“Get that job”

1. “Get that job” How to write an effective CV and covering letter in English Tomas Davidson Pirjo Väänänen

2. Preparation • Application form or CV? • Collect as much information as you can about the company and the work they do. • Make a list of the recruiter´s main needs. • Do you have the right skills, qualities? • Does this job feel right for you? • Be positive – chose positive/action words where possible. • Answering an ad? Speculative approach? • Creating a good CV and covering letter takes time.

3. CV strategy for jobhunting DO: • make an inventory of your skills/experience • make an inventory of the skills/experience required for the job • reflect over where your strong points lie in this case – your education or experience? – a combination? • think about the possible advantages you as an applicant from another country could bring to an employer.

4. CV strategy for jobhunting DO • think about whether there are any difficulties you may face as an applicant from another country Keep the tone of your application positive e.g. Due to a cycle accident I had to break off my studies but managed to successfully complete the course the following term…………….. DON’T • be tempted to translate your academic qualifications into the Swedish ”equivalent” without checking.

5. CV HEADINGS: • A CV SHOULD INCLUDE: • PERSONAL DETAILS • EDUCATION • WORK EXPERIENCE • A CV WOULD USUALLY INCLUDE: • SKILLS • INTERESTS • REFERENCES • OPTIONAL: • CAREER OBJECTIVE OR CAREER PROFILE

6. Personal details should include: • Name and address, • Date of birth: 22(nd) November 1976 (Swedish ID-number) • Nationality (No work permit necessary for EU/EEA citizens) • Phone numbers – work, home, summer cottage? (Don´t forget the country code e.g. +int 46 18 35 4621) • E-mail address

7. Personal details…continued • MALE/FEMALE: Important if your sex isn’t obvious from your name – otherwise not necessary • MARITAL STATUS: Not necessary • PHOTO: Not common in Sweden

8. Education • MOST RECENT FIRST • WHERE? • WHEN? • WHAT LEVEL? • QUALIFICATIONS GAINED Further structure necessary? e.g. • Other courses • Relevant courses/work experience • INDICATE THE DURATION OF ANY EXTRA COURSES/TRAINING

9. Education (continued) • If your degree subjects are important for the job you are applying for, give them space and highlight the most relevant parts. • If you have gained a PhD you may wish to attach a separate paper giving an outline of your thesis.

10. Work experience • USUALLY MOST RECENT JOBS FIRST (usually you shouldwatch the ”gaps”). • NAMES OF EMPLOYERS, JOB TITLES, DUTIES • LITTLE RELEVANT EXPERIENCE? Make the most of what you have.

11. Work experience (Continued) Lacking work experience? VALUABLE SKILLS GAINED IN OTHER WAYS? • compulsory military service • Summer jobs, voluntary work etc TRANSFERABLE SKILLS are valuable!!!!! • Like:teamwork, dealing with the public, meeting deadlines, working successfully on a limited budget.

12. Work experience (Continued) Making the most of what you have….. SALES ASSISTANT, ACI Supermarket, Uppsala Working weekends and many evenings at the ACI supermarket taught me how to balance paid work and study discipline. I also learned the importance of good customer relations and how to manage stressful situations and still ensure that customers receive friendly service. A different layout which presents the same facts: SALES ASSISTANT, ACI supermarket, Uppsala Skills gained • Learning how a business works • Working as part of team • Flexibility • Coping with stressful situations but still giving customers friendly service • Able to set priorities

13. Skills you could mention: • Language skills gained through e.g. • periods spent abroad • evening classes • Computing skills • software packages • programmering languages • operating systems • Driving licence • Full, clean driving licence

14. Interests and activities Sports Drama Societies and clubs Music Positions of responsibility • Balance in relationship to rest of CV • Be selective if you have many activities • Relate to the kind of job you are seeking

15. Interests/Activities Example: Interests/activities: • Member of student union mixed choir responsible for performance bookings.Skills gained • Ability to organize • Ability to negotiate • Ability to enthuse others • Round-the-world travel April-September 2006Skills gained • coping with emergencies • planning, organizing • adapting to foreign cultures • improving language skills

16. References • ”Will be provided on request” common • Otherwise - usually two referees e.g. most recent employer, lecturer • Name, address, telephone number, job title or some indication of how they know you • Important that they are recent references and that your referees are aware they may be contacted

17. COVERING LETTER - basic features • Your address • 1(st) March 2008 Ericsson AB Human Resources Address • Dear Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms Nilson • Marketing assistant vacancy ref nr 47699/2 (A heading can be useful) • Main text xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx • Yours sincerely • Yours faithfully if name not known • Your signature with your name printed for clarity

18. COVERING LETTER Making your case/persuading ….e.g. • Why the employer should be interested in you • Your ”selling points” • Relevant work experience • Relevant interests and skills • Relevant education/training

19. DESCRIBING YOURSELF…”positive/ active” words….. • Adaptable Capable Competent • Determined Efficient Enthusiastic • Methodical Positive Productive • Proficient Reliable Resourceful • Responsible Trained

20. HINTS FOR SUCCESS • Keep your CV and letter simple, positive, relevant. • Emphasize what you bring to the company, not what you hope the company will do for you.

21. HINTS FOR SUCCESS (continued) • Neat presentation • Proofread - No unexplained gaps • Paper application? • Use paperclips not staples. • Good quality plain white paper/envelope. • Max 2xA4 for CV. • Don´t fold, use full A4. • Sending by e-mail? Don´t overload with graphics. • Many companies want you to fill out application forms only available on their websites, e.g IKEA.

22. INTERVIEW • The recruitment process can be short • Getting there on time • “Dress to impress” • Usually only one interview • Tests? • Trade Unions usually involved • Last but not least: BE PREPARED!

23. AT WORK • Written contract • Trial period • Hierarchy? • Opportunities • Trade Unions • Adapting to a new culture