Career Development(CV/ Cover Letter/ Job Interview)

1st January 2013

Curriculum Vitae & Cover Letters

What is a Curriculum Vitae?

This is a short account of one's career and qualifications prepared typically by an applicant for a position.(merriam-webster, 2013)

What is a Resume?

Formal presentation of a job applicant's education, skills, and work experience.(businessdictionary, 2013)

Curriculum Vitae

General Set up features of a CV:

• Font: Time new Roman
• Regular paper: White
• Font size: 12 points
• No underlining but can bold or use caps to stand out things
• Single sided
• 1" margin in all around
• Number the pages
• No graphics
• Full name on every page

Sections of a CV

1.  Contact Information
2. Objective
3. Education
4. Honors & Awards
5. Professional Experience
6. Publications/ Presentations
7. Extra-curricular & Volunteer Experience
8. Interests

 

 Cover Letter

Why write a cover letter?(law.du, 2013)

The cover letter is your first and possibly, only opportunity to engage a prospective employer. It is a 

key marketing tool to convince the employer to take the time to look at your resume. .

The primary purpose of your cover letter, when combined with your resume, is to get an interview.

The second purpose is to communicate “the intangibles” not readily apparent from the factual

content of your resume. It should be written in a tone that is direct, unassuming, and conveys

enthusiasm. 

Helpful hints while writing cover letter

• Be assertive
• Value to employer
• Simple and direct language
• No grammar errors
• Reflect your individuality
• Spell recipient name correctly
• Be friendly
• Target your letter

 Sections of Cover Letter

• Your address  and date
• Recipient name and address
• Salutation
• Body of the letter
• Complimentary close and signature
• Title of respect
• Return address and  zip code

Job Interviews 

What is an Interview?

It is a meeting of two people face to face to accomplish a known purpose by discussion.

2 important facts to remember in an interview:

• Aptitude : Able to learn new technologies
• Attitude : Able to work with others

In an interview there may be 3 types of people :

• Technical
• Emotional Quantum
• Evident of the CV

 Types of questions that can be asked from you in an interview:

• Rapport building questions - helps to put the candidate at ease
• Open-ended questions - Depending on how the first questions were answered, this set of questions will be brought up
• Probing questions - These are mostly technical type questions
• Non-questions - Makes the candidate comfortable at responding by asking questions that does not end with a question

 

Reference List

1. CurriculumVitae[Online]. Available on: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curriculum%20vitae (Viewed on: 8th January 2013)
   
2. Resume[Online]. Available on: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/resume.html
   (Viewed on: 8th January 2013)
3. The importance of a cover letter[Online]. Available on: http://www.law.du.edu/images/uploads/career-development-and-opportunities/cover-letter.pdf (Viewed on: 8th January 2013)

Images:

1. http://www.personalityexplorer.com/
2. http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/coveringletters.htm 
3. http://blog.sironaconsulting.com/sironasays/2009/10/my-top-10-funny-job-interview-cartoons.html