CV and Cover LetterLouise Bach-Nielsen

Purpose of seminar

• Targeting your CV and letter of motivation to the Danish labour market

• Tips for unsolicited applications

• How to approach the enterprises

CV

Remember - A good CV promotes and sells!

• Your marketing tool

• Should leave a good impression of you just by scanning it

• Short and precise: Max two pages

• Simplicity

• Be truthful

• Targeted to the specific job

• English or Danish?

List a couple of your most important competences

How to Structure your Chronological CV

1. Personal details

2. Personal profile

3. Work experience

4. Education

5. Skills

6. Interests

7. References

1. Personal details

Make sure this section clearly states your:

NameNOTE: if your name does not obviously show if you are male or female, include this as well

Nationality

Residential address

Phone number

Email address - work

Date of birth (optional, but helpful)

Photo?

Example- Personal details

Name XXXDate and place of birth XX-XX-XXXX, FranceAddress XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

DenmarkE-mail XXXX@XXXXX.XX Telephone +45 XX XX XX XX

2. Personal profile

• Short and targeted summary about yourself

• What are your main professional skills/ personal & social qualities?

• Think in keywords

• Be specific

• Target the content

• Keep it short and to the point

Example- Personal Profile

• Administration: reliable administrator with extensive experience in dealing with administrative procedures from administrating network database to large scale courses and meetings.

• Communication: experienced and versatile communication professional dealing with many different stakeholders, both internal and external communication.

• International: a proactive person with good intercultural communication skills and the ability to relate to wide range of people. A strong team player who is inspired by other people but also works independently.

A determined and proactive communication manager with international experience and good administrative skills. An intercultural communicator with excellent French and English skills. A strong team player who is inspired by other people but also works independently.

3. Work experience

• List your most recent experience first.

• Dates of employment, Name of the company,

job title, tasks and achievements

• Well known employers in your country may not be known in DK – explain

• Use an appropriate job title if the one you actually have is misleading

• You may include internships, volunteer work, student jobs

– as long as they are relevant

Example - Work experience

2011 Communication ConsultantIn partnership with the Management team, definedand planned the communication strategy. Responsiblefor all communication activities relating torestructuring activities.

French BusinessFrancewww.website.com

2007 – 2010 Public Relations Specialist & Assistant tomanaging directorManagement and facilitation of numerous marketingprojects and communicating with business partners.Created, maintained and further developed a largebusiness network in UK and France. Producedtraining and marketing material in French and English.

Global MarketingFrancewww.website.com

2011 Communication ConsultantFrench Business, France

In partnership with the Management team, defined and planned the communication strategy. Responsible for all communication activities relating to restructuring activities.

4. Education

• Start with your most recent education first

• Dates, Name of the school, faculty and subject

• Relate to Danish educational standardswww.fivu.dk (Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education)

• Courses, skills – exams or diplomas passed whilst in employment

Example Education

2006 - 2007 Public Relations Consultant & CommunicationManagerDistance learning. Diploma with final grade 1,8 (grade scale 1-10 with 1 being the best)

ECUK, UK

1994 - 2000 MA: Information & CommunicationCommunication and information planning,communication in organizations, oral communicationand information, project handling

University ofParis, France

1994 – 2000 MA: Information & Communication University of Paris, France

Communication and information planning, communication in organizations, oral communication, and information, project handling

5. Skills

• Language proficiency, clearly and honestly stating your fluency level.

• Computing experience and possession of a driving license should be included.

6. Interests

• Employers will often look at the interests listed in someone’s CV- gives a more comprehensive picture of the candidate- can give vital clues on personality and motivation

• Particularly relevant to mention activities in which you had - leadership responsibilities - or which involved relating to others in a team

• Be precise

e.g. reading [what exactly? i.e. 20th century fiction], sport [which sports? i.e. tennis or squash]

7. References

There are two options:

• you can use the generic statement 'References are available on request’, which means that the future employer has to ask permission for access to your references;

or

• you can include the names and contact information of your references on the CV, if you have approval.

Europass CV

Points to Remember

• Max 2 pages

• Use simple language

• Documentation: do not send documentation unless mentioned in the job ad

• Have someone read over your CV

• Do a spell check! (“I speak fluent Englesh, Inglish, Eniglish” does not really instill confidence)

• CV in Pdf.

• Print out your CV

This I know also Not something they asked for,

but still interesting

You

This I matchPut yourfocus here

This I can learn Don’t touch upon this before the job interview

This I matchPut your focushere

Strategy for applying

The job

Cover Letter

Preparing your Cover Letter

Start by;

• Researching the company well

• Reading over the job description thoroughly

• Preparing your letter by thinking about the following points;

Why do you think you are specifically suitable for the role?

What are the competences you possess that match the role?

Why would you want to work for that particular company?

The Structure - solicited

• Header: address and contact information

• Catchy headline

• Introductory paragraph

• Motivation for applying

• Professional background

• Personal background

• Closing

• Enclosure, ex. CV

Motivation

• Why are you applying for this specific job?

• Show appreciation for the organisation

• Do you know their strategy/ mission?

• How do you see yourself fitting in the organisation?

Professional competences

• What can you offer?

Explain your professional competences

– how will they match the tasks

• What advantages will they gain from hiring you?

• Relate to the task and how you can use your competences to solve them

Cover Letter- inspiration

Personal Competences

• Remember to include your personal and social competences

• Give examples – not just hot air and buzz words – e.g. what do you mean by flexible and structured?

Guidelines

• Future oriented and targeted

• One A4 page

• Use examples

• Pick the top 3-5 essential requirements from the advertisement and answer them carefully

• Make sure you close positively - "I look forward to meeting you at an interview to discuss further…"

Solicited application

Conclude on a

positive note

How my personality fits the company´s culture

Why is my

profile relevant

?

Motivation for

applying for this

job?

Previous experience and tasks

Unsolicited applications

Headline.

Description of you and your proposed function in the enterprise

What can you offer:

”sales speech” – how and why will the enterprise benefit from hiring you

Summary:

Summarize your competences and explain how they match the

proposed function

Tips

• Focus:

Stay focussed and be explicit regarding your job wishes

• Contact the enterprise:

Phone, e-mail, personal contact

• Follow up.

Show your motivation and make them remember you

Unsolicited

Follow up

Contacting an Enterprise

Contacting an Enterprise

To phone or not to phone?

• Yes, only if you have relevant questions.

• You could be remembered as the person who wasted time.

• Prepare the questions beforehand.

Examples of Questions

• Do they recruit people with your educational background?

if yes, for which positions?

• What kind of responsibilities do those employees have?

• Which personal competences are important to have in the job?

• How long will they keep an application

Job interview

Job interview in Denmark

• Preparation is everything

• More than one interview

• More than one person present

• Tests could be involved (personal, practical etc.)

• You should be active and ask questions

• Informal atmosphere

Unwritten rules

• Firm hand shake – hello and good bye

• Eye contact with all present

• Body language

• Accept coffee if offered, it is part of the cosy atmosphere / hygge

• Prepare questions

• Remember – the interview begins at the reception desk

• Punctuality

Questions often Asked

• How would your friends and family describe you. Exemplify

• Describe a situation of conflict your have experienced. How did you solve it?

• Which role do you have in groups?

• How do you feel when critizised

• How can your colleagues see and feel that you are under pressure?

• Describe a good colleague and manager

• How do you work under pressure?

• Why this company?

• Mention 3 of your weak points / strong points

Salary?

• Not something you should mention – wait until asked

• Research - what will you expect/accept