Graduate cover letter template

Graduate cover letter template by Michael Cheary So you’ve just spent three years or more completing your degree…You spend hours perfecting your graduate CV, but how long do you spend writing the accompanying cover letter? The honest answer for many, unfortunately, is not long enough.Teaming your shiny new CV with a half-hearted attempt at writing a cover letter (or worse, not including one at all) could count against you more than you anticipate.A cover letter is often the first thing a hiring manager looks at so it’s crucial to get it right. As well as letting your personality shine, it’s also an opportunity to stand out from all the other graduate applicants. And remember, first impressions count.We’ve already covered how to write a cover letter, but if you’re still feeling frustrated when it comes to the finer details, here’s our cover letter template specifically designed for recent graduates:Just here for the template? Click the link below: Graduate Cover Letter Template Email address: Please enter a valid email addressmessage here By clicking Submit, you accept our Terms & Conditions and consent to receive emails and career related topics. See our Privacy policy for details. Continue without submitting Download Graduate Cover Letter TemplateOpening the letterThe opening paragraph should be short, informative and to the point.  Explain what job it is you’re applying for, and where you found the vacancy.Feel free to mention the website by name (e.g. as advertised on reed.co.uk) or, if someone referred you to the contact, mention their name in this section.Example: I wish to apply for the role of Graduate Commercial Analyst, currently being advertised on reed.co.uk. Please find enclosed my CV for your consideration. Second paragraph Why are you suitable for the job?Briefly describe your professional and academic qualifications that are relevant to the role and ensure you refer to some of the skills listed in the job description.Stating your degree classification and the name of your university is optional, but will help to build a more comprehensive ba ckground for the reader. And, if any specific qualifications have been mentioned as pre-requisites, stating this now will help confirm your credentials.Example: As you can see from my attached CV, I have recently completed a three year degree in Economics at Loughborough University, attaining a 2:1, and I believe the knowledge and skills built up during this time make me the perfect candidate for the role.Third/Fourth paragraph â€" What can you do for them?Use practical examples to emphasise what you can do for the company. These might be performance based (if you have some relevant work experience), but will most likely be focussed on your academic career.Always make sure your examples are as specific and pertinent as possible. If you’ve completed particular modules which may be applicable, this is the point to include them.It’s also a good place to include any extra-curricular studies or activities which are applicable to the position, or which help reinforce your skills. Exam ples could be particular books you’ve read around the subject, seminars you’ve attended, or any qualifications undertaken which are outside your degree.Other examples include outlining your dissertation (e.g. ‘achieved a first class distinction grade in my dissertation on x’), or more quantifiable achievements you may have attained whilst in previous employment or during work experience (e.g. ‘Increased revenue by x%’, ‘drove x% more traffic to the website during my time in employment’, ‘an increase in students grades by x’ etc.)Example: The position particularly interests me because of my passion for Analytics. During my course, I studied topics such as Econometrics, Accounting Finance and International Economics, and the mathematical and modelling skills learned from these modules have given me an excellent foundation for building a career as a Commercial Analyst.  Aside from my degree, I have built upon my interest in this field in a number of ways. Recently I have completed my dissertation on architectures for data-intensive analytics, which allowed me to put my theory for the subject into practice. Further, I have also started an online analytics course, which has given me a much more rounded view on the subject.  Fifth paragraph â€" ReiterateHere’s where you reiterate your interest in the role and why you would be the right fit for the company.Example: I am confident that I can bring this level of expertise with me to your organisation and help Online Retail Company LTD build upon their reputation as one of the biggest brand names in the UK. Add to this my passion and enthusiasm for analytics, and I believe my contribution will have an immediate impact on the business.Closing the letterThank the employer for their time. It is also a good opportunity to indicate you’d like to meet with the employer for an interview.Sign off your cover letter with ‘Yours sincerely’ (if you know the name of the hiring manager)/’Yours faithful ly’ (if you do not), and your name.Example: Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss my application further.Yours sincerely, [Your name]Final thoughtsRemember: Just as with our standard free  cover letter template, this is a template, not a ready-made cover letter. Without the proper research into the company advertising the vacancy, and without tailoring it to the role, it will lack the impact for which a cover letter can drastically improve your chances of reaching the interview stage.And these words hold even more importance when it comes to graduate jobs. Putting the time and effort in to each one will pay dividends, so keep at it. The more research you do and the better written it is, the greater your chance of standing out from the graduate crowd and setting yourself apart.Still searching for your perfect position? Have a look at all of our current vacancies nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceS ign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the Graduate CV Interview Advicefeatured

What Oprah Teaches You About Audience - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

What Oprah Teaches You About “Audience” - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Consider you almost always have an audience. I use the term “audience” to reference any person who receives your messages. That could be spoken, written, live or archived words. They may be accompanied by sound, video, photos, graphics, slides, and links (or not). I use the term audience with reverence and respect, because all around you are people who have the power to give you exactly what you want. That could be the ideal job or the go-ahead for the biggest deal of your life. Whether your audience is one person â€" a colleague, investor, prospect, hiring manager, client, boss or a guy sitting on a bus with you, or a crowd of 2 people to 7 billion: this life is your show and we are your audience. If you choose to live it that way: fully actualized, empowered and rewarded. What’s the purpose of calling other people your audience, when it comes to your conduct, and daresay your performance and success? The concept that we are your audience helps you erect a positive and powerful framework of your role in our lives. When you take each of us on as your audience, you take responsibility for our experience of you.   And, thus you control it. For example, Oprah doesn’t leave home to get on stage or screen and wonder what she’ll talk about. She’s got all her talking points arranged in an arc that her audience will likely find compelling. She knows or she’s been briefed about who we are, what we’re interested in, what our hot buttons are, what we find entertaining and what we find meaningful. She’s clear about what gaps in our lives we are hoping to fill by tuning her in or attending a function where she’ll be. Ask yourself now: Do you know anything important about your audiences? Do you know why we are here and what matters to us? Do you know what gaps in our lives we are hoping to fill by tuning you in or attending a function where you’ll be? Oprah sees herself as a star. But thats not enough. She recognizes her audiences have needs she can fulfill, and she chooses to think she can fulfill them uniquely. With those expectations of herself on behalf of people shell be with,   she prepares to succeed. That conceptual framework gives her a tremendous advantage in thinking over almost everyone, even some other broadcasters who are largely talking to themselves. Before she crafts her program and before she says one word (written by someone else or not), she shoulders the one-sided responsibility for our believing the “meeting” with her was a success in our minds. Note where the success meter is: our minds, not her mind. She fully embraces a motive before going into every encounter. Her motive is almost always to create a transformation of some kind in our minds, bodies or spirits because that’s her personal brand promise.   That personal motive is why she’ll do more than pass along information. She’ll do everything to help us experience what she wants us to know and do. She’ll reduce our resistance by admitting there’s both upsides and downsides. She’ll keep it lively when it should be amusing or solemn when it should be consternating. She’ll plan a great opening, streamlined content and a great closing so we come away feeling completely served. Even in her latest role, Oprah takes responsibility for her relationship with her audiences. It’s how she continues to build her reputation every day â€" and attract endlessly engaging, productive and prosperous opportunities. So can you. Are you seeking to prove up your personal brand promise when youre speaking or typing, showing us pictures or sending us links?   Are you intentionally building your reputation with your audiences? Here’s how to start: Make a list of the number of encounters, planned and unplanned, that you’ll likely have this week. Who is likely going to be in your audiences? How well do you know them â€" do you have to read up on them to know them better? What are their hot buttons or their pains, fears and burning, unfulfilled desires? Can you help them see the consequences of not taking action? Do you know what emotional transformation youll need to activate and how to do just that? What content and approach can you create so they’ll be in the state of mind to do what you want them to do â€" exactly as you want them to do it? How will you help them take action? What time do you need perhaps more than one encounter? Will you be prepared to set up the next link so that they come back to move further with you? Starting today consider yourself a star. Take responsibility for our experience of you. No matter how minor or major your role is during any interaction: you’ll see signs of success. And as you get used to the spotlight, it only gets bigger, better and easier each time you meet. Author: Nance Rosen is the author of Speak Up! Succeed. She speaks to business audiences around the world and is a resource for press, including print, broadcast and online journalists and bloggers covering social media and careers. Read more at NanceRosenBlog. Twitter name: nancerosen

Im a Flirting Bully

Im a Flirting Bully Im not going to lie, Ive been known to pick up my fair share of gentlemen in bars.   Im not a slore ( a slut-whore) so there has got to be some skill on my part right? Well I have never really thought about it before, Ive always just let it happen. But when my friend asked for my tips, I began to really thing about how I had sparked my past gentlemen catches. I began every conversation with an insult. Youre drinking THAT beer Ewe. Why are you cheering for THAT team? If you were a dinosaur youd be a stegosaurus? Geez, what a girlie dinosaur. How did this happen??   I swear Im not a monster. After recognizing this horrible habit of mine, on my next flirting escapade, I stopped myself. I was doing it again. Then when trying to break the habit, I hit a brick wall. I didnt know what to say or do. My schmoozing was dead. My charm was tarnished. My smooth moves ceased to exist. I cant flirt. But I can throw out a good insult. How embarrassing. Ive always gone to humor with guys since there are always girls with much higher heels and much lower standards at bars than me. Sure, my insults are filled with sarcasm but even so,    when has humor turned into straight up insults? I think maybe Im testing them. If they cant stand my sass, then Ill know immediately to not waste my time. But what am I expecting? Someone just to fall in love with me based off an insult? What kind of guy really finds an insult attractive and what kind of person am I presenting myself as? One of these days I will hit on someones deep-rooted insecurities an Ill either make a grown man cry or get punched in the face. And that will look real good. So I guess I need to clean up my game. But like I said, Ive hit a wall. The idea of winking, being cute, or showing too much cleav makes me want to vomit. Anybody have any good pick up lines?!? So how do you flirt? Are you a flirting bully like me?   Has anyone else gotten into a rut like this before? Lets talk. Happy Thursday Yall!

Five ways we can help you

Five ways we can help you I was going to write this as one big post, but decided the key messages might get lost so this is part one of two blogs on the theme of helping yourself. Todays post is going to look at the help available from all of the team here in Student Careers Skills and part two (coming soon) will address the practical things you can do progress your career plans or job search. Think of it as helping you to help yourself! Careers appointments One of the positive things about deferring all job and career related thoughts until the spring term, is the prospect of getting help right here, right now.  Student demand for appointments is so high during the autumn, that we cant possibly meet the need. Fast forward to January and you will see just how easy it is to see a careers consultant or a job search adviser. Theres no question that deciding what you want to do with the rest of your life can seem pretty daunting. And its this perception of career planning (which sounds dry at the best of times) which can alienate and scare a lot of students. Let me be the first, but hopefully not the last, to reassure you that this is not the approach we take. Were not going to cast you to the four winds if you havent got your career mapped out for the next twenty years (who has?). You can use a careers appointment as a jumping off point to help explore your options but the conversation doesnt need to stop there. We can also help you: Define and refine your goals Develop your understanding of the graduate job market Polish your applications and prepare for interviews Interpret and make sense of sector information We cant (and wont) tell you what to do, so if youre expecting a quick fix prepare for disappointment. But, we will support you through every stage of the job search process and help you make an informed decision about your future career path. Sector insights Although the event schedule is less frenetic than last term, there is still plenty of opportunity for you to meet employers, talk to alumni and generally brush up on your knowledge and understanding of the graduate job market. And by graduate market, I do mean the full range and breadth of opportunities, not just the big corporates or high-profile graduate schemes. There are plenty of exciting and challenging roles beyond The Milkround. Over the coming weeks we have nine sector events, covering fields as diverse as life sciences,  gaming, HR, marketing, international development and publishing. Weve been running these niche events for a while now and always attract top-notch speakers (including Warwick grads) who share their experience of getting in and getting on. Dont just scan online sites for info come and listen to the people who really know and understand the sector. Theres a chance to network afterwards, so this could be the first step in building those all-important career contacts. And if you dont fancy the trek across campus, then you can still get the lowdown through podcasts, films and profiles. Skills development Theres no doubt youll have heard, read and seen the term employability unless youve been hiding under a particularly big rock, in complete isolation. Now I have to declare myself here and state that I am not the biggest fan of the term, but I am fully on board with the concept. Employability is not simply about getting a job: its about understanding and responding to the current, and changing, needs of employers. A decade ago, for example, very few people were talking about digital literacy in the context of employability how things have changed! Part of keeping yourself employable is horizon-scanning and know what employers need now, and in the future. The key to this is developing a really broad skill set that will allow you to flex and adapt throughout your career, whatever the sector. We can help you do this through our  comprehensive skills programme  and by encouraging you to exploit other development opportunities (student societies, volunteering, enterprise) Employment outcomes If theres one question on every students lips it is, will I get a job? With the £27K price tag attached to most undergraduate degrees, there is now a much greater focus on employment outcomes. Fortunately we can give you access to a really rich and robust source of information through GEMS, also known as Graduate Employment Market Statistics.  Or, for the uninitiated, What do Warwick Graduates Do? Did you know that 80% of Warwick graduates from 2012 went into graduate-level employment or further study? Pretty encouraging, particularly given that some grads make a positive choice not to find permanent employment at this stage. Some people just need more time to decide and weigh up the options. Destination data should not define the outer limits of your career planning and job search, but it can be a very useful way of generating ideas. You might just be surprised at what you find! Its easy to hold on to those long-held assumptions  about who does what and where, but sometimes a little fact-checking goes a long way. Jobs, internships, work experience (Well, access to. We cant deliver a job signed sealed to your door!) Warwick students and graduates can tap into our vacancies database, myAdvantage, which has the latest graduate job vacancies, undergraduate/graduate internships, work placements and part-time work opportunities, across all sectors and sizes. All of Times Top 100 graduate employers are registered with us (65 of which have attended an on campus event this academic year) and we and have an excellent reach into the SME sector. In total, we have 3000 employers with an active account, keen to recruit Warwick students. There are plenty of jobs sites out there and we certainly dont claim to have the monopoly on the graduate job market, but myAdvantage is a great place to start.

5 Ideas to Help You Rock Your Next Job Interview CareerMetis.com

5 Ideas to Help You Rock Your Next Job Interviewâ€" CareerMetis.com With the economy down in the dumps, many people are scrambling to find jobs or professional opportunities. As a job seeker, you have to be on top of your game in order to land your desired position. There’s a lot of competition out there. First step is to create a “perfect” resume that shows you are dynamic, self-motivated, and a team player.However, everybody knows a good resume is required, and you can expect other applicants to have impressive resumes as well, so make sure yours is comprehensive and unique. If your resume gets your foot in the door, that’s great! The one-on-one interaction in the interview that can be your ticket to the job that you love and the career of your dreams.evalThere are numerous things that you need to do in preparation for the interview.Below are some plan-ahead tips to help you rock your interview and put your best foot forward for your professional career:1. Know your resume inside and out:evalIf the interviewer questions you about a specific job or activity written on your application, you have to be sure that you can answer them without sounding as if you made it up. Be able to elaborate on everything, providing specific details of the tasks you maintained and how you contributed to the team.2. Conduct some research on the institution/company where you are scheduled for an interview:This shows that you are interested in the position and that you are a self-starter: you are able to go find information that is free and available on the internet. Interviewers will occasionally ask you to raise any questions or concerns that you may have about the position or work environment.Having done your research prior to the interview, you will be confident and well-prepared for this part. It would really help if you would reference something you read or heard about the institution in the process.3. Practice a mock interview:This is quite effective especially if you can arrange for a friend to ask you some questions that you think t he real interviewer might ask. You could even ask a stranger at the park!Typical questions include discussing your strengths/weaknesses, a most important career moment from the past, how you have learned from your mistakes, or your goals for the future. If no one can help you out, just plan ahead and think of the most suitable responses to these questions.4. Plan to be early:evalMake sure you know your way to the interview location when the day finally comes; the last thing you want is to get lost on your way to the interview or to arrive late. This is disrespectful of the interviewer’s time. It is smart to give yourself extra traveling time for punctuality purposes.Note that arriving early shows that you are on top of things and eager to contribute to the work environment.eval5. Dress for the occasion:When choosing what to wear to your interview, it is always better to go with overdressed rather than the alternative. Sometimes, you can get a feel of your expected dress code from the institution’s website or the correspondence you have already had with the Institution.See if the company has any photos of employees in the workplaceâ€" do they all wear suits? Is it more casual? Try to ascertain this info in order to dress appropriately for the occasion.What to bring to the interview?evalBringing a few extra copies of your resume is always a good idea especially if you submitted your resume online during the application process. Also, carry a pen and a notebook to take notes during the interview.Depending on the position, bring any examples of relevant work (for example, if this is for a marketing position, you might want to bring some examples of promotional material you have created).Do’s and don’tsDuring the interview, maintain eye contact with your interviewer. Remain upbeat, and avoid making rude or offensive comments. Bad habits like chewing gum while being interviewed can be seen as sloppy and rude and should be avoided.As mentioned before, you nee d to be prepared with a few smart questions for the interviewer to showcase your interest in the position and your inquisitive nature.Lastly, relax! It’s clear that the company/institution is interested in you, or else they would not have given you the chance to represent yourself in person through the interview. Be yourself and let your interviewer see your personality as the great asset it is and will be to the institution.

Is A Career In Tax Right For You - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

Is A Career In Tax Right For You Are you thinking about entering the world of taxation? For those with a degree in maths, accounting or business, this could be a smart choice if you’re looking for a stable job and a great income. But, is taxation the right career choice for you? That’s what we’re going to look at today. Let’s start by thinking about the type of businesses that you can work for and the job types. What Firms Will I Be Working For? You might work in-house. Some businesses do have their own professional teams for tax. Depending on the company you could be working by yourself or with hundreds of other people. It really can be that varied. You might even be working for a company, but actually, you could complete your job from your own home using the latest cloud technology to check the books. It’s a possibility and you can learn more from this news source. Alternatively, you might find yourself working for a tax advice firm. In a tax advice firm, your clients could be individuals or full companies. Here, you will perhaps unsurprisingly be providing tax advice to people in need be it big business or private individuals. Or, you may find yourself working for a large accountancy firm. Handling everything from accounting to corporate finances, these companies can be massive, and you’ll find that you are a small cog in a very large machine. How Much Will I Make? Starting off, expect to earning anything between £25,000 to £35,000. The good news is that as you gain experience and knowledge, you’re going to become more valuably. After a few years, you can end anywhere up to £100,000. If you’re lucky enough to work for one of the large companies as a partner kerching! you can earn upwards of a million annually. Will I Be Working After Hours? Only at the busiest times of the year. So tax returns are due in January, and because of this, you can expect to work late nights around this time so that you stay on top of things. As well as this, you need to make sure that you are prepared to pay your dues. But this is true for any corporate job you might be thinking about pursuing. What Will I Spend My Days Doing? A lot would be the short answer. For instance, it will probably be your job to get in touch with the HMRC and dispute or query any issue with the tax returns of the client that you are representing. You will also need to make sure that you are meeting with your clients to discuss the ways in which they can make their tax more efficient and effective. You will also need to handle important documents the Annual Accounts, not to be confused with the Annual confirmation. Visit this website and you’ll find more details on the difference between these two documents, but one will actually be crucial in determining how much a business client will be expected to pay in tax. Don’t be surprised to find that you are actually breaking down complex information into easy bite-size chunks that the most important clients will be able to easily understand. For many trained tax specialists this can be one of the most tiring and monotonous parts of the job. But it is also one of your most important job responsibilities. And, of course, you’ll be working up and checking over tax returns, making sure that there are absolutely no issues that could come back to haunt a client later on. What Tax Areas Can I Work In? Well, there are a few main areas to think about. Corporate tax is likely where you’ll end up, working on tax for companies and corporations. But there are specialist areas within this, such as working on transfer pricing. Alternatively, you can also work in the field of tax of goods and services, and you will spend your time looking at the VAT for particular products. This is a substantially different area, and it will still provide you with a great income, if you do decide to take this route. So, what’s the bottom line? Well, if you love maths and are fascinated by the financial workings of the corporate world, a career in tax could be for you. Aside from handling massive amounts of money, you’ll earn a lot too. However, people in tax often stress that communications are far more important than getting the right sums and finding ways to save your clients money. Ultimately, if you can’t communicate effectively, Tax will be the wrong career choice. It’s not the only career where communication is necessary of course and you can visit this article we wrote to find out more about that.

Cover Letter and Resume Writing Tips and Strategies

Cover Letter and Resume Writing Tips and StrategiesCover letters and resume writing are very necessary for you to stand out from the rest of the pack. It is not enough to be qualified; one must also write a good one.The use of cover letter and resume writing tools and resources can help you stand out among others in the competition. You have to be able to come up with an effective cover letter that will grab the attention of your potential employer. You need to stand out amongst others as it will be a prerequisite for the hiring manager to discuss on your merits and intentions.The first step is to write a good resume, which is not easy to do as many job applicants are making use of forms and templates, which does not provide much information about the candidate. It is important to know how to structure a resume and create a cover letter for your application.Writing a resume is just like writing a resume. A good resume writing tips and strategies can help you make it in order. Another thing to note is that an in-depth study of a resume is very important as it will determine if the candidate can be hired or not. And having good grammar and spellings is crucial for a person to get selected.If you want to learn more about cover letter and resume writing tools and resources, then it is best to look for good professional writing resources online. You can find some good books about resume writing and cover letter writing tips that will help you write a powerful resume.Just remember that writing resumes is not all that difficult, especially if you understand some basic tips and tricks of writing such documents. What is needed for a resume is well-written content and the use of bold and striking colors, which will grab the attention of the reader and this can be done by using these professionally written cover letter and resume writing tips and strategies.You can write a cover letter and resume by using Microsoft Word. This is one of the most used word processing progra ms today and one can use it for the purpose of drafting a cover letter and resume. There are several options available online, where you can get good help to create a perfect resume and cover letter.Most of the time, it will require a few hours of work and efforts for you to draft a cover letter and resume in a simple manner. Using a professionally written template will help you to avoid mistakes and errors. You can also check the references of these professional cover letter and resume writing tips and resources and try to research the quality and effectiveness of the work they have produced.