Hi all,

Got a uni assignment which is simple to write a CV and cover letter to apply to a made up company.

For the cover letter, I currently have;
Into, why I think I’d be good for the job, relevant experience, thanks.

Need to put a bit about why I want to work for the company, but not sure if I should put that right at the start, or at the very end?

Also, referances, do I give them in the CV right? Mention them at all in the cover letter?

It’s for an enegineering job btw.

Ta, Duane.

Not being funny but why should we get you a good grade 🙂

Oh yeah, I forgot, people are born with an inherent ability to write a good CV and cover letter, and never have to refer to other people or sources of help for guidance 🙂

Covering letter shouldn’t need to say much if you have a specific job to apply for as you will have tweaked the CV to the job. If the CV is a general one, such as you might have an agency hold, you shouldn’t really use it for a specific job, customise it.

So the covering letter says hello, a paragraph summary of who you are and why you think you will fit. Put something in there that shows you know about their business. Other stuff to go on there might be your availability for interview and whether you are OK for the references to be taken up prior to shortlist/interview. Thank them for taking the time to read your application.

Edit: get it proof read. Into <> Intro

Is that the kind of thing they teach you at uni?

Oh yeah, I forgot, people are born with an inherent ability to write a good CV and cover letter, and never have to refer to other people or sources of help for guidance

And out in the real world you would pay for that experience – leading up to your assignment you will have had at least some teaching/been asked to do some background reading on this, in order that the assignment tests/demonstrates to whoever asked you to do it what you’ve learnt, no? Tend to agree with FunkyDunc.

Oh, and spellcheck is your friend 😉

Your cover letter sounds pretty long to me, personally I’d just do a high-level summary of your skills/experience that are matched to the job role you’ve been given. Mind you I’m recruiting at the moment and I just get CVs bounced over to me so no clue what a good covering letter’s supposed to look like – I now know what crap/annoying/frustrating CVs look like though :p

Thanks for replies 🙂

Bristolbiker, really? You guys really have that much of a problem with me asking some people for some advice? Surely it’s not that different to looking around online, or talking to people face-to-face (which I have)? It’s just getting more opinions/input surely?

“Is that the kind of thing they teach you at uni?”

Haha it is a bit of a joke really, and many people have complained. This assignment is worth almost twice as much as a much more difficult MATLAB based assignment…

And yes, I will have it proof read, unlike my posts on here 🙂

This assignment is worth almost twice as much as a much more difficult MATLAB based assignment…

Who did you ask to do the Matlab project for you?

Perhaps the CV/letter exercise is worth more because they want you to take it seriously and if you get it right it will actually help you when you come to seek employment.

Haha it is a bit of a joke really, and many people have complained. This assignment is worth almost twice as much as a much more difficult MATLAB based assignment…

Because having the skillz is useless unless you get to the interview to show them off.

Oh, and spellcheck is your friend

getting someone to check spelling is better than relying on spellchucker as a person can determine that all important homonym problem that most people seem to struggle with these days

Their There and They’re
Were Where and We’re

etc etc!

Haha, good ‘ol STW. Full of people who have apparently never asked people for help, and presumably, have never helped them in return.

Don’t waffle, they won’t read waffle. Just make it brief, simple and word-perfect. They will decide in the first two seconds after opening the envelope, from the look of the letter. Buy some decent Conqueror paper, don’t use photocopier paper.

Full of people who have apparently never asked people for help, and presumably, have never helped them in return.

Asking for help is fine, and freely given here – that is not what your asking for. You CBA to do the assignment and want someone else to do it so that you can take the credit. Can you not see that? :-S

something like this should do it.
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANquX0YHFhw[/video]

Umm, I’m not asking you to write it for me, I’m just asking for a little advice one what order to put things in? Can you not see that?

Umm, I’m not asking you to write it for me, I’m just asking for a little advice one what order to put things in?

Surely how you lay it out is part of the assessment as well – do what you think, perhaps get it wrong, talk to whoever is assessing it and learn from their feedback. There you go – advice freely given.

As above really (not directly above though!). Quick intro and quote the job you are applying for. A paragraph at most about the experience you have that matches their criteria. Then a closing paragraph – “thanks for your consideration…hope to hear from you, etc.” Perhaps also, a line about availability for interview.
Having reviewed hundreds of CV’s and letters, I can confirm that an opinion is made VERY quickly and waffle will get you dropped to the bottom of the pile.
Finally, read, re-read and check spelling again. Don’t rely on internet post mentality to get you that job (or 2:1).

Duane,

Do you really think STW is the best place for you to get help? Plenty of internet sites that specialise in the stuff or you could toddle up to the University Careers service and talk, face-to-face to a human being with your draft copy. Some things about cover letters and CVs are rather subjective so its probably better that you go with advice closer to the people that are marking it than what works in the real world anyway. E.g. referees have no place in a normal covering letter, but some people put them on CV’s. Really that’s just filling space unless an advert has explicitly asked for it; however the “marker” might want to see that so you can show who you think you would suggest. If its being marked by an academic they may have no idea what people in the real world want to see on a CV anyway!

HTH.

Check this out

Basically tell them what job you are appllying for in one paragragh. next paragraph possibly a couple of highlights from the CV or stuff you can’t really put down formally on a CV, closing paragraph thanking them for their time and look forward to answering any questions you may have.

Duane… ignore the usual single track pitch fork wheedling mob

I very much doubt it will count to your degree the motivation for setting you the task is surely to get you ready to apply for graduate schemes that will soon be closing for applications.

Covering letter in general should tell the reader specifically why the job suits you or you can offer, the Cv should be pretty basic. Keep in the back of you mind who the audience is and what impression you wish them to have of you.

Remember when the time comes these two documents wont get you a job but they will be used to filter the applicants before a interview.

When I applied I found very few company’s actually want either a CV or covering letter but its always good to have on to hand.

Which breed of engineering are you ?

Need to put a bit about why I want to work for the company, but not sure if I should put that right at the start, or at the very end?

No, covering letter should be brief and to the point. If you really need to add this information, use an Additional Information section on the CV, but remember CV should be kept to 3 pages or less.

Also, referances, do I give them in the CV right? Mention them at all in the cover letter

References go on the CV, and make sure you spell the word correctly

I disagree there should not be anything company specific within the CV, the covering letter is the right place for that info. As a graduate I would be surprised if you CV was much more than one side of A4, no engineering company wants to know about your paper round or if you captain of the ultimate Frisbee team at school.

I disagree there should not be anything company specific within the CV,

Good point – ok, but keep the why to bare minimum and be very careful on phrasing – why you want to work there is far to easy to sound sucky sucky. Try it and read it back to yourself an hour or two later, you’ll be ashamed of yourself for writing that crap.

I don’t think I’ve ever done a covering letter of more than about three lines. It’s just a brief intro as to what you’re applying for.

Dear sirs,

I’m writing to you to apply for the post of Senior Badger Polisher as advertised in September’s edition of “What Badger?”

I’ve been buffing badgers for a number of years now and as such I believe that this role is an ideal match for my skills and experience. Also, I have my own brush.

I enclose a current copy of my CV for your review, and I look forward to hearing from you at your convenience.

Yours, etc.

As for references, my CV just says something like “personal and professional references available on request.”

Need to put a bit about why I want to work for the company, but not sure if I should put that right at the start, or at the very end?

That’s more interview question material.

One of the many perfectly acceptable formats

Dear XXXX

Ref: Job you’re applying for

Please find enclosed/attached my Curriculum Vitae.

<why you think you’re particularly suited to the job> wanting lots of money is not a valid reason 😉

I look forward to hearing from you soon,

Yours sincerely/faithfully

<Signature>

Duane

Haha it is a bit of a joke really, and many people have complained. This assignment is worth almost twice as much as a much more difficult MATLAB based assignment…

I can well see where you’re coming from but you’d maybe be suprised to hear that in the real world, the covering letter may be worth much more than your Matlab skillz (god, I hated Matlab) in terms of actually getting a job…

I disagree there should not be anything company specific within the CV,

Nothing explict but IMO you should always tailor your CV for each job application unless they really are all near enough identical.

Cheers for the help all.

To answer a couple Qs, I’m studying Mechanical Engineering (with Management).

This assignment does actually count towards our final degree grade.