Consulting CVs and covering letters for job-seeking graduates
Covering letters
A cover letter is the first point of contact between you and an employer. First impressions count so it’s imperative that your covering letter reflects that you have thought about the job and know about the organisation, as well as briefly outlining the qualities that make you the perfect candidate. This may sound like a lot to fit on an A4 page but with careful thought and planning a great covering letter can open the right doors. It’s important to write a new tailor-made covering letter for each position. This also avoids the risk of leaving the wrong firm or recruiter name on there! You may want to experiment with the content and style but the following four-part structure is a good rule of thumb.
- The opening. Introduce yourself and explain which position you’re applying for and where you saw the advert.
- Why them? Devote a paragraph to explaining why you are interested in the job and/or the organisation.
- Why you? Use the next paragraph or two to explain why you’re the right candidate – but don’t just repeat the content of your CV.
- The ending. Do include the standard ‘look forward to hearing from you’ sentiment, or alternatively you could add a sentence that will give you the chance to follow up the application: ‘I shall phone in the next week to make sure that my application arrived and that you have all the relevant information.’ Finally, remember to sign the letter!
CV self-assessment
Before you put pen to paper to write your CV, take some time to consider your personal profile. Sit down with a sheet of paper and decide on some key headings under which to list things. For example:
- personal goals
- academic accomplishments
- sector-specific work experience
- other work experience (including part-time or casual work)
- leisure, voluntary and extracurricular activities.
This will give you a huge database of application-friendly skills and personal accomplishments that you can use on your CV and application form.
CV structures and etiquette
Like your covering letter, CVs should be tailored to suit each position. The content should reflect the position’s job spec: by highlighting corresponding skills, employers will be able to imagine you more easily in the role. While structure is important, you also need to be creative so that your CV doesn’t blend in with the others. Good quality paper, a neat font style and descriptive explanations of roles will help employers remember your application for the right reasons.
The chronological CV
The traditional chronological CV format is normally two A4 pages and includes the following sections:
- personal details (include term and home address if applicable)
- academic history (reverse chronological order)
- work experience (reverse chronological order)
- achievements (academic and personal)
- interests (brief overview)
- referees (normally one academic and one professional).
The skills-based CV
The skills-based CV is also two A4 pages in length. The structure is slightly different from the chronological CV in that the focus here is on the key skills required for the job, with evidence of how you have demonstrated each of them. Key skills that you might want to cover include:
- research
- teamwork
- problem solving
- communication
- IT proficiency
- self-motivation, flexibility and enthusiasm.
The structure should also include a list of key achievements and a personal statement or career objective near the beginning.
A hybrid CV
Will include elements of both a chronological and a skills-based CV.
There are downloadable CV templates available in several different formats here at TARGETjobs.
Following up
Show a version of your CV and covering letter to a careers adviser, family member or friend for feedback before sending it off. An extra pair of eyes could spot things you have missed. It’s also good to keep a note of dates and make a polite follow-up telephone call to check that your CV and covering letter have arrived.
Five ways to make the wrong impression
- 1. Poor spelling and grammar – it shows a lack of attention to detail and accuracy, and the consulting profession demands a high standard in both. Applications may be binned on this basis alone.
- 2. Text message language and smileys – do U want 2 get the job? If so, only correct English language usage will do and a smiley wink won’t get you anywhere. Keep e-mail and online communication formal and polite.
- 3. Dubious e-mail addresses – keep it professional. redhotlover@hotmale.com doesn’t create the right impression.
- 4. Voice mail messages and phone calls – recruiters may call to confirm details or to schedule an interview time, so don’t answer the phone screaming ‘whazzzzzup!’ Likewise, check your voicemail message and keep it polite and simple. All impressions count so don’t blow it at the very beginning.
- 5. Application addressed to the wrong firm – an immediate black mark against you. Check that you have addressed all correspondence to the correct person at the correct firm, and double check spelling of company names.
