1. CV and Cover Letter
Seminar
15:00 – 17:00
Wednesday, 13th February
2. Today’s agenda
15:15 – 15:45 How to write a good CV?
15:45 – 16:00 Coffee Break
16:00 – 16:30 How to write a good Cover Letter?
16:30 – 16:45 The “elevator pitch”
16:45 – 17:00 Why unsolicited applications pay off
- presentation by Elitsa Marinkova
3.
4. Upcoming events
CV & Cover Letter Group Counseling CompanyDATING - Students
21st February jobs, Internships and Projects
16th April 28th February
careerevents.au.dk
5. Become a Career Agent
Iulia-Doina Ursa
+45 8716 4078
iudur@asb.dk
6. How to find us
au.dk/interresource
facebook.com/interresource
interresource.bss@au.dk
Fuglesangs Allé 4 Monday-Friday 9:00-15:00
Bartholins Allé 9 Monday-Thursday 9:00-15:00
9. Purpose of seminar
• Targeting your CV and letter of motivation to the Danish
labour market
• Tips for unsolicited applications
• How to approach the enterprises
11. Starting to Write your CV
• Is your own personal marketing tool, as it provides the first impression that a
prospective employer has of you.
• Important that your CV is well laid out in a clear format, which makes it easy for
the employer to read and find the relevant information he or she requires.
• Simplicity is always best. Unless you are applying for a graphic design
position, - keep it simple! Avoid using too fancy and complicated decorative fonts
and colours.
• A good CV is clear, concise and easy to read. Make use of bullet points and
headings to provide a clear framework and make the information easy to follow.
• Two pages.
• English or Danish ?
13. How to Structure your Chronological CV
1. Personal details
2. Personal profile
3. Work experience
4. Education
5. Skills
6. Interests
7. References
14. How to Structure Your CV
1. Personal details
Make sure this section clearly states your:
Name
NOTE: if your name does not obviously show if you are male or female, include this as
well
Nationality
Residential address
Phone number
Email address
Date of birth (optional, but helpful)
Photo?
15. Example- Personal details
Name XXX
Date and place of birth XX-XX-XXXX, France
Address XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Denmark
E-mail XXXX@XXXXX.XX
Telephone +45 XX XX XX XX
16. How to Structure….
2. Personal Profile
This is your opportunity to write a brief summary about yourself.
• What are your main skills?
• What are your personal qualities?
• Think in keywords and try to be as specific as possible. Remember that everyone
writes that they are a communicative, team player.
• This is also a good place to put your language skills and an overview of what you
are looking for. Please make sure you change this if it doesn’t match the job
description you are applying for!
• Keep it short and to the point.
17. Example- Personal Profile
A determined and proactive communication manager with international experience
and good administrative skills. An intercultural communicator with excellent French
and English skills. A strong team player who is inspired by other people but also works
independently.
• Administration: reliable administrator with extensive experience in dealing with
administrative procedures from administrating network database to large scale
courses and meetings.
• Communication: experienced and versatile communication professional dealing
with many different stakeholders, both internal and external communication.
• International: a proactive person with good intercultural communication skills and
the ability to relate to wide range of people. A strong team player who is inspired
by other people but also works independently.
18. How to Structure…
3. Work experience
• List your most recent experience first.
• Give the name of your employer, job title, dates of employment and, of
course, what your tasks and achievements were. Well known employers in your
country may not be known in DK
• Use an appropriate job title if the one you actually have is misleading. Relate to
Danish educational system.
• If your professional work experience is lacking, you can also mention any
internships (as long as they don’t go back further than 5 years)
19. Example - Work experience
2011 Communication Consultant French Business
In partnership with the Management team, defined France
and planned the communication strategy. Responsible www.website.com
for all communication activities relating to
restructuring activities.
2007 – 2010 Public Relations Specialist & Assistant to Global Marketing
managing director France
Management and facilitation of numerous marketing www.website.com
projects and communicating with business partners.
Created, maintained and further developed a large
business network in UK and France. Produced
training and marketing material in French and English.
2011 Communication Consultant
French Business, France
In partnership with the Management team, defined and planned the communication
strategy. Responsible for all communication activities relating to restructuring activities.
20. How to Structure…
4. Education
• Start with your most recent education first.
• List the subject and where you studied.
• If you have a degree please state the level and skills you achieved. Relate to Danish
conditions.
• We also recommend listing exams or diplomas that you have passed whilst in
employment
21. Example Education
2006 - 2007 Public Relations Consultant & Communication ECUK, UK
Manager
Distance learning. Diploma with final grade 1,8
(grade scale 1-10 with 1 being the best)
1994 - 2000 MA: Information & Communication University of
Communication and information planning, Paris, France
communication in organizations, oral communication
and information, project handling
1994 – 2000 MA: Information & Communication
University of Paris, France
Communication and information planning, communication in organizations, oral
communication, and information, project handling
22. How to Strucure…
5. Skills
• Language proficiency, clearly and honestly stating your fluency level.
• Computing experience and possession of a driving license should be included.
23. How to Structure…
6. Interests
• These are particularly relevant if you were involved in activities in which you had leadership
responsibilities, or which involved relating to others in a team.
• Once again be precise, e.g. Reading [what exactly? i.e. 20th century fiction], Sport [which
sports? i.e. tennis or squash].
• Similarly if you have published any articles, jointly or by yourself, give details. If you have
been involved in any type of volunteer work, mention this.
• Prospective employers will often look at the hobbies and interests listed in someone’s
résumé as it gives them a more comprehensive picture of the candidate and can give vital
clues on personality and motivation. This is especially often the case if the candidate is a
graduate with not much work experience.
24.
25. How to Structure…
7. References
There are two options here:
• you can use the generic statement 'References are available on request’, which
means that the future employer has to ask permission for access to your
references;
or
• you can include the names and contact information of your references on the CV, if
you have approval.
30. Points to remember
• Max 2 pages
• Use simple language
• Documentation: do not send documentation unless mentioned in the job ad
• Have someone read over your CV
• Do a spell check! (“I speak fluent Englesh, Inglish, Eniglish” does not really instill
confidence)
• CV in Pdf.
• Print out your CV
32. Strategy for applying This I know also
Not something
they asked for,
but still interesting
You
This I match
Put your focus
here
focus here
The job
This I can learn
Don’t touch upon
this before the job interview
33. Preparing your Letter of Motivation
Start by;
• Researching the company well
• Reading over the job description thoroughly
• Preparing your letter by thinking about the following points;
Why do you think you are specifically suitable for the role?
What are the competences you possess that match the role?
Why would you want to work for that particular company?
34. Letter af motivation – inspiration
Motivation
• Why are you applying for this specific job?
• Show appreciation for the organisation
• Do you know their strategy/ mission?
• How do you see yourself fitting in the organisation?
35. Letter af motivation – inspiration
Professional competences
• What can you offer? Explain your professional competences – how will
they match the tasks
• What advantages will they gain from hiring you?
• Relate to the task and how you can use your competences to solve them
36. Letter og motivation - inspiration
Personal Competences
• Remember to include your personal and social competences
• Give examples – not just hot air and buzz words – e.g. what do you
mean by flexible and structured?
37. Guidelines
• Future oriented and targeted
• One A4 page
• Use examples
• Pick the top 3-5 essential requirements from the advertisement and
answer them carefully
• Make sure you close positively - "I look forward to meeting you at
interview to discuss further…"
40. Identify the Job
• What is your market value?
– Which companies could be interesting for you – and not least interested in
you?
– Think in broad terms – focus on matching the possibilities with your
competences!
41. Contacting an Enterprise
To phone or not to phone?
• Yes, only if you have relevant questions.
• You could be remembered as the person, who wasted time.
• Prepare the questions beforehand.
42. Examples of Questions:
• Do they recruit people with your educational background?
if yes, for which positions?
• What kind of responsibilities do those employees have?
• Which personal competences are important to have in the job?
43. Unsolicited applications
Headline.
Description of you and your proposed function in the enterprise
What can you offer:
”sales speech” – how and why will the enterprise benefit from hiring you
Summary:
Summarize your competences and explain how they match the
proposed function
44. Tips
• Focus:
Stay focussed and be explicit regarding your job wishes
• Contact the enterprise:
Phone, e-mail, personal contact
• Follow up.
Show your motivation and make them remember you
47. Why?
• Networking
• Meet enterprises
– Student jobs with an enterprise while you are studying
– Internships
– Graduate job
• SME’s and international
• Job vacancies
48. How to present yourself
• Like a jobinterview – first impression counts
• ”we hire people not educations” (Danfoss)
• Focus on competences – your education does not tell all
• CV ?
• Elevator pitch
– Be to the point and create a positive impression of yourself
49. Elevator Pitch
• 30 seconds
• Result: ”Give me a call”
– Education
– Competences also personal
– Work experience
– Job wishes
