After studying the unsolicited letter below, answer the questions.

1. How did Marcus Bauer hear about Mitchell Hill?

2. What is his present post, and what does he do?

3. What are his qualifications?   

4. Why do you think his bank encourages employees to work abroad?

5. What does he want Mitchell Hill to send him?

 

Furstenberg 78 D-30000 Hanover 71 Germany   21 June 2014   Mr John Brown Manager Mitchell Hill PLC 11-15 Montague Street London EC15DN   Dear Mr Brown   I am writing to you on the recommendation of David McLean, Assistant Manager in your Securities Department. We met last month on a course in Hanover, and he suggested that I should contact your company and mention his name. He told me that you often employ people from other countries on one-year temporary contracts, and I am writing to enquire about the possibility of such a post.   I am at present employed by the International Bank in Hanover, in their Securities Department. I have worked here since 2006, when I graduated from the University of Munich with a degree in Economics. In my present position as Assistant to Wolfgang Lugers, Director of the Securities Department, I deal with a wide range of investments from companies throughout Europe, buying shares and bonds for them on a worldwide basis. As well as speaking fluent English, I also have a good working knowledge of French.   I would like to spend a year in the UK to gain further experience in securities investment with a British bank, and believe that my experience, training, and language skills would prove useful to your organization. My employer encourages all its staff to spend a year abroad and Mr Lugers would be willing to give you a reference.   I would be grateful if you could send me an application form and further information about the posts currently available. If you need any further information, I can be contacted by email on bauernm@mail.de or telephone on 49 511506941.   Yours sincerely Marcus Bauer Marcus Bauer

 

 

Application form

 

Covering letter

In this example, notice that the applicant starts by referring to the job advertisement. She then goes on to expand on her present duties and give other information that she feels is relevant to the post. She also explains why she is applying for this particular vacancy. If, on her CV, she gives her current employers as referees, she could mention that she would prefer International Computing Services not to approach them until after an interview.

35 Westland Road Kingston UK   18 June 2013   Mrs J. Hastings Personnel Officer International Computing Services PLC City Road London EX4HU   Your Ref: KH 305/9   Dear Mrs Hastings   I would like to apply for the vacancy advertised in the Guardian on 16 June for a Personal Assistant to the Sales Director.   As you will see from my CV, I am currently Personal Assistant to the Sales Manager of a small engineering company. In addition to the day-to-day administration work, I represent the Sales Manager on some occasions and am delegated to take certain policy decisions in his absence.   I speak good French and Italian, and use both languages in the course of my work. I am particularly interested in this post as I would like to become more involved with an IT organization and am very familiar with many of your software products.   If there is any further information you require, please contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.   Yours sincerely Carol Brice Carol Brice (Ms)   Enc. CV

CURRICULUM VITAE (RESUME)

 

A Curriculum Vitae or CV is a summary of your working history, the skills and experiences you have gained during the course of it.

 

A good CV should:

1. attract attention,

2. create a positive impression,

3. present your skills and qualities clearly and concisely.

 

The purpose of a CV is to tell your prospective employer why you should be hired. Consider it as your personal marketing instrument. A good CV will help you open the door to a job interview.

        

CV Writing Tips

As you write your CV keep in mind the following:

- use concise language,

- minimize or omit everything which is irrelevant,

- select and order the major categories so that the most relevant information is placed near the top of your CV where it will draw the reader’s special attention,

- your CV must be free of spelling and grammar mistakes,

- have your CV critiqued by an experienced person,

- print your CV on white paper.

 

A CV is essential if you’re applying for a new job or for promotion within your own company. Some information might be given in your CV, some in your letter of application. There are no fixed international rules about this: different countries have different practices.

10. Now work in pairs. Decide whether you in your country and in your line of business would normally give the information below in

a) a CV or Resume?

b) a Letter of Application?

c) an Application Form?

1. Your name, address and telephone number
2. Your marital status
3. Name and address of present (or last) employer
4. Your hobbies and leisure interests
5. Sports you play
6. Details of all jobs you have had
7. Languages you speak, read or write
8. Details of the examinations you passed at school
9. Details of professional diplomas or degrees you have gained
10. Details of training courses you have attended
11. Details of your achievements and responsibilities in your working career
12. Your suitability for the job advertised
13. Your reasons for applying for this job
14. When you are available for an interview
15. Details of your present (or last) job
16. Your current (or last) salary
17. Salary you would expect to receive
18. Names and addresses of two or three referees

 

What other information would you provide? Which of the information would you not give at all?

 

There are a number of ways of presenting information in a CV.

 

Traditionally, the sequence was name, address, contact details, marital status, education, qualifications, work experience, referees, and interests. However, it is now more common to begin with brief personal details, followed by a short profile or description of yourself (sometimes also called a career summary). After that, the most important information is recent employment history, and skills and qualifications. In the interests of completeness, you should account for all years since leaving school, but if the information is irrelevant to the position you are applying for or is some years old, you should summarize it as briefly as possible.

 

These days, it is generally unnecessary to mention marital status, children, age, health, or current salary unless specifically asked to do so, but this will vary according to the law and custom in different countries.

 

Here is a typical CV for an experienced professional.

 

Wendy Benson