Lesson 5

Communication for Work

Purposes
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to
achieve the following:

1. Prepare a Cover/Application
Letter and Curriculum Vitae
(CV) as vital requirements
for job application and/or
online interview.
2. Demonstrate readiness and
follow etiquette in an online
interview.
 Topics

01 02
Preparing the Cover
Letter and Online Interviews
Curriculum Vitae
 Preparing the
Cover/Application
Letter A job application letter or a
cover letter is like a sales letter
in which you sell your
knowledge and competence.
This contains little information of
the job which you are applying,
as well as your strongest
qualities and qualifications. It is
the most essential part of the
application as this is far more
than just a note saying “Please
find enclosed my CV.” Without
a good cover letter, your
 Preparing the
Cover/Application Letter

Remember that your

application letter is your selling
factor. Your main goal is to
market yourself. Think about
competition: your judges are
your readers. With hundreds or
thousands of applicants, make
sure that your application letter
has to stand-out. Therefore,
your application letter and
accompanying résumé have to
attract professionals’ attention.
Your final goal is to get an
interview.
 Items to Highlight:

Connecting your past, Highlighting the

present, and future qualifications that your
The body paragraphs of experience gave you, not
your cover letter should show the experience itself.
how your past experiences ● You should NOT simply
(education, internships, restate your resume
research, etc.) make you a ● You should elaborate on the
qualifications that your
unique candidate in the
abilities, accomplishments,
present, and how those
and experiences give you as
qualifications will be an asset
they relate to the specific
when you apply them to
position and company to
projects at your target company
 Items to Highlight:
Improved statement:
“I am a graduate of BS Mechanical My research in the Mechanical Engineering
Engineering from Batangas State department at Batangas State University
has been focused on XXXXXX through
University. The past year, I was a
XXXXXXX. As a research assistant for
research assistant for Engr. Beverly
Engr. Beverly Castillo, I worked towards the
Castillo and I worked alongside
device implementation of semiconducting
other mechanical engineers to conjugated polymers and acquired
ensure we completed our project by integrated technical judgment and a
the deadline.” background in modeling from first principles.
What is lacking on the above Through my research assistantship I have
statement? It doesn’t state been prepared to provide materials
what the applicant gained expertise to our department.
from the experience.
 When you are writing the application letter, bear in
mind to achieve the four important tasks:

❖ Catch the ❖ Persuade the

reader’s reader that you
attention are a qualified
applicant for the
purposively.
job. Strong action
❖ Tailor it to the verbs and direct
company, to the language are
employer, and to ❖ Request an
used.
the job. interview.
 MAKE YOUR COVER LETTER
UNIQUE
➔ Be as specific as possible when introducing your
abilities and qualifications; explain why:
Try to eliminate sentences that could be written by anybody
with the same course. Specifics make you look interested,
well-informed, detail-oriented and most importantly, qualified.

➔ Unify each body paragraph of your cover letter around

one qualification, including the experiences that have
given you this qualification:
In particular, the first or second sentence of the paragraph
should emphasize one or two specific qualifications afforded by
the unique training of your degree and/or work and internship
 After writing the application letter, use the checklist
below to make sure your letter has already met the
needed information.
✔ The title of the job, source of your information and
the statement of your objective have to be clear.
✔ There should be a summary of your qualifications
for the job. This includes work experience,
educational background, and summary of relevant
skills such as leadership skills, organizational skills,
and intercultural communication skills.
✔ Indicate that you enclosed your CV or
résumé.
✔ Request for an interview. This includes place
and time you will be available and the
contact information such as phone numbers
and email addresses.
✔ Identify the job. Include any information
that is not included in your CV.
 Before submitting your application
letter, proofread it carefully. Free it
from grammatical mistakes and
organizational inconsistencies. Check
also for correct punctuations, margins,
spacing, and right letter format.
General guidelines for the
overall structure of your cover letter:

➢ Format your cover letter for

post, mail or email. It should
consist of one page only.
➢ Include your complete address,
email address, phone
numbers.
 General guidelines for the overall structure of
your cover letter:

➢ Use the title of the person when you address

him/her in the letter. If you can’t find a name,
write ‘Dear Sir/Madam.’

➢ Use standard, easy-to-read font. Make it

readable. Times New Roman or Arial is
preferred; it should be no smaller than 11 for
readability on screen.
The Content of the Cover Letter
The Introductory Paragraph
Your first paragraph must be very convincing. It tells
your reader that you are the best person for the job. It also
emphasizes that you have the set of skills and experience
that make you the ideal candidate for the post.
Examples:
1. I learned that you are in need of the position of English
faculty and I believe that I have the necessary
credentials for this role. I have considerable working
experience as an English Language and Literature
Professor, and I enclose my CV to support my
application.
The Content of the Cover Letter
Examples:
2. Please find attached CV in application for the job of
design engineer advertised on your company’s website.
I strongly believe that my competence and experience
and particularly my experience at ABC Company, and
my ability to do functional and innovative designs make
me the right candidate for this post.

3. I am seeking a position as a manager in your Data

Center. In such a management position, I can use my
master’s degree in information systems and my
experience as a programmer/analyst to address
business challenges in data processing.
The Content of the Cover Letter

The Main Section

The main section of your cover letter should

show :
❏ summary of your qualification, organized around
the job description and person specification;
❏ description of what you have accomplished, your
expertise, and your special skills needed for the
job and;
❏ a clear description of how you performed your
duty and demonstrated the requirement of your
The Content of the Cover Letter
The Main Section
You can make use of the following phrases:

“My ability to manage _____ speaks for itself: I have

accomplished the ____________ in my department.”

“I hope it goes without saying from my list of previous

jobs that I am extremely flexible and good at
__________________ .”

“I first developed my _______(skill) in ___________(job),

but have improved it since in _______(mention jobs).”
The Content of the Cover Letter

The Main Section

When you are done writing the main section:

❖ get back over it and check if you have already
mentioned every important skill and bits of
experience that are considered crucial;
❖ Edit and polish until you have come up with the
most ideal content of an application letter.
❖ Most recruiters prefer shorter application
containing only the most essential skills,
experiences, and accomplishments.
The Content of the Cover Letter
The Closing Paragraph

Your closing paragraph should be written concisely and neatly. It should

make clear what action the reader will be taking after reading your
cover letter. But don’t sound arrogant.
So it might end, for example:

“I hope this convinces you that I have the necessary competence and
experience to achieve as ___________________ ( job title). I look forward to
hearing from you.”
Close with a request for an interview.

“If you find my application desirable to your needs, I am willing to come

for a personal interview. I can be reached via my email:
[email protected] or through mobile:
+639488005694.”
The Content of the Cover Letter
The Closing Paragraph

Your closing paragraph should be written concisely and neatly.

It should make clear what action the reader will be taking
after reading your cover letter. But don’t sound arrogant.

For a letter, end it with “Yours sincerely” if you have addressed

it to someone by name, and “Yours faithfully” if you started it with
“Dear Sir/Madam”.

Remember: Before you submit your application letter or cover

letter, proofread or polish it carefully.
 Designing the Curriculum
Vitae
What is a CV or Résumé? Basically, your
CV or resumé describes your education,
competence, and experience. It defines what
kind of applicant you are for the job. It
determines if you are the right person for the
job.
As one of the essential requirements for job
hiring, your CV should demonstrate to any
prospective employer why they should hire
you above any of the other skilled candidates
who have presented themselves for
employment.
Basic Rules of CV Writing
In writing a curriculum vitae (CV) or resumé, like other
forms of business writing, you should always consider its
reader (part of audience analysis, as discussed in Lesson
1). Avoid being eliminated by following these basic rules in
writing a CV or resumé.
➢ Write with the recruiter or human resource manager in
mind. Assume that you are the recruiter. Think about
what he needs to know about you. Consider the job
description.
➢ Present your CV or resumé to inform them well about
what they need to know. Show it in a way that it
reveals very professional and credible information.
Basic Rules of CV Writing
➢ A well-written CV or resumé limits the chance of
not selecting you. It easily puts you in the
shortlist.
➢ CV or resumés are the most important
documents needed in job screening. They
provide the highlights of your qualifications,
work experiences, competence, professional and
educational history.
Basic Rules of CV Writing
Resumé vs. Curriculum Vitae. There are three
major differences between CVs and resumés: the
length, the purpose, and the layout.
A resumé is a brief summary of skills and skills over
one or two pages. It is short with no particular format
rule and highly customizable. The goal of a resumé is
to make an individual stand out from the competition.
A resumé does not have to be ordered chronologically;
it does not have to cover the whole career. The
resume contains three simple sections: name and
contact information, education, and work
experience.
Basic Rules of CV Writing
A Curriculum Vitae, on the other hand, is more detailed
and can be more than two pages. It covers your entire
career history. It has a clear chronological order listing the
whole career of the individual.
In writing your CV, you have to consider the following
information:
● Areas of interest
● Education
● Grants, honors and awards
● Publications and presentations
● Employment and experience
● Academic memberships
● Character references (optional)
Basic Rules of CV Writing
Guidelines for writing effective CV
● Include your contact details at the top.
● Decide whether you want to start with a personal
statement or career objective.
● Include sections on Key Skills, Knowledge and
Achievements, Work Experience, and Education.
● When discussing achievements, focus on what you have
actually done and the end result achieved.
● Include everything relevant in the ‘Work Experience’
and ‘Education’ sections.
● Make sure that your spelling and grammar are all
correct.
● Work on your presentation
Basic Rules of CV Writing

CV Mistakes and Pitfalls to Avoid

● Do not be tempted to lie just to ‘look good’.
● Avoid leaving gaps in your career history.
● Do not start your CV with the dull bits.
● Do not include your hobbies and interests.
● Don't make your CV too long.
● Do not use an unprofessional email address.
 02
Online Interviews
Online Interviews

One of the most typical online interviews is the webcam

job interview.

❏ Familiarize yourself with the video conferencing

application your prospective employer is using
❏ Practice the use of webcam to help ensure better focus
and face angle.
❏ Keep in mind that online interviews are as
important as in-person interviews.
Here are some preparation tips that Alison Doyle has suggested for a
successful online interviews:

● Download the software required by the

company ahead of time so that you’ll have the
opportunity to get used to it.
● Create a professional username, such as a
variation on your real name, as it appears on
your resume, if it’s available.
● Dress professionally even if you are sitting
down. Wear nice pants and shoes, as you never
know when you will have to stand up. Plus,
dressing the part will help you get your head in
the game.
Here are some preparation tips that Alison Doyle has suggested for a
successful online interviews:

● Clear your workspace of any clutter that is

behind you so that it doesn't show up on the
screen. You don’t want your interviewer to be
distracted by visual noise in the room or to
assume that your disorganized space is a sign
of how you’d perform as a worker.
● Make sure that you are in a quiet room where
you will not be disturbed by people, pets, etc.
Turn off your ringer, any alarms, and electronics
that are likely to interrupt.
Here are some preparation tips that Alison Doyle has suggested for a
successful online interviews:

● Have a piece of paper and a pen

ready so that you are not
scrambling to find them later.
● Have a copy of your resume in your
sightline in case you have to refer
to dates, job titles, or numbers.
Here are some preparation tips that Alison Doyle has suggested for a
successful online interviews:

● Smile and focus as much as possible and try

to behave as if you’re in a regular, in-person
interview. Look into the camera, listen
attentively, and engage with your
interviewer. Don’t just wait for your turn to
speak.
● Practice using your webcam equipment
before the interview, so you are sure
everything is in working order and that
you’re comfortable interviewing on video.
Psalm 37:5

“Commit everything to
the LORD. Trust Him, and
He will help you.”
Thank You
Do you have any questions?
[email protected]
+91 620 421 838
yourcompany.com
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