Graduate CV

Cover Letter

What is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter can play a very important role in finding a job. A cover letter is a one page document that adds a personal touch to your job application. It can demonstrate to a potential employer that you are a serious and professional candidate.

What is the purpose of a Cover Letter?

A cover letter should not be the same as your CV. It should complement your CV. Your cover letter should add a personal touch to the data contained in your CV. A cover letter is the first written contact with potential employers and must generate a positive first impression.

How to structure a Cover Letter?

The Opening Paragraph – State the reason for writing and try and get the attention of your potential recruiter.Be specific about the role or type of work you are applying for and what attracts you to the company.

The Middle Paragraph – In this paragraph you introduce them to you the person. This is where you add a personal touch to your application. State a few relevant skills and achievements. Point out what it is that attracts you to the company and why you want to apply for the position. It is useful here to mention something in the companies recent past so that the reader knows you have researched the company.

The Closing Paragraph – Let them know that you are available for interview. Thank the reader for taking the time to review your application.

The Star Technique

During your interview you many be asked a number of competency based questions. The best way to answer these questions is with the STAR technique. This technique helps you to structure your answer properly and shows that you are capable of problem solving. 

STAR stands for the following:

  • Situation
  • Task
  • Action
  • Result

When using this method you need to describe the situation that occurred, what task you carried out, what action you took and the result or outcome. 

This is a very analytical method of answering questions and is a great opportunity for you to highlight skills and abilities you have included in your CV

 

 

Interview Tip's Continued

6. Be polite to everyone you meet. From the initial phone call or email to organise an interview always remain professional. You never quite know who you are speaking to.

7. Remember your body language and tone. Remember in any conversation, communication is broken down into the following percentages, body language 55%, tone 38% and words 7%. 

8. This is no time for being shy about your skills. You have to be willing to guide the interviewer to the questions you want asked and the skills you have. A well presented CV will help you with this.

9. Make sure you thank the interviewer in person at the end of the interview and again with a follow up email.

10. No matter the outcome, thank the company for their time. All interviews now require a grading numerical grading system. You may have been a close second and should a second position become available it may be offered to you. Its another chance to show your professionalism. 

Interview Tip's

For many people doing an interview can be a very stressful experience. Its important that you remember if you have been offered an interview then the organisation are already interested in your talents and abilities as described in your CV.  Here are some tips on how to best address the interview experience.

1. Make sure that you know, understand and are able to speak intelligently about the contents of your CV. Do not have something on your CV that you are unsure about as it may appear that you have made it up.

2. Research the company and the position you are applying for. Make sure when you are writing your CV cover letter that you personalize each cover letter for the individual organization.

3. Arrive early. Arriving early shows you are organized, reliable, eager and motivated. All things the interviewer will look for in a potential colleague.

4. Bring a copy of your CV. While it serves the purpose of showing your organization skills again, it also is good to have something to hold so you are not wondering what to do with your hands.

5. Dress accordingly. Generally as a rule you cannot overdress for an interview. Being smartly dressed shows that you care about making the right impression and therefore that you care about the position you are applying for.

For more helpful interview tip's on and help on how to write your CV please contact info@cvexpert.ie

 

The Importance of a well written CV.

Your CV is the first chance you get at making a good impression. If you do not take this chance you may never get another.

It can seem very daunting to start to write your CV and can be quite frustrating for some people as they are unsure what to include in it. 

As a standard rule your CV should be no longer than 2 or 3 pages long, depending on the position you are going for. 

It is important that you keep your CV up to date even if you are not currently planning on looking for a new career opportunity. As with most individuals your workload can be quite diverse and differ over a period of time even if you remain with the same employer. Fir this reason it is important that you continually make a list of your current job duties so you know what to include in your CV.

For more tips and advice on writing your perfect CV contact www.cvexperts.ie today for a free consultation.