If you want to maximise your opportunities and responses from potential employers, it is advisable to follow certain rules and advice given by professionals and recruiters.
Make sure that your application is as complete as possible (letter of application, CV, copies of certificates, etc.) and that it reaches the person for whom it is intended in good condition (employers are not keen to receive messy or torn forms). Don’t forget that first impressions are critical!
Cover letter: The cover letter of your application is an essential tool to announcing yourself, your educational and professional experience and availability to a potential employer. You should therefore express your interest in the post for which you are applying as briefly and precisely as possible.
The aim of a cover letter is to convince the person you are writing to that you are the best person for the job advertised. What you write should therefore be informative, convincing, show genuine motivation and make the person to whom it is addressed want to know more about you. Don't forget to add a personal touch.
Feel free to express your expectations regarding the job you apply for. Show your strengths in relation to this job and, if the occasion arises, explain why you want to change jobs. Finally, do not write more than one A4 page (a letter of application should only be written by hand if the employer expressly requests this) and make sure to check your grammar and spelling very carefully. Careless errors will not make a potential employer motivated to find out more about you.
Curriculum vitae: Simplicity, conciseness and precision are the key words for a CV. A good CV should include the following:
- Personal details
- Education
- Language proficiency
- IT knowledge
- Special skills
- Employment history / career path
- Hobbies
- References