APPLYING FOR THE JOB (I)

CVS
Languages and the World of Work
Week 8

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the session you will be able to

Understand the different resources available for you to enhance your

employability

Avoid the most common mistakes applicants commit when preparing

a CV

Write a professional CV

Make a list of practical

things and resources

(NOT skills)
you need
to get a job

GETTING THE JOB / PLACEMENT

Who can I
ask?

Letters of
application

Application
forms

CV

Personal
Statement

Referees

GETTING THE JOB / PLACEMENT

C.Vs
Personal Statements/Personal Profiles
Referees
Application forms
Letters of application
Who can I ask?

You have placement office

You have a period abroad tutor
You have an Erasmus coordinator
You have level 6 students
You have colleagues/staff
Most of all you have yourself

GETTING THE JOB / PLACEMENT

C.Vs
Personal Statements/Personal Profiles
Referees
Application forms
Letters of application
Who can I ask?

You have placement office

You have a period abroad tutor
You have an Erasmus coordinator
You have level 6 students
You have colleagues/staff
Most of all you have yourself

It is up to you!!!

HOW CAN YOU BEGIN TO PROVE THAT YOU

ARE EMPLOYABLE?
Keep a record or portfolio to develop:

Curriculum Vitae or Resume

Application Form

Make sure you know who to send it too

Address selection criteria

Being prepared for the interview

Complete accurately, no mistakes

Letter of Application

Keep up to date and customise

Look at the website

Practice

WHAT IS A CV?
It is
a marketing tool, will others want to buy?
a brochure about you, make it look good;
the first stage of getting a job
It should promote your

personal details
education and job history
achievements
skills

Who will recommend you?

CVS

First impression its an advert for YOU!!!

Must look good:

NO spelling mistakes

Creative

You MUST get someone else to check it with you as there

cannot be any mistakes anywhere

Make sure it is in a font that is readable. Do not use script or

anything fancy

Make sure it is NOT sentence after sentence

Use bullet points where you can

Business like tone not slang

DESIGN

2 pages maximum

Tailored to the post

Experiences in reverse order

Make sure that it is easy to read

Evidence of achievement nothing negative

Main skills and personal qualities

WHAT DO YOU ALREADY KNOW?

How many pages should a CV have?
a. One
b. Two
c. As many as necessary

WHAT DO YOU ALREADY KNOW?

How many pages should a CV have?

b. Two

WHAT DO YOU ALREADY KNOW?

How many sections should a CV have?
a. Four
b. Five
c. Six

WHAT DO YOU ALREADY KNOW?

How many sections should a CV have?

c. Six

WHAT DO YOU ALREADY KNOW?

Should a CV include a photo?
a. Yes
b. No

WHAT DO YOU ALREADY KNOW?

Should a CV include a photo?

b. No

WHAT DO YOU ALREADY KNOW?

How many words should the personal
statement within your CV have?
a. 100
b. 200
c. 300

WHAT DO YOU ALREADY KNOW?

How many words should the personal
statement within your CV have?
a. 100

WHAT DO YOU ALREADY KNOW?

Should a CV include your birthday date?
a. Yes
b. No

WHAT DO YOU ALREADY KNOW?

Should a CV include your birthday date?

b. No

LAYOUT
1.

Personal Details

2.

Personal Statement/profile

3.

Education

4.

Experience or career history/skills developed

5.

Hobbies/skills developed

6.

References - 2

PERSONAL DETAILS

PERSONAL STATEMENT

Suggest that you look at your strengths and weaknesses and then focus on your strengths

Project yourself, and also reflect on what the job requires and what the employer is particularly
seeking

Computer skills

Travelled

Personal abilities

Team Worker

Planning and Organising experience

Build into statements can be first person

determined and decisive; uses initiative to develop effective solutions to problems

reliable and dependable - high personal standards and attention to detail

methodical and rigorous approach to achieving tasks and objectives

Can be bullet pointed but must be quick to read / skim; not a novel

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

School and dates attended

A Levels

Number of GCSEs

Make sure you mention languages!

Current studies

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
First aid certificates
Duke of Edinburgh Awards
Membership of Associations
Etc.

WORK EXPERIENCE

MENTION JOBS AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE:

Cash Handling , Customer Service, Supervision

Language experience

Course Rep / Language ambassador / British Council

Ambassador

VOLUNTEERING

Emphasise skills that you have developed

through that work

IF YOU DONT HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE

what can you do?

IF YOU DONT HAVE WORK EXPERIENCE

leadership
teamwork
creativity
initiative
problem-solving
self-motivation
discipline
reliability
persistence and determination
compassion and humanity
love and care for others
specific abilities with numbers
languages,
communications and ICT (information
and communications technology especially computing and websites),
fixing and making things, selling and
marketing something, etc.

part-time jobs
sport
voluntary work
clubs
caring
supervising, teaching, helping young
people
charity work
hobbies and pastimes
outdoor activities
holidays and travel
and any other personal interests which
illustrate your strengths, capabilities and
passions.

INTERESTS
TRAVEL
Where?

READING
What?

SPORTS
What?

What Else?

REFEREES
Select

your referees with care

Often your previous employer

Professional people
An academic

Obtain

their consent before putting forward their

names
Tell

them why you are applying for this position,

outlining why you believe that you are a
suitable candidate

ASSESSMENT 1

Personal Statement & CV (20%)

a. Individually you are required to submit a 200 word personal

statement which clearly identifies your strengths as a potential
employee and focussing particularly on your cross cultural
abilities. This statement should be seen as a selling tool for you
to reach an interview stage (10%)

b. You are also required to submit a CV that is appropriate to the

country of your target language. It should include an abstract
from your personal statement and should be no longer than 2 x
A4 sheets (10%) In English in the first instance.
Please read carefully the assessment and marking criteria

TRANSLATE YOUR CV

CV - Germany - iAgora

"Curriculum Vitae" is called "Lebenslauf" in German and is shorter than

most other European CVs. It is a brief, factual statement of what you
have done

French Rsum - Le CV franais - Writing a French Rsum

When applying for a job in a French-speaking country, your rsum

needs to be in French, which is more than a matter of

translation
CV - Spain - iAgora

Spain. Apply with culturally adapted resumes and cover letters and how
to write an internet CV and tips for preparation,

REMEMBER!!!

If you dont put any effort into a CV or its sloppily written, chances
are youll be a lazy and unproductive and sloppy employee!

WYSIWYG!

Phrases are just a guide need adapting to specific organisations

Care with Facebook or other social networks!!!

Check the literature

Preparing your Own CV and How you can get that job! Application forms and
letters made easy", Rebecca Corfield, Kogan Page
http://www.businessballs.com/curriculum.htm

FURTHER RESOURCES
Further Resources

For further details of what to include in a CV, and a description of

chronological and skills based CVs see:
www.prospects.ac.uk/links/cvwriting
There is also an interactive resource for creating CVs created by
our Employability office:

Interactive CV learning object

Futures workbook - CVs and letters to employers
Feedback on CVs
If you are a Leeds Met student or recent Graduate we can
provide feedback on your draft CVs.

http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/careers/

APPLYING FOR THE JOB (II)

PERSONAL STATEMENTS

Languages and the World of Work

Week 8

PERSONAL STATEMENTS

Build into statements can be first person

determined and decisive; uses initiative to develop effective solutions to problems

reliable and dependable - high personal standards and attention to detail

methodical and rigorous approach to achieving tasks and objectives

44

TASK 1
Finish these sentences.
1
2
3

I have used initiative to develop effective solutions to problems. For example, I have
My attention to detail is evidenced in

I focus on achieving tasks to deadlines by

CHOOSE FIVE OF THESE AND WRITE FIRST PERSON

SENTENCES LIKE THOSE ON SLIDE 5: I HAVE

leadership
teamwork
creativity
initiative
problem-solving
self-motivation
discipline
reliability
persistence and determination
compassion and humanity
love and care for others
specific abilities with numbers
languages,
communications and ICT (information and
communications technology - especially
computing and websites), fixing and
making things, selling and marketing
something, etc.

part-time jobs
sport
voluntary work
clubs
caring
supervising, teaching, helping young
people
charity work
hobbies and pastimes
outdoor activities
holidays and travel
and any other personal interests which
illustrate your strengths, capabilities and
passions.

45

When applying for a job you may need to

use:
CVs
Personal Statements

Application Forms
Cover letters

APPLICATION FORMS

Application forms = directed CVs

Pre-selection = initial screening process

looking for reasons to reject applicants

Matching criteria: info in application must

match job and personal description

(Hind 2002 p.133)

APPLICATION FORMS
Job

description

Personal

specification

What will you find under each heading?

APPLICATION FORMS
Job description

What the job involves

Roles and responsibilities
Who you are responsible to
Who you are responsible for
Grade of job

Personal specification: qualities they are looking for

qualifications
research interests/ industry connections
key skills
Essential or desirable
Must provide evidence

COMPLETING JOB APPLICATION

Read carefully job description, personal specification and

application form: do you want the job?

Look at KEY WORDS in specifications and RESPOND to them

Look at the companys web site for further details

Complete application form in black / word-processed

Referees up to date and asked

Keep copy- youll need one for reference!

COVER LETTER

Why writing cover letters?

direct attention to your good points and away from your weaker ones
give you time to work what you want to say and the best way to say it
create the right impression
get to people that you might not otherwise see
get your point across clearly and concisely

Replies to advertised vacancies

Speculative letters
(Williams 2009 p. 1-2)

COVER LETTER
Key objectives:
Make a favourable impression
Inform
Persuade
Get an interview
Build a good relationship

(Williams 2009 p.3)

COVER LETTER

Address to a named person

Must be dated

Determine if they are in response to an advert or an enquiry letter

Explain any gaps travelling, etc.

Dont forget your contact details: address, telephone number and

email.

Must be signed e.g. Yours Sincerely

MUST BE SPELL CHECKED ON UK SPELLING

CRUCIAL THERE ARE NO MISTAKES !!!!!

PLANNING THE LETTER

Presentation
Style
Content

Appearance
Readibility
Layout

Opening
Your case
Company
Closing

Why interested
Answer key points
Relevant experience,
qualifications
Key elements of CV

PLANNING THE LETTER

Presentation
Style
Content

Appearance
Readibility
Layout

Opening
Your case
Company
Closing

Why interested
Answer key points
Relevant experience,
qualifications
Key elements of CV

SEVEN DEADLY SINS

FOR COVER LETTERS
1.

Dont write more than 2 pages. Employers dont have the time or energy
to read an autobiography however well written;

2.

Dont worry about repeating elements of your CV; just state the
information in a different way

3.

4.

5.
6.

7.

Never just write please find my CV attached unless you want it to go

straight in the bin

Never address to Dear Sir/Madam find out name of person as its a

personal approach
Dont handwrite your letter unless specifically asked to do so
Never use coloured/ perfumed/ illustrated paper stick to white , good
quality writing paper and write in black as likely to be photocopied
Dont enclose photo

Phrases for Speculative letters

illustration only

I am writing to enquire if you have any vacancies in your company. I enclose my CV

for your consideration

As you can see I have work experience gained in (STATE) giving me varied skills (
STATE ) and the ability to work with many different types of people (GIVE EXAMPLES)
I believe I could easily fit into your team (GIVE EXAMPLES)

I am a conscientious person who works hard and pays attention to detail. Im flexible,
quick to pick up new skills and eager to learn from others

Im keen to work with an a company with a great reputation like ( name of company)

I am presently undertaking a BA in Language Studies at Leeds Metropolitan

University.

In my first year on the course I have worked on many different projects both
individually and as part of groups. (GIVE EXAMPLES).

Phrases for Speculative letters

illustration only

Ideally I am looking to gain experience of through a paid 48 week placement

which could take place between July 2011 and September 2012.

In addition to wanting to work hard to gain experience I would also be pleased to

complete a project on an issue that is of interest to you

I have excellent references and would be delighted to discuss any possible

vacancy with you at your convenience.

If you do not have any suitable openings at the moment I would be grateful if you
could keep my details on file for any future possibilities that may occur.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this application and I look forward to
hearing from you in the near future.

SHORTLISTING
Criteria

will need to be matched

Essential
Best

or desirable qualities

fit at the end of shortlisting process

Interview

may be based around general gaps in

the application

Next
Get

stage, decline or interview

feedback!

PRESENTATION
So that they can see how you present yourself!

Could be a stand-up presentation based on a topic

May be an exercise
Answer questions
Should get criteria by which you are bring assessed

REFERENCES

Hind, D. and Moss, S. (2005) Employability Skills for Students.

Sunderland: Business Education.

Williams. L. (2009) Readymade Job Search Letters: Winning Letters

and Emails to Help You Get Your Dream Job. London: Kogan Page
Ltd.