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CEMS CAREER FORUM NEWSLETTER
Sari Keihtä HR Specialist, Talent Management, Global HR
Tips for CV and cover letter writing Regardless of the position you are applying for you should have both CV and cover letter for presenting yourself to potential employers. The CV gives a quick overview of you as a candidate to the reader. Key points to remember when writing your CV: keep it simple, easy to read, well-organised and concise. The absolute maximum length is 2 pages. Recruiters might only use 30-60 seconds to review your CV! In the CV we recommend you cover the following topics: // Education / Mention major and minor subjects / Remember exchange studies / Give an estimate of graduation date // Work experience / List your experiences from the last one to the oldest one ( if you have a lot of work experience pick 3-5 relevant examples) and describe briefly your tasks / Also summer jobs and internships are relevant // Language skills / Describe the level of your language skills no need to divide into oral and written unless specifically asked // IT and other skills // Extracurricular activities/positions of trust // Hobbies/interests // References / You should always ask permission from the person you are using as reference
With an attractive cover letter you can differentiate yourself from a big pool of candidates and get yourself to the interview. For the cover letter there are three words: customise, customise and customise! With your cover letter, try to answer three questions: Why me? Why this company? And why this job? Divide it into 3-4 paragraphs: In the first paragraph, grab the recruiter’s attention, in the second and third paragraphs show your motivation and skills and then in the fourth paragraph close it smartly. Leave the reader with the feeling that they want to know more. “Understanding yourself is as important as understanding the company and the position. Successful candidates are not always the best person, but they must be the most suitable person, and know how to add their unique values to the application.” Jin Cao, CEMS Graduate, International Trainee in KONE France “Passion, cultural sensitivity and objectiveness are the tri-pillars to ace the KONE interview”. Indrajit Sahoo, CEMS Graduate, International Trainee in KONE Supply Operations Finland