How to Write a CV or Cover Letter

7/28/2019 How to Write a CV or Cover Letter

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How to write

CVsandCover Letters

lse.ac.uk/careers


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ContentsIntroduction 3

Beore you start 4

How LSE Careers can help5

Layout and design 6

Personal details 10

Education 12

Work experience 14

Achievements, interests

and additional skills 16

Reerences 18

CV checklist 20

Cover letters 22

Further resources 27


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XPERIENCEEMPLOYMENTEXPERIENCERESPONSIBILITYWORKEVIDENCECLARIT3

Welcome to the fourth edition of How to writeCVs and cover letters.

We have tried to structure this guide around some

o the most common questions that our careers

consultants are asked by LSE students.

This isnt the denitive guide to CVs and cover letters

as every application is individual. You will always havechoices about the emphasis you give certain parts o

your lie, the way you write and the design you use.

Because o this we had tried to make our guide as

general as possible. As a result all our examples and

advice relate to writing CVs and cover letters or jobs

in the UK.

I you need advice about writing a specialised kind oCV (like a CV or academia or a very creative position)

then you might like to consult our website or seek

some one-to-one advice with a consultant.

Dont orget that LSE Careers oers CV seminars

throughout the year and CV and cover letter

discussions where you can have your application

individually checked. Just go the careers website orup to date inormation lse.ac.uk/careers

Jenny Owen

Director, LSE Careers


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LARITYTARGETEDSPECIFICSKILLSCURRICULUMVITAEREFEREESACHIEVEMENTS4

Before you start

Basic principles

Relevance

Curriculum Vitae means story o your lie. However, with only two

pages or your CV you cant aord to treat this literally. Be choosy aboutwhat you include. Always ask yoursel the question Is this going to be

relevant to the employer who is reading this?. I it isnt, then thats an

argument or discarding it. Try and get the most relevant inormation on

the rst page as this will create the most impact.

Targeting

Your CV needs to match as closely as possible to the particular job you

are applying or. For example, i the job requires skills in teamwork and

creativity, you need to ensure the employer can clearly see that you have

gained these skills somewhere in your lie. Maybe you worked in a team

on a course project or perhaps you had a creative idea or an event which

a society organised. The important thing is that the employer can see

that your CV is targeted to them and not a general CV that is being sent

to every employer.

Design and layout

You can control where the employer looks on your CV by the amount

o space you allocate to certain sections. For example, in your education

section or most circumstances youll want to draw employers to your LSE

degree. You can do this by giving it more space than any other courses or

degrees you have done.

Language

Using positive, action oriented words create the impression o a

positive, active person. So use words such as achieved, created andorganised and avoid tentative words such as maybe, attempted

and perhaps. The aim is to make your CV as persuasive as possible.

Present inormation in the most positive light but remember there is a

clear distinction between doing this and lying. Make sure your spelling

and grammar is accurate. LSE Language Centre runs excellent English

language courses. Contact details and urther inormation can be ound

at lse.ac.uk/languages.

Gaps in your CV

Employers can be suspicious about extensive periods o unexplained time

on a CV and as a general rule, it is always best to explain these gaps.

Obviously, you dont need to account or every week or even every month,

but i, or example, you took a year between school and university to go

travelling, it is best to account or it and mention it on your CV.

However i there are very personal or sensitive reasons which prevented

you being in work or study (including things like cr iminal convictions,

long periods o illness and caring or amily members) then you do not

have to declare these on your CV. You should, however, be prepared to

talk about any gaps in your CV at interview.

There is a balance between explaining everything that has happened and

deciding what inormation is strictly relevant to an employer. I you are

unsure about your situation then come in and see a careers consultants.

Truthulness

As well as being against the law to lie on your CV, you should be ully able

to talk about anything on your CV at interview, even details in your interests

and extracurricular activities sections. You dont know what kinds o things

your interviewer might also be interested in or have knowledgeable about

so make sure they cant expose anything that isnt completely accurate.

Always check the spelling and grammar and ensure you have

no time gaps. We get a lot o CVs where the students have

graduated the previous year and do not include what they are

currently doing in the CV or covering letter.

Lizzie Darlington, LOreal


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Academic CVs

These are dierent in several respects rom other CVs. For more

inormation, look at the PhD section o LSE Careers website.

Additionally the careers consultant or PhD students runs

lunchtime seminars on writing academic CVs and applying or

academic jobs. You can also book a one to one career or CV

discussion with our PhD adviser by emailing [email protected].

How LSE Careers can helpResearch

Its important to do as much research as you can beore applying to a

job. The LSE Careers website lse.ac.uk/careers contains inormation

on dierent employment sectors, ways o planning your career and

marketing your skills. Our careers consultants have compiled a series o

sector-based I want to work in leafets, which list key resources andwebsites or employment sectors. They are available to take away rom

the Careers Inormation Room or to download rom our website.

CV and cover letter seminars

We oer numerous seminars on CV writing throughout the year. The

seminars are run by careers consultants who will advise on how to

construct eective CVs and cover letters and provide an opportunity

or you to ask questions. To book a place and nd out when they are

running, please see LSE CareerHub or the CVs and cover letters

section o our website.

Checking CVs and cover letters

We have a dedicated team o CV and cover letter advisers who will go

through your CV/cover letter with you in a 15 minute one-to-one session.

Log into LSE CareerHub ater 9.30am during the week to book an

appointment or that day.

Did you know? The dierence betweena resume and a CV

I you see an advert asking or a rsum its likely that they

have in mind a one page document with a number o design

eatures such as narrower margins and a smaller ont size in

order to create more space. In terms o content, a resume

usually covers the same areas as a CV, but with less space to

go into detail.

I ound the Careers Service very useul when it came to

understanding the structure o a UK style CV.

LSE Student

Your CV/application is the rst step to getting you an

interview. I you dont put in the eort to make it right,

youve lost that chance or us to get to know you.

Sze Ming Ho, Deutsche Bank


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Layout and design

Clear headings

Dates all in thesame place

Plenty o whitespace createsuncluttered design

Sections clearlydierentiated

Good use o bulletpoints and spaceto emphasisekey skills andresponsibilities

First page o a typical two-page CV



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Smaller marginsthan twopage CV

Very conciseinormation

Less whitespace on asingle sided CV

Very clearlydened sections

Combines sectionswhich might beseparate on atwo page CV eg,Awards andInterests

Example o a single page CV(sometimes called a rsum)



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1 How long should a CV be?

In almost all cases your CV should be no longer than two sides. The

exception to this is an academic CV, which will usually have an extra page

about publications and conerences. A minority o organisations will

expect a one page CV (primarily investment banks), but or most a two

page CV is the norm unless otherwise specied.

2 What is the dierence between a skills

based CV and a chronological CV?In most cases youll use a chronological CV, which has standard sections such

as education and work experience. Your achievements in each section will

be ordered in reverse chronology (ie, most recent rst). However, there may

be occasions where you start o with a section on the skills you have gained,

with examples o where you gained them; this is a skills based CV. Its most

commonly used when you have an existing career and are looking to change

direction and need to emphasise skills that are transerable.

3 Should I use a CV template?

A CV is a very personal document and your inormation will be unique.

Employers learn to spot widely used templates and will appreciate the

eort you have made to produce an individual one.

4 Should I use dierent colours on my CV?

Its not advisable black ink on white paper is standard. Using more exciting

colours will certainly make you stand out, but probably not in a positive way.

5 Should I attach or scan a photo o mysel?

Modelling agencies and airlines oten ask or photos but otherwise its

unusual in the UK. Only do it i specically requested. It is sometimes

necessary in certain EU applications (and standard practice in some

European countries) so always make sure you know what the recruiter

is expecting. Read an employers application advice careully and use

resources like Going Global, which LSE Careers subscribes to, to

research the recruitment norms o dierent countries.

6 What ont should I use?

Arial and Times New Roman are the most common CV onts. Try to avoid

weird and wonderul onts; they have the eect o making the reader

ocus on the ont rather than the content. In particular, sans seri onts,

like Arial, can make your CV look clean, neat and most importantly

readable. Use a ont size between 10 and 12.

7 Should I use bullet points or text?

There are no rules about this but try and avoid a CV that is too text-

heavy. Some o the most eective CVs use a combination o text and

bullet points. Experiment and see what looks clearest, what is most easy

to read and what has the most impact visually.

Layout and design


As long as you include all the key inormation in your CV, and

it is concise and relevant to the job you are applying or, we

dont mind whether the CV is one or two pages.

Phillip Thomas, BBC

A well ormatted CV can make a huge dierence to the way

its perceived. I a CV is poorly laid out with inconsistent ont,

margins, or bullet points it might indicate the candidate is

sloppy and careless. Something clear, clean and well-designed

can have a positive impact on the way you compose the

inormation in the rst place, allow you to be more succinct,

and have the visual impact you want when a recruiter has a

huge pile to work through quickly.

Sarah Haynes, Women or Women International


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8 My spelling and grammar arent very good,what can I do?

Always use the spell check on your computer and make sure that it is a

UK-English version. The Language Centre can help you with grammar

and you may nd it useul to ask a native English-speaking riend to read

what you have written.

9 How do I email my CV?

I you are emailing the inormation, it is best to enclose the CV and

cover letter separately as attachments. You can send it either as a Word

document or as a PDF (see next question). This email should be short and

simple, saying something like; Please nd attached my CV and cover

letter in response to the advertisement or the post o (job t itle).

10 Should I send my CV as a Word documentor a PDF?

Whilst either ormat is almost always accepted by employers, it is

generally recommended to send a PDF version i possible. A PDF will look

the same on any computer, whereas sometimes a Word document might

look dierent (overfowing to three pages or example) depending on the

version o Word the recruiter has.

11 Are there any good examples o CVs I can use?

There are a number o example CVs on the LSE Careers website.

However, it is never a good idea to just copy one exactly. Your

inormation is unique and to present it in the most avourable light you

will need to make changes to any example you nd.

12 Should I attach my CV i Im completingan online application orm?

Only i they specically ask you to do so.


Did you know? Emailing the right person

60 per cent o CVs are mailed to the wrong person, normally

the Managing Director, according to a survey by Forum3.

Top Tips: Format, ont and space

The amount o space given to a section refects the amount o

importance you attach to it. Decide on a ormat or headings

and body and stick to it. Times New Roman and Arial are standard onts; i you are

using something dierent, be consistent and make sure it

doesnt detract attention rom your content.

Underlining can look old ashioned. Try a bold or slightly

bigger ont or headings.

Print out your CV to see what it looks like in reality. Is there

a lot o white space? Are the margins too large or small?

Your CV could be read in as little as 20 seconds. Make sureits immediately appealing to the eye.

Did you know? Reasons orunsuccessul applications

According to a survey o recent graduates by Forum3, trying

to be amusing, using coloured paper, and overusing the

rst person pronoun, are all reasons graduates have been

given or their unsuccessul applications.


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Large clear name.No need to write

curriculum vitaeanywhere

Up to datecontact details

Include yourLinkedIn proleor any personal

websites or blogsi you eel they arerelevant and youwant an employerto see them


Personal details

1 Should I include my home address and my

LSE address?

It is helpul to do this i you are spending long periods away rom your

LSE address, particularly during the summer holiday, i an employer will be

contacting you during this time. Tell the employer the dates when you are at

each address so they know which one to use in order to contact you.

2 Should I include a profle/career objective?

A career prole (or career objective) is a short statement, usually at the top

o your CV, saying something about you and your career aims. For new

graduates or postgraduates, career proles are not really necessary as you

will deal with the kinds o things that you might say in a prole through

your cover letter. Proles can run the risk o sounding clichd. I all you

have to say is, Current student with an MSc Social Anthropology with

good communication skills, excellent team work skills and ability to work

independently, now seeking job in nance, then the space would be better

used to display signicant acts about your education and experience.

They can be a useul addition to a CV i you have some very specic

experience and you are very clear about the particular career area you are

going or. Proles can also be useul i you are asked to send a CV without a

cover letter. I you are changing career they can help you to state briefy your

previous area o experience and what youre aiming or now.

3 Do I need to mention my gender and age?

It is entirely optional whether you include this inormation. It is oten

deducible rom other inormation (like your name and the date o your

qualications). It is illegal or employers to ask you to declare your

age and also illegal, except in certain rare situations, or employers to

discriminate on grounds o gender.

4 Do I need to mention my nationality andwork permit status?

This is optional, but there may be cases where an employer is interested

in knowing your nationality in order to nd out whether they will need

to get a work permit or you. I your name suggests that you may

need a work permit and this is not the case, ensure that you state your

nationality or that you have permission to work in the UK.


11/28


I you require a work permit in order to work permanently in the UK you

have a number o approaches as to how to mention this on your CV:

Dont mention it at all and raise the subject at interview stage. This allows

you to sell yoursel in person beore they nd out they have to get a

work permit or you. However you may waste the interviewers time i its

very dicult to obtain work permits or that job.

Mention it with the rest o your personal details at the beginning o the

CV. Here you are being clear and straightorward with the employer. The

risk o this is that they will ocus straightaway on the work permit issue

instead o your skills and achievements as described later on in your CV.

Mention it at the end o your CV. There you are not giving it undue

prominence by having it at the start o your CV. The risk o this is that

they might ocus on the work permit issue instead o your skills and

achievements which are usually ound at the end o your CV.

For inormation and advice on visa and work permits please contact theInternational Student Immigration Service (ISIS) or read the inormation

on their website lse.ac.uk/isis

5 Im an older student. Should I presentmy CV dierently?

Not really, although its important to give your most relevant inormation

the highest priority on your CV. You may have to do more editing too

because you have more experience to choose rom.

6 How do I talk about disability?

Whether or not you disclose your disability on a CV or cover letter

is a very personal choice. I you think that an employer will have to

make adjustments or you in terms o selection processes or the work

environment then it could be to your advantage to let them know.

However, i the disability has no bearing on your ability to do the job

eectively, you dont need to mention it. For some expert advice on

disability issues in general, visit the LSE Disability Adviser or call the oce

on 020 7955 7767 to make an appointment.

Visit www.direct.gov.uk/Employment or details about

employment rights.

Did you know? Equal opportunities

The Prospects equal opportunities website contains lots o

advice on your rights as a jobseeker and how to present issues

in applications that may encounter discrimination. Go to

prospects.ac.uk/equal_opportunities.htm

Did you know? National Bureau or Studentswith Disabilities

Skill, the National Bureau or Students with Disabilities,

produce several useul inormation sheets including Training,

careers and work or disabled people and Looking or work:

disclosing disability. www.skill.org.uk


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Picks out arelevant moduleto explain

Explains non-UKqualication

Givesexpected

result


Education

1 What part o my education should I givemost prominence?

You should give most prominence to the part o your education that

is most relevant to the job you are applying or. Usually, this is your

most recent education but do not be araid to emphasise an earlierqualication i it is more relevant. By giving more detail about the content

o a particular qualication you also give it more visual impact.

2 Do I have to list all my qualifcations?

Unless the employer specically asks you to, you do not have to list every

qualication but you should remember to include all those that are relevant

to the application you are making. For example, you may have a qualication

in shorthand and typing that would be appropriate or a job as a secretarybut not or the position o researcher in an investment bank.

Also, remember that the person reading the CV will be experienced in

spotting gaps in the inormation you do give. I you do not give grades

or a complete record o the exams you have taken, expect to be quizzed

about these at interview.

Try and be selective and mention the modules or elements that are most

relevant. Listing your A levels is ne but try and summarise your GCSE

grades. For example write 10 GCSEs including Maths and English, all

at grades A* to B. Dont overlook the importance o group projects,

research and dissertations.


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3 Some o my qualifcations are non-UK. Howdo I translate them into UK ones?

It is not possible to directly translate them as educational systems vary

widely and a grade or degree classication can mean quite dierent things

rom country to country. The best way to approach this is to explain your

qualication so that the reader understands its signicance. You can use

phrases such as, equivalent to top ve per cent o year, or highest

possible grade. GPAs and percentages will normally be recognised.

For more inormation look at the NARIC website (www.naric.org.uk).

There is a telephone number you can call i you want to speak to a

specialist about comparing qualications. Some employers might provide

their own qualication guides. Search Deloittes and KPMGs careers pages

or good examples.

4 Do I need to give the ull addresses o theplaces I have studied?

No, giving the city is enough; or example, Sciences-Po, Paris. You

can add the country i you eel the city is not very well known.

5 How should I present predicted grades

In most situations this is more important or undergraduates than

postgraduates as many employers speciy a certain class o degree as an

entry requirement. First o all consult your tutor to nd out what they

think your nal result will be. I you cant do that then make an estimate

yoursel based on your previous years grades. It is normal to use a phrase

such as expected result 2:1.

For postgraduates, its o much less importance. Employers will rarely

ask or a merit or distinction so, unless the job is placing particular

weight on your postgraduate qualication, its optional.

6 Should I mention awards and scholarships?

Use these to impress the reader with your good academic track record. I

you have a great many, going back to your time at school, it may be best

to select just a ew o the most prestigious or most recent, so that these

stand out. For each one you give, say what the award or scholarship was

or, what you were awarded, eg, a prize or bursary, what proportion o

people received an award in your year and any other details that quantiy

the achievement.

Did you know? Qualifcations arenteverything

46 per cent o employers rate experience as the most

important actor in a job candidate, ollowed by intelligence

and aptitude (43 per cent) and qualications (28 per cent)according to a survey o SMEs conducted by VMA Group.

In order to direct your potential employer to the most

prominent and relevant elements o your course it can

sometimes help to include a little background inormation on

your degree. I youre stuck or ideas, why not have a quick

browse through your University Prospectus to nd a course

summary that highlights nicely the most pertinent parts o

your chosen area o study?

Laura-Jane Silverman, Careers Consultant


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Talks aboutskills andachievements

Uses positivelanguage

Explains

organisationand role whennecessary


Work experience

1 I have dierent experience rom dierentsectors, gained at dierent points in my lie.How do I deal with that on my CV?

One option is to list the experience in reverse chronological order. However

it might be more eective i you grouped or themed your experiences. So,

instead o a general heading called Work Experience, you could have two

or more headings such as, Legal Experience, Banking Experience; oralternatively Relevant Experience and Other Experience.

2 What counts as work experience?

Dont just think o work experience as reerring to ull time

positions and internships voluntary/unpaid work, part t ime jobs and

entrepreneurial activities can be o equal value. Employers are really

interested in the skills that you have developed which are transerable to

another position. It is your job to decide how relevant that experience is

to your application.


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Appropriatelevel o detail

Headings arefexible in thesesections

Same layout aswork experience

Relevant IT skillsare highlighted

Goes into detailabout interests


Achievements, interests and additional skills

1 What goes in my interests section?

This section enables you to identiy things that really interest or motivate you.

It may also indicate what your values are, aspects o your personality and the

transerable skills you have developed. It is better to include one or two thingswhich you are really involved with and can describe ully, rather than to give

a long list such as reading, squash, cricket, dancing, music. You might also

We denitely look or a mixture o dierent skills

demonstrated through a variety o extra activities.

Lizzie Darlington, LOreal


17/28


Social Media

Social media such as blogs, LinkedIn, Twitter can be used to demonstrate

both an interest and an increasingly desirable skill i used careully on

your CV. You shouldnt hide things such as any blogs you write or your

Twitter prole rom potential employersi they portray you in a positive

light. Including them on your CV shows you have a grasp o new media,

a passion or a certain subject or or writing in general and possibly a

network o people who are interested in what you have to say. As well

as this they can show technological and communication skills. Social

media accounts which you use or purely social reasons and or private

communication with riends are probably best hidden rom employers.

Keep them o your CV and perhaps even alter the privacy settings so

that only your riends can view them. Its worth searching or your name

online to see what kinds o things employers can nd out about you

while they are screening applications.

Top tips CV writing tips rom a BBC recruiter

Be concise and ensure your inormation has an impact.

Keep it simple and clear you can always elaborate atthe interview.

Analyse the job description read the job description, identiy

which relevant skills, experience and competencies you have. I

you dont, consider other experiences that could be appropriate.

Dont have any unexplained gaps on your application. I

you have had a career break or have been travelling, let us

know. Academic and proessional qualications should fow

in a logical order.

Check your application beore submitting. Check spelling and

get a riend or amily member to read through i it helps.

want to include team or group activities that show you can interact with other

people rather than just solitary activities. You could even treat this section in the

same way as the rest o your CV using dates, divisions such as school and

university or grouping similar things, like sports, together to enhance impact.

2 What i I havent taken part in extracurricularactivities beore?

You dont have to include a section on extracurricular activities or achievements,

but employers are oten interested in what you have done outside o work and

academic studies. Think widely about what you have done whilst you have

been at the LSE or previous institutions. Dont eel that all is lost i you havent

been president o a student society. You may have been involved in other

activities such as volunteering or mentoring or were a course representative.

Maybe you organised an event that raised money or the prole o a particular

cause. I, ater a bit o refection, you still draw a blank, skip this section and

emphasise relevant skills gained rom academic studies and work experience.

3 How important are languages and how bestcan I demonstrate them?

This will depend on the position that you are applying or. I languages are

one o the requirements o the job it may be worth writing them in a short,

very specic personal prole at the top o your CV or in a prominent position

on the rst page. You will also need to write about how you have used

languages, ie, writing reports, chairing a conerence, handling client requests

by telephone. You will need to describe your level o fuency using terms like

native, fuent, intermediate, basic or conversational.

4 What level o IT skills do I need to demonstrate?

As long as your position is not IT related, it is generally accepted that a

graduate will be able to cope with the IT skills needed to carry out a typical

graduate entry role. Towards the end o your CV, you can detail your

amiliarity with packages, programming languages, operating systems, webdesign packages and the internet generally. IT skills may be a clear selling

point or temporary positions or or positions within smaller organisations.

Interests are somewhat helpul or the screener since they can

be an ice breaker when it comes to interviews.

Christina Yu, Moelis


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ReferencesReerences are usually requested by an employer ater the interview stage

i the candidate has been successul. It is generally assumed that you will

be able to provide reerences so you dont need to mention them on your

CV. I you like you can put Reerences available on request or i you

have the space (or one o your reerences will be particularly well-known

in the eld you are applying) then listing your reerences is ne too.

1 How many reerees do I need?

Usually two, preerably one LSE academic and a recent employer. I

you do not have an employer use two academic reerees instead.

2 No one in my department knows me. Howwill they be able to write me a reerence?

Try to make contact with your personal tutor and discuss with them thetypes o jobs you are applying or. Your tutor will have access to useul

inormation about you on LSE For You. Thereore it is in your interest to

keep this inormation updated. As well as posting your CV, you can also

write about the skills you have gained and comment about your class

reports. All o this will be very useul inormation or a reerence.

3 Can I use overseas reerees?

Yes you can. It is helpul to give an email address in this instance.

4 Can I use a reeree who is somebody I knowwell and who already works or the organisation?

The standard convention is to use an academic reeree and your most

recent employer. I you want to use someone else, it might be better to

put, Reerences available on request, at the bottom o your CV and

discuss the issue o reerees at interview stage.

5 Do I have to give my current employer asa reerence?

It is standard practice to do this. I you dont, the reader may think you

are hiding something. I you are concerned that your current employer

doesnt know you very well, or that a previous employer is more

impressive and you would rather use that, it might be better to put,

Reerences available on request on your CV and then discuss it when

you get to interview stage.

6 My most recent employer is rom a short,casual job I have been doing. Can I use amilyand riends instead?

Most employers arent going to be interested in the actual reerees

you select (though they will be expecting one to be your current or

most recent employer) so dont worry i your most recent employer

isnt particularly relevant to the job you are applying or. I you want to

use someone else, it might be better to put, Reerences available on

request at the bottom o your CV and discuss the issue o reerees at

interview stage.

7 Do I need to get permission rom a personbeore I use them as my reeree?

Yes. It is even better i you can have a discussion with them and explainthe types o jobs you will be applying or and the skills required.


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8 I have two potential academic reerees; oneo them is a well-known, high profle proessorwho doesnt know me very well, the other oneis not very well known but knows me very well.Which one should I use?

This depends on the type o organisation you are applying to andwill vary rom one individual to another. However, i you are applying

to organisations where the high prole proessor will be known (or

example i you are applying to another university or a think tank), then

a reerence rom them may carry some weight. In most other situations,

its quite likely that the proessor may not be that well known outside

specialist circles and a reerence rom someone who knows you better

would be more appropriate.

9 Should I send a letter o recommendationwith my CV?

In the UK employers are not expecting to receive letters o

recommendation and will probably not have time to read them. I you

already have a letter o recommendation rom a previous employer which

you eel is relevant then there is no harm in sending it. However dont

rely on this as part o your application it must be extra to the content in

your CV and cover letter.


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CV checklistWe have stressed throughout this booklet the necessity o creating a

CV that is targeted to a particular employer and to a particular job.

Hopeully, as result o ollowing the principles outlined in this booklet,

you now have a rst class CV that wins interviews. Finally, beore

submitting, why not give it one last check? The ollowing check list runs

through the main sections o CV though these are not set in stone. The

list is not exhaustive but can help you spot any major omissions.

CONTENT

Personal

Contact address/addresses and telephone numbers included?

Does your email address sound proessional?

Education

Have you given most space to your most recent education?

Have you highlighted relevant modules, projects and dissertations?

Any academic awards?

Any key or relevant transerable skills highlighted?

Is your education section easy to ollow and consistent in approach?

Anything else you need to explain (eg,A grade is equivalent to thetop 1.5 per cent)?

Work Experience /Internships

Is this a comprehensive overview o all the dierent jobs you have

had? Are there ways o separating your employment by type/sector

or emphasis?

Have you included: job title, dates, company name, type o business

and location?

Have you highlighted the skills used and importantly the impact you

had and the signicance o your achievements in the position?

Is this section ordered and the skills identied targeted towards your

chosen uture role?

Achievements/Positions o Responsibility

Do you emphasise your personal contribution here? Is specic

evidence or skills displayed?

Is the signicance o your achievement demonstrated? Can you quantiy?

Have you highlighted the most relevant roles/skills or the job you

are applying or?

Can you include any o these positions (eg, volunteering) in

an experience section or use them to highlight suitability or a

particular career area?

Skills

Have you included your IT skills and evidenced these? How

competent are you?

Speak any languages? Again is the level o each expressed?

Any other inormation to include here eg, driving licence,

proessional training courses?


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Other interests

I space on your CV, do you go beyond listing lots o

one-word examples?

Have you given a variety o interests highlighting dierent skills sets?

Can your interests be used to demonstrate responsibility,

commitment and achievement?

Reerees

Do you need to mention reerees? Has the employer asked or them

to be included? Unless requested then its not necessary to mention

them at this stage.

FORMAT AND PRESENTATION

Rationale and Targeting

Does your CV ollow protocol or your chosen sector (is a one page

or two page CV the standard?)

Is it ordered in a logical, clearly structured way?

Any specic CV guidelines or the country you are applying to?

Is there evidence o targeting experience and skills to the role?

Is the structure and space allocation appropriate to importance?

Written Style

Is the language you use positive and enthusiastic in tone?

Have you checked it or vocabulary, grammar, spelling and

punctuation errors?

Is it jargon ree or are any acronyms explained?

Are capital letters used correctly eg, or languages and adjectives o

countries eg, French

Have you asked a riend to prooread it or errors?

Presentation

Are the headings clear and easy to read? Are they descriptive/targeted?

Does your CV have well-spaced sections?

Is it easy to scan read quickly? Does the most relevant content

jump out?

Does your CV use the same ont style as your cover letter?

Are all the dates mentioned in your CV ormatted and positioned in

the same way so an employer can scan them quickly?

I ound the CV check lists very useul. I really liked how the

areas which needed improvement were identied rather than

glossed over and the advice is transerable to more than a

particular cover letter. The methods recommended were great

and practical.LSE Student


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Talks abouteducation andwork experiencein a way that

emphasisesrelevant skills andachievements

Writes preciselyabout why heor she wants towork or TB4.Avoids vaguegeneralisations

States clearlywhere position

was advertised


Cover letters


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Recruiters nameand address

Customary signo i you arewriting to anamed person

Applicantsname andaddress



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1 What is a cover letter?

A cover letter is a one-page document that is sent and read in

conjunction with your CV. It highlights relevant skills and achievements.

2. What is the purpose o a cover letter?

The cover letter is a chance or you to highlight the skills and achievements,

which are especially relevant to that particular employer. It will be a brie

summary o your lie to date, tailored to the competencies that are required

by the employer. It is also a chance or you to demonstrate your knowledge

o the organisation to which you are applying and your motivation or

working there. Some recruiters will also use your cover letter to judge your

written communication skills.

3 What needs to be included in a cover letter?Recruiters expect you to show that you match what they want. This is a

question o interpretation. The secret o writing a good cover letter lies

in using your qualications and experience to show that you are the best

person or the position.

One way o going about it is to begin your cover letter by ocusing on

your relevant achievements: academic, extracurricular, work experience

and other interesting aspects o your lie. Then move on to ocus on the

employer, why you are applying or the job, including some interesting

and relevant acts about that company.

Show them that you are a clear-headed person, capable o thinking

clearly and a motivated, active learner. Write in a clear and logical

manner and remember, the way you write and present yoursel says

a lot about you.

4 How long should the cover letter be?

Something around 400 words is about right and certainly not more than

one page o A4 paper. Aim or short, sharp sentences that make orconcise, gripping paragraphs, which are good or busy recruiters who

cant spend a long time reading each application.

5 What is the correct layout o a cover letter?

In general, cover letters are one side o typed A4 and are set out like a

ormal business letter. Have a look at the example cover letters in this

booklet or on our website to see how this is done. The letter should be

about three to our paragraphs long with each separated by a single line.

Do not indent the paragraphs as this is considered old-ashioned.

6 How do I know who to write to?

It is usual to reply to the name used in the advert or application pack. I a

name is not given, call the company and ask or a named individual who

deals with (graduate) recruitment. We advise strongly that you address

your cover letter to a named person. Do make sure you use the correct

spelling o their name.

7 What is the correct salutation or greeting?

Your name and address should be clearly shown at the top, right-hand corner

o the letter. Dont think that because this inormation is on your CV you dont

need to put it on the cover letter. Pages can become separated easily. Date the

letter and try to send it to a named person. The correct greeting in a business

letter is always ormal. It normally begins with Dear and usually includes

the persons last name and title, ie, Proessor, Dr, Mr, Ms etc. I addressing a

emale then does the job advert speciy whether they are Mrs, Miss, or Ms? I

it doesnt say then, or a business letter, it is best to use Ms.

While relevant work experience is viewed positively, you shouldnt

be put o rom applying because you dont have any or you eel

that yours is not relevant to our work. Your cover letter should

highlight other achievements that you are proud o and that you

think we will be interested in. For example, you might mention

positions o responsibility you have held at university societies, or

projects you have worked on as part o your course.

Tim Battrick, FTI Consulting

Cover letters


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8 How do I sign o?

The convention in the UK is i you address the letter to a named

individual, sign o with Yours sincerely. I your letter begins with,

Dear Sir or Dear Madam, end with Yours aithully.

9 What do I put as the subject header whensending my cover letter via email?

Title the email Application or (job title), also ollowing any additional

instructions in the job advert (like including a reerence number). I you

are sending a speculative application you can be less specic. Try and

keep your subject header concise and proessional all the same though.

10 Should I handwrite a cover letter?

I you are asked specically to handwrite it, then you must. Make

sure the letter is neat and legible. Use dark ink because it is easier or

photocopying. In almost all cases though, you should send a word

processed letter.

11 Can I use bullet points or subheadingsin a cover letter?

There is nothing to stop you using bullet points or subheadings to help

structure your cover letter. However remember that you are still writing aormal business letter which needs to be written clearly and succinctly.

12 Are there any example cover lettersat LSE Careers?

Yes, we have some example cover letters on our website which have

been annotated by our careers consultants.

13 Can I discuss my cover letter with someoneat LSE Careers?

We have a specic CV and cover letter advice service. For ull details and

inormation on how to book an appointment, visit our website:

lse.ac.uk/careers.

14 Which is more important, the CV or thecover letter?

They are both important. I you want to maximise your chances o

success you should treat them both seriously. The cover letter is oten

the rst thing the recruiter sees and will set their expectations or what

is to ollow. A good cover letter will highlight your key strengths and

motivation or wanting to work or a particular organisation. The CV will

then go into more detail about what you have achieved. The recruiter

will orm an impression o you based on both documents.

Its really important your covering letter says something

specic and unique about why you want to work or that

company. Go beyond the obvious on their website, do

your research and show you are genuinely motivated and

enthusiastic about what the organisation does. This is what

employers are looking or and will help you stand out rom

other applicants.

Maddie Smith, Careers Consultant


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15 All the organisations I am looking at seemto be the same. How can I demonstrate that Iknow the dierences?

It is oten assumed that the way to impress an organisation is to show

that you have carried out a lot o research. This is true up to a point.

However, a paragraph ull o acts about how many people work or an

organisation, what awards it has won and in what markets it is strongest

is, in reality, telling the employer things they already know about

themselves. The strongest cover letters show that you have done some

research but also make a link between you and the organisation.

16 My circumstances are unusual, how shouldI present these in a cover letter?

You need to think about the needs o the employer that you are

approaching and try to present the inormation to meet those needs,emphasising the transerable skills that you have acquired. You do not

need to ocus on all aspects o your lie to date in the letter, only those

areas in which you eel the employer will be interested.

17 Can I have a standard cover letter?

This is best avoided! Your cover letter should be tailored to one specic

vacancy (or to a particular employer i you are applying speculatively).

Recruiters will be able to spot generic cover letters and urthermore,you will not be able to show specic research you have done into a

particular organisation.

Top Tips: Cover letters

Keep the language riendly but ormal. Think about how

you would really speak to an employer at interview.

Be positive! Use action words but dont lose sight o your

own style.

Avoid repeating key words or phrases.

Always end on a positive note. You can end by rearming

your enthusiasm or your suitability. Check your letter several times, and then get a riend to

check it, then go away and check it again later.

Most students tend to ail at the career motivation stage, mainly

because they do not tailor their applications enough to the

recruiter. Most read as i they could be sent to any consultancy.

Recruiter, Deloitte

Repeated grammatical errors or very bad spelling would make me

think twice about whether to put them through to the interview.

Erin Harvey, Parliamentary Researcher


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Further resourcesCV and cover letter seminars

The seminars are ull o suggestions on how you can best market yoursel

to prospective employers book via LSE CareerHub.

LSE Language Centre

Struggling with writing a good application in English? Sign up or

courses to help improve your business English, nd out about language

exchanges with English speaking students and get your application

checked or grammatical and semantic errors by a member o language

centre sta. lse.ac.uk/languages

How to write a curriculum vitae and a cover letter:

Edited by Matt Wildman

Written by Matt Wildman, Shaun Harris, Susie Lawrence, Iain

McLoughlin, Lesley Martin and Gary Woodward

April 2012

CV and cover letter discussions

Use some o the online resources and try to attend a seminar beore

booking a CV or cover letter discussion so that you are well prepared and

can get the most rom your one to one discussion. In your discussion you

will get eedback on the structure, content and targeting o your CV or

cover letter. Bring in a copy o your drat cover letter too i the employer

is asking or one. We dont provide prooreading so i you want help withthe grammar and language contact the LSE Language Centre.

CVs, cover letters and applications inormationon the LSE Careers website

To use these resources and learn more about CV services at LSE Careers

go to the CV, cover letter and applications section o the LSE Careers

website: lse.ac.uk/careers

Example CVs and covering letters real LSE student and alumni

CVs and covering letters online

Vault and Weteet online career libraries ree e-book guides on

writing CVs and applications

Applications: looking good on paper and online applications ree

online videos

Voice-over presentations short online how-to guides by LSE

careers consultants

Going Global international careers website, CV advice or over 50

countries, ree to access rom the LSE Careers website

LSE Careers YouTube channel advice and top tips rom graduate

employers: YouTube.com/LSECareers

Only when you have gone through a number o these action points would

we recommend you book a 15 minute CV or cover letter appointment.


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Contact detailsLSE Careers is open:Monday to Friday 10am 5pm

Telephone number: +44 (0)20 7955 7135

Address:

LSE Careers

Room W300

Floor 3, Tower 3

Houghton Street

London WC2A 2AE

General enquiries email: [email protected]

Website:lse.ac.uk/careers

How to write CVs and cover letters

Edited by Matt WildmanWritten by Matt Wildman, Shaun Harris, Susie Lawrence,

Iain McLoughlin, Lesley Martin and Gary Woodward

February 2012

The School seeks to ensure that people are treated equitably, regardless

o age, disability, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, gender,

religion, sexual orientation or personal circumstances.

This brochure can be made available in alternative ormats, on request.

Please contact: LSE Careers

Design: LSE Design Unit (lse.ac.uk/designunit)

How to Write a CV or Cover Letter

Documents

Transcript of How to Write a CV or Cover Letter