The importance of a CV structure isn’t overestimated. A good and clear format allows the employer to quickly navigate within the main points that will affect their hiring decision.
The typical CV structure includes:
- Header
- Introduction/Profile
- Hard skills adapted to vacancy
- Work Experience
- Education and Qualifications
- Technical Skills
- Interests
Let me explain these things to you.
Header
The header is the first thing a recruiter sees when receiving a letter. Thus, you should make headings for your resume as concise and understandable as possible.
First Name + Last Name, Position Name, your location (if you are ready to move, specify where), phone number, and email.
All headings for resumes must be short so that the bulk of the doc fits on the first page.
You can find practical examples and headings for resumes on many sites. For instance, here you can use the editor with ready-made blocks and fill them with your information
Introduction/Profile
This text block goes right after the header and serves as an introduction, a summary of what you are looking for, and who you are:
- Your position
- Strong skills
- Industry experience
- Companies that you have worked successfully with
- Tools and software you can operate with
- The benefits you can bring to the company
- Personal information.
While it’s unwise to put your own photo in a resume or cover letter, you can absolutely use visuals to separate the sections in your resume. For example, you can use free icons from Flaticon, like a computer monitor, to show you possess computer skills. Keep in mind that ATS software like iTacit can’t read visuals, but human recruiters will appreciate your creativity.
Hard and soft skills
This block can be perfectly arranged as a list of 10 important professional and personal skills for this position. For example:
- Telephone Call Handling
- Fluent in Japanese
- Customer Service
- Money Transfers
- One-to-One Support
- Safeguarding and Welfare
- Internal Auditing
- Patience
- Accountability
- Creative approach
Work experience
This is the biggest part of the resume and one of the best recruitment strategies, where you need to list all the places you’ve worked at. Workplaces can be paid or not, but in terms of scope and type of activity, they should relate to the current position for which you are applying.
Start from the last/current place, and organize the listing of work experiences in reverse chronological order.
Describe in detail the results of your work, skills, and tools that you used at your previous/current workplace – this information will be more attractive to a potential employer.
“Work experience” block structure:
- Years of work, company name, and your position name.
- A brief description of what your tasks were.
- List of your responsibilities.
Indicate the achievements you’re proud of. Try to indicate these facts in numbers: company growth, revenue, years, etc.
Education and Qualifications
At the end of the resume, list what education institutions you’ve graduated from and when, what specialty you got, and how you upgraded your qualifications. If the list is too large, leave only the most significant links that correlate with the position you are applying for.
Technical skills
Inform the employer about how technically savvy you are.
For example, you know how to work with:
- Printers
- Active Directory
- MS Office: Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook
- Accounting Systems
- Certified Scrum Master
- Webex, STB technologies
- Etc.
Interests
It’s an optional point, but as the best recruitment books state, it could be a real game-changer in your application. Make it concise – a maximum of 2 lines.
Pro Tips:
- Organize the information in blocks with bold subtitles.
- Leave space between blocks to make the text easier to read.
- Add lists with short paragraphs.
- Make a resume of optimal length – 2 pages.
- Use professional CV templates to save time and ensure your resume stands out.
- Do not include links in the CV. They must be requested by the employer.
- Make resumes in PDF format or Google Docs with viewing access. Avoid HTML, EPS, BMP, ZIP, and Word.
- Avoid phrases such as Team-player, Results-driven, Hard-working. Be more accurate and creative.
- Do not specify in the resume the reasons why you want to take the proposed position, as you have already reported this in a cover letter.
The Cover Letter’s Layout: How To Be Read to the End
When it comes to applying for a job through email, remember that your letter must be sufficiently formalized and professionalized, but at the same time, remain simple, easily understood, and without ambiguity. The recipient should see your ability to convey thoughts and communicate at all levels.
To succeed, try to stick to a concrete structure and style of writing an application. Your cover letter has to contain only information that will help employers make a choice in your favor, so do not waste their time. It should be easy and clear to deal with you.
“Well-structured letters are fast to read; a respondent will not get tired while reading. Make a structure means respect receiver.”
If you write a letter using plain language, you may be perceived as a tongue-tied amateur or as a person who disrespects the employer. If you dazzle with pompous words and write long, complex sentences, your letter will not be read to the end and sent to the basket.
If an HR manager likes the manner of your self-presentation, they will add you to the list of the most preferred candidates. And if the letter’s structure is clear and easily perceived, your chances of being hired are increased.
Typically, the cover letter structure looks like this:
- Subject line.
- Introduction.
- Body: the main idea of the letter, arguments.
- Call to action and contacts for communication.
- The respectful part of the letter.
In case of applying for a job through email on job search websites, your message should include:
- Subject line: Interested in … position.
- To whom It may concern.
- Body: I am interested in the position… advertised on… . I have attached my CV and cover letter.
- Thank you.
- Sincerely Yours.
- First and Last Name, Phone, Email.
Let’s analyze each of these points in detail.
Subject line
Your main task is to create a concise and attractive letter subject line so that it would be convenient to read with the smartphone. Include the name of the vacancy and some short and catchy descriptive phrases.
Some tricky examples of eye-grabbing subject lines:
- A Copywriter/Marketer/Your position You Need.
- A Marketing Writer is looking for the next role – 8 years of experience.
- Experienced (Microsoft, Virgin) HR Assistant Application.
- Social Media Manager that you deserve – 10 y.e., MBA, Google among customers.
- Paull Verber recommended writing to you: John Smith, Lawyer, 5 years of own practice.
Introduction
Do not start a letter with “Hello!” This is not a situation when you can allow yourself to be familiar. Instead, use “Dear,” and then put the name of the recipient or, if you could not find out the name, “Madame / Sir.”
Bring the essence of your letter in the first line, for example, saying that your work resume is attached. Do not be shy to state about a referral saying, for example:
“Your colleague/former colleague/acquaintance recommended I contact your company for such a position.”
Body: the main idea of the letter
The second line of the letter contains information relating to the possible reasons why this company needs to hire you. It’s not necessary to explain why you are eager to get this job. Focus on the recipient’s side and try to convince the employer that they want to get you.
When applying for a job through email, provide strong facts and arguments – what your achievements at the previous position were. Do not repeat the information that is already in the resume. Mention that you have grown as a specialist and are ripe for finding a job where you can apply your strong skills and knowledge.
Call-to-action and contacts
At the end of the letter, include a call-to-action and your contacts. For example, you can say:
“Call me on this phone number to discuss how we can cooperate.”
In this part, you can also indicate information about when you can start working in a new position, or if you are already free and in an active search for offers.
The “respectful” part of the letter
The way you close an email plays an essential role. At the end of all of the above, add Sincerely Yours, First and Last Name. Before sending, read the letter several times to make sure there are no errors or typos. Do not forget to attach a resume to the letter. In the file name, write down the word CV and your First and Last Name.
Pro tips:
- Let your friends or relatives read your letter and ask them questions: Are you flattering the employer? Are you exaggerating your achievements? Is it clearly explained what you want to get and how the company will benefit from choosing you? If there is any misunderstanding or the letter seems too sweet, correct it.
- Race game. After the employer receives your letter, he/she is likely to google information about you. Stay ahead – do it first. Google yourself by name and surname, and check what information is in the SERP. If any of it does not suit you or spoils your reputation, delete it. For example, if you are applying for a prestigious job, and Google displays some unpleasant comments or foolish pictures, remove such data in advance.
Cover Letter Template
Don’t have enough free time or ideas on how to write a cover letter? Just copy and paste this template, and fill in the appropriate info.
Dear Mr. [Employer’s Name],
I am writing to apply for the position’ Name of position’ advertised in the… As required, I am enclosing a job application, resume, and two references.
The job opportunity described in the listing seems interesting to me. The education and experience I received in the … field makes me suitable for this position. To prove these aren’t empty words, here are my key skills:
– Degree…
– Expertise in…
– Certifications in…
– I am also experienced in…
Please go through my CV for additional information and details.
You can contact me via phone…. and email….
Best regards,
[Your First Name and Last Name]
You’re good to go!
Practical Advice to Send a CV and Cover Letter
I explained to you how to write an email for a job posting but no less important is to send it. And there are also some special tips I want to share.
Let’s consider some usual and non-trivial cases that you may face when applying for a job through email.
1. Typical scenario
Any interaction with another person requires at least the slightest knowledge of psychology. It’s not enough to declare “I am a cool specialist, I will make your company even better, hire me.” Dozens of other job seekers will write in this way.
Try to influence the decision of the leadership in your favor.
These magic words will definitely give you additional points:
- Relationship building, executing, change, communicating;
- With my extensive experience as a … I am confident that I can strengthen your …;
- By hiring me, you will get;
- My professional experience can contribute to your company’s growth in such directions…
At the same time, there are stop-phrases that will only harm your reputation. If you find something similar in your letter, delete it immediately or replace it:
- Forward-Thinker, Self-Starter, Detail-Oriented – they sound too boring and are empty;
- Huge, significant, measurable – replace them with numbers and facts;
- Truly, really, deeply, best – these words show you as arrogant. Do you want to appear arrogant or get this job?
- I appreciate your time and attention – too boring and predictable;
- I can, I will, I am – too much attention to your person, instead, focus on what the employer will gain by hiring you.
2. There is no vacancy, but you still want to get into this company.
Write a speculative letter to the HR manager or a head of the department you are interested in. The letter should be written in a light and positive manner:
- Say hello officially – Dear Mr. + name of the recipient;
- Tell briefly who you are – My Name is … I am a marketer/lawyer/author…
- Tell why you are writing, be sincere – “I have wanted to work with you for a long time, but I don’t see a suitable vacancy, so I decided to ask directly”.
- Say what you can give the company – My most reliable skills in … I think I can strengthen the company’s position in the direction … . I am also ready to deal with such issues as … . Just in a month I achieved the result…
- Indicate that you will be happy to receive a quick, and most importantly – a positive response.
- Add Sincerely Yours and your contact information to reach you.
Conclusion
Now you know the rules and tips on how to write an email for a job posting that evokes the employer’s interest. The proper cover letter and CV structure, catchy headings for resumes, and a unique style of writing determine your success in the dream job race.
The phrases and points you use can both bring you a prestigious, well-paid job, and cross out all your hopes for it. Take them seriously. Yes, you will spend some time on it, but the result will be worth it. Leveraging HR Templates for Human Resources can be a game-changer in crafting compelling job postings and emails, ensuring clarity, professionalism, and alignment with organizational goals.
Contact us to get help in creating an impressive CV, cover letter, and an email to a job posting that will land your dream job. With years of experience and a creative content team, we’ll ensure your self-presentation makes you candidate #1!
