The Aspire Guide - Flipbook - Page 55
Tackling Job Applications - Your CV and
Cover Letter
Melissa is a Programme Leader at upReach. Her role is to support
undergraduate students with their employability and help them when
applying to top employers. Check out below her top tips on how to
succeed in those initial stages of making job applications:
Where should I begin?:
If you’re interested in securing a role or looking to get some work
experience it can be hard to know where to start. You first need to establish
where you’re interested in working. Considering your experience, as well
as the skills you have (for example, maybe you’re a really strong public
speaker), can help guide you in the right direction. To find opportunities,
you can look online and see what’s currently available. However, you
should also consider making “speculative applications”, which is where you reach out to organisations
asking if they have any open positions or would allow you to get some experience with them on a more
informal basis. To apply for both formal and informal opportunities, you should typically apply with a CV
and cover letter so we’ve provided some tips below on how to make them the best they can be!
Your CV:
Depending on the job for which you’re applying, the application process might be very different, but for
most roles you will require a CV. The purpose of a CV is to describe your experiences to recruiters, and
give them a factual account of how you have gained the skills necessary for the role in question. While
CVs should be fairly general, the information you choose to include may differ depending upon the role.
You may also be required to write a cover letter, which should include your motivations for that specific
role and that company, as well as detailing further how your experience makes you a good fit for the
role you’re after. When applying for jobs it is important to make sure your CV accurately reflects your
achievements. A CV should be 1-2 pages, and be a factual account. Try not to use too many paragraphs
- instead use bullet points. Check out the example CV we’ve included on the next page which you can
use as a template when creating your own!
Cover Letters:
A cover letter is a 1-2 page document that provides information regarding a candidate’s skills, interests,
expertise and motivations. Including a cover letter is necessary as it gives you the chance to explain
to an employer why you’re the best candidate for the job. You do this by highlighting relevant skills
and experience, so you should always write your cover letter with the position you’re applying for in
mind. Before you start writing you should research about each organisation that you apply to! This will
demonstrate to the recruiter that you have a genuine interest in the business and position. The best place
to start is the company website. Read the ‘about us’ and ‘our values’ sections, as well as the recruitment
page - these are excellent points to highlight.
We’ve also included an example of a Cover Letter template on Page 57 that you can use as inspiration
when writing one yourself.
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