CVs, Applications

and Covering
Letters














In this guide you will find tips on presenting yourself in a job
application, and specific tips to the most common tools used to
select candidates for job interviews: CVs, cover letters, and
application forms.

Top tps

Match what you have what they want. Research the skills
required in the job or course you are applying for.

Provide examples that demonstrate your skills and qualities.

Make it easy for the selector by ensuring your applications are
well structured, easy to read, not too long, and relevant. Use sub-
headings and bullet points.

Getting your language right
write in formal but clear language: It is usually best to
avoid shortened words (eg its, theyre) and colloquialisms.
use active verbs: It is better you say you improved your
skills that that your skills were improved.
match your language to the organisation: Use the same
phrases to describe your skills as the job advertisement uses
to describe what they want.
avoid jargon: Explain or avoid terms a recruiter might not
understand.
make it interesting to read: Be engaging and avoid
repetition. Eg Avoid starting every sentence with I.


Common mistakes to avoid
spelling and grammar: Check your application carefully, ask
someone to proof read it for you if possible.
generic applications: Vague phrases like [insert name
here] is the best company in the world do not impress
employers. Do your research and tailor each application.
using an inappropriate email address: Make sure that any
contact details you provide are professional-looking.
lack of detail: Rather than just listing what you have done,
use examples to show what you can do for the employer.

Social Media
Many employers research candidates online before an interview.
So it is a good idea to ensure that you present yourself in a
professional way.
you can hide potentially embarrassing material by editing
your privacy settings on social media sites.
it can be worthwhile to create new professional profiles.
politics, hobbies, alcohol use, etc. may put employers off.
googling yourself (in a private window so that the results
arent tailored to you) can be a good way to see your web
presence.

Social Media can also be a helpful tool. You can use it to
showcase your interests and achievements, and network with
employers.

LinkedIn can be a powerful tool for presenting yourself in a
professional way. If you use it, you can connect with Sussex
graduates in our LinkedIn Group.

Skills
Many students believe that they do
not have a lot of relevant
experience to put into applications.
If this is true for you, then
remember, there are many ways to
develop skills and the most
important thing is being able to
relate it to a job.



When thinking about how to provide evidence for your skills, there
are three areas you can consider.

personal life can include hobbies and clubs you are involved
in.
academic life may include skills learned on your class.
work life is paid or unpaid jobs you have done.

In each area you can gain measurable abilities, for instance a
course may teach you to use HTML. But also soft skills, such as
team work and communication, are also very important.

SkillClouds is a good tool for reminding yourself what skills you
have learnt on your course. You can find this at
www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/skillclouds


CVs
The goal of a CV is to summarise your skills for a particular job.
Each one should be tailored to demonstrate skills the employer has
asked to see.

CV Format
There are no absolute rules with CVs, but they are usually two
sides of A4. Some employers request one page, and academic
CVs are longer because they cover research, publications, and
awards.
ensure your CV is easy to read by keeping the font size to
at least 11pts. Use headings, bullet points, and bold lettering
to make it clear.
make a good first impression by putting your most relevant
experience as close to the top as possible.
fonts without serifs (eg Calibri) are easier to read on
computers. However, some traditional organisations
(particularly law firms) prefer fonts with serifs (eg Times New
Roman).

There are two main types of CV:

Chronological CVs present your education and experience in
date order with the most recent first. They are useful if your past
experience directly relates to what an employer wants. Most CVs
are in this format.

Skills based CVs are useful if your previous experience does not
relate strongly to what you are applying for. They list key skills for
the job and examples of how you have them, then have much
briefer sections describing what you did where and when.
What to include

A personal profile (optional) Two to four line summary of who
you are, your unique selling points for this role, and what you are
looking for in your next job.

Name and contact details. British CVs do not usually include
photos, date of birth, gender, religion, etc.

Education List qualifications and grades briefly but provide context
where needed. For information about international qualifications go
to www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/internationalgrads

Employment history Use your work and voluntary experience to
highlight skills relevant to the role you are applying for.

Skills particularly those relevant to the job, with examples to
provide evidence.

Interests, hobbies, and achievements can be worth mentioning if
they demonstrate skills which are relevant to the job.

References usually an employer, and a tutor from your course. It
is acceptable to put references available on request.

Sending your CV
If you are emailing your CV send a brief email saying you are
applying, and attach your CV and covering letter.

It helps to send attachments as PDFs because this ensures they
will be received with the formatting you intended whatever software
the employer uses. You can do this by saving files as .pdf.
Covering leters
Why do I need a covering letter?
The covering letter is an important part of your application. It
accompanies your CV and is often the first document a recruiter
reads. It needs to make an impact, highlight your suitability and
motivation for the job and encourage the employer to want to read
the rest of your application.

If you are sending your CV electronically employers in a single
PDF document include your covering letter as part of your CV.

What should my letter include?
Covering letters generally have four main paragraphs.

First paragraph
who you are and why you are writing.
tell them where you saw the job (eg an advertisement).
what you are including with the letter (usually your CV).
Second paragraph
what attracts you to the job and what you have done that
makes you a suitable applicant. Include key examples of
how you meet the job criteria.
Third paragraph
what attracts you to the organisation. Research the
organisation and detail why you want to work for them in
particular.
Fourth paragraph
include your availability for interview and your enthusiasm to
discuss your application in person at interview.

Speculatve leters
These are applications sent to firms not advertising vacancies.
Your letter needs to show that you have researched the company:
ie the different roles within the organisation and what sets them
apart from others. Focus on what you can do for the employer
rather than what you what you want from them.
You might want to ask about:
vacancies coming up.
work experience.
work shadowing.
a meeting to discuss your career ideas.
End on what you intend to do next, such as phoning the employer
to follow up the letter in around a week.
Remember
1. set out your letter in a business-like way, even in an email.
2. keep your letters to one page of A4.
3. always try to find the name of the right person to contact.
4. check your spelling.
5. keep a copy of your letter to refer to.
6. make sure you follow up on your application by contacting
them again about a week after your first message.
Top Tips:
quickly establish what you want and why.
do not limit yourself by asking for one type of
experience if others would help you.
match the tone and language of the organisation.
follow a similar structure to a cover letter.
Applicaton forms
Application forms are used to find a manageable number of
candidates for a job. Employers select against a list of criteria
which you need to match be invited to an interview.

How do I apply?
Find out what kind of form it is. Some are on a webpage, while
others need to be downloaded and emailed back to the employer.

Check how to fill in the form. Is there a word limit? Do they
expect emails to be sent with a particular title? If the form is web-
based, can you save it or is there a time limit for filling it in?

Plan your answers based on how the form is structured. Do they
have specific questions about each skill and competency they ask
for? Is there one box for a personal statement? Ensure you clearly
identify the skills they have asked for and prove you have them.

Be sure about why you are applying: being motivated will help
you make a good application. Set aside time to complete the form,
check it, make changes, and improve it.










The STAR model
Try using this technique when giving examples of when
you have shown a specific skill or competency:
S Situation. What was the occasion/setting?
T Task. What did you need to do?
A Action. What did you do? Describe your skills
R Result. What was the result? Would you do
anything differently?
How to answer those tricky questions
Employers often ask questions like Why do you want to work for
this company? or describe a time when. These questions are a
way of measuring your motivation, and your ability to transfer your
relevant skills to the job.
think about what the employer is looking for in a candidate.
make sure you answer the question concisely.
if the question involves describing a situation where you
solved a problem, focus on explaining your skills. The
employer is interested in your behaviour, not the event.

Personal Statements
Many employers leave a blank section in the application form for a
personal statement. Consider using each point on the person
specification as a heading. You can use the STAR model to show
how you meet the criteria.

Top tips on filling the form
be concise and have a structure, do not cram in so much
information that it is hard work to read.
ensure your application form is interesting. Spend time
finding the right words to describe your experiences and convey
your personality. Talk about projects Our Action Words hand-
out can be useful for this.
answer the questions with evidence from your experience
which demonstrate that you know what the company does and
what the job on offer involves. Use a wide range of examples
from all areas of your life.
use positive language. Show why your experience has been
useful and how you have contributed.
Examples
A selection of examples to help you write your own applications
can be found on our website at

CVs - www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/cvs

Cover letters - www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/coveringletters

These websites also have useful example CVs

TargetJobs www.bit.ly/target-cvs

Prospects www.prospects.ac.uk/example_cvs.htm

University of Kent www.bit.ly/kent-cvs
Before you send your applicaton...

We run regular workshops on job applications, you can find a list of
events at sussex.ac.uk/careers/events

During term time you can get extra help at our CV clinics

make sure you have filled in all the appropriate sections and
check your spelling and grammar. Ask someone else to
proofread your form.
follow the guidelines for where to send your application and
check the closing date!
our Career Advisers can give feedback and advice on your
application. Make an appointment by phoning 01273 678429.
you can get guidance from us by e-mail from
careers@sussex.ac.uk (Please allow five days for our advisers
to respond).