BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE IN ENGLISH

SEMINAR 5. Job Application Letters: CV and Resume

Questions for discussions:

1. Job advertisements and Letters of application
2. Curriculum Vitae vs Resume
3. CV generalised plan
4. CV effective vocabulary

Practical assignments:

Applying for a job:

Job advertisements

Advertisements (often shortened to ads) for employment appear in all the media, including
Radio, TV, and the Internet. However, newspapers and magazines are a very common source of
vacancies.
Some advertisements use abbreviated forms, especially in the small ad section ,e.g.:
Wntd PA.ft. sml mnfg co. Gd slry.5-day wk, hrs 9-5, us/ bnfts.

A full-length version of this would read:

Wanted, personal assistant for full-time employment in small manufacturing company. Good
salary, five days a week, hours of work 9.00 a.m.to 5.00 p.m., usual benefits in terms of
conditions and holidays.

Typical clichés
Letters of application

Opening
Generally, the terms vacancy, post, or appointment are used instead of the word job in
applications.
When replying to a job advertisement, as with most correspondence, it is best simply to
state what you are doing, and give a date or reference.

- I would like to apply for the post of Programmer advertised in this month's edition of
Computers.
- I am writing concerning your advertisement in the Guardian of 12 May for a bilingual
secretary to work in your Export Department.
- I am answering your advertisement for the post of bank trainee, which appeared in
yesterday's Times.
-
If the advertisement is not clear about how you should apply for the job, it is better to
phone the Personnel Department (sometimes called Human Resources Department) of the
company to find out.
 Remember to quote any reference numbers or job titles that are mentioned in the
advertisement.

For UNSOLICITED applications, i.e. applying for a job which has not been advertised,
you can open like this:

- I am writing to ask if you might have a vacancy in your ___ department for a(n)
administrative assistant I salesperson I accounts clerk.

If someone associated with the company suggested that you write to them, mention this in
your opening.

- I was recommended by ___, who is currently working in your company I who has had a long
association with your company I who is one of your suppliers, to contact you concerning a
possible post in your ____ Department.

Request for an application form

If you are writing to ask for an application form, give some very brief details about
yourself then ask for the form.

These examples can also be used for unsolicited applications:

- I am 23 years old, and have recently graduated from ____ with a diploma I degree in
___.(Give the subject, and mention any special topics you studied that are relevant to
the post. You can also mention the class of a degree, and any special honours such as a
distinction.)

- At present I am working for___, where I am employed as a ___ in the ___Department.

Closing
There is no need to give any more information at this stage, so you can close the letter:

- Please could you send me an application form and any other relevant details?
- I would be grateful if you could send me an application form. If you need any further
details, please contact me at the above address I email address.

Application forms and CVs

When you receive an application form, always read it through carefully so that you know
exactly what information is required. It is a good idea to photocopy it, complete the
photocopy, and when you are happy with it, copy the information onto the actual form.

Some companies prefer a CURRICULUM VITAE, usually called a CV (RESUME in

American English), which is your personal and working history.
Application forms and CVs may be emailed or sent by post.
Resume vs. curriculum vitae (CV): What’s the difference?

Pore over everything in my C.V.

But you’ll still know nothing ’bout me
Sting, “Nothing ’Bout Me”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNPh2z3W_WY

When Sting released this song in 1993, some of his American fans may have wondered,
“What’s a C.V.?” It remains a surprisingly common question. Specifically, what is the
difference between a curriculum vitae (CV) and a resume?

How are these terms used differently in different countries? And if I’m an American applying
for a job in the UK and the employer wants to see my CV, what exactly am I expected to send?
It can actually be a bit confusing.

There are two levels of confusion here:

1) What do the words mean?
and
2) What do the words mean where?

To make matters worse, the conflicting explanations you can find on this topic sometimes only
add to the confusion.

So let’s look at the meaning of each of these terms.

What is a resume?
From the French word for “summary,” a resume (also spelled résumé) is a short document
with a job applicant’s contact info, profile, work history, education and skills. In most cases, a
resume should be one page only, although two-page resumes are sometimes considered
acceptable.

A resume is a primary job search document and should almost always be accompanied by a
cover letter. At the very least, the general recruiting consensus is: Unless your target employer
specifically notes that it doesn't want a cover letter, including one increases your chances of
getting hired.

Recue/CV plan
Job seekers often ask: “What are the five or six things that should be included in a resume?”
Resumes typically include the following:

 Header: Name, address, phone number and email

 Profile (also known as the Summary): Identifies a job objective and summarizes a
candidate’s suitability for the job
 Employment history: Relevant work experience in the field, with lists of
accomplishments
 Education: Brief list of educational credentials
  Skills: The candidate’s job-related skills.
Some resumes include references, publications, certifications or other relevant information.
Yet the widespread preference for one-page resumes often requires omitting a considerable
amount of information.

In the United States and Canada, the document we’ve just described is almost always called a
resume. Yet in most of the English-speaking world outside the Americas, the same document is
called a curriculum vitae, or CV.

Resume and CV usually mean the exact same thing

In most cases, the words ”resume” and “CV” are synonymous — simply different terms for the
exact same thing. CV means resume and resume means CV.

As stated above, “Resume” is the term commonly used in the U.S. and Canada, while
“curriculum vitae” or “CV” is the term used in most of the rest of the world.

If you are applying for a job in most organizations or industries — anywhere in the world —
there is no distinction between a resume and CV. Either way, there is nothing different about
document's appearance, content and length. For most job applications they are one and the
same: a brief (often one-page) summary of a candidate’s employment history, education and
skills.

But not always ... when does "curriculum vitae" (CV) mean something else?

Academic CV
A narrower definition of “curriculum vitae” (CV) describes a document that is used primarily in
academia.

This is the CV you’d need if you were a college professor looking for a job, or if you were
seeking a fellowship, grant, postdoctoral position or research job at an institution of higher
learning. These CVs are sometimes required for people seeking admission to graduate school,
and in some cases for research positions in scientific fields such as medicine.

This “academic CV” is a much longer document that lists virtually all of an individual’s
educational credentials, publications and awards. That’s why it’s sometimes referred to as a
“long-form” CV, where “course of life,” takes on a much more meaning.

An academic curriculum vitae (CV) provides a much more exhaustive list of an individual’s
achievements than a resume.

For example, a history professor might include academic details about her bachelor’s degree,
master’s degree and doctoral work, including the topic of her dissertation, as well as a mention
of any time served as a teaching assistant or lecturer. She would also include a list of articles
she’s published in academic journals, plus memberships in relevant organizations and any
awards or special recognitions.

Here’s a list of some of the components an academic CV may contain:

  Contact information
 Objective, profile or summary
 Detailed educational background
 Employment history
 Research and teaching experience
 Published works
 Honors and awards
 Grants
 Fellowships
 Memberships in academic or professional associations
 Conferences attended
 Languages spoken and other skills
 References
This is a lot more information that you could fit into a one-page resume, and this level of detail
is the primary distinction between a resume and an academic CV.

What does a good CV look like in 2023?

Whether you need a resume-type CV or a long-form list of all your academic achievements,
you want a professionally designed document that looks as good as it sounds.

Appearances matter. Fonts and font sizes matter, as do margins, visual balance and an
appropriate use of white space.

You should be able to glance at your resume/CV at arm’s length, without reading anything it
says, and get a good visual impression just from looking at it. This requires an attractive layout
and smart use of typography.

Some points to consider:

 Choose a modern font that is easy to read and looks good in bold, italic or all caps.
Avoid exotic fonts that call attention to themselves, and avoid mixing different fonts.

 Use a font size of 10 to 12 points, justified left. Resume writers sometimes reduce font
size in order to fit more text onto a page, but it’s usually best to just trim the text.
Georgia, Verdana and Arial are some examples of fonts with excellent readability.

 Establish a “type hierarchy” and use it consistently. For example, your name may be the
first and largest thing on the page, in 24-point type, but the page is also organized by 18-
point headings (like “Employment History” and “Education”), and the rest is 12-point
text. Adopt a consistent style, including any use of bold or italic text.

 Strive for visual balance on every page. You obviously don’t want a one-page resume
where the bottom half of the page is blank. Nor would you want a CV where the top of
the page is thoughtfully spaced out and appropriately titled for easy navigation, but the
bottom of the page is wall-to-wall black text. Develop an eye-pleasing style and use it
consistently. Your resume/CV should look good at a glance.
  Don’t forget about white space, including adequate margin size. Leave room in your
design for space that contains no text, giving the eye a break.

 Unless the employer requests otherwise, send your resume/CV as a PDF, which will
preserve your formatting so that the document looks the same on any device.

 Your best bet is to use a professionally designed, field-tested resume template like those
we offer at resume.io. We’ve done all the formatting for you — fonts, font sizes, margins,
white space, an attractively designed header and a visually balanced page. All you have
to do is add your own information, and your resume is done.

Resume\CV template analysis

Task 1A: Look at the layout of the following CVs. Which ones are visually eye-pleasing?
Covering letters
You may need to send a covering letter with an application form or cv. If you do, it should
briefly explain points that might not be clear. You could also give further details to stress your
suitability for the post.

Opening
If the company has sent an application form, remember to thank them.
If you are enclosing a cv, mention it at the beginning of the letter.

Thank you for your letter of ___ and the application form for the post of ___I enclose the
completed form I my CV.

Body of the letter

Your covering letter should be short. If you need to develop or emphasize any points, do so
briefly and simply.

 You will see that I graduated from ____

 University I College in 2020, where I gained a degree I diploma I certificate in ____.
(Mention any parts of your studies relevant to the post.) During my employment with
 my work was specifically concerned with
 (Mention work relevant to the post you are applying for.)

Reasons for leaving a job

If you need to explain why you left a job, it is best to sound positive. Never say that you wanted
a better salary or conditions. You should not say you were bored with your job, and never
criticize the company you worked for, their products or services, or your colleagues.
Explanations for leaving a company could include the following:

 I left (old employer) because (new employer)

 offered me a chance to use my (languages, IT training, etc.).
 I was offered a chance to join (company) where there was an opportunity for further
training and experience in___.
 I was offered the post of Senior Technician by (company) in (date), and therefore lef.t
(company) in order to...
 I joined (company) in (date) as part of their new Eastern Europe sales team. This was an
excellent opportunity to...

Previous experience
Most application forms give some space to describe previous work experience, e.g. what your
duties and responsibilities were. Here you have a chance to highlight your achievements,
e.g. any special responsibilities or projects you undertook, changes you made, or schemes you
introduced.

 While Iwasa Team Leader at (company), I supervised a team of six technicians and
introduced new quality control procedures which resulted in ...
 During my time at (company), I was responsible for marketing software services. A large
part of this role involved successfully implementing change in the ...
  During my time at (company), I studied part time for an MBA, which I completed in 20-.
Since then I have gained more management experience in ...
 As part of my degree course in Business Studies, I worked for three months in the Data
Processing Department of a large computer corporation where I gained experience in ...

Reasons for applying

All prospective employers will want to know why you are applying for a specific job. This not
only means explaining why you want the job, but why you think your particular skills and
experience would be valuable to the company.

 I am particularly interested in the post as I could apply my previous experience in (area

of work).
 I am sure I would be successful in this post as I have the skills and experience you
describe, as well as ...
 I believe my background in (area of work) equips me for the post you advertise,
especially my recent experience of (specialist area, e.g. project management, website
development).
 I have some experience of (area of work), and am enthusiastic about developing a career
in this field.

Closing
At the end of the letter, offer to supply more information if necessary.

 I look forward to hearing from you. However, if there is any further information you
require in the meantime, please let me know.
 Please let me know if there are any other details you need. Meanwhile, I look forward to
hearing from you.
 I would be happy to discuss with you at interview how my skills and experience could be
used to your advantage.

CV + Covering letter sample

Task 2A: Read and analyze CV + Covering letter sample.

In this example, notice that the applicant starts by referring to the job advertisement. She then
goes on to expand on her present duties and give other information that she feels is relevant to
the post. She also explains why she is applying for this particular vacancy.

If, on her cv, she gives her current employers as referees, she could mention that she would
prefer International Computing Services not to approach them until after an interview.
Covering letter sample
Enclosed Curriculum vitae for an experienced employee sample #1
There are a number of ways of presenting information in a CV.
Traditionally, the sequence was name, address, contact details, marital status, education, qualifications,
work experience, referees, and interests.

However, it is now more common to begin with brief personal details, followed by a short profile or
description of yourself (sometimes also called a CAREER SUMMARY).

After that, the most important information is recent employment history, and skills and qualifications.

In the interests of completeness, you should account for all years since leaving school, but if the information is
irrelevant to the position you are applying for or is some years old, you should summarize it as briefly as
possible.

These days, it is generally unnecessary to mention marital status, children, age, health, or current salary unless
specifically asked to do so, but this will vary according to the law and custom in different countries.
Here is a typical cv for an experienced professional.
Enclosed Curriculum vitae for a recent graduate sample #2
This is a typical CV for a recent graduate.

Task 2 B: Read the CV of a recent graduate and answer the following questions:
Where did Adam study environmental problems? What do you think Adam's main interest is?
What did he do while he was in Poland? Where did Adam graduate from?
Who is Dr Elzbieta Gordon? What commercial experience has he had?
Vocab Practice
Task 3 A: Put the phrases in the correct groups.

Work experience
Education
Skills and interests

Task 3 B: Reading text.

Maria Jones
Digital Marketing Specialist
Profile
I have five years' experience in various digital marketing roles. I have a proven ability to create
successful marketing campaigns in line with brand identity and values. I am a strong collaborator
with outstanding communication skills, and have comprehensive experience of using my
specialist knowledge and expertise in analytics for a wide variety of marketing initiatives.

Employment History
June 2017 – present
Digital Marketing Specialist for Zinco, a global insurance start-up

 My role involves working to tight deadlines to design, create and launch marketing
campaigns via social media.
 I have developed advanced knowledge of a range of social media platforms and digital
marketing tools.
 I specialise in driving successful campaigns and excel in analysing their impact.
 I have experience launching digital billboards in places such as train stations and shopping
centres.

Sept 2016 – June 2017

Creative break from employment to travel and blog

 I travelled through 12 countries, met several professional bloggers and started my own
travel blog.
 I built up a community of followers and started to monetise my blog through sponsored
posts.
 May 2014 – Aug 2016
Digital Marketing Assistant, Krunch Ltd

 Responsibility for overall social media strategy and regular posting on key channels.
 I played a key role in numerous campaigns to boost engagement with our brand.
 I also supported three product launches.

Education
2014 Diploma in Digital Marketing, Leeds Beckett University, UK
2012 A-levels (Psychology, English, Art & Design), Leeds City College, UK

Skills and Interests

Competent WordPress developer
Skilled in Adobe InDesign and Adobe Illustrator
Advanced Spanish (C1)
Intermediate German (B1)
Photography
Travel

References
Available on request

Task 3 C: Study the tips for CV/resume writing.

Tips
 Start with a short profile to show who you are and what you offer.
 List your employment history, starting with the present.
 Explain any gaps, for example time spent travelling or having children.
 Use bullet points for your main responsibilities and experience in each role. Choose
the aspects of your previous jobs that are most relevant to the new job you are
applying for.
 Then give your educational background. List the relevant qualifications that you
have, starting with the most recent. Include the title of your qualification, where you
studied and the date you successfully completed it.
 Consider putting Education above Employment if you don't have a lot of work
experience yet.
 List other experience or interests you may have if they are relevant to the job.
 If you have someone who could support your application, add their contact details or
say References available on request at the end.

Task 3 D: Are the sentences true or false?

1. It is a good idea to start with a short summary about you.

2. You should write your work history in order, with your most recent job at the end.
3. You should list all your responsibilities in detail.
4. You should give the full title of your qualifications, with the date you passed each one and
the organisations that awarded them to you.
5. It is a good idea to include hobbies if they are relevant to the job.
6. Include references to support your application if you can.

Cliché phrases
Task 4 A: Put the words and phrases in order to make sentences.

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

6)

Task 4 B: Write the correct form of the word in brackets.

1. I have a proven _________ to deliver successful marketing campaigns. (able)

2. I am a strong _________ . (collaborate)
3. I have specialist _________ of marketing. (know)
4. I use my _________ in analytics to assess the success of campaigns. (expert)
5. I was _________ for the overall social media strategy. (responsibility)
6. I played a key role in _________ campaigns. (number)
7. I started to _________ my blog through sponsored posts. (money)
8. I worked on several initiatives to boost customer _________ . (engage)

Adjectives
Task 4 C: read through the list of adjectives to use on your CV for maximum impact.
What are the two major groups of qualities you are supposed to mention in your CV?

Choose potential skill adjectives (one to three)and fill in the chart about yourself.
Leadership adjectives
Finance adjectives
Technology adjectives
 Marketing adjectives
Sales adjectives
Customer service
adjectives
Manufacturing adjectives
Creative adjectives
Productivity adjectives
Communication adjectives

Why are CV adjectives important?

Using the right adjectives is important because it allows you to present yourself as the ideal
candidate that companies want to hire. They are powerful descriptors that allow you to talk
about your skills and experiences in a thoughtful and creative manner, thereby impressing the
managers who look at your CV.

Another major advantage is that employers can easily understand what areas you excel in.
Using the right set of adjectives conveys to them that you are proficient with written
communication and have an excellent command of the English language. Including this on your
application can make you stand out by presenting yourself as a creative candidate and leaving a
lasting impression in the minds of recruiters.

What are some CV adjectives that you can use?

The adjectives that you can use on your CV depend on two things.

The first is your qualities that you are trying to convey.

The second is qualities of the organisation itself.

Tailoring your adjectives to what recruiters are looking for is a good way to ensure that your
application is attractive. A list of some of the key adjectives, sorted by category, are:

Leadership adjectives
Leadership adjectives on your CV demonstrate that you have a strong desire to lead and
motivate your team members. The words that describe these leadership skills include:
reliable accountable
rousing determined
influential disciplined
decisive inclusive

Finance adjectives
Financial adjectives on your CV demonstrate that you have a keen grasp of financial concepts.
These words include:
trustworthy industrious
honest devoted
thorough earnest
ardent diligent

Technology adjectives
Technology adjectives on your CV demonstrate that you have a keen eye for technology and are
updated with the latest technological developments. The adjectives that you can use include:
proficient ground-breaking
meticulous revolutionary
cutting-edge sophisticated
innovative unprecedented
visionary

Marketing adjectives
Marketing adjectives on your CV demonstrate that you know how to engage customers and sell
the products of the company. The adjectives that you can use include:
creative energetic
thoughtful amiable
engaging charming
creative articulate
dynamic clear
enthusiastic compelling

Sales adjectives
Sales adjectives on your CV demonstrate that you're a proficient communicator and that you
can talk to a diverse group of people. You want to show that you can convey the message that
you or the company wants to send to customers. The adjectives that you can use for this
purpose include:
dynamic personable
diplomatic assertive
determined articulate
respectful eloquent
flexible tactful
positive persuasive

Customer service adjectives

Customer service adjectives on your CV demonstrate your communication skills and ability to
resolve conflicts in a calm and composed manner. This is an essential skill in all customer
service roles. The adjectives that you can use for this purpose include:
sociable thoughtful
patient clear
amicable thorough
pleasant cordial
proactive tireless

Manufacturing adjectives
Manufacturing adjectives on your CV demonstrate that you can strike a balance between the
quality and quantity of your work. This shows you can focus on company standards being met
while also meeting sales and production targets. The adjectives that you can use for this purpose
include:
industrious productive
focused methodical
results-driven structured
purposeful precise
detailed thorough

Creative adjectives
Creative adjectives on your CV demonstrate your propensity to innovate and come up with new
and unique ideas to solve seemingly complex problems. The adjectives that you can use for this
purpose include:
imaginative unique
novel progressive
inventive vivid
ingenious robust

Productivity adjectives
Productivity adjectives on your CV demonstrate to demonstrate your ability to exceed the
expectations of your employer by managing your workload effectively. Use these CV adjectives
to demonstrate that you can focus on the important parts of your job while also completing
administrative tasks on time. The adjectives that you can use for this purpose include:
economical profitable
industrious constructive
prolific cost-effective
strong diligent
competent dedicated

Communication adjectives
Communication adjectives on your CV demonstrate that you can talk to all the members of
your team and work together with them in a collaborative manner, engaging with each member
of the team performing tasks that are well-suited to their strengths and skills. The adjectives
that you can use for this purpose include:
tactful approachable
mindful articulate
supportive diplomatic
assertive respectful.
persuasive

Crafting an effective Cover letter

Task 5 A: Crafting a unique Cover letter. Select one of the attached video links. Watch one of
the writing tutorials. Then present it in your own words (orally \ PowerPoint presentation).
Timing: 3 minutes maximum.

1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm0qUfCOQjM
2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gGRN8Xsvbw
3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCR72RnYat8
4) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUhDP30IRKk
5) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMux_dzIEww
6) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jHg0b7Nai6c
7) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfmVSFg_zSI
8) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjyjdgw-SgQ
9) https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xEHoS7oBDmk
10) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xudcyY06PiI клас
11) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg-n4hMvd7I
 12) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbo8UIlQTIc
13) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyoFvSPFDIo
14) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcFOr9Jo0OA
15) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMml85mW51Q
16) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdUafTx82OM
17) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLUVrrOktI8

Task 6 A: Based on the seminar content write a short Cover letter and provide a CV for it. You
can use this task as a draft version of your own CV.