Yearbook Committee Member, Hometown High School

• Aug 2004 - present. Editor-in-chief of yearbook staff. Leader of design and

publication teams from initial layout through finished product.

• Aug 2003 - Aug 2004. Yearbook staff member. Experience of taking   

photographs, designing layout, and writing captions and sidebars.

RELEVANT HIGH SCHOOL STUDIES
Technical writing; advanced composition; debate; video production; computer classes providing knowledge of word processing, desktop publishing, and Web software.

HONORS, AWARDS, AND MEMBERSHIPS

• U.S. Media Association Scholarship recipient
Scholarship based on academic achievement, community service, and campus    

participation and leadership in high school communications projects and                

studies.

• 2004 Best High School Newspaper Design winner
Central State Regional Communications Contest, sponsored by the   

Communications Department, State University.

• President of high school chapter of  Future Communicators of America    

(FCA), 2004 - present
Member, 2003 - present.

• Treasurer of National Honor Society, 2004 – present

Sample 4                            Functional resume

A functional CV is organized by skills and qualities.

Roberta Jordan
12345 Hemingway Ln.
Austin, TX 78722
(512) 456-7891 — R.Jordan@email.com

Objective

Reliable and mature high school senior seeking a part-time retail sales position with a youth-oriented clothing environment to gain experience and insight into the fashion industry for a future career in fashion and design.

Work Experience

Country Club                                                         Summer 2003 and 2004
Lifeguard

•  Monitored swimming areas for rule violations and drowning victims.

•  Supervised entertainment activities sponsored by country club.

•  Worked assigned shifts at check-in and concession stand.

•  Taught summer swimming classes.

Hawkins, Robins, Warbler and Finch, Attorneys at Law            Fall 2002

•  Picked-up and delivered catering and supplies for luncheons and corporate functions.

•  In-house mail delivery and sorting.

•  Office supply pick-up for local merchants.

Volunteer Work

Big Brothers/Big Sisters                                                               2003 - 2004

•  Assisted with and participated in group activities and field trips.

•  Tutored ages 8-13 and assisted with homework assignments.

Texas School for the Blind                                                            2000
Book Reader

•  Read literary masterpieces into a tape recorder for use by the community.

•  Assisted with volunteer office duties.

School Organizations

National Honor Society                                                                 2003, 2004

Senior Student Council Representative                                       2004
Secretary —                                                                                      2004

Education

City High School                                                                           2002 - 2005
May 2005 Graduation

George Washington Middle School                                            1997 – 2000

1.1These are headings and categories commonly used in CVs.

marital status referees employment history permanent address educational history skills title personal details surname qualifications date of birth    hobbies and interests

1 Which one means:

a basic facts about you?       b  practical abilities?

c  where you live most of the time?  dwhat you do in your free time?

e  when you were born?                f   Mr, Mrs, Ms, or Dr?

g details about your working life? h  if you are married or single?

i    people who can tell us about your qualities and character?

j proof that you have successfully completed a course?

к  schools and colleges?                     l  family name?

2 Which information is not usually asked for in your country?

Should you give any information that is not mentioned here?

3 Read the following CV. Complete a-h with appropriate headings or categories from the list in 1 above.

                                   Curriculum Vitae

Toni Carter

a………….

d…………..

I am currently following a part-time MBA programme in International Business at Randolph Business School

1997-2000             University of South Nottingham:

                         BSc Business Studies (2.1).

1994-1996             Dr Chalmer's Sixth Form College:

                       ‘A’ levels in Italian (A), Mathematics (B), Biology (B)

e..........................

Word-processing. Excel. PowerPoint. Clean driving licence.

Languages: Bilingual English / Italian.

f........................

September 2002-present

Farinelli Fashions: Marketing Executive with responsibility for customer services. I regularly visit sales outlets in the south of England and our suppliers' factories in Malta and Morocco.

January 2001-September 2002

Kilt Corner: Shop Assistant, then Deputy Manager.

August-December 2000

La Sorpresa Italian Restaurant: part-time waitress.

g.........................

Soccer: At university I was captain of the women's soccer team.

Playing the cello. Member of SN Chamber orchestra.

In my gap year I travelled round Australia and south-east Asia. I

developed a much broader awareness of other cultures and ways of life.

h.........................

Catriona Flynn                               Professor K. Pradesh

Manager, Kilt Corner         Randolph Business School

Gorton Street                     32 City Road

London W8                       London EC1B 7HG

1.2 Read this text about CV fraud and then answer questions 1 – 3 below.

1 According to Steven Sayers, why is CV fraud so common?

2 Why do you think Experian’s service has become so popular with   

businesses?

3 How dishonest is it for candidates to exaggerate on a CV?

4 How far would you go to get the job of your dreams?

Experian, a company specializing in checking CVs, completes between five and six hundred checks a week. Steven Sayers of Experian claims that 75% of CVs carry embellishments while 25% contain complete lies. ‘The job market has become increasingly competitive’, said Mr Sayers. ‘People will do anything to ensure that they get on shortlists. They think the CV is just a tool to get them inside – into an interview’. For about €80 Experian constructs a highly detailed picture of each applicant, investigating everything from date of birth and school records to specific projects undertaken at previous jobs.

Text 2 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 /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 / College in 2006, where I gained a degree / diploma / 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 а соmpany 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 training and experience in__.

—I was offered the post of Senior Technician by (company) in (date), and therefore left (company) in order to...

—I joined (company) in (date) as раrt 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. 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 I was a 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 2007. 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 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.

Covering letter with CV

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.

                                                             25 Westbound Road

Borehamwood

Herts WD61DX

18 June 20—

Mrs J. Hastings

Personnel Officer

International Computing Services plc

City Road London EC3 4HJ

Your Ref: KH 305/9

Dear Mrs Hastings

I would like to apply for the vacancy advertised in the Guardian on 16 June for a Personal Assistant to the Sales Director.

As you will see from my CV, I am currently Personal Assistant to the Sales Manager of a small engineering company. In addition to the day-to-day administration work, I represent the Sales Manager on some occasions and am delegated to take certain policy decisions in his absence.

I speak good French and Italian, and use both languages in the course of my work. I am particularly interested in this post as I would like to become more involved with an IT organization and am very familiar with many of your software products.

If there is any further information you require, please contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

CaroL Brice

Carol Brice (Ms)

Enc. CV

Unsolicited letter

Notice in this letter how the applicant first mentions how he knows of Mitchell Hill (a bank merchant), gives brief details of his education and experience, and then refers to his current employers, who approve of staff spending time abroad. Finally, he tells Mitchell Hill why he wants to join them temporarily, and asks for an application form. Of course, he could also include a CV with the letter, but in this case, he knows that company practice is to send application forms.

Dear Mr Curtis

I am writing to you on the recommendation of David McLean, Assistant Manager in your Securities Department. We met last month on a course in Hanover, and he suggested that I should contact your company and mention his name. He told me that you often employ people from other countries on one-year temporary contracts, and I am writing to enquire about the possibility of such a post.

I am at present employed by the International Bank in Hanover, in their Securities Department. I have worked here since 20—, when I graduated from the University of Munich with a degree in Economics. In my present position as Assistant to Wolfgang Lüers, Director of the Securities Department, I deal with a wide range of investments from companies throughout Europe, buying shares and bonds for them on a worldwide basis. As well as speaking fluent English, I also have a good working knowledge of French.

I would like to spend a year in the UK to gain further experience in securities investment with a British bank, and believe that my experience, training, and language skills would prove useful to your organization. My employer encourages all its staff to spend a year abroad and Mr Lüers would be willing to give you a reference.

I would be grateful if you could send me an application form and further information about the posts currently available. If you need any further information, I can be contacted by email on bauerm@aol.com.de or telephone on 49 511506941155.

Yours sincerely

Marcus Bauer

Marcus Bauer

1.3   In the box are headings from a typical CV. Look at the extracts from the СV of Tomoko Horiguchi, a Japanese woman working in England. Under which of the CV headings should each extract be placed?

Personal details Education Qualifications Work experience Special skills Interests and achievements Referees

1 Fluent in Japanese and English

2 Born 14 October, 1970    

3 Married, no children    

4 MBA degree from London Business School, 2001

5 Full range of computer skills

6 Aerobics, basketball, films and theatre

7 Organised a music concert while at university

8 1986-1989: Sapporo High School, Japan

9 1990-1992: Sogo Design College - studied graphic design

10  Aug-Sept 1991: Work placement at IMP (graphic design firm) Seattle, Uf

11  1993-1996: ICB (construction company) Assistant in Design  Department

12  64 Rose Park Crescent, London SW218CT

13  Clean driving licence    

14  Certificate of Proficiency in English (1995)

15  Diploma in Computing (1996)

16  Mr F. Luneau, Marketing Consultant, IMP, 120 Davis Avenue, Seattle, Uf

 When you apply for a job you usually send a CV and covering letter.

 Which of the following do you usually do in a covering letter?

1 Say that you wish to apply and indicate where you heard about the   

position

2 Say why you are interested in the job and direct the reader to special
qualities, skills or experience you have.

3 Give information about your hobbies and sporting interests.

4 Provide details of your examination results.

5 Enclose the names and addresses of two referees.

6 Mention when you are available for interview.

7 Ask if there are any other vacant positions in the company.

 1.4 Personal qualities and key skills

A Look at this list of personal qualities. What categories can you think of to classify them? Which of them can be used to describe your personality?

accurate                             adaptable               astute  

can work under pressure   careful                   committed

competent                     cooperative            courteous

creative                                     decisive                  dedicated

energetic                            extravert                 flexible

gets on well with other people       good time-keeper   friendly

good communicator good sense of humour                   hard-working

imaginative            independent worker           lively

logical                    loyal                                  methodical

meticulous             optimistic                           orderly

organized               positive                                          practical

receptive                relaxed                                          reliable

self-confident        self-motivated                    self-starter

sensitive                 thorough                            thoughtful

vigilant                               works well with others

B   Study these key skills below. Which of them can make a high-flyer?

Write a short paragraph describing your personality or any other professional you know.

able to adapt to changing priorities   

able to handle multiple tasks

able to provide logical solutions to non-standard issues

able to work well under pressure to meet critical deadlines

developed communication skills (verbal & written)

giving advice/ providing assistance

improving own learning & performance                     

organizational skills/able to coordinate activities across company functions

problem-solving skills                     strong analytical skills

self-awareness                                 strong mathematical aptitude

supervising                                      time management

training staff                                    working with others

making presentations                       meeting the public

chairing meetings                             computer literate/ IT skills

effective negotiating                        exceptional attention to detail

a team player                                        interviewing

1.5 Complete the letter using suitable words and phrases from the table. The letter in brackets indicates which column you should check to find the correct word or phrase.

Dear Ms Walker

I am writing to apply for the position of Managing Director which you advertised in the International HeraldTribune, dated 22 April.

I am currently employed as Marketing Director in a medium-sized cosmetics company. However I am seekinga position which will offer a greater challenge and more responsibility.

In my last job, I was responsible for developing ¹(B) a sales strategy for the firm and for...........² (B) the work of the advertising, sales and marketing personnel. I was also involved in.........³ (B) contracts with overseas agents and distributors, setting their sales targets and.............⁴ (B) their performance. In the last six months, I have been engaged in..........⁵ (B) franchising networks in Eastern Europe.

I have.............⁶ (C) in the cosmetics industry, having worked for three companies dealing in health and beauty products. I think that I work well.............⁷ (C) as I have organised several product launches when I had to meet tight deadlines. Although I never avoid responsibility, I am able to.......⁸ (C) authority when necessary.

As for my personal qualities, I am a..............⁹ (A) person, with many ideas for exciting new products which would interest your company. Most people say that I am very..........¹⁰ (A), withthe ability to motivate staff and get results. I consider myself to be extremely.........¹¹ (A) because I always make the most of the resources available to me.

Since you are an international company, it may interest you to know that I am.........¹² (C) in English and Spanish, and I have a working knowledge of Portuguese.

I would welcome the opportunity to meet you to discuss my application at greater length.

Yours sincerely

Gabrielle Gerard

(Ms) Gabrielle Gerard

1.6 CV or job application form should always be accompanied by a short covering letter. Its purpose is to draw the prospective employer's attention to the key points in your CV and to highlight your suitability for the job.

Read the covering letter below and answer these questions.

a) What job do you think the writer is applying for?

b) What kind of organization does he want to work for?

c) How well does he 'sell' himself?

The letter is divided into four paragraphs.

In which paragraph (1-4) does he:

1) state his enthusiasm and interest?

2) say when he could be interviewed?

3) show that he knows something about the organization he wants to work for?

4) say how he heard about the job and state his interest in it?

5) describe his practical work experience?

6) include details of experience or relevant skills?

Dear Mrs Proctor

Re: Vacancies for Trainee Consultants

I    I am writing in response to your advertisement in the September edition of Telemarketing Magazine and would like to be considered for one of the posts mentioned.

II   As you will see from my enclosed CV, I have recently completed a degree in International Marketing at Clifton University. A six-month company placement in France gave me the opportunity to put some of the theory learned on my course into practice, and to acquire a good working knowledge of French. The post involved helping with the development of telemarketing scripts for salespeople. Since then, I have had several months' experience of working in the international section of the Automobile Club's call centre. This means I have had direct experience of the day-to-day realities of communicating with the public.

III  From your corporate website, it appears that working for your organization would offer a stimulating and challenging career within a highly competitive field. I am extremely attracted by this opportunity and feel that I have already acquired some of the skills and awareness necessary to make an effective contribution to the company.

IV  I am currently available for interview and would welcome the opportunity to discuss the post in more detail.

     I look forward to hearing from you.

        Yours sincerely,

        Russell Fleming

The language in Russell's letter is formal. Match the formal words and expressions below with their informal equivalents and complete the table, as in the example.

INFORMAL                                               FORMAL

begin                                                           commence    

begin    at the moment complete reply please find enclosed free   answer available another thing  commence request in addition available jobs give you ask for   discuss vacancies currently

I have included talk about job   provide you with post finish

Read the tip for writing covering letters. Does the same apply in your country?

Always type a covering letter unless you are specifically asked for a handwritten one. Where possible address it to the person concerned. Keep it short - use only one side of a page. Make sure that the page isn't too full and that the layout is clear.

Using Russell's letter as a guide, write a letter of application in reply to one of the job advertisements. Include some of the more formal words and expressions above (up to eight) but avoid making your letter sound too formal.

1.7 What is the difference between the following words?

1     a demanding job and a challenging job

2     a job which is worthwhile and one which is rewarding

3     a person who is skilled and one who is talented

4     a dead-end job and one with prospects

5     the next rung on a ladder and a stepping stone

6     to pull strings for someone and to headhunt them

7     a good aptitude and a bad attitude

8     a golden hello and golden handcuffs

1.8Read about the elevator test. How difficult do you think it is?

You have been called to the final interview for the job of your dreams. For years you have planned and prepared yourself for this moment. You are about to talk to the Managing Director, who will make the final decision, when suddenly the phone rings. There is a crisis and she has to leave immediately, but she asks to take the lift with her. As the doors close she says ‘OK, I’m listening. Tell me why I should hire you.’ The journey down takes just 60 seconds.

Work in groups. Take it in turns to listen or say why you should be hired. Who will get the job in your group?

1.9 Handling interview questions.Expand the prompts to form full questions.

1     What/ you/ see/ yourself/ doing in five years’ time?

2     How quickly/ you learn new skills?

3     What/ be/ most important thing/ you learn from your placement last summer?

4     you/ rather/ be out and about, or office-based?

5     you/ think/ could tell us about your greatest weakness?

6     you/ tell what qualities you would bring to this job?

7     I/ like you/ describe a difficult situation you handled well.

8     you/ mind/ tell us how much you are currently earning?

Connect the replies a-h to the interview questions above.

a     I’d much rather be visiting customers than be stuck behind the desk

b     Certainly. Once some important documents were lost, so I created another set.       

c     Mm, that’s an interesting question. I’m good at learning   new programming languages.

d     Let me think... I’m thorough and methodical, which is essential for dealing with paperwork.

e     In five years’ time? I see myself running a large department, or    

        my own business.

f     I’d rather not talk about money at this stage, if you don’t mind.

g     I really enjoyed the teamwork.

h     Well, I tend to be slow at dealing with paperwork, but I am improving.

Would these replies impress an interviewer?

How would you answer the interview questions?

1.10 Responding to job applications. Read the letter and fill in each blank with an appropriate passive form of the verbs in the box.

appoint issue pay set out

Dear Mr Harris,