Job Application Letters
I
begin with a note. What you’ll read
in the following pages is prepared bearing in mind the job market in India. But
they can be modified to suit local conditions of those who wish to write job
application letters.
Government departments [Union and State
Public Service Commissions], banks, the railways, the army, the navy, the air
force, the Ministries and others like Neyveli Lignite Corporation need
qualified people as employees. Private firms, companies, organisations also need
qualified people as employees. The first group of employers use printed
application forms in specific formats to gather information about
applicants. The second group of employers expect interested candidates to
provide information in a format known as ‘biodata’, or ‘resume’ or ‘curriculum
vitae’ [more popularly known as ‘CV’] and to attach this to a ‘cover letter’.
Before we proceed further, it’s good to
know something about the three expressions you find in the last sentence
of the previous paragraph:
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biodata =
biographical details
[=facts and statistics about yourself]
resume
= a short account/ a summary [of yourself]
The ‘e’ is pronounced as the ‘e’ in ‘get’’; the ‘s’
is pronounced as ‘z’ and the last ‘e’ as the ‘a’ in
‘late’
curriculum vitae
= a brief account of one’s education, qualifications,
and previous/present
occupations
the ‘i’ in ‘vitae’ is pronounced as ‘ee’ in ‘feel’
the ‘ae’ is pronounced as the ‘i’ in ‘high’
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1. details to be mentioned in a job
application
It will be to your advantage to start a
record file on yourself. You can file here all your certificates [birth, tenth,
+2, degree, PG, etc.], attested xeroxes [photocopies] of these certificates in
sufficient number [so that you don’t have to run around in the last minute],
employment history with experience certificates, promotion letters, service
recognition details, testimonials, referee details, cocurricular and
extracurricular activities details, and so on. You can keep updating the
information so that you don’t waste time searching for them only when you want
them.
You will need to have as complete
information as possible on these 24 items :
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personal
job career
1. name in full 18. experience
2. father’s name 19. skills:
professional, personal
3. date of birth, age 20. job-related
activities
4. height, weight, 21. present
salary and scale
eye sight [lens power]
5. chest
other information
normal and on expansion 22. permanent address
6. caste 23. address
for communication
7. driving license particulars 24. referees [three names,
addresses]
8. passport number
place of issue,
issuing authority
issue date
9. marital status
10. languages
11. interests
academic
12. education [tenth onward]
[regular/correspondence/online]
13. cocurricular
14. extracurricular
[sports/art/speech/G.D.
social service etc. ]
15. achievements/awards
16. project work
17. publications
|
Depending on the advert, you can use this
selectively in your CV.
notes on
details:
1. name
All
application forms, for a job in India or overseas, will expect you to fill in
your
name in the following manner:
1
2
3
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Christian name ………….
First name ……………..
Forename …………….
Given name ……………
|
Middle name ……………..
|
Surname ………………
Family name …………….
Last name …………….
|
¯ ¯
¯
|
All the four
expressions in 1 refer to the name given to you during the naming
ceremony.
Only some of us
may have a middle name. It may be in the form of an initial before
your name.
All the three
expressions in 3 refer to the name shared by all the members of your
family. This can also be in the form of an initial before your name.
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Don’t get confused by the expressions in 1,
2 and 3. That is, don’t worry about what your surname is or whether you should
fill surname in 3 and so on. Just fill your name in the spaces for 1-2-3 as
you find it in official records like your tenth or twelfth class
certificate. Let’s look at some examples:
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name
in official records
|
fill 1-2-3
|
like the way you
|
see below:
|
|
L. Balaji
R. Sujatha
Sachin Tendulkar
Sandhya A. Uddanti
Avneet K. Sidhu
K.R.Lakshminaryanan
Shahnaz Hussain
Rakesh K. Mittal
T. Murugavel
Shakeel Anjum Bhartiya
T.P. Muthukumaran
V.V. Laxman
V. Anand
|
1
Lakshmipathy
Ranganathan
Sachin
Sandhya
Avneet
Kolipakam
Shahnaz
Rakesh
Thanasekaran
Shakeel
T…………….
V……………
Viswanathan
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2
-------
-------
------
A…….
Kaur
Ranga Rao
------
K…….
------
Anjum
P……………
V……………
------
|
3
Balaji
Sujatha
Tendulkar
Uddanti
Sidhu
Lakshminarayanan
Hussain
Mittal
Murugavel
Bhartiya
Muthukumaran
Laxman
Anand
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While filling the name, remember to expand your initials [if you have
any] into full
names.
2. Write your father’s name as it is/was
written in official records.
3. age
Mention only the age you have completed. For instance, if you
were born on
10 January 1986, you’d be 21 only on 10 January 2007. If you’re applying
before this
date, mention only 20 as your age.
4. and 5. may be necessary where physical
fitness is a qualification like in the army/
the navy.
6. caste
If asked, write BC/MBC/SC/ST/OC. If you belong to any of the first four,
attach
a certificate from appropriate authorities as proof.
7. driving license
Mention particulars where this is necessary. [Keep your license
renewed.]
8. passport
Provide these particulars where necessary. [You may have to attach
xeroxes of relevant pages.]
9. marital status
Provide information where necessary: single/married/ divorced.
10. languages
Mention the languages in this format:
[i] speak, read, write [ii]
speak [iii] read and/or write
11. a. interests [feeling you have
when you want to know or learn more about..]
Mention the areas you have interest in: photography/gardening/reading
etc.
b. hobbies [activity you do for pleasure when not working]
For either of them, don’t mention: watching TV
12. education
Arrange your education particulars from present to past. Mention
only those
that are relevant to the job you’re applying
for in this sequence:
degree, discipline[major subject], year of passing, performance[if it’s
good].
But if you do wish to mention others, make it clear in your ‘cover
letter’ or
‘letter of application’ the reasons for their inclusion.
13. co-curricular
If you were part of any department activity like education tours,
seminars,
conferences, exhibitions, mention the event and your role in it. You can
also
mention here any in-plant training you may have undergone.
14. extra-curricular
If you participated in any sports event, cultural events, state the
event and your
role in it.
15. achievement/awards
Mention, if you have any, distinction in academics, excellent role performance
in any college activity, any recognition you received from college or an
outside
agency.
16. project work
If your degree or diploma course needed you to do a project related to
your courses
mention the title. [Write in brief about this in the cover letter.]
17. publications
Mention here, if you have any, publications like ‘letters to the
editor’, articles of
general interest, papers published in professional journals, books with
‘title’, name
of the journal, year of publication.
18. experience
If you are fresh from college, you’ll have nothing to say here. But if
you’re in job
write the details here from current job to the previous ones. Start with duration
of service, name of the organisation, job[s] you held, major duties you
performed. If
you wish to mention experience not relevant to the job you’re applying
for, make
it clear in your cover letter why you’ve included it here.
19. skills: professional,
personal
professional: here you mention the skills
related to your job. Say, if you are a
salesperson, you
can mention skills like ‘increased target sales’,
‘achieved customer
satisfaction’, ‘anticipated and solved problems
in goods
distribution’.
personal : here you can
mention skills you possess as a person and use in your
job situations. You
may mention skills like ‘ a good listener’, ‘a team
player’, ‘ a good
organiser’, ‘task completion in good time’.
Note:
You should be able to support the skills you mention here with solid
instances from your career. Don’t
mention skills that you cannot support.
20. job-related activities
Here you can mention all those activities
you planned, organised and executed
that are intimately related to your responsibilities or activities like
seminars,
brainstorming sessions, in-service training, deputation.
21. present salary and scale
Mention the gross salary [without any deductions] you draw and your pay
scale
[something like 12000-250-15000-275-20000]
22. permanent address
Write here the address where you can be contacted at any time directly
or through
your relatives.
23. address for communication
Write here the address if this is different from your permanent address.
If it isn’t,
say here ‘as in item 22’.
24. referees
You’ll mention the names and addresses [with
telephone/fax numbers] of persons
who are not related to you but know you well enough to give a clear
picture
about you, one as a character reference and another as a professional/work
reference.
Note: Before using their names, remember to write to them and get their
OK
[permission].
You may not find all these 24 items in
printed application forms, and you may also find items that are not in this list. However, in
most application forms, you’ll find 1,2,3,6,9,
12,18,21,22,23,24. Private sector employers
expect you to provide information about yourself in the form of ‘resume’ or CV.
I’ve provided in the following pages some
samples of CVs. Take a good look at them and try to prepare your own CV along
those lines.
2 sample CVs with cover letters
Like any other field of activity, applying
for a job is no longer based on the traditional presentation of information; it
has become a professional activity. For exactly this reason, job seekers
approach some agencies or individuals to prepare their job applications
letters, and pay for it.
It’s not difficult to prepare your own CV
and a cover letter.
1. a traditional CV with a cover
letter [without experience]
CV
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Biodata
Name : A. R. Lakshmanan
Age and Date of birth : 20,
16.04.1986
Education : BA History, first
class, 2006,
University of Madras
Curricular : presented a paper on
Thanjavur temple
Cocurricular : organised education tours
Extracurricular : member, college volleyball team-2005-2006
Achievements : highest collection for Tsunami Relief Fund
Interests : tennis, science fiction
Address : 2 Swamy Street
K.K.Nagar
Chennai 600021
Phone: 044-25327468
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Cover letter
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20August
2006
From
A. R. Lakshmanan
2 Swamy Street
K.K.Nagar
Chennai 600021
To
The Human Resource Department
-------------------------
------------------
---------------
Dear Sir
I am applying for the post of Front
Office Assistant as advertised in The Indian Express dated today. I am a
graduate in history. I have presented a paper. I was a member in the
volleyball team. I am enclosing my biodata.
I hope you will consider my application
favourably. If selected, I will work to the fullest satisfaction of my
superiors.
I thank you in anticipation
Yours faithfully
A.R.Lakshmanan
Enclosure: 1. biodata
2. certificates
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This biodata gives some idea about the
applicant. The cover letter is also in the
traditional format. It doesn’t add anything
new to the biodata. It only repeats the information given in the biodata. And
the last paragraph of the letter is totally out of place.
Don’t prepare your biodata and the cover
letter like this traditional one.
You’ll see in the next few pages samples of
how to prepare CVs and cover letters
as an applicant without experience
and with experience. You can
prepare yours in a similar manner using information about a particular job. If
you want more samples,
you can visit websites which contain a
variety of CV samples and cover letters.
2. a good CV and cover letter [without
experience]
the CV
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A. R. Lakshmanan
born:
16 April 1986
2 Swamy Street
K.K.Nagar
Chennai
600021
phone
044-25327468
Objective
Front Office with a career growth in
customer care
Qualification
communication -- my paper on Thanjavur temple was
appreciated for its clarity
and simplicity of expression and also for
the content
working together -- improved my attitude towards working
with people not close
to me
organising -- learnt that patience is a
very important part of behaviour
when
dealing with new people.
languages -- can speak, read and write
Thamizh, Malayalam fluently
Education
June 2006 B A History, I class, University of
Madras
Achievements
Highest individual collection for Tsunami
Relief Fund in the college
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the cover letter
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2 Swamy Street
K.K Nagar
Chennai 600 021
20
August 2006
___________________
_________________
_______________
Dear Sir
I would like to apply for the position of
Front Office Assistant, advertised in today’s Indian Express.
During the three years of my stay in
college, I have learnt a lot about moving with superiors, close friends and
not so close friends. Living together requires patience and compromise. I
have realised the importance of this in being successful.
I am used to receiving and giving
messages on behalf of my parents and make telephone calls accordingly. So I
can handle this job along with taking care of customers and others who may
come to do business.
I enclose my CV and photocopies of
certificates. I am prepared to appear for an
interview at any time.
I thank you for considering my
application.
Yours faithfully
……………..
A.R. Lakshmanan
enc. as stated
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The
item ‘objective’ shows that you have a long term plan, not just getting a job.
It tells the reader you are not an aimless person, you’re preparing yourself to
become ‘somebody’ in a profession of your choice. This is a plus for you. At
least you’ll be called for interview where you can probably impress the
interviewer[s].
The
item ‘qualification’ may be new to you. Here you mention the ‘skills’
you have and will use to perform as a person. This presents to the reader what
you can do to help the organisation grow if you are appointed. If called for
interview, be ready with concrete instances to support your claims here.
Use
the item ‘achievements’ only if you have something special to mention
like ‘awards’, ‘honours’ or something that you can be proud of. CVs of 3,
4, 5 do not have ‘achievements’ column.
The
cover letter should not merely repeat the information available in the CV. It should provide a picture of yourself
supporting and adding to the CV. The middle paragraphs in the letter picture to
the reader how you think about yourself and how well you can do the job.
3. a good CV and cover letter [without
experience]
the CV
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Nikhil Yadav
born: 26 July 1986
Venkatesh Apartments
193 Trimurti Colony
Nagpur 440 022
phone 22367468
Objective
Become a GM[finance]
Qualification
working together -- improved my attitude towards working
with people not close
to me
organising -- learnt that patience is a
very important part of behaviour
when
dealing with numbers and when explaining the meaning
of numbers.
Education
June 2006 B Com, Commerce, I class, University
of
Madras
May 2005
Diploma in Tally
June 2006 Diploma in MS-office
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the cover letter
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Venkatesh Apartments
193 Trimurti Colony
Nagpur 440
022
20 August 2006
___________________
_________________
_______________
Dear Sir
I would like to apply for the position of
Accounts Assistant, advertised in
yesterday’s Hindustan Times.
As a result of the three years of my stay
in college, I have developed a respect for numbers and the messages they
convey in terms of deficit, growth and prosperity. Words may lie but numbers
don’t. Numbers tell you how important budgeting is.
College life has taught me how to be
polite and courteous to superiors. I have also learnt that patience and
compromise are essential to realising goals.
I am quite comfortable with the computer.
I am quite conversant with Tally and Ms-office. In fact, our College
accountant has helped me a lot. With experience and guidance, I will be able
to prepare reports as well..
I enclose my CV and photocopies of
certificates. I am prepared to appear for an
interview at any time.
I thank you for considering my
application.
Yours faithfully
……………..
Nikhil Yadav
enc. as stated
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Samples 2, 3 are similar in format but
different in content. From this you should
understand that what you write in the CV
and the cover letter depends on your education and the job you’re applying for.
Lakshmanan wants a career in handling people whereas Nikhil wants a career in
handling numbers. And there is no ‘achievement’ column in the CV because Nikhil
has nothing to mention.
The content of cover letters of 2 and 3
helps the reader to form images of Lakshmanan and Nikhil.
But see ‘note’ in 19 in ‘notes’ under 1 in a previous page.
4. a good CV and cover letter [without
experience]
the CV
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Manveer Jain
born: 26 July 1986
9-3-13/B
Brahmin Street
Vijayawada—520
001
phone 26367458
Objective
Run a call centre by 2020
Qualification
working
together -- improved my attitude
towards working with people not close
to me
good
listener -- learnt when to listen
and when to respond and if necessary
how
to interrupt
good
communicator—learnt to use a word of praise, a word of sympathy, a word
of
understanding
Education
June
2006 B A Economics, I class, University of Madras
May
2005 attended a communication
workshop and learnt about the key role of
tone
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the cover letter
|
9-3-13/B
Brahmin Street
Vijayawada—520
001
20 August 2006
___________________
_________________
_______________
Dear
Sir
I
would like to apply for the position of Customer Service Executive,
advertised in The Indian Express of 17 August.
I
have had my education through English. And language comes naturally to me. I
am good at Telugu, Hindi, besides English. I like American movies, and I have
watched several of them, so I can easily follow a conversation. I cannot, as
yet, speak like them but with training, I will.
College
hostel life has taught me how to be awake during nights and not feel tired
next morning. I have also learnt that patience is a virtue while speaking to
strangers.
I
enclose my CV and photocopies of certificates. I am prepared to appear for an
interview at any time.
I
thank you for considering my application.
Yours
faithfully
……………..
Manveer
Jain
enc.
as stated
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Sample 4 has the same format as those of 1
and 2 put very different in content. From this you should understand that what
you write in the CV and the cover letter depends on your education and the job
you’re applying for.
Manveer clearly knows the demands of the
job he’s applying for. He says he is a good listener and knows what to say
when. He says in his cover letter he has some idea of how native users of
English speak and he expresses confidence in himself. These are the ‘skills’
that the employer would expect a candidate to have.
But see ‘note’ in 19 in ‘notes’ under 1 in a previous page.
5. a good CV and cover letter [without
experience]
the CV
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Tejaswini Sawant
born:16 June 1986
16/67 B Kranti Lane
Near Income Tax Office
Kanpur –208 001 phone
26367458
Objective
Executive Engineer with career growth in
R&D
Qualification
communication -- gave seminars on major discipline and
allied areas.
presented a
paper on ………….. ………………
at ………………
working together -- improved my attitude towards working
with people not
me.
captained
college volleyball team and won a Trophy.
got allowances
for my team mates
organising -- as part of tour programme
arranged for passports and visas
Education
June 2006 B E
Information Technology, I class, JNTU, Hyderabad
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the cover letter
|
16/67 B Kranti Lane
Near Income Tax Office
Kanpur –208 001
20
August 2006
___________________
_________________
_______________
Dear
Sir
I
would like to apply for the position of Executive Engineer, advertised in The
Hindustan Times of 15 August. I believe I have the right qualifications.
My
seminar experience helped me get rid of my stage fear and enabled me to come
out of
my
shell. I realised that I could also use English as well as others, if not
better. This has also enabled me to go beyond the syllabus and learn to use
the library to strength my knowledge base.
My
teachers and batchmates were very understanding and helped me grow as a
person
and as a student. I am sure a similar atmosphere prevails in your
organisation.
I
enclose my CV and photocopies of certificates. I am prepared to appear for an
interview
at any time.
I
thank you for considering my application.
Yours
faithfully
……………..
Tejaswini
Sawant
enc.
as stated
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The blanks in ‘communication’ should be
filled in with the title of the paper and the place where it was presented.
Sample 5 has the same format as those of 2, 3 and 4 but very different in content. From
this you should understand that what you write in the CV and the cover letter
depends on your education and the job you’re applying for.
Tejaswini mentions ‘skills’ under
‘qualification’ that she can support during the interview. She also talks, in
the cover letter, about how she became a better person through experiences in
the college and help from others. She goes one step further and says she
expects a similar atmosphere in the employer’s organisation. This will please
any employer.
3.
cover letters or application letters without experience
‘Cover letter’ is also known as
‘application letter’ or ‘letter of invite’. It should be a
one-page
letter.
You’ve already seen the cover letters for 2,
3, 4 and 5. Now you must have some idea of how to write cover letters when you
have no experience at all.
In addition to these, you see below some
possible variations you can use to write cover letters when you are a
fresher.
A cover letter usually has three
paragraphs:
The first paragraph
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I wish* to apply for the position of
------1------advertised
in -----2--- . I believe I have the right qualifications.
* you can write ‘I would like’
instead of ‘I wish’.
|
notes:
1. fill in the job title[and any reference number that may have been
given in the ad].
2. today’s/yesterday’s-----[source name] [or] the---------of -------
the source, the date without year]
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I am responding to the position
advertised in -------2*------
for a ---------1-----------. I am
enclosing my resume for your consideration.
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Fill in 2 and 1 as in the previous
sample.
|
Dear Sir
------------------------- [mention
here name of the position]
I wish to apply for the above post,
advertised in -----1----- .
1. write here 2 as in the first
sample
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All the three samples above respond to an
advertisement placed in a newspaper. But it’s possible that you hear from
someone about a vacancy for a position in an organisation. For this,
paragraph 1 should be something like:
|
I
recently learnt from ------1-------, -------2------ at ----3-----that you are
looking for -------4---------. I know
that your firm is number one in the
region* and I feel that
your organisation is the right place for me to develop my talents and skills.
Or
One of your marketing executives, -----1-----, a
batchmate of mine at college informed
me of a possible opening for a ---2---- in your marketing division. I
think I have the right competencies to apply for it.
|
*
you
can also say ‘I know that your organisation is among the top ten in the
country.’
1. mention
the name of the person 2. the position
of that person 3. the name of the
organisation
where that person works 4. the
position vacant
1. mention the name of the person
2. mention the position vacant
the
middle paragraph[s]
This is where you show why you are the
right man for the advertised position. This is where you sell yourself with
specific aspects of your work history having a direct bearing on the job you’re
applying for, like the responsibilities
you carried out, the skills that enabled
you to promote the interests of your workplaces and that qualify you for the position you’re seeking. This is where you
thus convince the reader about your usefulness.
But then you are a fresher. Naturally you
have no work experience. What do you write here?
Since you have no working experience, you
cannot talk about professional or job skills. But you can definitely talk about
skills you developed or improved as a person or an individual during your stay
in an educational institution. Any potential or prospective employer will
surely be interested in how you grew or how you matured as an adult.
You already have some idea about what to
write from letters 16,17,18, and 19. Let’s see what else you can write:
1. Did you work or participate as a member of a group in any
· college activity like Sports Day, College Day, Hostel Day,
Independence Day Celebrations,
cultural activities [or]
· college Association like Student’s Association or
Association of your major
Department, RSS [or]
· sports team or NCC ?
If you did, you can say some
thing like these:
You can also use other college situations or experiences and say
things like these:
|
1
As a team player in my Department
Association, I have learnt to appreciate the need to complete a job within a
time frame, to interact with outside world courteously and patiently and not
to allow my ego to come between my task and me.
|
|
2
As a member of the football team, I have learnt to accept that other members and
their ideas are as important as my ideas and me.
|
|
3
As
a member of the Table Tennis team, I saw our Physical Director doing
injustice to me; I felt hurt when he did not make me captain. I took this
positively and decided that when I got an opportunity, I should not behave
like him.
|
|
4
When I joined college, I was shy and
would not easily mix with others. Jerome, a close friend of mine now, was the
one who showed me that I could be like anybody else and achieve things. So
when I get an opportunity, I will do for someone what Jerome did for me.
|
|
5
As Captain
of the college volleyball team, I realised that for any leader to be successful,
he would need the full cooperation of his team.
|
|
6
I was the Student President for
2005-2006. This was when I learnt how
difficult it was to be a good leader. I made a few mistakes initially but
learnt from them.
|
|
7
From
my history teacher, I learnt to give equal importance to others and their
ideas, and became a good listener.
|
|
8
I
have learnt that having an opinion different from others is not wrong but not
respecting the individuality is.
|
|
9
As an organiser of an event or two, I
realised the need for tact in dealing with superiors and students whom
I did not like.
|
|
10
As an
organiser, I realised that convincing is better than commanding.
|
|
11
As an
implementer, I realised that when I focused on the objective to be achieved,
I was able to do a better job.
|
|
12
As an implementer, I realised that achieving a goal was
easy when I went to the right people or the right sources.
|
|
13
I think I am a good listener. I do not
interrupt when somebody speaks. I let them complete what they want to say. I
think I have a lot of friends because of this.
|
|
14
I learnt this in college: Success depends to a
certain extent on how you behave with others.
Be formal with formal people and be informal with informal people.
Never mix them up.
|
|
15
My college life taught me that
being aloof or shy drives others away from you; makes you feel more lonely and you become a
problem to yourself.
|
|
16
My college life taught me that being
aloof or shy drives others away from you;
makes you feel more lonely and you become a problem to yourself.
|
|
17
I interact well with people. I enjoy
working with others. I learn a lot from how others do their jobs.
|
|
18
I
possess good communication skills. Whenever guests came to college, I was the
one to introduce them to the students.
|
|
19
I am strong in ------1-------- . I am
also interested in -----2--------. Whatever job I may get, I think I will
find time to read further and enjoy my reading.
|
1. an area in your subject where you got good grades
2. an area in your subject about which you think more and want to know
more.
The third sentence clearly indicates your interest in reading and
knowledge for the sake of knowledge.
|
20
I was lucky to have good teachers. They
were good subject-wise and guided us in the right direction with a friendly
attitude, without using their authority. Because of them, I have developed a
positive attitude towards others, seeing the good side of others rather than
their weak side.
|
These twenty items tell you that you have a
lot to write about yourself even if you have no work experience. So think
about the three or four years of stay in college, remember your interactions with others and
what you have learnt about yourself and others, the strengths and weaknesses
and how these have shaped you to become a better person. You can use college
experiences to say things like these in paragraphs 2 and 3 of your cover
letter. Of course, if you get a chance to be interviewed, you should be able to
cite instances from your college life to support your claims about your growth.
The prospective employer will want to know about the human side of your life
because like college, the workplace is a place where you have to move with
people, mix with them, get along with them and perform your job.
the last paragraph
This is where you talk about interview
dates and close it with an appropriate statement.
Here
are some sample last paragraphs:
|
1
I would welcome the opportunity to
discuss this letter and my enclosed curriculum vitae. The telephone number I
have given is our landline and all calls are answered.
|
|
2
I look forward to an interview at your
convenience. I will call your office next Monday to arrange an interview.
|
|
3
I would
appreciate the chance to interview with you at your earliest convenience. If
you have questions or would like additional information., contact me at
---------- any Tuesday or Thursday after 10 a.m. or e-mail me at ---------------
. Thank you for your time.
|
|
4
I would appreciate the opportunity
to meet with you to discuss your --------- [job]. If you have questions or
would like to speak with me personally, please contact me at
------------[phone] any weekday after 3 p.m. Thank you for your time and
consideration.
|
|
5
I
would enjoy meeting with you at your convenience to discuss this career
opportunity further. Also, I have many references that I encourage you to
contact. Feel free to call me any weekday morning or e-mail me at ----------
if you have any questions, need further information or would like to set up
an interview. Thank you for your consideration.
|
|
6
I
would like to discuss my qualifications in an interview at your convenience.
Please write to me, telephone me at ----------- any weekday or e-mail me
at-------- .
|
Sample 1 is British style. The other five
are American. You may use these if you’re sure you’re applying to a British
firm or an American firm overseas. In this case, personal interview may
not be possible, unless of course they have branches in India.
Telephonic interviews are, however, occurring for selecting right candidates.
So you mad add ‘telephonic’ before ‘interview’.
But in our (Indian) environment,
it’s safer to write something like this in the final paragraph:
|
7
I enclose my
CV and photocopies of certificates. I am prepared to appear for an interview
at any time.
I thank you for considering my application.
|
Don’t write
something like 8 or 9:
|
8
If I am appointed, I will be honest and sincere.
I
will work to the fullest satisfaction of my superiors. I will be grateful if you consider my
application favourably. I am waiting for a favourable reply.
|
|
9
I
promise to work honestly and sincerely and to the fullest satisfaction of my
superiors. I hope that you will reply by return of post.
|
8 or 9 is meaningless because the
prospective employer assumes that you will be loyal, sincere, honest. And a
response cannot be demanded.
4. cover letter or application letter with
experience
There is no difference in the first and the
last paragraphs of cover letter without experience or with experience.
The difference is, however, in the middle
paragraphs. This is where you show why you are the right man for the advertised
position. This is where you sell yourself with specific aspects of your work
history having direct bearing on the job you’re applying for, like the responsibilities
you carried out, the skills that enabled you to promote the interests of
your workplaces and that qualify you for the position you’re seeking. This is
where you thus convince the reader about your usefulness.
There can be no possible model for the middle
paragraphs. Because what you will decide to write and how you’ll
present it will depend on
¨ the job and the
responsibilities that go with it
¨ the jobs you have held and
the responsibilities that go with them
¨ the kind of matching you’ll
have to do between these two
¨ the role of your
contribution to the success of the workplaces.
However, cite instances to show your role
in the growth of the firm where you worked and/or are working. Mention quick
promotions you received or substantial increase in your salary or any specific
training you underwent.
You can also mention, if any, academic or
sports honours or any other meritorious recognitions, responsibilities you
discharged as a member or a leader in any of the college associations.
A cover letter should not go beyond a
page. So, remember not to write too much. The reader may not have the time
or the patience to go through a long cover letter. Be selective in the choice
of your experiences, instances that will project you as an achiever in relation
to the position you’re seeking.
There should be sufficient specific
details focusing on what you are and how you can fit into the new organisation.
If you have a lot to say, write them all down, read it as many times as you
can, edit it—make it brief and crisp.
Have a good mix of simple, complex and
compound sentences, appropriate to the thoughts to be expressed. Don’t go for
obscure or high-sounding words. Use positive expressions.
Also you need to proofread or edit and
correct any spelling, grammatical or punctuation errors. Error-free letter will
indicate you are a thoughtful, careful writer and so a useful employee.
Avoid writing an application letter like 6
you’ll read below.
6. an application letter for a job
|
At the very outset, I would like to
introduce myself as a self-motivated, target-focused Sales and Marketing
Management professional seeking an opportunity in growth-oriented
organization which can match my talent and enthusiasm.
I have over 11 years of top rate
experience in the manufacturing segment - I am currently employed as Regional
Senior Sales Executive with India Pistons Limited where I am responsible for
generating sales and achieving targets through distributors and dealers
across Tamilnadu, Kerala and Goa, leading a team of 8 executives.
I am confident that my experience in
vendor management, distributor management and team management, aided by my
communication skills, determination to succeed and ability to adapt will
prove valuable in any sales/marketing environment.
Please refer my Curriculum Vitae for
aligning my expertise and experience with the requirements of your esteemed
organization.
I hope my qualifications are appropriate
for advancing the continued growth and success of your organization. I would
be delighted to meet you at a time of your convenience, to further discuss
this application.
Thanks
|
This is an application letter [also
referred to as a ‘cover letter’] to which you attach your resume or curriculum
vitae.
You may not find anything wrong with this
letter. But let’s see what can be wrong.
‘At the outset’ is an idiom and so ‘at the
very outset’ is faulty. We use this idiom when we are talking about a prolonged
action or activity, not in a cover letter. The candidate has said in the first
paragraph what he should have in the third paragraph. The second thing that is
wrong with the paragraph is the phrase ‘seeking an opportunity in
growth-oriented organization which can match my talent and enthusiasm’. The
indefinite article ‘a’ is missing before ‘growth-oriented’. And we usually
match the talents of an individual with an organization, not vice versa.
The second paragraph does talk about
experience. But a lot of information has been packed in one long complicated
structure; as a result, the applicant fails to focus on vital information. The
information could have been broken up into three sentences, each piece
receiving equal weight. Besides, ‘currently’ is an expression that stresses the
time factor in relation to things like prices, admissions, options, not
‘employment’. There is no ‘top rate’ in the language; we have the adjective
‘top-rated’ as in ‘top-rated TV star’. Even ‘top class’, which means ‘of the highest
quality/standard’, is used with nouns like ‘athlete/player’ or
‘activity/performance’. ‘leading a team of 8 members’ is a key information that
should not be put into a phrase, especially at the end of a sentence.
Information loses its importance when it is put into a subordinated phrase.
Again, the relative clause ‘where I am responsible for generating sales and
achieving targets through distributors and dealers across Tamilnadu, Kerala and
Goa’ is not saying anything that will help the prospective employer to form a
clear image of the candidate.
There is an awkward repetition of
‘management’ in the third paragraph. And there are only statements without
relevant support. Thus the candidate has wasted the time of the prospective
employer.
The one-sentence fourth paragraph ‘Please
refer my Curriculum Vitae for aligning my expertise and experience with the
requirements of your esteemed organization’ is asking the advertiser to perform
a job that its writer is supposed to be performing!
The sentence ‘I hope my qualifications are
appropriate for advancing the continued growth and success of your
organization’ should have been phrased as ‘I hope I would be able to contribute
to the growth and success of your organisation’. ‘Happy’ should have been used
instead of ‘delighted’. And ‘further’ is out of place as ‘to discuss this
application’ would have been good enough.
‘Thanks’ is an informal expression and
should not be used in a formal application.
Then what and how does one write an
application letter?
|
An application letter is
essentially a sales letter. You draft the content of the letter such that it
invites the attention of the recipient and sustains it.
1. In the opening paragraph, indicate how you knew about an opening or
a vacancy.
Say briefly why you are
interested in the job.
2. In the second paragraph, focus on your work experience with
examples and details.
3. In the third paragraph, talk about how you have grown over the
years as a
professional and how you will be
able to contribute to their company.
4. In the closing paragraph, request an interview. Mention your phone
number and/ or
email address. End the letter with a
statement of goodwill.
|
7. Letter 6 rewritten:
|
I
wish to apply for the post of Manager, South India, advertised in yesterday’s
Hindu./ In yesterday’s Hindu, I learnt that you have a Manager’s position
available in your marketing division./ During the recent Workshop organized
by the Ministry of Commerce, New Delhi, one of your marketing executives
informed me of a possible opening for a manager for southern region. My
extensive background in sales and marketing makes me an eligible candidate
for the position./ Your position interests me not only because you are one of
the top ten companies in India but also because I will have the right
atmosphere to use and develop my skills and talents./The opportunity
interests me because I have the necessary qualifications and experience to
make positive contributions to your organisation.
As
Regional Senior Sales Executive for Tamilnadu, Kerala and Goa, I have been
leading a team of resourceful executives. I achieve targets far ahead
of schedule and also improve sales by interacting with and tapping the brains
of mechanics who actually recommend machine parts, by motivating and seeking
the cooperation of distributors and dealers. In addition, I have made reports
on the weak links in the sales chain. I have enriched the administration,
implementation and supervision of all related activities.
I
welcome challenges. My role as innovator, motivator, implementer, manager
will bring, I am sure, value addition to your organization.
I
would be happy to have a discussion with you./ I would welcome the
opportunity to discuss this letter and my enclosed curriculum vitae. My email is antelop_26@ yahoo.co.in . My
mobile is 98402 84980. I thank you for considering my application./ I look
forward to hearing from you.
|
8. Letter 6 rewritten
|
I wish to apply for the post of Manager,
South India, advertised in yesterday’s Hindu. My extensive background in
sales and marketing makes me an eligible candidate for the position.
As Regional Senior Sales Executive for
Tamilnadu, Kerala and Goa, I have been leading a team of resourceful
executives. I achieve targets far ahead of schedule and also improve
sales by interacting with and tapping the brains of mechanics who actually
recommend machine parts, by motivating and seeking the cooperation of
distributors and dealers. In addition, I have made reports on the weak links
in the sales chain. I have enriched the administration, implementation and
supervision of all related activities.
I welcome challenges. My role as
innovator, motivator, implementer, manager will bring, I am sure, value
addition to your organization.
I would be happy to have a discussion
with you.
|
You can say your first sentence this way
also:
In yesterday’s Hindu, I learnt that you
have a Manager’s position available in your marketing division./ During a
recent Workshop organized by the Ministry of Commerce, New Delhi, one of your
marketing executives informed me of a possible opening for a manager for
southern region.
You can say your second sentence this way
also:
Your position interests me not only because
you are one of the top ten companies in India but also because I will have the
right atmosphere to use and develop my skills and talents./The opportunity
interests me because I have the necessary qualifications and experience to make
positive contributions to your organisation.
You can say your last sentence this way
also:
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss
this letter and my enclosed curriculum vitae.
My email is antelop_26@ yahoo.co.in . My mobile is 98402 84980. I thank
you for considering my application./ I look forward to hearing from you.
You can see that 6 does not conform to the
pattern expected of an application letter whereas 7 does. There is a clear
picture about the applicant emerging in the second one. The first paragraph
actually contains only two sentences. The slashes(/) you find here and in the
last paragraph include sentences as choices. Use one of them in your actual
letter.
5. resume or curriculum vitae with
experience
This, generally, should be a one-page
document. It contains the following information:
1. heading
2. job/employment/career objective [or just ‘objective’]
3. education
4. employment/work experience
5. computer skills
6. honours and activities
7. references/referees
1. heading
At the top of the CV, write your name, address, telephone and/or fax
numbers and
e-mail address.
|
1
Tejaswini Sawant
16/67 B Kranti Lane
Near Income Tax Office
Kanpur –208 001 phone 26367458
born:
26 January 1986
|
|
2
Nikhil Yadav
Venkatesh Apartments
193 Trimurti Nagar
Nagpur 440 022 phone 22367468
born:
26 January 1986
|
|
3
K R
LAKSHMINARYANAN
2 Thirumal Nagar Extn. 1 Telephone:
9444286065
Poonamallee
res:9840620807
Chennai 600056
India
born:12.10.1942
E-mail ID: klnsurt29@yahoo.com
|
|
4
Manveer Jain
9-3-13/B Brahmin Street
Vijayawada—520 001
tel: 91-44-26367458
|
|
5
T.V. Sashikumar
12 Shanti Niketan
Lock Road
Varadapuram
4th
Main Road
Kotturpuram
Chennai 600
034
tel:09884 237856
|
|
6
T.
Murugavel
22 Sannidhi Street
Aynavaram
Chennai 600 022
|
Samples 1,2,5 and 6 have heading in the
centre of the page while 3 and 4 have it at the left margin. The phone numbers
are imaginary.
2. objective
Mentioning your ‘objective’ is optional
though potential employers may expect to see a clear objective.
State your desired job title. You can also
state what you would want to become at the peak of your career.
Make this as brief as possible.
|
1
Front Office Executive with a career
growth in customer care
|
|
2
Accounts Officer and become a GM
*[finance]
|
|
3
Run a call centre by 2020
|
|
4
Executive Engineer with career growth
R&D*
|
|
5
Reach the pinnacle in sales and
marketing
|
|
6
Manager—Accounts leading to top
management in corporate finance
|
|
7
A challenging position in technical
support and computer networking
|
GM* = General Manager R&D* Research and Development
________________________________________________________________________
3. education
[or] qualifications [or]
education and training [or]
qualifications and training
List the degree[s] starting from the most
recent, the year[s], awarding institution[s], performance [only if it is high].
Mention your high school only if you want
to highlight some special features of your school career like recognition
awards. This is worth mentioning only if winning awards has been a continuous
feature throughout your education.
Also list any training you have undergone
related to your major discipline before employment or during employment.
You can also list any training you may have
undergone or courses you have completed if they clearly indicate knowledge
and/or skills you have acquired. This additional information will imply your
interest in going beyond your professional environment and broadening your
horizon.
|
Education
PhD in
customer care, expected, December 2006
Postgraduate Diploma in human
relations,
Indira Gandhi Open University, 2004
Masters in Business Administration, 2003
IIM, Ahemedabad
Bachelor of Arts in commerce, University of Madras, 2001
1
|
Teaching [qualifications]
1994 Certificate as a
trainer Indian Society for Technical Education, Delhi
[for induction of college
teachers]
1990 PGDTE
(English) CIEFL,
Hyderabad Excellent
1988 PGCTE
(English) CIEFL,
Hyderabad Excellent
1987 Basic
Cert. Association of Indian
Very Good
[Methodology and] Universities, Delhi
[Examinations ]
1986 B.Ed
[English] Annamalai
University I Class
1986 PG Diploma ISSR, Salem I Class
[Edu. Admn.] Thamizhnadu
1966 MA [English] Madras University
1962 BA [English] Madras University
|
|
Education
Bachelor of Arts in economics, University of Madras 1992
PG Certificate in sales and marketing,
IIM, Kozhikode, 2005
|
Qualifications
Year Qualification
Institution
[M.Phil.] Justice
Basheer Ahmed Sayeed
[Human Development College for Women,
S.I.E.T.
and Family Studies] Teynampet, Chennai
2005 Advanced Diploma I-Kan Learning Centre,
Adyar
[Learning Disabilities] Chennai
2005 Advanced Diploma International
Montessori,
[Montessori,
Kindergarten kindergarten and
Nursery
and Nursery
Training] Training
Institute
[Affiliated to American Montesseri
Association],
Mylapore, Chennai
2005 M.A.
[Child Care and
Education] Alagappa University,
Karaikudi, Thamizhnadu
2004 Dip. in Special Education Academy for Teachers’ Excellence
[Multiple
Disabilities] [V-Excel
Educational Trust]
Adyar, Chennai
2003 B.Sc. Justice
Basheer Ahmed Sayeed
[Psychology] College for Women,
S.I.E.T.
Teynampet, Chennai
4
|
The potential employer will be interested
in the most recent qualification you have had and so samples 1, 2 and 4
start from the most recent because they list several qualifications.
________________________________________________________________________
4. experience/employment/professional
experience
Mention all the jobs you have held and
activities in a bulleted form.
You can arrange your experience in two
ways:
Chronologically
Start with the most recent work
backwards. \
experience
2000—present
…
1990—2000
…
1985—1990
…
1980—1985
…
|
Functionally
Group your jobs by putting similar types of
jobs into several sections with different subheadings like ‘administrative
experience’, ‘financial experience’,
‘research experience’, ‘laboratory
experience’, ‘major accomplishments’ or
any other suitable title. Describe the responsibilities you have carried out or
activities you have performed, using verbs in the present tense for current job
and in past tense for the
the previous jobs.
|
Indian Pistons Limited, Chennai
1993—2006
Regional Sales
Executive—in charge of Tamilnadu,
Kerala, Goa 2000-2006
Transformed and
improved distribution system
Recovered confidence
of dealers, distributors and mechanics
Achieved sales
targets ahead of time
Set higher targets and achieved them
Ensured customer
satisfaction
Executive—logistics
1997—2000
Warehousing
Outsourcing
warehousing
Executive—marketing
1995—1995
Coordination with
production department
Execution of
inter-depot stock transfers
Depot inventories
Executive—accounts
1994—1995
Sales and F.O.C.
invoices
Sales daybook
Coupons, travel
expenses
Management Trainee 1993—1994
1
|
|
Sri Ramachandra Hospital, Porur, Chennai 2000—present
Senior Staff Nurse
Theatre, ICU duties
Devi Hospitals
1993--2000
Staff Nurse
Surgical wards
O.P.D.
2
|
|
Teaching Experience
· Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering 1985-2005
Pennalur, Thamizhnadu.
602105 (21 years)
former Professor (English) and
Head
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Technical English to first year
students of BE/B.Tech.
· Ministries of Education, Kwara and
Bauchi States 1984-1977
Nigeria
Senior Education Officer (English)
(7
years)
English Language and African literature in English
· Ministry
of Education, Ethiopia
1977-1968
Teacher (English)
(9 years)
English language to students
from class 6 to 12
· AM Jain College
1962-1966
Meenambakam, Chennai, India 1967-1968
Tutor and Lecturer in English to PUC/BA/BSc (5
years]
· Sri Palaniandavar
College of Indian Culture 1966-1967
Palni, Thamizhnadu
(1 year)
Lecturer in English
English Literature to BA
Total experience 43 years
3
|
|
Work experience
Year duration institution
2006 2 months Blooming Buds, Chennai
2005-2006 6 months Home visits
2005 2 months Shristi Special School
Anna Nagar, Chennai
2004 2 months Kutty’s Play School
[Volunteer]
Mylapore, Chennai
2004 - 2005 10 months V-Excel Educational Trust
Adyar, Chennai
2004 3 months Good Shepherd Higher
Secondary
Matriculation School
Nungambakkam, Chennai
4
|
Number 3 in the
previous page titled ‘teaching experience’ suggests that the applicant has
gained experience in other areas as well but he has chosen to begin with
experience in teaching because he is probably applying for a position which
will require teaching skills.
Suppose he wanted to
apply for an administrative position like ‘principal’ or ‘dean’,
he would start with his
experience in several positions other than ‘teacher’.
|
Administration
· Palni
1966 – 1967
Proctor[hostel]
supervised food quality, study time,
sports time
ensured discipline, friendly
atmosphere, quality amenities
· Nigeria
1977 – 1980
Warden
ensured food quality, play facilities,
library,
discipline, friendly
atmosphere, study time,
cleanliness
· Chennai--Sri Venkateswara
College Of Engineering
¨Head of the Department of H.S.S. 1985-2005
performed duties of a Head
ensured quality teaching,
quality book purchases
supervised students-run
magazine ‘Phoenix’
supervised students-run
‘Speakers’ Forum’
¨Staff Advisor, Students’ Association 1986-2005
supervised all students-run
activities like
cultural activities, social
service
¨Overall Counsellor I BE/B.Tech/MCA 1996-2005
had regular meetings, invited
suggestions,
counselled and resolved
personal problems of students
¨ Election Officer
1986-2005
conducted
annual elections to Students’ Association
constantly improved
regulations
¨Officer in charge – College Canteen 1988-2005
supervised quality in
purchases, food preparation
and service
arranged for quality
infrastructure, cooks, assistants
ensured the welfare of
personnel
¨ Officer in charge – College Calendar 2000-2005
printing adequate
information about college,
university and college
regulations, staff list
· Anna University
Member, Board of
Studies in Humanities and Sciences 2002-2005
played a key role in improving
I BE English syllabus 5
|
He would then continue
with experiences in other areas.
5. computer skills
If you are a computer professional, this will form part of
your experience. Otherwise,
you may mention here your skills related to
the use of the computer.
6. honours and activities
You can mention here anything that has
brought you reputation and recognition. You
can talk about linguistic abilities---languages,
writing, editing, participation in
community activities and/or social service,
professional and club memberships,
publications.
7. references
Referees are also referred to as
‘references’. See item 24 in ‘notes’ under 8.1.
Under this item, it’s possible to say
‘available on request’.
________________________________________________________________________
5.7 Variation in CV
preparation
It is not necessary to
strictly follow the order given in 5.6 in the preparation of your CV if you
have vast experience.
It’s possible, for
instance, to avoid mentioning the ‘objective’. You can also reorder the items
to your convenience, keeping in mind what will interest the potential employer.
You can interchange the positions of ‘education’ and ‘experience’. You can add
in your CV something like ‘interests’ if you think that this will add value to
your CV. You can also provide names of referees with their addresses, without
waiting to be asked.
You can organise your
CV ‘chronologically’ or ‘functionally’. Or you can organise your CV both
chronologically and functionally. Use one of them according to the requirements
stated in the advertisement you’re responding to. The requirements may or may
not be stated openly. If there is even a hint of ‘consistency’ or ‘continuity’,
the prospective employer will probably like a chronological CV. If the
advertiser lists ‘skills’ and/or ‘qualities’, a functional one will be
appropriate.
Take a look at the
samples in the next two pages.
9. a chronological
CV
T V Ramkumaar
G-2 Fortune Enclave
22 Rukmani Street
Krishnapuram
Ambattur
Chennai 600 0053
Tel: 26584233
e-mail: antelope_26@yahoo.co.in
Experience
2000—present
Regional Sales Executive in charge of Tamilnadu, Kerala and Goa,
India Pistons Ltd. Responsible for achieving set targets, improving sales,
satisfying customers, launching new products, product moving trend analysis,
planning and implementing appropriate scheme for mechanics and reborers.
1997—2000
Executive-logistics, India Pistons Ltd. In charge of warehousing and
outsourcing it.
1995—1997
Executive-marketing, India Pistons Ltd. Coordinated with production
dept., executed inter-depot stock transfers, carried out depot inventories
1994—1995
Executive-accounts, India Pistons Ltd. Maintained sales and F.O.C.
invoices, sales daybook
1993—1994
Management Trainee, India Pistons Ltd. Trained in all operational
departments.
Qualifications and training
PG Certificate in Sales and Marketing, IIM, Kozhikode 2005
Diploma in MS Office, Lotus notes 1998
Bachelor of Arts in economics, University of Madras 1992
Interests
Cricket
Travel
Meeting people
Referees
---------------------------
------------------------------
---------------------
--------------------------
-------------------
--------------------
|
10. a functional CV
T V Ramkumaar
G-2 Fortune Enclave
22 Rukmani Street
Krishnapuram
Ambattur
Chennai 600 0053
Tel: 26584233
e-mail: antelope_26@yahoo.co.in
Profile
Enthusiastic, innovative, committed, practical, outgoing, self-driven
person wishing to reach the pinnacle in sales and marketing. Able to work as
a team member and a team leader to set targets, to initiate action and to
realise goals in a given time frame.
Training
Has recently completed a PG Diploma in sales and marketing at IIM,
Kozhikode.
Skills gained
· achieving
sales targets ahead of time-schedule
· planning and
organising training programmes
· managing
distributors and dealers effectively
· setting and
achieving performance standards for self and team
· ensuring
smooth labour-related environment
· applying cost
control in purchases, transportation
· employing
successfully third-party logistics
· willing
listener
· including
suggestions from team in action plans
· employing
inventive strategies to draw end-customers
· improving
customer database
Experience
· Seventeen
years’ work experience with Indian Pistons Ltd., known for its quality
products
· Responsible
for achieving set targets, improving sales, satisfying customers, launching
new
products, product moving
trend analysis, planning and implementing appropriate scheme for
mechanics and reborers.
· In charge of
warehousing and outsourcing it
· Maintained
sales and F.O.C. invoices, sales daybook
Education
Bachelor of Arts in economics, University of Madras 1992
Interests
Cricket, Travel, Meeting people
Referees
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11. a functional resume
T V Ramkumaar
G-2 Fortune
Enclave
22 Rukmani Street
Krishnapuram
Ambattur
Chennai 600 0053
Tel: 26584233
e-mail: antelope_26@yahoo.co.in
Management Experience
• Regional Senior Sales
executive, India Pistons Ltd 2000-2006
lead a team of 10
sales executives across Tamilnadu, Kerala and Goa. Plan, organise, achieve
targets
[Rs.70 lakhs per month], generate and improve sales, identify potential
dealers, assess
credit risk, conduct product
familiarisation programmes, motivate dealers and distributors.
• Meet garage mechanics
and reborers, create demand for products, manage reborers through
on the spot technical classes. Focus
on customer satisfaction through settling complaints and
claims in record time, ensure on-time product delivery, enhance
product perception through
leaflets in regional languages.
• Executive-logistics,
India Pistons Ltd.
1997-2000
Maintained inventory and stock transfer,
handled tactfully a composite team of workers, staff
and
executives, implemented ISO procedures and FIFO adherence. Initiated
outsourcing
warehouse activities, handled negotiation of
rate contract[RC].
Education
PG Certificate in Sales
and Marketing, IIM, Kozhikode
2005
Diploma in MS Office,
Lotus notes 1998
Bachelor of Arts in
economics, University of Madras
1992
Honours
Cricket
Represented Tamilnadu
in under-15/17/19 teams and Madras University
Record holder of All
India Inter-Colleges for fastest century during 1991-1996
Captained North
Division Colleges
Chairperson—Selection
Committee for under-17/19 teams, TDCA—2004-2005
Current chairperson—Selection
Committee for under 13/15 teams—TDCA
Current member—State
Selection Committee under-13 team
References
Available on
request
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5.7 electronic/online version of a CV
The CVs we’ve seen so far are known as
traditional paper resumes. ‘Paper’ because they are printed on paper.
‘Traditional’ because the CVs in 5.6 are contrasted against the latest medium
which is ‘electronic’. We usually mail them by post or send them via e-mail.
Do not send it by e-mail as an attachment
unless a company requests it. Because of the danger
of viruses on attachments, several companies, as a policy, delete attachments
before opening e-mails. So paste your CV to the e-mail, and then reformat it to
suit the e-mail message window. Or get ready an electronic version of your
paper CV and put it on the e-mail.
To widen your job search, you may respond
to ads in the print media, in the electronic media, to post your CV on job
boards on the Internet or to post it on your Web page if you have one.
The traditional paper CVs will do for land
or air mail. You’ll need an electronic version prepared in a specified format
to send it via e-mail or the Internet.
An electronic version should be an ASCII
[American Standard Code for Information Interchange] document. While preparing
such a document, you
· must not use things like
graphic lines or boxes, bullets, underlining, italics
or boldface,
· should use only simple font
styles and sizes between 10 and 14 points,
· should replace bullets with
hyphens or asterisks and use white spaces between
sections rather than
indenting,
· should set the margins so as
not to go beyond 65 characters per line, including
spaces between words,
· should save your document as
an ASCII or MS-Dos text document using the
.txt extension.
But if you have to submit a CV with special
design features, you may scan it as a PDF file.
Your electronic version may be scanned or
downloaded into a company’s database. Such companies prefer to see ‘nouns’
rather than ‘verbs’ to describe experience and skills
[supervisor and refinement
rather than supervised and refined]. So you may include a
separate section titled ‘keywords’ [also known as ‘descriptors’] in your
resume to refer to your experience and skills. Use a maximum of 50 terms for
this purpose. Place this section below the ‘heading’ or above ‘references’. See
a sample in the next page.
[CVs 23, 24 and 25 and the related thoughts are based on information in
“Handbook of ]
[Technical Writing” by Gerald J. Alred et al, St. Martin’s Press,
seventh edition, 2003]
12. a sample electronic version of a
resume
|
K R Lakshminarayanan
2 Thirumal Nagar Extn.
1
Poonamallee, Chennai 600
056
India
(91-44-2649 1052)
Job Objective
Language Expert—English, Asian Region
Keywords
Curriculum and course writer, course/programme coordinator, language
skills trainer, student counsellor, test items writer, answer scripts
evaluator, English teacher—class 6 to UG, coursebook writer, ‘communication’
books writer for the public, researcher.
Education
**1994 Certificate as ‘induction’
trainer ISTE, Delhi
**1990
PGDTE (English) CIEFL,
Hyderabad
** 1988 PGCTE (English) CIEFL,
Hyderabad
**1987 Basic
Cert. AIU, Delhi
[Methodology and]
[Examinations ]
**1986 B.Ed [English]
Annamalai
University
**1986 PG Diploma ISSR, Salem
[Edu. Admn.]
**1966 MA [English]
Madras University
**1962 BA
[English] Madras University
Employment Experience
**
English professor--1985-2005
Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering,
Tamilnadu, India
**
English teacher—1968-1984
Ministries
of Education, Kwara and Bauchi States, Nigeria
Ministry of Education, Ethiopia
** English tutor and
lecturer—1962-1968
AM.Jain College, Chennai,
Sri Palniandavar College of Indian Culture, Palni, Tamilnadu
Publications and conferences
** articles on ELT and topics of general interest in the States,
Ethiopia and India
** English coursebooks for UG engineering students, recommended for
study
** The Communicating Art—2004
** Speak in English you can!—2006
** in press
English for Competitive
Examinations [co-author]
Puzzles and Games for
Children--5-12
Edit your writing
Pen your letters
Further information
**References, writing samples available on request
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