How to write a CV and Cover letter
The coaches at Hire Pals have both reviewed and helped people write thousands of CVs and cover letters. Here we have curated some of our most effective tips.
When it comes to applying for a new job your CV is the first thing an employer will see, so you need to be able to demonstrate your skills and experience at a glance in order to get an interview. We recommend that you divide your CV into six key sections;
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Personal Information
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Personal Statement
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Career History
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Key Skills
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Education and Qualifications
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Hobbies and Interests
We break down each of these categories below and explain what you need to include in your CV. If you want a second opinion, or would like to one of our expert coaches to help you tailor your CV for a specific job application, simply book a review below.
Your CV
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Personal information
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The first part of your CV, positioned at the top of the page, should contain your name, professional title, contact details and links to your professional social media. You no longer need to include your full address, but you can list your Town/City and County.
Do not include your date of birth, nationality or religion unless specifically requested. In some countries this is still considered standard but is not necessary in the UK.
Personal statement
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In our opinion, this is the most important part of your CV. Most of the time it’s what gets you the interview. It’s a short paragraph that gives prospective employers an overview of who you are and a summary of your most recent and relevant experience.
Ensure you tailor this statement to every job you apply for. Keep it short and sweet and no longer than a few sentences. Mention your title, what you can offer and your proudest career accomplishments and/or what you want to achieve in your career.
Try not to fill this statement with generic terms such as hard working, flexible and the most common 'I can equally work well in a team or on my own initiative'.
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Career History
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Your career history gives you a chance to outline your previous roles and key accomplishments. Start by writing the company name, dates of employment and your title. Unless your company was a household name like Coca Cola or Tesco, include a sentence to describe who the company is and what they do. For example: John Lewis is the world's largest employee owned business operating in retail, both online and in store. List your experience in reverse chronological order as your recent role is the most relevant to the employer. When listing each position, be sure to include your achievements, not just your key responsibilities.
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Key skills
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Include your key skills here. Remember if setting up online accounts with job boards, these skills can act as keywords that help get your CV in front of recruiters. Be sure to include your computer skills, foreign language fluency and other competencies that are relevant to the role you are applying for.
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Education and Qualifications
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Take care to include the names of institutions in reverse order, university before school results. For graduates entering the job market, this part of the CV should be moved to the top of your CV.
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Hobbies and interests
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This is a great opportunity to align your interests to the organisation you are applying to. For example, if the organisation you are applying to has a commitment to sustainability, then mentioning your personal values and beliefs in this area would be a good idea. Include any community groups you are part of or charity work you have completed.
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Writing your Cover letter
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Although the cover letter is not always required, some organisations still ask for one to be included. When asked to include a cover letter you will need to ensure it both sells your skills and abilities, and also persuades the reader to want to meet you.
Research the role and company
Take time to look into the role you’re applying for and the company – and use this information to tailor your cover letter accordingly.
When writing a cover letter, you should find out:
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What does the company do?
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What does the role involve?
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What are the essential skills?
Once you’ve found answers to these questions, you’ll be able to make it clear in your cover letter how your skills and abilities match up with what the employer is looking for.
The layout of your cover letter
The layout will either be an email, or you may be asked to upload your letter to the career page as an attachment. Email tends to be less formal and an attachment would follow standard structure of a letter.
Starting the letter – What is the reason you're making contact?
This paragraph should be short and to the point. It should explain why you are making contact and how you found out about the opportunity. Be sure to mention the name of any existing employees that you know, especially if they referred you for the role.
Second paragraph – Why do you believe you are the right candidate for the role?
Provide a short description of your professional experience that is relevant to the role and ensure you align this to each of the skills listed in the job description.
Third paragraph – What will you bring to the company?
This is your opportunity to share what it is you can bring to the company. Be sure to include your career goals (adapting them to the position) and expand on highlights from your CV – including examples to back up your skills.
Fourth paragraph – Reiterate the main points.
This is where you reiterate your interest in the role and why you are the right candidate. It is also a good opportunity to share your availability for an interview.
Closing the letter
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Sign off your cover letter with ‘Yours sincerely’ (if you know the name of the hiring manager), or ‘Yours faithfully’ (if you don’t), followed by your name.
Your example Cover letter
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Dear Hiring Manager
I wish to apply for the role of Customer service team leader, currently being advertised online. Please find enclosed my CV for your consideration.
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I have long admired your organisation and I believe my values align to those of Hire Pals.
As you can see from my attached CV, I have extensive experience in customer service, and I believe my knowledge and skills in this area make me the perfect candidate for your role.
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In my current role as Customer service advisor, I have been responsible for increasing customer satisfaction by 26% in under 12 months, which in turn has had a direct impact on business revenue.
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I am confident that I can bring this level of success with me to your company and help Hire Pals build upon their reputation. With my previous experience and expertise, I believe I can start actively contributing to the business as soon as possible.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I am available for an interview in the coming weeks and look forward to meeting with you to discuss my application further.
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Yours sincerely,
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