Applying for jobs via email makes job searches simple and quick. You can send your CV (curriculum vitae) directly to your prospective employer, along with a well-worded cover letter to explain who you are and why you would be suited to the job. Applying for jobs via email, takes out the nervousness and awkwardness that many people feel when applying for work.
Here you have some pointers on creating good cover letters and excellent CVs.
1. Cover letters (or e-mails)
Different jobs require different information.
Here are some pointers on creating excellent cover letters:
Activity 1
Compare the three following cover letters and decide what type of teaching work the applicant is looking for, how the applicant found out about the advertisement and other information about them.
A. Hello, I am interested in coming to Florida for August to work for the month. I currently live in Mexico, where I teach English to children and adults, with levels from beginner, beginner to advanced. I like to keep my classes spontaneous and interesting, and especially for children, I try to engage their interest though creative projects and games. Coming as I do from New Zealand, I have a love of the outdoors, and am capable in sports such as hiking, biking, swimming, kayaking and horse riding. I am available for the whole month of August and I would very much like the opportunity to try my hand at the summer camp lifestyle. I look forward to hearing from you. Regards, |
B. Hello, I saw your ad on Loquo. I am an English teacher from New Zealand with two solid years of experience in teaching, on top of part time tutoring and teaching over the past five years. I have a TEFL certificate from Unitec in Windsor and also a Bachelor of English Literature Thanks you very much for you time. Regards, |
C. Good Morning, We spoke on the phone earlier, here is the information you asked for. I am a 26 year old New Zealander. I have a Diploma of Performance Technology from Royal Holloway University in London. I have worked on many shows as a director’s assistant, lighting operator and as a props creator, sometimes all at once. I feel that I can perform all these roles with equal skill I have lived in Barcelona for around two months, but I intend to make it my home. Prior to that I lived in New Zealand, but I have also spent seven months living in Paris and six travelling around Europe in between my studies. I would like the opportunity to travel again with a performance company of a small size like yours. I learnt French and Spanish at University. As French was the latter, and I have lived in France, it is the language I have a higher knowledge of. My Spanish comprehension is still ok, but I find it difficult at present to converse in this language. However I have plans to learn it after I have mastered the current language I am studying which is Catalan. This means I am also able to act as a translator and guide on tour. I also write creatively, at present I am working on a screenplay, but my favourite model is the short story. Please feel free to contact my references for any extra information regarding my character. |
Activity 2
Write your own cover letter in response to one of the job applications below:
Job Advertisement 1:
Job advertisement 2:
2. Curriculum Vitae
Your Curriculum Vitae or CV, should showcase your attributes, your job history and your education. Employers don’t have time to analyse your CV to try to understand it. The information must be clear, concise and to the point.
The categories should be something like this:
Other points to consider are:
CV Form:
Sample CV:
1. Grammar. Business English. Gramática en inglés La gramática en inglés , inglés para los negocios , Business English ... Este... [21/01/10] |
19.391 | ||||
2. English class introduction Este curso es una muy breve introducción a la lengua inglesa que te ayudará si no... [10/11/05] |
21.979 | ||||
3. Curso de inglés El curso perfecto para quienes todavía no se han acercado nunca a la lengua... [28/11/01] |
497.490 |