a WRITING Covering letters SPEAKING 1 Work in pairs. Discuss the questions, + What's the difference between a CV (Curriculum Vitae) and a covering letter? ‘What kind of information might you typically include in each? Do you think ‘they are both always needed? Why? / Why nor? + Do you have a CV? Are you happy with It? + Have you ever had to write a covering letter or personal statement on an application form? In what language? Do you think it was effective? 2. Read the short text below and compare it with your ideas. Does it contain anything you didn’t mention? ‘When applying for jobs where there is no standardised application form, we usually send: + a CV (a résumé in American English) + ashort covering letter / email The covering letter is meant to encourage the company you're applying to to take a closer look at your CV. It should clarify why you want to work for the firm and. why you would be a good fit. Highlight key information from your CY, but don't just repeat what is listed. Match your skills, interests and experience to the specific job within the company and sell your qualities to the reader. The aim ofa covering letier is to get you invited for an interview. CONTENT Your letter should be concise and relevant. Itshould: + state why you are writing and what post you are applying for. + explain where you learned about the job vacancy + say why you want the job + say why you would be a benefit to the company: + request an interview. Often online application forms will have ‘an open section or personal statement where you can sell yourself asin a covering letter and explain why you want the job and how you would benefit the company 158 3 Work in pairs. In light of the text in Exercise 2, discuss how you would sell yourself in your covering letter if you were ‘applying for the job below. US USB eat We are a leading online tourism agency looking for a full-time Customer Service Agent. We require: + ability to listen attentively and hear important information, and to provide clear information in excellent English + proven ability to deal with customer enquiries + previous customer service or call centre experience — desirable but not essential + basic IT skills + ability to work flexible (and sometimes long) hours WRITING 4 Read the covering email sent by an applicant for the job and choose the correct option. ‘To whom it may concern, | | wite / am wating to apply for the post of Customer Service ‘Agent, 7s / which advertised on www.jobseekers.com recently. ee! would / willbe suitable forthe post for several reasons. Firstly, speak excellent English, “spending / having spent the last year living and working in Canada. Secondly, I fee! | possess the relevant customer service experience, having ‘worked / been working ina range of service industry postions, many of ‘them / which required me to represent businesses to the general public. My inter-personal skils and ability to communicate also benefited ‘rom having to Geal with frequent customer complaints in my places ‘of work. lam now keen to “implement / put these skils into practice ‘and to continue to develop myself and extend my range of abilities, In adiition to all this, lam 2 dedicated, motivated worker, able to ‘act both independently and as pert ofa team. In my lastob, | was responsible for setting up a new system for the collection and ‘compliation of customer feedback, 8 process that exemplified my listening and communication sks as well as my competence with Cloud-based surveys and social media for business. | enjoy new challenges and never give less then my feventhing / al. trust you will agree that my track record so far, as detailed in my CV, shows this. lam avalable for interview at any time and would be happy to provide references ’should/ when you require them. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information ook forward to hear / hearing from you soon, Yours faithfully, Karim Nourani Siobhan Tebbs 5 Work in pairs. Discuss your opinion of the letter. Is it ‘well written, too formal, too assertive, etc.? Would you interview this applicant for the post? Why? / Why not?VOCABULARY Achievements at work Itis common in covering leters to detail your previous ‘achievements at work or in the field of education. After detaling achievements, we often go on to explain the skills these achievements demonstrated or developed. wos responsible for setting up o new system for the collection and compilation of customer feedback, a process that exempitfied my listening and communication skils 0s well as my competence with cloud-based surveys ‘ond social meat for business Complete the sentences with these verbs. | achievea conducted Implementing advised dealt with negotiated arranged devised promoting budgeted diagnosed represented | booked fights and ‘accommodation for colleagues who had to go away on business trips. 2. As events co-ordinator for a local charity, | was responsible for organising and events to raise money, 3 In my HR role, staff on a wide range of legal and professional matters, 41 ‘above-average grades in the majority of my end-of school exams. a survey among staff about proposed changes and presented the results to management. 6 |_____some remarkably abusive customers during my time at the call centre. 7 Lwas in charge of the new system for, fling all the office paperwork and training staff. al the successes and failures of the business end thus helped determine the path we subsequently took. on ® script for teleworkers, which was later implemented company-wide, 10 |___my money carefully during my time at university and was thus able to meet all my financial commitments. 41 I successfully with my bank to reschedule my debt, saving me £80 a month 12 Iwas elected as an official spokesperson and my colleagues in meetings with the management, Work in pairs, What skills or abilities do you think each sentence in Exercise 6 is evidence of? KEY WORDS FOR WRITING should {mn formal writing, should is often used to mean if 110m evailable for interview and would be happy to provide further references should you require them. 8 Put the words in the correct order to make common sentences using should. 1 further / please / contact / require / hesitate / any / do / you / should / not / information / me /t0 2 available / request / references / should / them / on / are / you / require 3 please / the / possible / vacancies / become / any / ‘opportunity / contact / at / should / earliest / available / me 4 ‘test /after/ days / you / should / retake / can /s0/ the / 60 / you / wish /to / do 5 wish / matter / phone / appointment / should / discuss /to / please / an / you this / further / to/ make 9 Work in pairs. Decide how the sentences in Exercise 8 might be worded in informal spoken English. PRACTICE 10 Look at the three job adverts below and decide which one most appeals to you. FUSCA RUE KIUNEE | Busy modern art gallery seeks fll or part-time administrative asistant to work with gallery directors Fluent English essential. You are a calm, intelligent, | Hexible, curious person who likes to get things done ASSISTANT SALES MANAGER Large European hotel chain seeks assistant sales manager. You have a degree (or equivalent), sales experience and good communication and administrative skills. Must be driven, able to work under pressure and happy to travel 15-20 weeks per year. OFFICIAL GUIDES WANTED ‘We are looking for guides with a keen interest in history or archaeology as well as excellent English skills to | Join our association. We organise high-quality cultural guided tours of historic sites, 11 Work in pairs and compare your choices. Discuss what experience or abilities applicants | for each post need. 12. Write a covering letter to accompany an application for the post you chose in Exercise 10. | Writing 159