At various points throughout their careers, professionals will need to prepare a CV and cover letter. Although this task should be a simple one that’s purely based on achievements and aspirations, it is often dreaded and hugely affected by preconceived notions. For example, graduates with little work experience can feel obliged to overcompensate and end up sharing unnecessary information. At the same time, mature job-seekers may have large amounts of experience but fall into the trap of failing to communicate it.
Despite the belief that it’s good to be original on a CV, it is well worth researching CV templates and guides before applying for a job. This is especially true when looking to find employment in a specialist area as many industry experts have shared resources for candidates seeking jobs. From Eursap’s guide to writing the perfect SAP CV to the Digital Marketing Institute’s advice on creating the ideal digital marketing CV, it’s surprising how much helpful information is readily available online.
Sometimes candidates will put almost all of their effort into their CV, believing that it is more important. Perhaps surprisingly however, the reverse is as likely to be true. This is due to the more personal nature of a cover letter, where interest can be sustained for longer and lasting impressions can be forged.
Ultimately, neither should be underestimated in importance, and the best CVs and cover letters tend to follow the same advice. For crafting a perfect CV and cover letter, keep these four tips in mind:
Short and simple
There is only a small window of opportunity for captivating the employer and that window shrinks as each document gets longer. It is crucial to discuss skills and experiences but equally important not to get carried away. If a CV or cover letter starts to feel too detailed, cut the weight out and save more for the interview. It is better to have employers wanting to know more about you than wishing they knew less.
Specific address
With professional networking websites like LinkedIn available, there are no excuses for not addressing your documents to the specific individual who will be reading it. A clearly addressed CV and cover letter will be treated with much more respect. Furthermore, if you are the only applicant to have done so, it could make a vital difference.
Make a match
Make sure your CV and cover letter both reflect the ethos of the enterprise you’ve sent it to. This applies to your style of writing, the design of your documents and use of colours. It can also inform what you choose to mention. For example, if your research reveals that the company you’ve applied to has an office dog, making a small reference to this could help to establish a positive connection.
Passion and positivity
No matter what industry you have considered, it will be imperative for you to sound excited about it. One of the tell-tale signs that somebody has thoughtlessly mass-mailed their CV and cover letter is that they have conveyed a distinct lack of interest for the subject. Of course you should be wary of overdoing it, but staying positive can have a transformative effect when discussing potentially negative aspects of your employment history (such as long unexplained gaps). For example, if your CV details an extended period of unemployment with no apparent professional activity, your cover letter can express the benefits of that period of time.
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