CV及Cover Letter

How to write a CV and Cover Letter in the UK?

 

A CV, commonly referred to as a Curriculum Vitae, is the term used for a resume in the UK. There are some differences in the format and style of CVs in the UK compared to those in China. Due to various factors, including cultural background, in the UK, along with a CV, it is customary to include a Cover Letter as part of the application process. The Cover Letter serves as a self-introduction and a means to express interest in the position, demonstrate understanding of the role, and highlight qualifications and skills.

 

So, what is a Cover Letter? It is a letter used to introduce yourself, state the position you are applying for, convey your understanding of the role, and demonstrate how you are suitable for the job. Each Cover Letter is tailored to the specific position and will differ based on the job requirements, understanding of the role, and relevant experience and skills. The primary purpose of a Cover Letter is to highlight your unique qualities and personal style.

How to write an English CV?

1. Keep the CV to one page:
        Firstly, it is advisable to keep the CV within one page, including all the      detailed information you want to provide. You can adjust the page margins      in Word to increase the usable space.

Please refer to the following image for adjusting the page margins in Word after opening the document：

2. The content of the CV includes five sections:

1. Personal Information

2. Education Background

3. Work Experience

4. Honors and Achievements

5. Skills

6. References (optional)

Tensun Miao reminds you that typically, a CV consists of the first five sections. However, there are cases where an additional section for References is included, especially if you are a current student with limited work experience. So, if you include a reference section, it would make a total of six sections. It is worth noting that in the past, it was common to include a Reference section in CVs, but nowadays many CVs do not include this section.

 

Part 1: Personal Information

1. Name

2. Address

3. Phone number

4. Email address

Part 2: Education Background
Typically, include the most recent two or the most valuable one. For example, you can choose to include Bachelor's and Master's degrees or only the Master's degree. This section should cover the following aspects:

1. Full name of the institution

2. Name of the program/major

3. Duration of studies

4. Educational level achieved

5. List of relevant courses (optional)

For instance:

1. Name of the institution: University of Cambridge

2. Program/Major: Human Resource Management (avoid using      abbreviations such as "HR")

3. Duration of studies: September 2019 - September 2020

4. Educational level: Master of Arts, Master of Science (depending      on the degree obtained)

5. List of relevant courses: Business Management, Accounting,      Finance, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Leadership, etc. (optional)

 

Part 3: Work Experience

Work experience typically includes the following details:

1. Full name of the organization/company

2. Job title/position

3. Employment period

4. Description of responsibilities and tasks

For example:

1. Full name of the organization: XYZ Company

2. Job title: Sales Associate

3. Employment period: January 2018 - December 2020

4. Description of responsibilities and tasks: Managed customer      inquiries, conducted sales presentations, achieved monthly sales targets,      and maintained customer relationships.

 

In this section, work experience includes not only internships or formal employment but also volunteer experience and practical experiences that involve creating value for yourself. For example:

1. Full name of the organization: Write the full name of the      organization where you worked. If you gained experience through      independent work without being affiliated with a registered company, such      as being a self-employed content creator, you can create a name for your      work. For instance, if you are a beauty vlogger on YouTube, you can use      "XX Beauty" as the name.

2. Job title: Use titles such as intern, trainee, salesperson,      teacher, engineer, doctor, etc.

3. Employment period: Write the specific start and end dates,      mentioning the month and year. You don't need to include the exact day.

4. Description of responsibilities and tasks: Focus on what      specific work you were responsible for and what you learned during this      experience. Highlight the skills and experiences you gained. You can use      specific numbers to illustrate achievements, such as leading a team of 10      members, achieving $100,000 in sales, or reaching a million followers and      selling millions of products as a fashion blogger within one month.

 

Part 4: Honors and Achievements

 

In this section, you should primarily include any awards or notable accomplishments you have received. This could include achievements such as publishing a book, being featured in a prestigious publication like NATURE, winning a mathematics competition, achieving a specific ranking in a recognized marathon, or having a substantial online following in the millions. It is also worth mentioning any awards received by your organization, particularly those of national significance or awarded by authoritative institutions.

 

Part 5: Skills

 

In this section, you should highlight the skills you possess. This could include proficiency in Microsoft Office software, fluency in multiple languages, knowledge of specific operating systems, and any other relevant skills you have acquired.

Ten Tips for Resume Writing:

1. Avoid using abbreviations or acronyms in your resume.

2. Do not include a photograph in your resume.

3. Gender information is not necessary to include in your resume.

4. Keep your resume clean and avoid adding unnecessary decorations      or embellishments.

5. Use the English language for your resume instead of your native      language.

6. Opt for black and white text on your resume.

7. Including academic grades on your resume is optional. However,      if you have exceptional grades, such as a First-Class Honors in your      undergraduate degree and a Distinction in your master's degree, you can      mention them in the Education section or cover letter. If you include      grades from a non-UK institution, provide an explanation or convert them      to the equivalent GPA. You can use online GPA conversion calculators like      the one provided by Scholaro, a US-based company specializing in      international certification, assessment, and translation services. Their      GPA calculation service is free：https://www.scholaro.com/gpa-calculator/

To convert GPA using the provided website, follow the steps below:

1. Go to the website mentioned in the image.

2. Login to the website.

3. Select "China" as the country.

4. Enter the subject/course, credit hours, and your grade.

 ：

When you click on the "Calculate GPA" button above, the GPA results will appear on the right side, as shown in the following image：

US Grade B" here refers to your corresponding GPA score. Detailed explanations can also be found at the bottom of the website：

Below are a few examples of resumes, as shown in the following image：

sample

sample2

sample3

So how do you write an English Cover Letter?

 

As mentioned earlier, a Cover Letter is basically a job application letter or a self-introduction letter. It involves writing a letter, and when it comes to writing a letter, there is certainly a format to follow. It usually begins with "Dear [Name]," and in general, if you are unsure who the recruiter is, you can simply address it as "Dear Hiring Manager."

 

The main purpose of a Cover Letter is to introduce yourself, specify the position you are applying for and your familiarity with it, and highlight how you are qualified for the position, emphasizing your personal strengths. As mentioned before, it is crucial for the Cover Letter not to be identical. You can have a similar personal introduction and similar work experience and abilities, but the position is posted by different companies. Even if you are applying for the same type of position, each company has its own background, culture, products, and specific circumstances. Therefore, for each different company you apply to, you should write a separate Cover Letter tailored to that company. However, it's important to note that not all companies require a Cover Letter. It depends on the specific situation, so you should consider it on a case-by-case basis. Generally, TenSimiao (a reference to a specific company) recommends that you write one to showcase your abilities and provide the company with a reason to choose you over other candidates.

A Cover Letter generally consists of four sections:

1. The first section begins with a greeting and introduces      yourself. It differs from the personal information in the previous resume.      You mainly provide information about who you are, the position you are      applying for, how you learned about the position, whether you are      self-recommended or have a referrer, and specific details about the      referrer's position, etc.

2. The second section focuses on demonstrating your knowledge      about the company and the position. Analyze the position and its relevance      within the company, envision future development in the role, and then      combine your educational background and work experience to explain how you      meet the job requirements stated in the recruitment. For example, if you      are applying for a sales position, you can mention that your major is      related to sales and how your knowledge in that field can contribute to      selling the company's products. You can also highlight any relevant      internships or independent projects you have undertaken, mention the      number of products you have sold, describe any challenges you faced, and      explain how you successfully resolved them, leading to outstanding performance      and achieving the top position in the company, and so on.

3. The third section explains why you are interested in the      position and why you have chosen the company. Summarize your skills that      make you a suitable candidate for the job, and also mention any additional      abilities that can contribute positively, such as learning ability,      teamwork skills, communication skills, etc. Emphasize your adaptability to      the company's culture, vision, or any other aspects that align with your      own values, etc.

4. The conclusion serves as a bridge between the previous sections      and expresses your suitability for the position. Express your hope that      the company will provide you with an opportunity. After writing the      content, skip a line and conclude with "Yours sincerely," followed      by your name.

Below are a few examples of well-written Cover Letters from The Guardian and job websites in the UK.

：

sample1

example2

example3

The CV template provided by the University of Oxford.