87 Soft Skills "Soft skills" is an unfortunate term. It sounds weak or dull. The fact is that soft skills are the most important skills for your career. They are the skills that are difficult to systemize and automate. They are the skills that define leadership and creativity. By definition, soft skills are those skills that are difficult to measure. In other words, hard skills can easily be measured by a test but soft skills can't. It's easy to determine who has the best math skills. It's difficult to determine who's best at innovation or diplomacy. Communication Skills

1. Verbal Communication 2. Body Language 3. Physical Communication 4. Writing 5. Storytelling 6. Visual Communication 7. Humor 8. Quick-wittedness 9. Listening 10. Presentation Skills 11. Public Speaking 12. Interviewing

Leadership

13. Team Building 14. Strategic Planning 15. Coaching 16. Mentoring 17. Delegation 18. Dispute Resolution 19. Diplomacy 20. Giving Feedback 21. Managing Difficult Conversations 22. Decision Making 23. Performance Management 24. Supervising 25. Managing 26. Manager Management 27. Talent Management 28. Managing Remote Teams 29. Managing Virtual Teams 30. Crisis Management

Influencing

31. Facilitation 32. Selling 33. Inspiring 34. Persuasion 35. Negotiation 36. Motivating 37. Collaborating

Interpersonal Skills

38. Networking 39. Interpersonal Relationships 40. Dealing with Difficult People 41. Conflict Resolution 42. Personal Branding 43. Office Politics

Personal Skills

44. Emotional Intelligence 45. Self Awareness 46. Emotion Management 47. Stress Management 48. Tolerance of Change and Uncertainty 49. Taking Criticism 50. Self Confidence 51. Adaptability 52. Resilience 53. Assertiveness 54. Competitiveness 55. Self Leadership 56. Self Assessment 57. Work-Life Balance 58. Friendliness 59. Enthusiasm 60. Empathy

Creativity

61. Problem Solving 62. Critical Thinking 63. Innovation 64. Troubleshooting 65. Design Sense 66. Artistic Sense

Professional Skills

67. Organization 68. Planning 69. Scheduling 70. Time Management 71. Meeting Management 72. Technology Savvy 73. Technology Trend Awareness 74. Business Trend Awareness 75. Research 76. Business Etiquette 77. Business Ethics 78. Diversity Awareness 79. Disability Awareness 80. Intercultural Competence 81. Training 82. Train the Trainer 83. Process Improvement 84. Knowledge Management 85. Writing Reports and Proposals 86. Customer Service 87. Entrepreneurial Thinking

CV Action Word Worksheet Use Action Words SMARTly

Specificity Measurability Attainability Relevance Timing Ive used a verb to My action words intro- The verbs Ive selected are My action words intro- I have focused on the clearly introduce each duce accomplishments true indications of what Ive duce points that are experience and accom- accomplishment. and experiences that are done. relevant to the job to plishments of the last

measurable. which Im applying. few years, which are the most relevant.

3 Steps to Using Action Words in Your CV 1. Verb List Verbs indicate actions you have taken to make something happen. They can be extremely powerful and persuasive when used appropriately. Sending the right message about your action-orientation to potential employers will increase your chances of moving to the next stage - the interview. Action verbs should be used to introduce each bullet pointed accomplishment in your CV to give them greater impact.

a) Consider the difference between the following statements:

Responsible for cupcakes Created 300 award-winning cupcakes in 2 hours, surpassing the competition by 50%.

How else might I use action words to introduce this point?

b) Ive reviewed the list of action words below to help me qualify my own statements, and perhaps added some of my own:

Achieved Delegated Guided Led Raised Acquired Delivered Headed Maintained Ranked Adapted Designed Identified Managed Reduced Administered Detected Illustrated Mastered Referred Advised Determined Implemented Maximized Responded Analyzed Developed Improved Mentored Reviewed Approved Devised Improvised Minimized Solved Assembled Diagnosed Increased Modified Specialized Attained Directed Indicated Monitored Strategized Bolstered Discovered Influenced Narrated Strengthened Briefed Drove Initiated Negotiated Studied Built Edited Inspected Observed Taught Coached Established Instituted Obtained Trained Collaborated Evaluated Integrated Offered Translated Collected Exceeded Interpreted Organized Upgraded Communicated Excelled Introduced Originated Utilized Completed Expanded Investigated Provided Validated Composed Expedited Launched Publicized Wrote Coordinated Created Facilitated Lectured Published

Copyright 2008 ReadySet HIRED! SHW-2052908-2

CV Action Word Worksheet 2. Animating My CV

a) Have I used a variety of action words to introduce my experiences and accomplishments? If I use the same word more than twice, how can I vary them? Can I use another verb instead?

b) If I already have verbs introducing the points in my CV, can I use more impactful ones?

3. Variety and Verity

a) Have I used a variety of action words to introduce my experiences and accomplishments? If I use the same word more than twice, how can I vary them? Can I use another verb instead?

b) Are my statements factual? Are they credible? Can I support them if probed? For example, if say Led a team of 5 did I really lead the team or was I a participant?

Copyright 2008 ReadySet HIRED!

RSHW-2052908-2

CV Worksheet BRAINSTORM YOUR STRENGTHS The most important part of a CV is the content. Make sure that you are emphasizing your strengths that you want to use going forward. Think of your strengths as those areas in which you have a high interest level and high ability level. For example, if you have an ability to balance your checkbook every month to the penny, but have no interest in working with numbers; accounting isn't something you would consider strength CHOOSE SECTIONS OF YOUR CV Typically, all CVs start with a heading of contact information. An "Objective" which explains to the employer what you are seeking can be the following entry, but is optional if you will be personally delivering your CV to an employer. Unless you have some impressive professional experience, "Education" will be included next. Following your education can be any of the following: "Skills," "Experience," "Awards," "Activities," "Publications," "Community Service," or "Professional Associations." Organize your strengths and accomplishments under relevant headings in rank order of the most impressive. EDIT YOUR CV Your CV must be one page. Go through each section and ask yourself, "Is this relevant to the job and my objective?" "Is this valuable to the employer?" "Is anything repetitive?" This will help you omit the less important information and keep the CV focused. ASK AN EXPERIENCED PERSON FOR A CV CRITIQUE Remember to have others look at your CV and ask for feedback on your information. People that know you well may remember something that you overlooked or forgot to include. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Heading: Personal Information Name ___________________________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________________ City _____________________________________ State __________ Zip ____________ Phone ___________________________________ Email __________________________ Employment Objective: ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Employment History: (List your most recent employment first) Leave out months if you have a spotty work history Employer ______________________________________ City ____________ State ______ Dates of Employment: from ____________________ to _____________________ Job Title ________________________________________________________________ Responsibilities (list your duties and responsibilities using action words) ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

Employer ______________________________________ City ____________ State ______ Dates of Employment: from ____________________ to ___________________ Job Title ________________________________________________________________ Responsibilities (list your duties and responsibilities using action words) ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Education: (List your most recent education first; include all degrees, diplomas,

certificates, licenses, honors, and significant course work) High School (This is only necessary if you have not completed college.): _________________________________________ City and State: __________________ Year Graduated: ____________ List any academic honors or special achievements________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ College: ________________________________________________________________ City, State: _______________________________________________________________ Degree: __________________________________ Major: _________________________ Year Graduated: ____________ Include your GPA or Class Rank only if you feel that it will help in your job search. Academic honors or special achievements _____________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Skills: (list your relevant skills, use action words) (special skills: language, art, laboratory, computer systems, software, technical skills, secretarial skills, machinery skills, licenses. Write your experiences in which you used these special skills. Think of jobs, course projects, club activities, volunteerism, etc.) _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

Experience: (list your relevant experience) When you write about any experience, try to recreate it so another person will be able to understand what you did and how you did it. Initially, it may be best to write, in paragraph form, all you can remember about your specific duties or the tasks you performed, the skills you used to perform those tasks, and your accomplishments. Later you can edit, clarify and prioritize. _________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Accomplishments / Contributions: You may want to note an aspect of the job of which you are proud, or something about the experience which simply made you feel good. For example, you may choose to highlight listening, communication, or management skills on your CV in the hope of finding a job that will allow you to use the skills that come naturally to you. _______________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Other Training: In-service training classes, workshops, or seminars. On the job training sessions; professional seminars. ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Honors (and dates awarded) ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ References: (Do not include on your CV. Contact several people and ask their permission to use them as references. Choose both professional and personal references. Do not use relatives as a reference). Professional references (people who can speak about your work abilities)

Name _____________________________________________________________ Phone ________________________ Title ________________________________

Name _____________________________________________________________ Phone ________________________ Title ________________________________

Name _____________________________________________________________ Phone ________________________ Title ________________________________

Personal references (people, other than relatives, who can speak about you as a person)

Name _____________________________________________________________ Phone ________________________ Title ________________________________

Name _____________________________________________________________ Phone ________________________ Title ______________________________

Your Name Contact Details (including Town and County)

Telephone numbers including mobile contact details Email address & professional linkedin address

Do not include any further personal details including martial status, gender, nationality as this does not add any value and may impede your application. You should use Arial or similar business font and the size should be 10.5 to 12.

PROFILE This section should include a brief history of your academic and employment career to date, it should include details of the sectors that you are keen on working in and it should also include some of the skills you have used in your career to date. This section should never be in bullet point format and should be no more than 8 to 10 sentences long. This is your opportunity to present your unique skill set and the value you can bring to a new organisation. Example: Resourceful, goal-oriented, personable, hard working, motivated, proactive individual with extensive experience in culinary arts, upper management, team work and organization. Strengths include organization, managing and motivating team and a strong work ethic. Track record of successful projects saving the company money and ensuring satisfied customers. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

This section should include a list of 4-8 achievements using the STAR method and should be presented in bullet point format. Use this section to highlight any achievements you may have had in a voluntary capacity.

You should include outstanding academic qualifications, results etc. You should include details of group presentations that you have led, presented etc. If you have employment experience then you should provide examples of your

achievements, you need to show employers that you have solved problems similar to theirs and that you achieved the results for which they are looking.

Example: Secured 90% in group project on statistical research, allocated tasks and led project through to conclusion.

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE Remember you should start with your most recent employment first and work backwards even if this position was not in your chosen field. You should also include details of voluntary work including supporting fundraising activities or memberships of societies etc Name of Company Dates of employment Title Held

Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active verbs including sold, solved performed etc.

Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active verbs including sold, solved etc.

Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active verbs including sold, solved etc.

Example: Reorganised stock room improving operational performance of the team. Name of Company Dates of employment Title Held

Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active verbs including sold, solved etc.

Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active verbs including sold, solved etc.

Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active verbs including sold, solved etc.

EDUCATION and TRAINING List any qualifications gained University Name, dates (if applicable) List any qualifications gained College Name dates (if applicable) PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS Insert details of memberships Example: Associate member of the Institute of Chartered Surveyors since 2010 CORE SKILLS

Include details of all skill you have to offer potential employers. Include details of all skill you have to offer potential employers. Include details of all skill you have to offer potential employers. Example: IT Skills: Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Explorer Example: Well developed analytical and numerical ability.

INTERESTS Include brief details of interests if you have the space on your document however avoid phrases including 'socialising', 'partying' etc. References available on request Privacy and identity theft have become an issue in recent years and it is best to protect the details of your referees, do not include their contact information on your CV. Employers don't need this information within the early stages of the recruitment process.

Your Name Contact Details (including Town and County)

Telephone numbers including mobile contact details Email address and professional linkedin address

Do not include any further personal details including martial status, gender, nationality as this does not add any value and may impede your application. You should use Arial or similar business font and the size should be 10.5 or 11.

PROFILE This section should include a brief history of your career to date, it should include details of the sectors you worked in, and it should also include some of the skills you have used in your career to date. This section should never be in bullet point format and should be no more thank 8 to 10 sentences long. This is your opportunity to present your unique skill set and the value you bring to a new organisation. Do not include details relating to your period of unemployment and ensure that all statements are positive. Examples of opening your document could include: Resourceful, goal-oriented, personable, hard working, motivated, proactive individual with extensive experience in culinary arts, upper management, team work and organization. Strengths include organization, managing and motivating team and a strong work ethic. Track record of successful projects saving the company money and ensuring satisfied customers. . KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

This section should include a list of 4-8 achievements using the STAR method and should be presented in bullet point format. Use this section to highlight any achievements you may have had in a voluntary capacity during your period of unemployment.

You should include details of a situation you were involved in that resulted in a positive outcome for your employer. You should describe the tasks involved in that situation, talk about the various actions taken and the results relating to the actions taken.

Employers want to know that you have solved problems similar to theirs and that you achieved the results for which they are looking.

Example: Acted as Treasurer of local hockey club, in addition set up club website and maintained website content.

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE Remember you should start with your most recent employment first and work backwards. If you have had a long period of unemployment then you should include details of training and voluntary work. Example: Supporting fundraising activities in the local school, supporting tenant association etc If you have completed training or further education during your period of long term unemployment then you should include details of this training in this section in addition to including it in the Education section. Title Held, Name of Company Dates of employment

Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active verbs including sold, solved performed etc..

Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active verbs including sold, solved etc.

Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active verbs including sold, solved etc..

Example: Recruited, led and developed team of 10

Title Held, Name of Company Dates of employment Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active

verbs including sold, solved etc.. Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active

verbs including sold, solved etc.. Insert further details of your key duties and responsibilities. Remember to use active

verbs including sold, solved etc.. Continued/. EDUCATION & TRAINING List any qualifications gained University Name, dates (if applicable) List any qualifications gained College Name dates (if applicable) List qualifications gained (do not include GCSE results if you have a Degree qualification) School Name: dates (if applicable) Employers will always review the education section. Include details of the qualifications and training you do have. If you are concerned about your lack of qualifications don't worry, many highly regarded business professionals do not have academic qualifications. Employers generally value experience over education. CORE SKILLS

If your experience is weak you may wish to include a list of the skills you have to offer potential employers.

If your experience is weak you may wish to include a list of the skills you have to offer potential employers.

If your experience is weak you may wish to include a list of the skills you have to offer potential employers.

If your experience is weak you may wish to include a list of the skills you have to offer potential employers.

Example: IT Skills: Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Explorer INTERESTS Include brief details of interests if you have the space on your document however avoid phrases including 'socialising', 'partying' etc.. References available on request Privacy and identity theft have become an issue in recent years and it is best to protect the details of your referees, do not include their contact information on your CV. Employers don't need this information within the early stages of the recruitment process.

Your Name email@address.co.uk

07712 345678 | 99 Example Street, Example Town, EX4 3PL PERSONAL STATEMENT Your personal statement is perhaps the single most important part of you CV. Get it wrong and your chances of being invited to interview are drastically reduced. Its aim is to highlight your professional attributes and goals, summarising why someone should consider your application. KEY SKILLS Technical Skills Show that you have the knowledge required to succeed in the role Include computer software you have used and relevant training courses

Personal Skills Include some of your main attributes that are vital to the role Good communication and flexibility are qualities that all employers look out

for CERTIFICATES & MEMBERSHIPS Include any relevant professional qualifications here Make sure you most impressive accreditations are

highest Add any professional associations of which you are a

member

Date gained Date gained Date joined

EDUCATION

University Name, Location Course Title, Grade College Name, Location Course Title, Grade School Name, Location Grades

Briefly explain how the courses you took have led you to your chosen career path.

EMPLOYMENT Job Title Company Name - www.examplelink.co.uk - Location Dates of Employment

You should give your reader a brief introduction to what the company does and explain a bit about the responsibilities your role covered.

Key Achievements:

Provide a list of the key achievements you have made in your job Try to show evidence such as percentage increases or financial figures Provide enough information to entice your potential employers to call you Always keep examples relevant to the role you are applying for

Job Title Company Name - www.examplelink.co.uk - Location Dates of Employment

For older jobs you should keep the details slightly shorter, only offering information that will help you reach the next stage in your career.

Key Achievements:

Try to avoid clich phrases that dont differentiate you as a candidate Always tailor your CV for each job application to match the

requirements If something isnt relevant, dont be scared to leave it out

PERSONAL INTERESTS Outside interests enable a potential employer to gain an understanding to what motivates you, what personal skills you may have and how you will integrate into the team. Look at how job advertisements stipulate certain personality traits required for positions. Identify what they are and show how your hobbies can relate to their requirements. REFERENCES References are available on request.

First Name Surname PERSONAL STATEMENT A statement of about 30 to 40 words that describe your work skills, such as highly organised, ability to work in a team or alone, motivated by a challenge. Dont just list your own personal ambitions here, employers want to hire people that will contribute and add value to organisations so, what are you going to do for them? PERSONAL DETAILS Address 123 Anywhere Avenue, A city, XX1 ZZ2, UK Mobile 01234 5678910. Email anyone@hotmail.com EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS University of Anytown, BSc Accounting and Financial Management 2007 Onwards

Financial Accounting Financial Management

Accounting and Finance Business Economics

Financial Reporting International Business

I am currently averaging more than 65% in all my modules and I am on target to achieve a 2:1 or 1st class degree.

Old Town High School, Old Town 2005 2007

A Levels: Law (A), Business Studies (B), Psychology (C)

Awarded Principals Prize for Highest Academic Achievement in 2007

GCSEs: English (B), Mathematics (B), Business Studies (B), Law (B), Geography (B), ICT (B), Modern Materials (D), History (D)

WORK EXPERIENCE Hoods Online Catalogue Service, Tele-Sales Advisor September 2008 - Present

I currently work in a Call Centre for 12 hours per week Duties included taking orders, answering queries, dealing with complaints

This experience has enabled me to develop selling skills, improve my communication and interpersonal skills; and learn to persuade and influence people.

Electrical Stores, Customer Service Advisor January March 2008

Worked within Customer Service department. Responsibilities included dealing with customers complaints, warranty

issues; booking deliveries and collections; communicating with other departments.

In this position I improved my IT skills and learnt to use commercial data base systems; and I developed strong problem-solving, listening and organizational skills.

Worldwide Restaurants, Old Town 2006 Summer

Worked in a team as a waiter I gained customer service experience and developed strong team-

working skills.

VOLUNTEERING WORK Anytown University International Student Welcome Week 2008 September

Meeting new international students; organizing city and campus tour; helping them to settle into their accommodations

This enabled me to develop my leadership skills, cultural awareness and empathy skills.

Earthquake Relief Work, Pakistan 2005 October

Helped to supply basic goods for the victims of earthquake Developed skills in working under pressure, working long hours,

IT SKILLS (or SKILLS) MS Office Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Project Advanced searching skills on the Internet Use of specialist company databases

OTHER ACTIVITIES (or INTERESTS, AWARDS etc) Chairperson of the Business Students Social Club (BUSSOC) this role involves me leading a small committee and organising a series of business-related and social events each year. This provides me with opportunities to network with leading business people. In 2007 we won the University prize for being the most innovative and inclusive student society. Member of the University Squash Club I am a member of the committee and also represent the University in inter-university matches. Squash Coach I coach local teenagers once a week as part of the Universitys community activities. REFERENCES Available on Request

Example: SUMMARY Resourceful, goal-oriented, personable, hard working, motivated, proactive individual with extensive experience in culinary arts, upper management, team work and organization. Strengths include organization, managing and motivating team and a strong work ethic. Track record of successful projects saving the company money and ensuring satisfied customers.

Writing'a'Cover'Letter'When it comes to the application process, you should know by now that everything you do matters. There's so much attention given to resumes that we often forget how important a cover letter can be for our job prospects.

The cover letter is an opportunity for you to tell the recruiters and hiring managers why you're the perfect person for the job. It's also the place for you to show them you have good communication skills.

1. Address the cover letter directly to the hiring manager or recruiter. If this person's name isn't in the job listing, take the extra effort to call or email the company and find out.

2. Don't reiterate your resume. The purpose of having a cover letter is to zero in on why you should be the one considered for the position. Otherwise, there's no point in having one.

3. It's a professional document, so don't go too over-the-top. Yes, trying to figure out ways to be creative may be difficult, but don't go overboard out of desperation. And especially don't say anything like this summer analyst did in his cover letter, which made him a laughing stock on Wall Street:

"I am unequivocally the most unflaggingly hard worker I know, and I love self-improvement. I have always felt that my time should be spent wisely, so I continuously challenge myself ... I decided to redouble my effort by placing out of two classes, taking two honors classes, and holding two part-time jobs. That semester I achieved a 3.93, and in the same time I managed to bench double my bodyweight and do 35 pull-ups."

4. Make sure the reader knows you've done your research. Convey that you understand the company and its goals, and explain how you'd help it reach those goals.

5. Always close your cover letter with an action statement. Tell the reader what you're planning on doing next for example, calling in a week or two to follow up.

6. Keep your letter no longer than one page. Your cover letter is an introduction to yourself. It's supposed to show that you have strong communication skills. Be brief and concise.

7. Show the recruiter that you'd be a good match based on your skills. This is a highly recommended approach: Make two columns in the cover letter. On one side, list the top five requirements that the company wants, and on the other, list how you'd meet each requirement:

'

When you send off your resume in a cold contact witha potential employer or with a job application youshould always include a cover letter. This worksheetgives you some tips for writing a cover letter.

PresentationCover letters win interviewsnot jobs! A cover lettershould: capture the employers interest show why you are writing indicate how you will benefit the company convince the employer to ask you for an interview.Cover letters target your skills, highlight your sellingpoints and answer these questions: Can you do the job? What are your abilities, skills,

knowledge, experience and qualifications? Will you do the job well? Are you motivated,

dependable and enthusiastic? Will you fit into the organisation? Do you match the

companys image, values and goals? Will you getalong well with clients and co-workers?

Time pressures and the number of applications give anemployer approximately 30 seconds to decide whetherto consider your application further. At a glance anemployer looks for:

how you match the selection criteria how well you communicate, including structure,

grammar, spelling and punctuation of the letter your experience, skills and qualifications your level of professionalism clues to your personality your attention to detail (eg errors or wrong

information).

How should I write it?Use simple, natural language and: be honest, professional, warm and friendly use positive words and phrases such as:

I have I am able to

I can Experienced in

dont use negative statements such as I hadpersonality conflicts with

dont start every sentence or paragraph with Itryto limit yourself to one I per paragraph or less

make the letter interesting to read, short and to thepoint

be enthusiastic and assertive but not pushy orbegging for a position.

What should a cover letter look like? Type your cover letter on a computer and print on

clean, white A4 paper. Leave space around the edges and clear space

between each paragraph. Use an A4 envelope if your cover letter and

attachments dont fit a DL size envelope. Staple your cover letter neatly. Dont send cover letters that are photocopied. Use a basic font such as Arial, Bookman Old Style

or Century Gothic.

WHAT SHOULD A COVERLETTER CONTAIN?Check that it contains the following: Contact details Date Name and address of recipient Salutation Opening paragraphintroduction to the topic of the

letter Second paragraphyour qualifications and skills Third paragraphyour interests and

personal qualities Fourth paragraphconclusion Closing

On page 2 you can see an example.

W O R K S H E E T 6

Write a cover letterCommonwealth Government

FACT SHEET 6 26/2/03 10:05 AM Page 1

Example layoutKathy Porter

1 Looking StreetADELAIDE SA 5000

Phone: (08) 8123 4567Mobile: 0405 111 111

E-mail: kporter@somewhere.com.au

Date

Ms Sarah JobThe PrincipalBurnleigh Primary School11 High StreetBurnleigh SA 5432

Dear Ms Job

Ref: Teacher Aide

I wish to apply for the position of teacher aide as advertised in theAdelaide Advertiser on 2 September 2002.

Last year I completed Year 12 at Valley View Secondary School. I obtainedgood results in English, mathematics, home economics, biology andgeography. I am particularly keen to obtain a position as a teacher aideas I am interested in working with children and have held severalvoluntary and paid positions as a baby sitter for children up to ten yearsold. I relate well to children and can sing and play the guitar. I also havea portfolio of my art work.

Since leaving school, I have been employed part-time as a checkoutoperator. In this role I have demonstrated that I am responsible andreliable and a good team worker. Customers have often complimented meon my attention to their needs and my willingness to go beyond the callof duty.

Thank you for considering my application. I have enclosed a copy of myresume. I look forward to meeting you and providing further informationin an interview. I can be contacted at anytime on my mobile phonenumber which is 0405 111 111.

Yours sincerely

Kathy PorterKATHY PORTER

Enc

W O R K S H E E T 6

Write a cover letter

Salutation should use correct spelling ofpersons name.

If you started with DearMs Smith you should endwith Yours sincerely. If you started with DearSir/Madam you shouldend with Yours faithfully.

First paragraph explainsthe purpose of the letter.

Use this abbreviation if you enclosed yourresume or other pages.

Name and address:Persons full name

title Company name Street number and

name or PO Box Town or suburb, state,

postcode.

The second paragraphdemonstrates that you cando the job, why you are thebest fit for theorganisation and how yourskills meet theorganisations needs.

The third paragraphshows you are willing todo the job, motivated andenthusiastic and can fitinto the organisation (egcommunicate well withco-workers and clients).

The fourth and final paragraph:Refers to your enclosedresume, application formor other attachments.Thanks the reader forconsidering yourapplication.States you wouldwelcome an interview todiscuss your suitability(include your phonenumber again).

Your contact details.

FACT SHEET 6 26/2/03 10:05 AM Page 2

Addressing selection criteriaYour cover letter should contain a brief summary of howyou meet the selection criteria. It is easier to write acover letter after you have prepared your resume (seeWorksheet 7: Write a resume).

Make sure you have addressed the selection criteria bychecking off all the following steps.

SELECTION CRITERIA CHECKLIST Read the advertisement, job and person

specification or selection criteria carefully. Phone the employer for more information if you

dont understand something. Highlight all the requirements. Divide the requirements into hard and soft

requirements. Hard requirements include thedesired work experience, qualifications andparticular skills. Soft requirements are personalqualities such as energetic, a goodcommunicator and organised.

Identify what you have done that proves you canmeet the job requirements. These are your sellingpoints.

Think about how well you meet the requirements inthe categories of: skills qualifications experience desirable personal qualities.

Collect proof of your skills, knowledge, experienceand personal qualities.

Decide how you will address any barriers to yourapplication (eg demonstrate how you could managethe job with a few weeks experience and transferof skills if you dont have knowledge of a particularsoftware program).

Summarise your skills, knowledge, experience and personal qualities under each of the selection criteria.

Different types of cover lettersThere are four different types of cover letters:

responding to an advertisement cold-call or canvassing letters referral letters online letters.

Identify which type of letter you are writing and followthe hints below.

Responding to an advertisementThese letters should highlight your skills and respond tothe requirements stated in the advertisement.

You should write directly to the contact person stated inthe advertisement.

When responding to a recruitment agency, refer to yourclient or your clients organisation rather than you oryour company.

Cold-call or canvassing lettersThis type of letter is written to find out about andexpress interest in jobs that may be available now orin the future.

Because youre not writing to answer a specific jobadvertisement you need to:

say in the opening paragraph that youre enquiringif a position is available

describe the type of position youre looking for research the company to match your selling points

to the needs of the company interest the reader enough to contact you.

Referral lettersA referral letter is written to a person in a company orrecruiting firm on the recommendation of someone inyour network (see Worksheet 4: Find a job).

The main difference and advantage of a referral letter isthat you begin with mentioning the person who hasreferred you as an introduction.

Make sure that the person who has referred you hasgiven you permission to use their name.

Online lettersAn online letter uses e-mail to respond toadvertisements on the Internet, in the newspaper or ona touchscreen.

You need to consider the following features of an online letter:

The letter is briefer, but still includes the top two orthree selling points.

Short paragraphs or bullet style format is common.

W O R K S H E E T 6

Write a cover letter

FACT SHEET 6 26/2/03 10:05 AM Page 3

The letter should be easy to read and to the point. The title of the position you are applying for goes

in the Subject line of the e-mail. Dont put the full mailing address of the person you

are sending it to in an e-mail. Use the salutationline only (eg Dear Mr Jones).

Remember that writing in all upper case in an e-mail is seen to be a form of yelling.

Dont use bold type or italics.

W O R K S H E E T 6

Copyright Notice

This worksheet is one of a series which supplements the booklet, Getting A Job future directions. The worksheets and the booklet can be downloaded from the DEST website at

www.dest.gov.au/schools/careers/ciproducts.htm . Further information about careers and job searching is available on the Australian online careers site, myfuture, at www.myfuture.edu.au.

Commonwealth of Australia 2003.

This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in unaltered form only (retaining this notice) for your personal, non-commercial use or use within your organisation. All other rights are reserved. Requests and inquiries concerning

reproduction and rights should be addressed to Commonwealth Copyright Administration, GPO Box 2154, Canberra ACT 2601 or e-mail commonwealth.copyright@dcita.gov.au.

Write a cover letter

TIPS FOR COVER LETTERSA cover letter should accompany your resume.

Cover letters communicate what you can offer,not what you want.

Write a rough draft first to refine, order and editthe letter, and get someone else to read it.

Keep copies of letters so that you have a record ofwho you have written to and what you said.

Make sure your contact details are up to date.

Use similar terms the employer uses in theadvertisement or terms that are industry specific.

Dont list your work history if you already have iton your resume.

Highlight points from your resume you want todraw attention to.

Remember you have less time to catch anagencys attention. An agency wants someonewho matches the hiring companys criteria, so behonest and quick.

FACT SHEET 6 26/2/03 10:05 AM Page 4