DO'S and DON'TS for writing a Cover Letter and CV

The aim of your British curriculum vitae should be to persuade recruiters to invite you for a job interview; therefore your CV is a marketing tool. As well a creative, well-written cover letter is often the best way to make your CV stand out from the endless sea of applicants, and find its way into the "must read" pile on the desk of the person making the hiring decisions. Here are the do's and don'ts that can help you while writing a cover letter and a well-structured British CV:

British Curriculum Vitae

DO choose a right structure

For the format of your British CV choose a reversed-chronological CV - most recent activity first or a functional CV - activities grouped thematically. The functional CV is getting more popular, since it allows you to strengthen certain skills and experience, and "gaps" in your British CV are less obvious.

DO focus your CV

Ideally, a CV will have a clear and well-defined objective that fits well with the position sought. Carefully consider what to leave out of your CV. Do not add details about yourself or your past experience that may call attention to your weaknesses or inability to do the job.

DON'T forget to use power words

Bear in mind, that you are selling yourself, so use power words and action verbs that describe your achievements and accomplishments i.e. organized, experienced, managed, developed, coordinated etc. Bullet point these at the start of a sentence for maximum impact.

DO consider an American-style Resume

Many British employers prefer an American-style resume instead of a common CV. A resume details the most recent job first and highlights the main aspects of your career. It is less structured, in a narrative style and more brief than a British CV.

Cover Letter

DO market yourself

Write cover letters that are unique and specific to you. Distinguish your cover letter from those of other job-seekers by quantifying and giving examples that amplify and prove the claims you make in your letter.

DON'T be boring, but grab the attention

Use the first paragraph of your letter to be an attention getter and give the employer the reasons you are qualified for the position. Keep in mind that you have only about one to two seconds to get your initial point across before the reader moves on to the next letter.

DO keep your cover letter brief

Try not to send a letter that is more than a page in length, half a page is ideal. Be sure to use clear, professional language while steering away from buzzwords, acronyms, jargon, or anything overly personal.

DON'T rehash your CV

You can use your cover letter to highlight the aspects of your CV that are relevant to the position, but you're wasting precious space and the potential employer's time if you simply repeat your CV. Match the style of copy on your cover letter with the style of your CV. Stick with one font and avoid solid walls of text that make the reader's eyes bounce right off the page.