CVs and covering letters for part-time jobs

Making your CV shine is one of the first steps in getting your ideal part-time job.

Need to get a part-time job to keep the wolf from the door when you are at uni? You are not alone! Whether you’re aiming to work part time in a bar, a high-street store or in an IT company you will probably need to apply in writing. And if you’ve seen ‘the ideal part-time job’ advertised, the chances are that loads of other people will have too, so to make sure you stand out as a bright spark find out how you can make your CV and covering letter shine.

CVs

The purpose of a CV is to attract an employer’s attention and to encourage them to select you for interview. Here are a few basic tips that will help ensure that yours stands out:

limit your CV to one or two pages
use a clear, uncluttered font and a point size that can be easily read
avoid long paragraphs of unbroken text and use bullet points for emphasis
make sure you include contact details, your education, work experience, skills, interests and references
use positive, active verbs such as organise, manage or negotiate.

As each job is different it’s a good idea to tailor your CV to reflect this. CVs can be written chronologically (listing your education and work experience in reverse order so that the most recent appears first); skills-led (highlighting your skills first); or even a combination (perhaps putting your work experience first). The important thing is to make sure that it’s easy for an employer to see how suitable you might be for the job on offer. For instance, if you are applying for bar work then putting your work experience at The Dirty Duck at the top of the page might prove an attraction. If the job specifies ‘must have good knowledge of Excel spreadsheets’, then starting with your experience of ‘data analysis of information and costing jobs’ for a building supplier could be your unique selling point.

Covering letters

Always include a covering letter with your CV. This is your chance to personalise your application and demonstrate how suitable you are for the job. You’ll be sure to knock-them-dead if you follow a few golden rules:

start by putting the job applied for at the top of the letter
keep it brief
type on one side of the paper only
check it’s well laid out and easy to read
sign with ‘Yours sincerely’ if you know the name of the person you’re writing to and use ‘Yours faithfully’ if you don’t
type or print your name clearly under your signature
remember to sign the letter
ask a friend to read your CV and letter before you send it.

Try to group your information in four main sections: the opening (note what the job is and where you saw it advertised); why you have chosen that job (you think it sounds interesting, it’s something you’ve always wanted to do or perhaps the role offers you the opportunity to build your skills in a particular area); what you have to offer (it is the type of work you have experience of, you have already started to develop some of the skills necessary in previous part-time jobs or just simply your enthusiasm!); the ending (mention when you are available for interview and can start work, especially if these dates differ from those indicated in the advert, emphasise why you think you are suited to the work and say that you would welcome the opportunity to discuss the job with them).

Ticks in the box

Temporary work builds skills and experience. These will all act as Brownie points (or Cub points) when it comes to making career applications for real. If you are lucky, your part time job may even be the key to your later career so it’s worth investing a bit of time and effort in polishing up your CV and letter writing skills now.

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