TABLE OF CONTENTS. Prologue. Page #1 Content of an Application. Page #2 Cover Letter Introduction Criteria Creating Dos and Don ts

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2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Prologue #1 Content of an Application #2 Cover Letter Introduction Criteria Creating Dos and Don ts #3 Curriculum Vitae Introduction Structure of a CV #4 Blind Application #5 Interview Training #6 Vocabulary Summary Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page 44 45

3 PROLOGUE WELCOME TO YOUR FUTURE. Hello and welcome to Wall Street English s ebook; a guide full of tips for cover letters and CVs. Naturally there are differences between German job applications and British and American job applications. Through this ebook it is our goal to help clarify those differences and ensure you are ready to successfully write your cover letter and CV! So whether or not you are currently searching for a job, planning to move abroad or just want to update your current application we hope you ll find what you need here! 04 05

4 #1 APPLICATION CONTENT WHAT S IN AND WHAT S NOT IN? THAT IS THE QUESTION. On English applications no photo is attached to the application, which means the first opportunity to visually present yourself will be at the first interview. A British or American application includes first of all only a letter (cover letter) and a CV (résumé) unlike a German application, which will normally also include certificates and references. English applications are driven more by the applicant whereas German applications are weighted heavily by the references of past employers. After submitting the actual application documents (cover letter & résumé) it is good to remain in contact with the company (i.e. with follow-up letters or phone calls). > Insider: No pictures, please! On English applications, whether British or American, no photo is attached

5 #2 COVER LETTER INTRODUCTION: YOU NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION. The cover letter is one of the most important tools in applying for jobs. A cover letter allows you to individually present yourself and address the needs of the potential employer. This is a huge advantage in comparison with a CV which has a relatively strict structure. The cover letter is also known as a covering letter or motivational letter. A cover letter gives the candidate the opportunity, with a short and precise text, to introduce him-/ herself and set themselves apart from the other job applicants. Many candidates tend to spend too little time on the cover letter. Of course, the cover letter is something very individual and needs time and effort to compose. > Insider: Think different. With only the content of your cover letter, you are able to emphasize your personality and intention to apply

6 Here are a few things you need to consider before you start typing out your letter. Ask yourself the following questions and make notes of your answers: - Why am I the right person for this job? - Why am I applying for a job at this particular company? A cover letter can also be a great place to add other information which you would like to communicate to the company, which can t be done within the CV; for example highlighting certain aspects of your CV. The cover letter should be viewed as your opportunity to get your foot in the door. If you are now starting to wonder if you should invest the time in writing a cover letter, keep in mind a CV without a cover letter will often not be taken seriously and dismissed from the application pool. > Insider: Read it in the news? If you are applying for a position you ve seen in a job advertisement, make sure to remember the details. Integrate the qualifications into your cover letter

7 #2 COVER LETTER CRITERIA There aren t any strict guidelines that need to be followed (other than standard letter formatting) when writing your cover letter. The length should be kept to one A4 page. You want to ensure from the beginning that through your cover letter you are leaving a positive impression for the individuals who are receiving your application a relatively short, formal, yet meaningful text. > Insider: Keep it short, but striking. The length of your cover letter should be kept to one page

8 #2 COVER LETTER CREATING The format of your cover letter is quite important. Let s take a closer look at some of those main points. Stationery The appearance of the application reflects its importance and your seriousness about getting the job. Therefore make sure you use high-quality paper when printing it. You should use the same type of paper for both the cover letter and for the CV. Font - Use a font that is easy to read and an appropriate size. - Recommended are: Arial (11 pt or 12 pt) Times New Roman (11 pt or 12 pt) Text Format For applications in English, whether American or British style, there are two common formats. The simplest is block format; it refrains from paragraph indentions and therefore is easier to compose correctly. Block Format In this style all paragraphs start on the far left-hand side with no indentions. Indented Format - For this format the address and the date are all lined up on the right-hand side. - The greeting (salutation), complimentary closure (valediction), signature line, and enclosure are all lined up flush to the left. - The first line of every paragraph is shifted (indented) inwards (to the right) 2 3 letter spaces. In both formats be sure to leave enough space in the margins and between the lines, to ensure that visually it doesn t seem too crowded. This also leaves space for the interviewer to make notes

9 Header The header should contain your address (including your phone number and address) and the date. Don t forget when writing the date to remember the British and American differences (explained in the CV section). Address The address should include the full name of the company (don t forget the Co. or Ltd. if it is a part of the official name), as well as the name of the contact person (in most cases the Human Resources recruiter) and their title. And don t forget: Correct spelling of the name and company are crucial! > Insider: It s up to you. It is expected, that you take it on yourself to find out the name of your relevant contact person. This shows that you are seriously interested in the job, especially for unsolicited applications. > Example of a Cover letter 16 17

10 Salutation (Greeting) Now that you have the correct name for the contact person, this should be implemented into your salutation. In the case that you couldn t find out the name of the recruiter, it would be appropriate to use one of the following: - Dear Sir or Madam - Dear Recruiter - To Whom It May Concern Side note, for many non-native English speakers, this comes across as rude and insincere, but no worries for us natives this is absolutely acceptable. If formally addressing a female, technically you have three choices: Miss, Ms. Mrs. If you are unsure if she is married or not then best is to always use Ms.. This is standard in business correspondence. Your salutations can be followed by either a comma or a colon. Even though we are using open punctuation after the salutation, the first word of your first paragraph still must be capitalized. Here are a few examples of what that would look like: - Dear Ms. Miller, - Dear Mr. Miller: - Dear Sir or Madam, - To Whom It May Concern: Tip: To Whom It May Concern is always used with a colon : > Insider: Careful with punctuation. Whichever punctuation you have chosen, you should use exactly the same in your closure

11 Closure (Valediction) For the Americans the most common closure is either Sincerely yours or just Sincerely. In British English the closure depends on the salutation if you know the name of the contact person, end with Yours sincerely (after Dear Ms. Miller ). If you don t know the name, end with Yours faithfully (after To Whom It May Concern ). These are all standards in formal letters, so absolutely appropriate for your cover letter. After your closure you should leave 4 blank rows and have your signature (handwritten ideally). Then directly following your full name typed out. Enclosure (if more than one document) After your closure, if you are including other documents with your letter you should then type Enclosure to alert the reader that there is something else included. > Adrian, one of our native teachers from New Zealand, recommends to always be aware of who you are talking to

12 #2 COVER LETTER DOS AND DON TS Use the cover letter as a form of advertisement for your skills. Like a car in a TV commercial promoting and presenting a positive image to the viewer, this is what you ll be doing with your cover letter and CV; so use it as a convincing marketing tool. - Be positive. Leave out negative information if possible. - Be cautious with your creativity and humor. On paper this could come across the wrong way. - Don t be too demanding. Remember you are the one who wants something from the company. - Last, but not least: extremely important no spelling errors. Here are a few dos and don ts to take into consideration when putting your cover letter together: - Save the recruiter s time. - Emphasize what you ve accomplished, not just what your tasks were. - Stick with hard facts numbers and/ or names (depending on your line of work). - Tie in your strengths with the needs of the employer

13 #3 CURRICULUM VITAE INTRODUCTION: YOU DID IT YOUR WAY. Before you get started with writing your CV here are a few important tips to keep in mind: - It shouldn t be more than two pages long. - It needs to be typed, not handwritten. - Use a font which is easy to read (i.e. Arial, Times New Roman) and ideally 11 or 12 point. - Writing dates: depending on whether you prefer the American style or the British style there are two different ways dates are written: American date format is MM / DD / YYYY example: 10/31/2015 or October 31, 2015 (comma is needed between the day and the year) British date format is DD / MM / YYYY example: 12/10/2015, 12 October 2015 or 12th October 2015 > Rebecca, one of our native teachers from the US knows better: The curriculum vitae is referred to as résumé in the USA or CV in Britain

14 #3 CURRICULUM VITAE STRUCTURE Now that we have covered some general points to keep in mind, let s run through the structure of a CV: 1. Your name (full name) 2. Your contact details (address, telephone, mobile, ) 3. A profile or personal statement: - This is your sales pitch (elevator pitch), summarizing the type of candidate you are. - This statement should be no more than 2 3 lines. - Example: A highly organized and experienced Office Administrator, with excellent IT and communication skills. - Keep in mind the recruiter is reading through many applications, so this is your opportunity to stand out amongst the crowd. Therefore choose your words carefully. - This is also a great section of your CV which can be tailored for specific job opportunities. 4. Skills summary (optional): - This section is optional, although nowadays most individuals do include it. As mentioned before, the recruiter is most likely receiving and skimming through many applications. Including this section can capture their attention and make it clear what you offer. - Sections should just highlight a brief bulleted list of experience and skills that you have which are relevant to the role you are applying for. 5. Relevant work experience: - always begin with the most recent position - include employer names - position held - main responsibilities Tip: Don t leave any gaps (i.e. missing 6 months or a year if you took time off to do an interim assignment, travel, etc. then list it)

15 6. Education & Training: - If you are a recent university graduate, and therefore are lacking a bit on the experience section you could list a bit more detail here, including high school and your GPA (final grade point average/exam grades) - Make sure to include any training courses that you have completed which are relevant for the position you are applying for - Unless stated in the job advertisement you do not need to attach copies of certificates or degrees 7. References: - References are often not included in applications. Unless otherwise stated on the job ad that you should include them, then all you need to have is a statement that they are available upon request (i.e. References are available on request. ). SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS - Proven ability to dramatically increase company sales revenue - Able to maintain high closing rate by quickly developing positive client rapport - Efficient at cultivating strong relationships with co-workers and clients - Extensive management and administrative skills - Self-motivated and results driven - Fluent in English and German, working knowledge of French EXPERIENCE Zero System Inc. Springfield, USA Coach/Recruiter May 2008 present - Trained and evaluated newly hired sales individuals in interactive training program - Interviewed applicants and aided in decision-making in hiring process Sales Manager January 2005 April Selected to serve on 4-person management team - Promoted as a result of comprehensive service and top sales Sales Professional March 2001 December Surpassed former annual sales record by 15% - Increased average national closing rate to 50% for 4 straight years Sherwood Forest Inc. Springfield, USA Sales Professional October 2000 March Expanded sales team coverage of client countries and established solid business relationships - Revamped company s entire procedure of transferring programming between suppliers and clients Middle Earth Inc. Springfield, USA Global Coordinator January 2000 October Organized business trip for Springfield office contingent to international meeting in Washington, D.C. - Controlled information flow throughout company s network for all time zones EDUCATION University of Pennsylvania at College Station, USA B.A. Business and B.S. Chemistry, May 1998 Overall GPA 3.5, Honors Program > Example of a CV 28 29

16 #4 BLIND APPLICATIONS I SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE SOMETHING THAT IS A CHANCE. A blind or speculative application is when an individual sends an application to a company who has not advertised a vacancy or there is no current vacancy in that particular company. In applications such as these, it is important that the motivation and interest as to why you have sent in your application is made very clear in the cover letter. Therefore, make sure beforehand that you have detailed information regarding the company; i.e. know who is responsible for recruitment. Make sure you address your application to that individual and not just generally to the personnel (HR) department. > Claire, one of our native teachers from Ireland, tells you how to call it: Other words for blind application are letter of inquiry, speculative application, cold application or unsolicited application

17 #5 INTERVIEW TRAINING STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART TO YOUR NEXT JOB. Our Top 10 Interview Tips: 1. Research The Job & The Company Make sure you go into the interview well informed. Take time the day before to research as much as you can about the company and about the job you are applying for. 2. Body Language & Posture Pay attention to not only what you are verbally saying, but what your body language is saying. Sit up straight, but look comfortable and not too stiff. Try to always maintain eye contact. And even though it is sometimes comfortable, be careful with crossing your arms. And don t forget a nice firm handshake upon meeting your interviewer(s). 3. Dress Appropriately Remember you only have one chance to make a good first impression. So dress to impress. Think about what is appropriate for the position you are applying for, what is the company culture, etc. When in doubt, better to be slightly overdressed than underdressed. Be well groomed that day make sure you brush your hair, polish your shoes, etc. 4. Arrival Time Make sure you know, before the morning of your interview, the amount of travel time you will need to get from your house to the company. Research which trains, subways, etc. you ll need to take and how to get from the train or bus stop to the company itself. Don t forget to calculate in walking and waiting time. Once you know how long you will need, plan in a buffer (a bit of extra time, just in case something happens traffic, late train, etc.)

18 5. Listen Sometimes easier said than done, especially when you are nervous and waiting for the next question. But try to stay focused on the individual who is speaking and really listen to what they say. 6. Don t Talk Too Much Talking too much is something many people do when they are nervous or a bit out of their comfort zone. Try to stay aware at all times of not only what you are saying, but that you are sticking to the point. 7. Answer The Questions Similar to listening and not talking too much, if we miss one of these we might wind up not answering the question that has been asked. 8. Be Confident, But Not Overconfident Coming across as confident is important if you want your potential employer to feel secure that you know what you are talking about. However, try to keep a fine balance between confident and humble so you don t come across as arrogant. 9. Be Comfortable, But Not Too Comfortable With a good interviewer it is easy to quickly feel comfortable in their presence, but do keep in mind that it is still an interview and you should maintain professionalism. 10. Ask Questions Come prepared to the interview with questions. This helps show your potential employer that you are truly interested. As an added benefit this also helps you learn more about the position and the company so you can also make the best decision on whether or not you would like to work there

19 #6 VOCABULARY YOU NEVER STOP LEARNING, NOT EVEN NOW. achievement Things (tasks) you have done which have been very successful. For example: Tell us about some of your achievements from your last position. application Documents (CV & cover letter) written and put together as part of a job search process. For example: Lisa sent in her application for the new marketing position last week. aptitude Natural talent or ability, quick to learn. For example: Steve has a special aptitude for languages. certificate Document showing completion of an exam which you have passed or a course you have completed. For example: Megan enclosed her Wall Street English certificate. describe To say (or write) about how something or someone is, to use adjectives to talk about the details of someone or something. For example: Describe the experience you gained in your last company. effective Producing the intended or expected result. For example: Jake s teaching methods were extremely effective. employee An individual who works for a company. For example: She is an employee at Wall Street English

20 employer The company itself, or the owner of a company. For example: His employer has a very competitive health care package. experience The collection of skill or knowledge through participating in events or activities. For example: You have quite a bit of experience in the marketing field. Tell us a bit more about the experience you gained in your last job. field A sphere of interest, activity, etc. within a particular profession or business. For example: Adam is quite knowledgeable in all things within the banking field. improve To make something better. For example: Jane has improved her IT skills over the last six months. occupation Another word for job, or what you do for a living. For example: What is your occupation? I am a teacher. personal qualities Characteristics/ good things about you which employers are looking for. For example: What are the most important personal qualities you possess? prospective employer Someone or a company you might work for in the future. For example: My first round interview last week went well. I could imagine them as a prospective employer. punctual To be on time. For example: John is punctual. He is always a few minutes early to our meetings

21 qualification A pass of an examination or an official completion of a course. For example: She is studying for her qualification as a lawyer. redundant When you have to leave your job because no work is available. For example: Last week 100 employees were made redundant due to the two companies merging. referee The individual who writes your reference. For example: Susan is one of the referees I listed on my application. reference A written letter confirming your personal qualities, abilities and work history at that particular company. For example: I received a very nice reference from my last employer. requirement Something that is a must-have for employees who are looking to have a certain job. For example: Liz is a teacher. It is a requirement from the company that she has a certain teaching certificate. resign To leave your job, stop working, and it is your choice to do so. For example: Jamie resigned last week, and will start a new job next month

22 salary The money employees receive for their work. For example: The employee salaries are distributed monthly. skill Something that you do well. For example: Michael has excellent typing skills. weakness This is the opposite of strength. Something that you are not very good at. For example: Which weaknesses would you like to improve? strength Similar to skill, this is something within a work situation that you do well. For example: A common question in interviews is: What are your strengths? success to accomplish/ achieve/ reach one s goals For example: Jamie s interview was a success. She was offered the job the very next day. versatile A person who has many skills, or a tool which has many uses. For example: Rebecca is a versatile writer. > John, one of our native teachers from the Carribbean, tells you the best way to remember vocabulary: Write small cards with the English word on one and the translation or description on the other side

23 SUMMARY COULD YOU REPEAT, PLEASE? So we ve reached the end. Thank you for reading! We hope you have found it helpful. Good luck with your job applications in English! Need further help? Give us a call at or swing by one of our 23 centers through out Germany. Check out locations near you here: Or join the conversation online with us: