Stand out to be called up

A solid CV and covering letter are essentials to get your foot in the door.

While it is convenient for you to send out a host of cloned applications, it is just as convenient for employers to dismiss them. You must show motivation and a clear understanding of the position you're applying for. This will make your application more relevant and help convince the employer to call you in for an interview.

When you find an advertisement for a job that interests you, save a copy immediately. Note down any specific application instructions. Once you've done all that, you're ready to write.

Layout and Appearance

CVs and covering letters that are neat and easy to read stand out best.

• Print your CV on good quality white paper. Use a laser printer for a clean and smudge-proof finish
• Use wide margins. A good width is one inch on all sides
• Do not use fancy fonts, or rainbow-coloured inks or stationery. Stick to readable fonts such as Arial (11pt) or Times New Roman (12 pt)
• Follow the requirements in the recruitment advertisements. Some employers will need a photo, copies of certificates or specific application formats. Make sure you follow all instructions closely.

Before you send

Make sure your CV and covering letter are grammatically correct and error-free! A badly written and disorganised CV will be tossed straight into the bin or worse, leave a bad impression.

Covering letter

Bad covering letters are equivalent to limp handshakes. Follow these tips to make sure that your application doesn't go straight to the shredder.

1. Address the reader by name. If you do not know the right person's name, find out the name and designation by calling the company.
2. Start the letter by introducing yourself and state where you saw the advertisement. Identify the position you would like to apply for and specify other positions you would consider to increase your chances of being hired.
3. Elaborate on what attracts you to this field and how your passion grew. Link your personality traits and skills to the job. Make it formal but personable.
4. Explain what draws you to this position. Show your enthusiasm and willingness to learn.
5. Sell yourself. Relate your successes, knowledge and abilities to the job. Show how you can contribute and fit into the company by illustrating past experiences as evidence.
6. Lead the reader to your CV. Mention your availability for an interview and any dates that you may be out of town or unavailable.
7. Thank the reader and write that you look forward to hearing from the company.
8. End and sign the letter with your name printed at the bottom.

Structure and Format

• Follow the format of a business letter
• Keep it short and sweet. Don't exceed one A4 page
• Arrange it neatly, using a clear font with a good size
• Margins are best kept about one inch wide on all sides.

Sample covering letter

The anatomy of a CV

Employers sift through hundreds of CVs a day. So keep yours clean, concise and current. It's best to update your CV every six months so that you are prepared when your dream job comes along.

Here are some basic tips for constructing your CV:

1. Keep it concise, no more than 2 A4 pages.
2. Place your name at the top of the page in a slightly larger font size. Bold it so that it is prominent.
3. Make sure that the information provided is correct and up-to-date so that the employer can contact you.
4. Start with your highest qualifications and work your way down according to the year you attained them. Focus on tertiary qualifications. It is not necessary to include all the subjects you took unless they are highly specialised or applicable. Include your secondary education results. Also highlight any involvement in extra-curricular activities as well as your personal achievements.
5. Starting with the most recent, elaborate on the relevant areas and experience gained. Give short descriptions of the post and your responsibilities. Emphasise successful projects that you were involved in.
6. Emphasise the most valuable skills for the job. Indicate your skill level using rating scales and experience. For IT skills, list the software you are familiar with and level of expertise if applicable. For multilingual skills, indicate your writing and speaking proficiency separately. Arrange these points in bullet or table form for easy viewing.
7. Write down the things you are passionate about, particularly any groups in which you have leadership positions.
8. Ideally, you should have one work referee and one academic referee. Inform them and send them a copy of your CV.

Sample CV:

© GTI Specialist Publishers. Reproduced with permission.