ‘hints and tips’ with respect to the writing of both their Curriculum Vitae and an accompanying covering letter.

A popular belief is that a Curriculum Vitae or CV as it is commonly known should be no longer than a page, however in most cases it is not possible to even give a brief account of one’s experience in such a short document. That having been said, the reason for this belief remains valid in so much as it is difficult to get the attention of a decision maker, and the first page will get most attention and subsequent pages less and less. Therefore structure is all important, and with the exception of your personal information and contact details, your CV should be written in a way that gives your prospective employer the most relevant information first, for example if a computer programmer had studied a history degree at university, before subsequently training in computers and working for various IT companies, then the degree information is unlikely to be viewed by a potential employer as the most important factor (although still valid and should be included in the overall document.) When constructing your CV, it is important to imagine each page as less important, so you should think hard on what information is most likely to be of value to the company.

Ideally a CV should never be thought of as a complete and finished document. It is possible to generate a good general document, but this should always be tailored to the position/company to which you wish to apply, for example if an advertised position required certain skills, then if you had those skills you would list these before any others you have contained within your CV. Other information may also need inclusion, for example if you have gained experience in a rare field which would not normally be included in your CV, but would be added as a one off if of interest to a specific employer.

Your CV document should be easy on the eye. It could never be recommend that you include a photograph or graphics as though perhaps eye catching, these are open to interpretation in countless ways by a prospective employer. In terms of a 
font, it is recommend you keep it formal (perhaps the fonts Garamond, Times New Roman or Ariel, all at size eleven or twelve.)

Finally, your CV should be accompanied by a covering Letter, notes on the writing of which you will find below.

It is important before writing a cover letter to plan the document you are about to create, and this plan should be shaped by the type of application you wish to make.

If your application is in direct response to an advertisement placed by a company with respect to a vacant situation to be filled, then your letter needs to be written with this in mind. Here are some guidance points with respect to its structure:

I. Your first paragraph should be short and simply state that you are replying in response to their advertisement, placed in the [find out in which magazine, news paper or journal it was published] and then state the position title (use their exact wording and include a reference number if given.)
II. In paragraph two you should very briefly cover your suitability for the role with the aim of getting the attention of the hiring manager, and consequently your CV read immediately. In order to do this, study the advertisement placed by the company. Look for three key skills or the experience they require and match this to your own experience/training.
III. In paragraph three it is recommend you simply thank the employer for taking the time to consider your application for the post.

Should your application be a speculative one to an organization you know, then your letter needs to contain a different structure to that of one responding to an advertisement. This type of letter is more an introduction, conveying enthusiasm for the company to which you are applying and also demonstrating how your skills/experience would be of use and value to them. Please read the guidance notes specific to this type of application which are given below:

I. In paragraph one, you need to briefly explain why you are writing to the company i.e. for what position or role type.
II. Paragraph two should cover your key skills and experience (these should be relevant to the company and position type for which you are applying.) 
III. Before choosing the skills or experiences you will list in this paragraph, it is worth spending time researching the activities of the company to which you are making an application. A good source of information would be their web site.
IV. Paragraph three should explain why you have chosen their company to make an application. A long-standing ambition can sometimes be related into a potential loyalty factor, which would be of interest to a prospective employer.
V. In paragraph four it is recommend you simply thank the employer for taking the time to read your letter of application and accompanying CV.
VI. Always know to whom your letter should be sent, never leave it for the attention of a title e.g. The Managing Director. If you do not know the person’s name, then telephone the company’s reception and ask who is responsible for hiring staff of a nature to which you are. Ask them to spell the name, as if you get it wrong it can lead to immediate offence.

As a rule, your covering letter should be less than a page and as with your CV it should be easy on the eye (see The Curriculum Vitae notes for recommendations on graphics, photographs and fonts.)