Mention your exams, but don’t list every result

There’s no need to waste valuable space on your cover letter listing every grade you got at school – that belongs on your CV.
Instead, talk about your experience at school, how certain subjects apply to the job you’re after, and perhaps what you enjoyed most and would like to use in your career. Use your exams as an opportunity to describe your motivation and enthusiasm to achieve good results. You can reference your CV by saying that further details are available on it.

Are there other school-related qualities you can highlight?

It’s not just exam results which can impress a potential employer, have a think about other skills and achievements you can talk about in your cover letter.

For instance, did you have a particularly good attendance and/or punctuality record, were you given extra responsibilities, or did you win any awards? All of these examples show you’re a well-rounded individual with a wide range of skills ready for the working world.

Think about how your hobbies/extra-curricular activities are relevant

In the absence of job-based skills, draw on any hobbies or after school activities which may show off your potential. If you have an unusual hobby that shows a particular skill, be sure to mention your enthusiasm for it, and how you’d be keen to incorporate it into your career.

Being part of any after-school activities or social clubs also shows commitment, dedication and other useful skills.

Show ambition

You’ve just left school with little or no work experience, you’ve got the opportunity to do whatever you want. Highlighting your ambition shows your desire to learn and develop within the role, and hopefully will lead to promotion or other exciting opportunities down the line.

Be careful of going too over the top or you risk sounding precocious.

Highlight your immediate availability

Something you have over other candidates who are currently in employment is your ability to start immediately. It’s also likely that you’ll be much more flexible than older colleagues who have family and other responsibilities – show an enthusiasm to work unusual hours and weekends to show your dedication and commitment. 

 Source: www.totaljobs.com

 What Are Transferable Skills?

Transferable skills are skills you acquire during your education, internships, or through work experience that you bring with you to future employment settings. Some common examples of transferable hard skills include:

• Experience with computer programs
• Management experience
• Proficiency in another language
• Typing

Transferable skills can also include soft skills, and employers are finding these transferable skills increasingly valuable in new hires. A recent study by LiveCareer identified the most in-demand soft skills to discover what specific traits employers value the most. Based on that data, when creating a transferable skills list, be sure to include these in-demand soft skills:

• Customer service
• Written and verbal communication
• Problem-solving
• Organizational skills

Why Should I Include Transferable Skills in My Resume?

Transferable skills help you market yourself to employers and creating a transferable skills list on your resume is an excellent way for them to see at-a-glance what you’ll bring to the table if you are hired.

For instance, if you’re a former teacher applying for a customer service job or office support role, your resume should include transferable skills like strong communication skills and leadership skills. These skills that you developed so that in the classroom will transfer nicely to a new position in customer service.

Who Needs Transferable Skills?

Including transferable skills on a resume is especially important for individuals who are changing job titles, or who are moving to different fields altogether. They are also critical for recent college graduates who have little to no work experience, and those who have been out of the general workforce for a while.

In short, if you don’t have direct experience related to the job title you are seeking, transferable skills are crucial.

For example, a new college grad who worked as a campus tour guide while in college has developed solid communication skills and customer service skills while leading prospective students and families on guided tours. These skills are applicable to a variety of customer-facing roles, such as a hostess, customer service rep, and tech support, among many other examples.

Incorporating Transferable Skills in Your Resume

Your transferable skills list should be included towards the top of your resume, underneath the summary section. To help you get started, review the comprehensive transferable skills lists below, which are divided into common categories to help you pick out the ones you need.

Transferable Skills List: Communication

This section refers to the expression, transmission, and interpretation of knowledge and ideas, and includes these specific skills:

• Speaking effectively
• Writing concisely
• Listening attentively
• Expressing ideas
• Facilitating group discussion
• Providing appropriate feedback, either independently or when asked
• Negotiating
• Perceiving nonverbal messages
• Persuading others
• Reporting information
• Describing feelings
• Interviewing
• Editing

Transferable Skills List: Research and Planning

This list includes your ability to conceptualize future needs, your solutions for meeting those needs, and your search for specific knowledge that’s required for completing a task.

• Forecasting and predicting
• Creating ideas
• Identifying problems
• Imagining alternatives
• Identifying appropriate resources
• Gathering information
• Solving problems
• Setting goals
• Extracting important information
• Defining needs and requirements
• Analyzing information
• Developing evaluation strategies

Transferable Skills List: Interpersonal Skills and Human Relations

This refers to your ability to work well with others, especially when it involves conflict resolution or problem-solving.

• Developing rapport with coworkers and customers
• Being sensitive to others
• Listening
• Conveying feelings appropriately
• Providing support for others
• Motivating others
• Sharing credit with colleagues
• Counseling
• Cooperating
• Delegating with respect
• Representing others
• Accurately perceiving feelings or situations
• Asserting

Transferable Skills List: Creative Thinking Skills

This list includes competencies related to thinking critically or being flexible in your thinking. You might need to spot patterns in the information you’re analyzing, for instance, or devise a new solution to an ongoing problem.

• Demonstrating cognitive flexibility, thinking outside the box
• Conceptualizing situations
• Showing curiosity
• Being imaginative
• Predicting and anticipating shortfalls
• Showing foresight
• Making abstract connections
• Making inferences
• Synthesizing ideas

Transferable Skills List: Organization, Management, and Leadership Skills

These skills relate to your ability to supervise, direct, and guide individuals and groups in the completion of tasks and fulfillment of goals.

• Initiating new ideas
• Handling details
• Coordinating and planning tasks
• Managing groups
• Delegating responsibility to others
• Teaching
• Counseling
• Coaching
• Promoting change
• Selling ideas or products
• Decision making with others
• Managing conflict
• Following through on tasks
• Multitasking
• Demonstrating effective time management

Transferable Skills List: Work Survival Skills

These are the day-to-day, nitty-gritty skills that assist in promoting effective production and work satisfaction.

• Making and implementing decisions
• Cooperating
• Enforcing policies or established rules
• Being punctual
• Managing time wisely
• Attending to detail
• Meeting goals, both short-term and long-term
• Enlisting the help of others when you need it
• Accepting responsibility
• Setting deadlines and meeting them
• Organizing

Whether you’re jumping back into the workforce, a recent college grad, or exploring a new career path, you’re bound to get better results and callbacks for jobs you apply for when you make sure to include a transferable skills list on your resume. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to impress a prospective employer with the talents and aptitudes you’ve developed over the years. They just might be the things that tip the scales in your favor and earn you your next dream job.

Source: Livecareer.com

Pic: Freepik.com

How should I structure my cover letter?

Follow these steps:

Start with the advert REFERENCE (eg. job title, code, ref no etc). Look for it.

Include your name, telephone and/or email address. Next, the name and position in the company of the person you’re sending your CV to.

The date.

Dear ……  (if possible, type in Mr, Mrs, Ms, Dr and the person’s surname).  This makes your Cover Letter more personal.  If you can’t find out their name, write Dear Sir/Madam.

Name of job advertised.

(Paragraph 1):  Describe briefly why this job is exciting for you and why you would like to apply for the job.  Always be positive.  They do not want to hear about your problems.

(Paragraph 2):  Briefly list your skills and qualifications and why you would be perfect for the job and the company.  This will show you have done your research and that you are focused on THIS job.

(Paragraph 3):  Let the company know you are confident in your abilities.  Let them know you are looking forward to hearing from them.  Always come across eager NOT desperate.

Finish the Cover Letter with either Yours sincerely (if you know the receiver’s name) or Yours faithfully (if you don’t know the receiver’s name).

Keep it short. Half a page to a full page, no more.

How should I structure my CV?

Make sure ALL your PERSONAL INFORMATION is up to date and correct. Double check. You will be surprised how many mistakes are made on CV’s. One mistake could cost you the job.  

Remember to include:

• Surname
• First names
• Gender
• Physical address
• Contact numbers
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• Marital status
• Driver’s license (if you have one)

MOTIVATION – WHY do you want THIS job?

• Describe why you want THISjob and how YOU would fit THIS job perfectly.
• Make sure you match ALL the requirements 100%. If you don’t, your CV will go straight in the bin.
• Avoid sounding desperate. Rather sound ambitious.

EDUCATION

• Read the advert carefully. Send them EXACTLYwhat they want.
• If they ask,  include ALLyour qualifications (matric certificate, diplomas, degrees, driver’s licences etc).
• If they ask, include your transcripts (your marks).

COMPUTER SKILLS

• If the advert says ‘be computer literate’– only apply if you are!
• Computer literacy usually means you have skills in MS Word, MS Office, Excel and sometimes, Powerpoint.
  If you have ANYother computer skills, list them.
• For example: I can email. I have MS Word and Excel skills. I have Powerpoint skills (advanced). Etc.

(7) ACHIEVEMENTS

• If you have any achievements, list them.
• Example: I won 2nd prize in the Mathematics Olympiad in 2018. I was soccer captain at university. Etc.

(8) ACTIVITIES

• If you participate in any activities that might help you get THISjob – tell them.
• For example: I have volunteered at the local Hospice for the past 3 years. I have learned to be a team player and I have become a very reliable and responsible person.

(9) EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

• Even if you’ve had part-time student jobs, these still look fantastic on your CV. It means you are ambitious.
• List them in order, from the most RECENT to the oldest. Remember to include the periods (dates) you worked, the company names and telephone numbers.

(10) REFERENCES

• Choose people who you have worked or volunteered for in the past.
• Avoid asking family members or friends.
• Remember to include their name and contact details.
• Make sure you tell them EACH time you apply for a job so they are prepared if someone phones th

‘Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well.’  – Josh Billings 

Pic: <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/writing-your-curriculum-vitae_757849.htm”>Designed by Freepik</a>

But what is a cover letter? And what should you put in it? On this page, we talk you through the basics so you know exactly how to write a cover letter.

First, check out this video we made specially for you:

What is a cover letter?

Most job applications are made up of two parts – a CV and a cover letter. The cover letter is usually the first thing the employer will see, so a good cover letter is like the wrapping paper for your CV: it gets an employer excited about what’s inside. While your CV tells a potential employer about your skills and experience, a cover letter tells them exactly why you’re applying.

Now writing an exciting letter for a job application might sound like a tall order, but the good news is there’s a knack to it. In fact, it’s a bit like a recipe – as long as you know the ingredients and how to put them together, the result should be perfect.

The infographic on the right lists the main purposes of a cover letter – you’ll find it much easier if you bear these points in mind when writing yours. Right click and select “View image in new tab” to see a bigger version.

Why do I need a cover letter?

Most employers have to look through dozens or even hundreds of applications for every job they advertise. Writing a strong cover letter will make you stand out from the crowd.

This shows the employer that you are genuinely interested in the job and motivates them to interview you. And as it’s the first thing they’ll see, it’s your chance to make a good impression and explain to them why you’re a perfect fit for the job.

What to write in a cover letter

It’s important to remember that every cover letter should be unique to the job you’re applying for, but there’s also a standard way to structure them. Following this formula makes it easy for the employer to find the information they’re looking for, and shows them that you’ve done your research and care about the job.

Cover letters are divided into three parts: the introduction, your “pitch”, and the sign off. Here, we show you exactly what to write in a cover letter.

You might like to look at this alongside our cover letter template.

Paragraph 1: The introduction

This is the easy part. Address whoever is receiving the letter, then introduce yourself and the role you’re applying for. They’ll want to know who you are and why you’re writing.

Top tip: Find out the name of the person who will be receiving the letter. This grabs their attention and shows that you’ve taken the time to tailor your letter specifically for them. You can start with “Dear Hiring Manager” or “To Whom It May Concern” but it’s always best to use the person’s name. We recommend making a phone call if you can’t find it online. It’s not as scary as it sounds, and gives you chance to introduce yourself verbally.

Paragraph 2: The “pitch”

This is where you get to really sell yourself. First of all, let them know why you want to work for them. Don’t just say “I need a job”: show them you care about what they do. If you’re a fan of one their products, let them know. Or maybe you’re after a challenge? Write that down, too!

Next, show them why you’re right for that specific role. Here’s how to do it:

• Look at the requirements listed in the job description.
• Next to each, note down why you meet it and some specific examples which show this. These can be from school, your part-time job or any clubs or societies you’re part of. For example, if the job requires you to handle money, let them know about your great maths grades.
• Include as many of these as you can in the space you have available, which will be one or two paragraphs. As long as it’s relevant, you can use one example to illustrate two or more skills from the job description.

The aim here is to show your interest in the job and summarise your relevant skills. Make sure you don’t just list what’s on your CV. This part of your cover letter is important because it shows specifically how your skills and experience relate to the job, whereas your CV is a general summary of your school and work history.

Paragraph 3: The sign off

Alright, you’re almost done. But like any polite conversation you can’t just up and leave without saying goodbye. Thank the reader for their time, let them know you’re looking forward to hearing from them, and sign off with a nice “Your sincerely”.

Check, check and check again

And you’re done! Well, almost…

After all that hard work, you want your effort to pay off. Spelling errors, typos and other silly mistakes are the best way to get your application filed under B for Bin. So while knowing what to write in a cover letter is crucial, remembering to give it a thorough read-through at the end is really important too.

We also suggest asking a careers adviser, teacher or parent to give it a sanity check before you send it off.

Sending it off

Now you’re ready to submit your application! Nowadays, you usually do this by attaching your cover letter and CV to an email. Don’t forget, this email is the first thing the recruiter will see, so make sure it’s polite, error-free and to-the-point:

• Start as you began your cover letter: “Dear so and so…”
• Say what job you’re applying for and how you found out about it.
• List the documents you’ve included with the email, for example: “Please find attached my cover letter and CV”.
• Email etiquette is slightly different to letters, so sign off with “Kind regards” instead of “Yours sincerely”.

And finally…

Remember, try not to use the same letter for different job applications. Take the time to write a cover letter that is unique to the job you’re applying for and you’ll be surprised by the results. We’ve got a special article listing all the major dos and don’ts which is also worth a look.

We hope this article has given you a good idea of how to write a cover letter. Here are some more resources to help get you that dream job!

Content kindly supplied with permission from: successatschool.

Knowing why this is, and how to improve your chances of your résumé saying hello to a human eye, is essential for landing that job you want. How can you prevent this from happening and stand a better chance of being discovered amongst thousands of other applicants?

Why the miss?

Nowadays, with increased complexity and more CVs being submitted per online job than ever before, those judging the CVs for rejection or interviews are inundated with administrative work. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATSs) and CV parser technologies have entered the market and do most of the “dirty work” by sifting through hundreds of applications and automatically rejecting those that don’t seem to made the grade.

Still, some software programs used by recruiting agencies and companies are at fault in the fact that they mistakenly disregard CVs based on a lack of info (such as the right keywords, for instance). However, applying certain formats and key aspects to your CV, whilst omitting others, will go a long way to getting your CV in front of the right person.

Experts suggest the following tips:

• Make sure that your CV is spelling-error free – spelling mistakes can cause your CV to be discarded with words not being recognised by the software. This is especially important when it involves important words in your CV such as job title, for example.
• Zoning in on skills – use keywords related and directed at your skills and put them into your CV. The software can pick these up when filtering out the best CVs. An example would be for a software developer to use the words programming, coding and developing in their CV instead of only using one all along.
• Utilise MSWord format or PDF – When it comes to format, you have to choose which one will stand a better chance. Depending on the advancement of the software, it may read PDF, but sometimes it’s best to go with a regular formatted MSWord document instead. Don’t use anything other than these two options.
• Consistency – being consistent with the format of information on your CV plays an important role for example stating work history (company name, job title, location and date).
• Simple easy to read font – When it comes to the font choice, it’s best to go with a standard fonts such as Times New Roman, Arial or Tahoma. Also don’t colour your CV fonts, rather stick to regular black ink.
• CV headings – keep your CV headings standard such as skills, education, languages and work experience.

When it comes to things you should avoid on your CV, the following are some pointers to steer clear from:

• Avoid using image files or images in your résumé
• Don’t use white font in an attempt to add keywords – CV parsers are sophisticated enough to spot this
• No tables – these confuse the software packages when they “break down” the tables to text
• No special texts or fonts
• Avoid spamming a company with several CVs to the same job – most ATSs can spot this and may even ignore ome of your applications
• Avoid unnecessary abbreviations that may not be recognised by software parsers
• Don’t put any headings into the footer and header sections of a page – these are often not read by the robots.

Your CV May Never Be Seen by a Human

Everyone applying for a job would like their CV to be seen by a recruiter or line manager, not right? The question is rhetorical, in fact, why wouldn’t it be seen, even if only for a short few minutes before being rejected? Well, truth be told, there are various reasons why potential candidates CV’s aren’t being looked by recruiters, managers or even any human at all.

Knowing why this is so and how to improve your chances of your résumé saying hello to a human eye is essential in landing that top job you want. How can you prevent this from happening and stand a better chance of being discovered amongst thousands of other applicants?

Why the miss?

Nowadays, with increased complexity and more CVs being submitted per online job than ever before, those judging the CVs for rejection or interviews are inundated with administrative work. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATSs) and CV parser technologies have entered the market and do most of the “dirty work” by sifting through hundreds of applications and automatically rejecting those that don’t seem to made the grade.

Still, some software programs used by recruiting agencies and companies are at fault in the fact that they mistakenly disregard CVs based on a lack of info (such as the right keywords, for instance). However, applying certain formats and key aspects to your CV, whilst omitting others, will go a long way to getting your CV in front of the right person.

Experts suggest the following tips:

• Make sure that your CV is spelling-error free – spelling mistakes can cause your CV to be discarded with words not being recognised by the software. This is especially important when it involves important words in your CV such as job title, for example.
• Zoning in on skills – use keywords related and directed at your skills and put them into your CV. The software can pick these up when filtering out the best CVs. An example would be for a software developer to use the words programming, coding and developing in their CV instead of only using one all along.
• Utilise MSWord format or PDF – When it comes to format, you have to choose which one will stand a better chance. Depending on the advancement of the software, it may read PDF, but sometimes it’s best to go with a regular formatted MSWord document instead. Don’t use anything other than these two options.
• Consistency – being consistent with the format of information on your CV plays an important role for example stating work history (company name, job title, location and date).
• Simple easy to read font – When it comes to the font choice, it’s best to go with a standard fonts such as Times New Roman, Arial or Tahoma. Also don’t colour your CV fonts, rather stick to regular black ink.
• CV headings – keep your CV headings standard such as skills, education, languages and work experience.

When it comes to things you should avoid on your CV, the following are some pointers to steer clear from:

• Avoid using image files or images in your résumé
• Don’t use white font in an attempt to add keywords – CV parsers are sophisticated enough to spot this
• No tables – these confuse the software packages when they “break down” the tables to text
• No special texts or fonts
• Avoid spamming a company with several CVs to the same job – most ATSs can spot this and may even ignore ome of your applications
• Avoid unnecessary abbreviations that may not be recognised by software parsers
• Don’t put any headings into the footer and header sections of a page – these are often not read by the robots.

If you can master the art of creating or sprucing up your CV to pass ATS and CV parser software then you’re well on your way to a possible interview.

If you can master the art of creating or sprucing up your CV to pass ATS and CV parser software then you’re well on your way to a possible interview.

Source: Adzuna