Your CV and covering letter are written to get you an interview.
Your CV needs to be so good that an employer cannot ignore you.
You should tailor your CV to the vacancy you are applying for and the organisation you are applying to. Read any job or person specification carefully, and research the company to find out what is important to them. You should create or adapt your CV to make it clear that you are the right person for the job.
Why not look at the CV writing advice on your university web site? For some general advice, Jobseekers has some useful information.
If you would like a careers adviser to check your CV, we recommend you contact your nearest University Careers Service, to find out if you are able to see an adviser there.
CV checking involves a conversation between the adviser and client, and this can be done more quickly and effectively face-to-face. For this reason, we do not offer this service as part of our Email Guidance service. but we are always happy to answer any CV-related queries you may have.
You may be asked to complete an application form instead of sending a CV. Follow all instructions carefully (such as 'use capital letters', 'write in black ink') and prepare a draft. Once you have your final version (checked and rechecked), always make sure you keep a copy, so that you can read it again before your interview.
Advice about completing application forms is available on BBC Radio 1 One Life which includes examples of tricky questions and explains how to approach them.
It is becoming more common to apply for a vacancy online, and some employers only accept applications this way. Quite often, the reader will be looking for certain key words which you should include, particularly if your application is to be scanned. Useful information about online applications can be found on DoctorJob and the BBC.
A covering letter invites the reader to consider your CV. It enables you to state persuasively and concisely why you want to work for this organisation, and is your opportunity to get the employer's attention. The Guardian website offers guidelines, sample letters and looks at common covering letter mistakes. Unless specifically directed to do so, you should never send a CV without a covering letter.
We also encourage you to visit your University Careers Website. University Careers Websites have a lot of information for their graduates which may be of help to you.
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