Unit 2

LUE4002 Professional Communication in English for Business Unit 2
Unit 2 Preparing a resume and a cover message

Unit 2 specifically focuses on two key components required in Assignment 1: Job Hunting
Portfolio. (i) You first learn how to plan and produce a professionally-looking resume targeted
to a job of your choice step by step. (ii) Next, you are introduced to some key characteristics
of effective cover messages and you are required to analyze examples of cover messages in
preparation for your Assignment 1 draft.
By the end of Unit 2, you should be able to:
- Discuss different resume styles and formats.

- Identify key features in a successful resume.
- Produce a targeted resume for a job application of your choice.
- Identify key features in a successful cover message.
- Produce a cover message for a job application of your choice.
Figure 1: Source: www.shutterstock.com
Scenario
A foreign chamber of commerce based in Hong Kong is hiring a new manager. Responsible
for the day-to-day operations at the chamber, the manager will lead a small team of
administrative officers and interns who process requests from the members and prepare
meetings, seminars as well as promotional and networking events to promote the business
interests of the chamber. The chamber’s website and social media accounts need a major
revamp to enhance communications and generate added value to the chamber and its members.
It is hoped that the new manager will be able to spearhead growth by generating more revenue
and by attracting new companies and professionals to the organization.
The board of directors meets to discuss the job profile of the prospective manager to prepare
the job ad. Constrained by a limited budget, the directors suggest two alternative profiles. One
is a bright young manager, capable of spearheading change and breaking new ground. Such
person may see his/her work at the chamber as a stepping stone and he/she may not stay long
at the helm. The alternative profile is that of a more experienced administrator, capable of
leading a team smoothly and making sure that no major mistakes are made. That person may
guarantee stability and continuity at the chamber but he/she may not be able to revolutionize
the chamber along the lines suggested by some directors.
Five weeks later, the board of directors meets again to examine the dozens of applications
received for the manager post.
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Task 1
Which of the two profiles described above would you prefer for the post? Why?
Task 2
Select the best answer to the statements presented below by placing a tick
1.
Hiring managers usually start by reading the cover message (letter or email) and then
examine the enclosed resume/CV.
Hiring managers usually start by reading the resume/CV and then examine the cover
message.
2.
Hiring managers usually go through a pile of job applications slowly, one by one and in great
detail, to make sure they shortlist the best possible candidates.
Hiring managers seldom go through a pile of job applications in “one go”. Instead, they
quickly scan the pile of resumes and shortlist possible candidates. Once these have been
identified, hiring managers examine their resumes and cover messages a second time, in
greater detail.
3.
The structure, content, format and presentation of a resume/CV needs to be customized to
the job being targeted.
The structure, content, format and presentation of a CV is seldom customized to target a
specific job.
4.
The main purpose of a resume/CV is to persuade the reader(s) that a candidate is ideal for
the job by offering abundant proof of that.
The main purpose of a resume/CV is to inform the reader(s) about a candidate by listing the
professional experience and skills relevant to the job.
5.
A good resume should not be longer than two pages.
The length of resumes can vary significantly depending on the professional culture and
conventions associated with the job.
6.
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An effective cover message (letter or email) should persuade the reader(s) to grant the
applicant an interview opportunity by explaining how the experience and key skills listed in
the resume/CV enable the applicant to excel in the job being advertised.
An effective cover message (letter or email) should inform the reader(s) about the
applicant’s suitability for the job being advertised. The applicant needs to summarize the
content of the resume in the letter.
Task 3
Complete the following text using the words provided in the table below.
Your resume is your personal “advertisement”. It is chiefly intended to secure an

……………………….. with a potential employer. In your resume, you need to illustrate the
experience and skills ……………….. to the type of work you are seeking by highlighting what
is most impressive, interesting and unique about you, without giving away all the details.
Hiring managers are busy people. They may receive dozens of applications for just one opening
and they may not spend more than 30 seconds per application on the first ………………..,
where they shortlist the first pool of potential interviewees. You do not want to risk having
your resume thrown into the rubbish bin. So you need to make it easy for your audience to
determine whether your experience and skills match their ………………...
One issue that usually concerns fresh university graduates a lot is their lack of ………………..,
as many job openings particularly require that. Unless you have been involved in an internship
or in some kind of job ……………….., you will have to prove yourself otherwise. What are
hiring managers looking for in a fresh graduate with little or no experience? Firstly, they may
be looking for sharp and analytical individuals, able to grasp complex issues quickly and
effectively and be able to deal with them independently. If there is something employers hate
is to have to “babysit” a newly-hired employee.
Secondly, team work is a skill that needs to be emphasized in most job applications. You can
do so by providing evidence from team sports or from study projects which required significant
amount of cooperation with fellow students. Evidence of this sort can definitely impress
employers and if you can provide evidence of having ……………….. a team, that is definitely
a bonus. All in all, you should be able to demonstrate that you have gained team working skills
such as ……………….., cooperation, compromise and the ability to listen, evaluate and make
a ……………….. for all concerned.
3
Applicants also need to be purpose-driven and conscientious. Employers want to see

evidence that a candidate will always try to do their best. Most jobs require results, so a
candidate must have the academic ……………….. as well as the drive to achieve. You should
think of those times when you had to really push yourself to hit targets and goals and find ways
of showcasing that in your resume.
Last but not least, excellent communication skills in English and Chinese, intercultural
……………….. and creativity are highly valued in a place like Hong Kong. Being able to
present your views ……………….. in writing or during presentations and company meetings
can definitely make you stand out from the pack, especially if you can also do it in a foreign
language. Communication skills also need to be demonstrated in how you initiate and build
long-term relationships with fellow workers and customers. That ultimately requires good
character: honesty, loyalty and respect for others’ views.
led needs delegation experience

shadowing interview opportunity experiences relevant
screening cogently decision politely
decide competence values fortitude
Task 4
Choose two key characteristics mentioned in the reading from task 3 and demonstrate that
you possess them using an example from your personal academic or professional trajectory.
Feel free to use Google or other sources to learn about what these characteristics entail.
Example
Intelligence During my internship at X, I was assigned…
Capacity for analysis In my final year project, I…
Team-work skills
Leadership
Being purpose-driven
Being conscientious
Communication skills
Intercultural competence
Good character
Task 5
Can you now explain how you could apply those qualities at a job of your choice in
Assignment 1?
4
Resumes can be targeted or untargeted and they can be formatted in three distinctive ways:
Chronological, functional or combined. A targeted resume is tailor-made for a particular job
application and it often includes a professional statement or a career objective. Sample
chronological resume: This type of resume emphasizes working experience over transferrable
skills. Previous jobs are listed in reverse chronological order with major tasks and
achievements clearly specified.
Figure 4: Source: www.hloom.com
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Sample functional resume: This type of resume emphasizes relevant skills and career
achievements rather than working experience. After the professional summary, skills are listed
in order of priority to meet the job requirements.
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Sample combination resume: This type of resume makes good use of the strengths offered by
chronological and functional resumes. It emphasizes previous working experience detailing
major accomplishments for each job. It also lists transferrable skills in order of priority to meet
the job requirements.
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Task 6
Classify the information below by relating it to three main times of resumes: Chronological
(Ch), Functional (F) and Combination (C) resume. Place a tick on the best option(s). There
may be more than one correct option in some cases.
Ch F C
1. Instead of presenting your employment history in detail, this type of resume
prioritizes your skills and achievements over specific jobs.
2. This type of resume lists your employment and education history in reverse
chronological order (i.e. most recent data first).
3. This type of resume includes work and education experience listed
chronologically but it also highlights skills and abilities in each role.
4. This type of resume is best for those who wish to highlight their progression
within one industry with few employment gaps.
5. In this type of resume, the information most applicable to the job comes first
and the least applicable one comes last.
6. This type of resume can be most suitable for fresh graduates with little or no
working experience.
7. This type of resume emphasizes transferrable skills. It is suitable for people who
are switching industries.
8. If you are not sure which format is best for you, you should consider this type,
as it is the most common one.
9. This type of resume can be tricky at times, as it can give the impression that
you are hiding something by not focusing on your working experience.
10. This type of resume can be ideal for senior professionals with long careers
with significant achievements who also possess multiple skills to showcase.
No matter which type you opt for, a highly effective resume should set you apart from possible
competitors. You need to take that into account at the time of designing the document.
Employers may spend 30 seconds or less browsing through each resume. So you need to make
it very readable as well as visually appealing.
Some professional communities are more traditional than others and this needs to be taken into
account when preparing your resume. A more conservative style may suit applications to
accounting or law firms, whereas marketing and design jobs may require more colourful and
creative styles.
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Task 7
C Compare the following samples of contact information used in resumes. Which design(s)
do you prefer? Why?
Sample a.
Sample b.
Sample c.
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Sample d.
Sample e.
Source: www.visualcv.com
Personal statements, career summaries and career objectives are commonly used in resumes to
highlight your main “selling points” as a candidate. You should grab the attention of a potential
employer while highlighting what kind of person you are, your attributes, qualities and
experience you possess.
In a targeted resume, you should try to match your “selling points” with the requirements
mentioned in the job ad. All this information needs to be expanded with substantial evidence
in other sections of the resume (i.e. your employment history, education qualifications and
training and other skills).
Figure 7: www.visualcv.com
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Notice how adjectives and adverbs can be used in personal statements to add persuasive power
to the more factual information normally encoded using noun phrases and verbs. There can be
exceptions to this rule, such as the use of the *noun “expert” (vs. “practitioner”) in the first
example.
A.
• “Industry *expert in Structural Engineering with excellent understanding of Drilling
and Exploration techniques, Geology and mechanical equipment used in underground
and open pit mining operations”.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Finite Element Analysis techniques using a variety of
software, as well as strong math and physics skills.
B.
• An experienced award-winning educator specialising in e-learning.
• A competent course designer and experienced team leader.
• Strongly interested in CLIL, blended learning and learner-centred education.
• Background in interdisciplinary research.
Task 8
Fill in the blanks in the following personal statements with appropriate expressions. Be
prepared to discuss in class which personal statements you prefer and why.
a.
Nicoletta Massini
Communications/ Media Relations/Promotional Events
Summary
…………………… Public Relations and Communications professional ……………

skilled in interpersonal communications, organization and event planning to generate
………………………… of company brand and promotions. ………………………… in the
use of social media marketing to increase publicity on sites including Facebook, Twitter,
LinkedIn and Google+. Creative and ………………… thinker with a ……………… ability in
developing innovative strategies to ……………………… new business leading to increased
revenue and profitability. Passionate about increasing market penetration through
…………………… strategic PR methodologies.
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b.
Tom Chugani
Senior Software Engineer
Summary
………………….. software developer dedicated to ………………….. improve tools and

infrastructure to ………………….. productivity, minimize system downtime and
………………….. respond to the changing needs of the business. Highly …………………..
Software Engineer and ………………….. team player dedicated to streamlining processes and
………………….. resolving project issues.
c.
Clara Wong
Financial Accountant
Summary
To establish myself as a valuable ………………….. in an organization where my career goal

could be ………………….. in a professional and challenging …………………... Looking to
make a significant and continuing ………………….. to a company that needs a multi-skilled
and multitasking Financial Consultant within a team working …………………...
What you say is who you are…
The use of AI is increasingly common in many job recruitment processes. If a computer

program can be used to screen out your resume before being read by human interviewers, you
need to ensure the key selling points highlighted in your personal statement are well-aligned
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with the job description and requirements listed in the advertisement by using the right
keywords.
Remember, an effective personal statement tells recruiters why they should consider
interviewing you by highlighting how your personality, your knowledge and skills align with
the job specifications. What you highlight in your personal statement also needs to be further
expanded in the rest of your resume with concrete evidence in bullet points using action verbs.
Task 9
Re-examine the job ad used in Unit 1 and answer the questions below.
www.investhk.org
InvestHK is a department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government tasked with attracting
foreign direct investment to Hong Kong and providing overseas and Mainland companies and entrepreneurs
with information, advice and services they need to succeed in the city. We work with companies of all sizes,
from startups and SMEs to multinationals, and we support them in every stage, from planning, setting up to
promotion and expansion.
Our staff stationed in 30 offices in key markets worldwide reach out to potential investors and work out to
strengthen and promote Hong Kong’s status as Asia’s premier investment destination. All of our services are
free, customized and confidential and based on our core values of passion, integrity and professionalism. We
strive to provide the best customer service combined with business friendliness and responsiveness. We are
currently seeking high calibre university undergraduates for the following post.
Marketing & Communications Officer
Job duties
Reporting to the chief marketing officer, the main job duties include:
1. Updating the content of InvestHK’s website and social media channels regularly.
2. Assisting with video production (i.e. case studies, key sales messages, etc.).
3. Producing artwork for outdoor and online advertising for local and overseas audiences.
4. Designing appealing PowerPoint templates and effective infographics for reports.
5. Drafting and proofreading publications, including newsletters, sector flyers, case study booklets, etc.
6. Liaising with external vendors, monitoring their progress.
Job Profile
1. A good honours degree in marketing, communication, PR or journalism. Prior video production
experience is an asset.
2. Ability to work independently. Good teamwork skills.
3. Well-organized and reliable. Able to work under tight deadlines.
4. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, highly proficient in written and spoken English
Cantonese and Putonghua.
Please send your resume and cover message to:
InvestHK: recruit@InvestHK.gov.hk
Career level Entry level

Yr(s) of Exp 0-2
Industry Marketing/PR/Communication
Job Function Marketing
Communications
Location Hong Kong
Salary Salary + benefits provided
Employment Full time
Type
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a. Select six character traits which best match the job profile of marketing and
communications officer at InvestHK by placing a tick . You may consult the dictionary
link below if needed.
www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english
creative analytical opinionated

dependent self-disciplined organised
dependable meticulous rational
punctual individualistic broad-minded
polished energetic aloof
b. Complete the following personal statements with one suitable word from the tables below.
Personal statement 1
Energetic and …….. dependable Communication senior minoring in marketing with ……..
organisational, interpersonal and communication skills in English and Chinese and ……..
internship experience in social media marketing locally and overseas, …….. to pursue a career
in corporate communication. …….. trained in applying business intelligence analytics to
support marketing operations aimed at maximising impacts, engagement and branding.
Experienced in event planning and organisation to …….. for diverse audiences.
keen cater professionally

solid highly excellent
…….. dedicated and outgoing fresh Animation and Digital Arts graduate …….. in English and
Chinese, with …….. internship experience in video production at a local art gallery, ……..
interested in working professionally in corporate communication. Self-starter, detail-oriented
and …….. listener, …….. with social media operations and experienced in compiling and
organising information for newsletters, company directories and product catalogues to promote
business operations.
strongly proficient empathetic

extensive highly familiar
c. Now highlight the adjectives denoting character traits and expressions referring to
knowledge, experience and skills, and also highlight what the candidates claim they can do for
InvestHK if hired. Which of the two personal statements aligns more closely with the job
requirements mentioned in the ad? Be prepared to discuss your views in class.
THIS IS WHO I AM + THIS IS WHAT I CAN DO FOR YOU IF YOU HIRE ME
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Energetic and …….. dependable Communication senior minoring in marketing with ……..
organisational, interpersonal and communication skills in English and Chinese and ……..
internship experience in social media marketing locally and overseas, …….. to pursue a career
in corporate communication. …….. trained in applying business intelligence analytics to
support marketing operations aimed at maximising impacts, engagement and branding.
Experienced in event planning and organisation to …….. for diverse audiences.
…….. dedicated and outgoing fresh Animation and Digital Arts graduate …….. in English and
Chinese, with …….. internship experience in video production at a local art gallery, ……..
interested in working professionally in corporate communication. Self-starter, detail-oriented
and …….. listener, …….. with social media operations and experienced in compiling and
organising information for newsletters, company directories and product catalogues to promote
business operations.
Task 10
Draft a personal statement for your resume in Assignment 1. Be prepared to present it in
class.
Analyse the job ad you have chosen for Assignment 1. If you are a year-two student who feels
unprepared to apply for “a real job”, you may consider applying for an internship position using
an authentic opening.
• Match some of your character traits with those relevant to the post you wish to apply
for.
• Match your knowledge, experience and skills with those explicitly mentioned (or
implied) in the job ad.
• Analyse how your knowledge, experience and skills align with the job requirements. If
you find you have little to say, this may indicate you have chosen the wrong job ad for
assignment 1.
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Personal statement checklist (1)

• Parallelism: Are you consistently using
Noun/Adjectival phrases or Verb
phrases?

• Are you including words related to character
traits as well as words related to knowledge and
skills?

• Are you including
• THIS IS WHO I AM + THIS IS WHAT I CAN DO FOR YOU IF YOU HIRE ME
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The remaining sections of your resume can be pretty straightforward:
• Career History.
• Education, qualifications and Training.
• Additional skills.
• Hobbies (optional).
• List of References (the name(s), position and contact details of your referee(s).
Most importantly, what you say here needs to be closely connected with the information you
have chosen for your personal statement. Think of your personal statement as a topic sentence
that needs to be expanded in greater detail in the rest of a paragraph. You will need to illustrate
with concrete evidence in bullet points using action verbs the evidence you have highlighted
in your personal statement in more general terms.
Experienced candidates tend to put their career history before their education section in their
resumes. If you have little or no experience, you can always do otherwise. Given your limited
work experience, you should also expand your education section detailing the knowledge,
experience and skills acquired and illustrating how these knowledge, experience and skills have
resulted in concrete achievements relevant to the job using bullet points with action verbs.
If you do not wish to include your list of references in your resume, you can always state
“References upon request” there. But you should approach appropriate people who know you
well “professionally” in advance, just in case: A program leader, a final year project supervisor,
a former employer, an internship supervisor, etc.
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Language Review
Attaining Consistency in Writing Job Descriptions

Normally, a writer of a résumé will use ‘action verbs’ to
introduce his/her accomplishments and abilities in a format
that is readable to the recruiter. In this respect, s/he will strive
to attain consistency and conciseness:
a) Tenses (choosing the appropriate tense, present / past,
according to the date the job was undertaken)
e.g. June 2012 to present
• Design and install accounting systems for businesses such as 21st Century Real
Estate, Illini Insurance, Aurora Lumber Company.
June 1998 to May 2002
• Conceived and implemented improved order processing and filing system.
b) Adverbs (choosing the appropriate adverbs to indicate the strengths and potentials of the
work)
e.g. Sales/Marketing Skills
• Personally generated over $25,000 in telephone subscriptions as part of
President’s Task Force for the Penn Foundation.
• Successfully served 40 or more retail customers daily as clerk in electrical
appliance department of national home hardware.
c) Adjectives (choosing the appropriate adjectives to highlight specific work skills)

e.g. Special skills
• Proficient in Word, PageMaker, Lotus, and Excel
• Skilled in ACCPAC Plus, MAS90, and Solomon IV accounting software
• Experienced in office administration and management
d) Quantifiers (completing the statement with detailed figures illustrating concrete and
quantifiable information about the work experience)
e.g. Accomplishments
• Reduced delivery delays by an average of three days per order
• Streamlined filing system, thus reducing 400-item backlog to 0
• Created a 12-point checklist for use when requesting temporary workers
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Task 11
Fill in the blanks with appropriate expressions from the table below.
detailed-minded generate helped strong

participated produced prepare perform
pursue professional skilled prepared
Peter Ho Man Fung

Flat B, 5/F Block A, Telford Plaza, Kowloon Bay. Kowloon.
Mobile: (852) 9998 7720 email: peterho96@gmail.com
LinkedIn: www.LinkedIn.com/in/Peterhomanfung
Objective To ………….. a career in accounting as an assistant accountant offering my ………….

interpersonal skills, accounting knowledge, …………………. character and ………………..
customer service to bring success to your company.
Skills & • Pass with credit in London Chamber of Commerce (LCCI) Level 3.
Capabilities • …………….. in preparing full set of book-keeping and analyzing taxation planning.
• Experienced in ……………….. auditing documents and in writing correspondence.
• Advanced user of MS Office, Accounting software (Chargebee, Oracle NetSuite).
• Able to ……………. office tasks and use excellent communication skills effectively.
Experience
Assistant Accountant
Mar 2020- Lee & Yeung Co. Hong Kong
Present • ………………… financial statements (balance sheet, profit & loss account and cash
flow statement).
• ………………… regular office memos, confidential letters, reports and other
account documents.
Jan 2019- Feb Part-time book keeper
2020 Getwin Ltd, Hong Kong
• ………………… clients to analyse taxation plans.
• Prepared full set of book-keeping.
• ………………… annual audit plans for clients.
Education
June 2020 HKU SPACE Community College, Hong Kong
Higher Diploma in Business (Accounting)
GPA: 3.2 (4.0=A)
• ………………….. as a member of the Accounting Society for two years.
June 2018 Tang King Po Secondary School
Form 1- Form 7
Hong Kong Examinations & Assessment Authority (HKEAA)
HKDSE
Chinese Lang. (5*); English Lang. (3); Business , Accounting & Financial Studies (5*)
References Ms. Ann Chan Mr. Lok Tak Sing
Auditing & Assurance Dep. Manager Director
Lee & Chan Co. Getrich Ltd.
Unit F, 9/F, World Tech Centre Unit F, 17/F, Scenery Plaza
58 How Ming St. Kwun Tong 5 Lee Yuen Moon Rd., Chai Wan
Kowloon, Hong Kong Hong Kong
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Task 12
Complete the following sections of a resume using the information provided in the extract
from the application letter below.
Activities & • Engaged …………….. in both organizing and joining

Responsibilities …………………………………………. for over five years.
• Participated in a service held by ……………………………..
• …………………………. Hong Kong Housing Policy to
………………………………. in fluent English.
• Paid ……………… and provided …………………… to these
students to make their stay in this energetic city enjoyable.
Skills & • Trained to be …………………………….., project work, HKU
Experiences SPACE Community College.
• Maintained …………………………….. with group members by
scheduling ……………………
• Collaborated …………………… with teammates so as to achieve
successful ……………………
• Understood the importance of …………………… when singing
on stage as a choir member
• Developed …………………… through activities so as to work
…………………………… and to deal with ……………………
Extracted from an application letter
According to your advertisement, you need a customer-oriented Flight Attendant who

provides excellent flight experience to customers with commitment and enthusiasm. I have
actively engaged in both organizing and joining numerous voluntary activities for over
five years. Last month, I participated in a service held by St. James Settlement, introducing
Hong Kong Housing Policy to 35 American university students in fluent English. Through
home visits and food tasting, they enjoyed their stay here and thanked me for my
friendliness and eagerness to show them the energetic city by answering their questions.
Therefore, I truly believe the satisfaction gained from providing “Service Straight from the Heart” to your valued
customers would reinforce my passion in serving others.
The study in the College along with my extra-curricular activities has trained me to be an experienced team
member. While working in projects, I am able to maintain good communication with group members by
scheduling work progress. Effective collaboration among teammates has resulted in successful presentations. I
also fully understand the importance of team spirit when singing on stage as a choir member for fourteen years.
Besides, the prompt response developed through these activities allows me to work under stress and deal with any
contingency on plane efficiently so that safety of the passengers is guaranteed
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Task 13
Use one action verb from four categories in the table below to describe experiences and skills
you can use in your targeted resume. Try to make good use of tenses, adjectives, adverbs
and quantifiers to make the message more persuasive. Some examples are given below.
Management skills • Analysed

• Directed – Personally (adverb) directed (tense) the sales of
40 or more (quantifier) electrical appliances at the national home
hardware
• Organized
Communication skills • Arranged
• Negotiated
• Recruited
Research skills • Collected
• Examined – Examined 300-page journal articles in order to find
solution to research hypothesis
• Interviewed
Financial skills • Administered
• Analysed
Creative skills • Designed
• Performed
Helping skills • Counselled
• Served – Successfully served around 80 retail customers daily as
clerk in women’s apparel section of local department store
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Task 14
Complete the following text using the expressions provided in the table below.
Effective cover messages for job applications
A cover message (a letter or an email) accompanies your resume and any other documents
submitted for a job application (i.e. portfolios, diplomas, transcripts, etc.). An effective cover
message should ………………… your reader(s) to grant you an interview by showing how
your experience, education, skills, personality etc. listed in your resume make you the right
candidate for the post.
While there is a certain degree of overlap between your resume and your cover message, these
are two different things. As Gudmundsson and Snider (2020) suggest, “resumes catalog fact”
while cover messages “deliver …………………, fit and persuasion”. “They provide the
applicant with the opportunity to present his or her ………………… and experience before
the resume is even scanned”.
How to write a compelling cover message that can get you interviewed? Here are some tips:
Tip 1: Show genuine ………………… in the company and the job you are applying for. What
makes you wish to join that company/organization? What in your background demonstrates
you would excel at work? ………………… your reader(s)!
Tip 2: Do not ………………… your resume in your cover message. You should add something
new to your candidacy.
Tip 3: If something makes you especially well-suited for the job ………………… what is on
your resume, mention it. For example, maybe the position requires an inordinate degree of
meticulousness and you frequently get comments for being obsessive about details. Mention it
in a cover message, as it is information that would not be on your resume.
Tip 4: Stay away from hyperbole: Statements like "I am the best candidate for the job” and
“You will not find a candidate better qualified than me” come across as ………………… or
naive. You have no way of knowing what the rest of the candidate pool looks like, and only
the hiring manager is equipped to assess your candidacy against that pool. Keep the focus on
why you would ………………… at the job.
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Tip 5: If you know you are overqualified but you do not mind, explain that in your cover letter.
If you do not address it up front, many hiring managers will assume that you would not
be ………………… about the job without ever giving you a chance to tell them why you are
interested.
Tip 6: Be conversational. Job seekers sometimes feel that a cover letter should be as formal as
possible, but the best cover letters are written in a conversational, warm, and …………………
tone. Of course, do not be overly casual; do not use slang, and pay careful attention to grammar
and spelling.
Tip 7: Do not use a “template”. Hiring managers can tell the difference between a cover
message that you are sending with all your applications and a message that you wrote
specifically for this job. If your cover message works for all the jobs you are applying to, that
is a sign that it needs to be more ………………….
summarize interest context excel

disingenuous enthusiastic customized aside from
persuade woo personality engaging
Adapted from Gudmundsson, P.A. & Snider, S. (2020, February 28) How to write a cover letter. Money.usnews.com
https://money.usnews.com/money/careers/applying-for-a-job/articles/how-to-write-a-cover-letter
Task 15
Read the job ad and answer the questions below.
Job Ad
Position Supply Chain Pricing Analyst Apply here

Position Code T23-6678 Location Tacoma WA Status Full-time
Sea-Air Global Transport has an immediate opening for a supply chain pricing analyst in our
Tacoma WA, headquarters. This challenging position requires excellent communication skills in a
variety of media, a polished customer presence both in person and over the phone, and proven
attitude in statistical analysis and business mathematics.
The minimum educational requirement for this position is a bachelor’s degree or equivalent,
preferably in business, statistical methods or applied mathematics. Experience in customer service
is highly desirable and experience in transportation or logistics is a major plus.
Click here to learn more about Sea-Air or click here to explore the attractive compensation and
benefits packages we offer to all our employees.
23
Job Analysis
a. Choose the best sector matching the profile of Sea-Air Global Transport by placing a tick
next to your preferred option.
1. Airport operations
2. Transport and logistics
3. Supply chain management
b. Choose the best job description for the position of “Supply chain pricing analyst”.
1. Responsible for processing pricing quotes for both air and ocean transactions
to Sea-Air Global Transport customer base and sales personnel
2. Responsible for planning and implementing pricing policies at Sea-Air Global
Transport
c. Choose the two most important profile features in the job ad.
1. Excellent communication skills in a variety of media

2. A polished customer presence, both in person and over the phone
3. Proven attitude in statistical analysis and business mathematics
4. Experience in customer service
5. Experience in transportation and logistics
d. Statistical analysis and business mathematics are needed at the job because the appointee
needs to… (Choose the best two options).
1. Communicate price quotations to clients timely

2. Maintain a database system to share pricing information within Sea-Air Global
Transport
3. Research/collect pricing data in various target regions (air/ocean/inland/agent,
etc.) to continuously drive down costs on behalf of Sea-Air Global Transport and
clients
4. Request additional price information from clients of Sea-Air Global Transport
5. Maintain detailed notes within quotes as far as “spot” pricing/ routings, etc. to
guide operations as to best service/price combination on secure quotes
e. Complete now the application cover message by filling in the blanks with appropriate
expressions (only one word per blank).
24
From Daltonsmith@gmail.com
To HRO@Sea-Air.com
CC
Subject Job application (Supply Chain Pricing Analyst)
Dear hiring manager,
Sea-Air Global Transport consistently …………………. as a top transportation firm in the

research I did for my senior project in global supply chain management. So, imagine my
…………………. when I discovered the opening for an export pricing analyst in your Tacoma
headquarters (Position Code: T23-6678). With a major in business and a minor in statistical
methods, my education has been ideal …………………. for the challenges of this position.
In fact, my senior project …………………. most of the skills listed in your job description,
including written communication skills, analytical abilities and math ………………….. I
enjoyed the opportunity to put my math skills to the test as part of the statistical comparison of
various freight modes.
As you can see from my resume, I also have more than three years part-time experience
working with customers in both retail and commercial ………………….. This experience
taught me the importance of customer service, and I want to start my professional career with
a company that …………………. values the customer. In reviewing your website and reading
several articles on Lloyd’s list and other trade websites, I am …………………. by Sea-Air
constant attention to customer service in this highly competitive industry.
My verbal communication skills would be best …………………. in an interview, of course. I

would be happy to meet with a representative of your company at their earliest
………………….. I can be reached at salton.k@gmail.com or by phone at (562) 555 3737.
Sincerely,
Dalton Smith
Adapted from Thill, J V. & Bovee, C.L. (2011). Excellence in Business Communication. 9th edition. Boston: Prentice Hall.
Task 16
Analyze the cover message in Task 15 by commenting on the points below. Be prepared to
discuss your answer in class.
a. To what extent do you think the cover message is customized to this specific job application?
b. Does the writer try to woo his reader(s) by showing a genuine interest in the company and
by offering proof of his suitability for the position applied to? Provide evidence.
25
c. Does the writer make any use of hyperbole when he presents his case?
d. Now analyse the message paragraph by paragraph discussing how the interpersonal and
ideational metafunctions are realized. You can review Video Lecture 2 How to do things with
words if needed. The following information and tips can also help you elaborate your response.
Textual
How we link information
into a coherent and
cohesive text.
Interpersonal Ideational
What we try to do with others How we construe our experience
(inform, request, order, etc.): how involving people and things,
we relate and bond with them, qualities, actions, relationships
how we shape our identities, use and circumstances (time, place
power, express attitudes, etc. and ways in which things occur).
• What is the writer trying to do in each paragraph? How does this contribute to the
overall communicative purpose of the message?
• Has the writer adopted a conversational semi-formal tone or does he sound distant and
formal? Provide examples.
• Is the focus on addressing the reader (you approach) or on talking about himself (I
approach). Highlight the parts of the message where the name of the company or the
words “you”, “your” appear. Compare that with the parts centred around “I”, “my”,
“me”, etc.
• Does the writer spell out how the things he has done in the past can be put to good use
in the job he is applying for? Provide examples, if any.
i.e. This is what I have done (in the past) + this is how it can be used in the job.
26
Task 17
What do you think about this cover letter? Can you identify problems and suggest improvements?
Zoe Judd
11C, 118 Pinnacle Street
Wanchai, Hong Kong
Email: zoej@email.com
September 19, 2020
Poppy Smith
Poppy & Rose
2/F 298 Drummond Road
Quarry Bay
Hong Kong
Dear Ms. Smith
Re: Assistant Fashion Designer position (Ref: 2187/10)
I am writing to apply for the position of assistant fashion designer, advertised on jobsdb.com on 12
September 2020.
Throughout my university course, I undertook a wide variety of work experience, including positions
at Hong Kong Fashion Week and in Pose magazine’s style department. It can be seen from the designs
that I have included in my portfolio (see attached) that I have a flair for colour and textures, an innate
understanding of trends and am competent working with most fabrics. I have exceptional illustration
and artwork skills and was awarded the Student Designer of the Year award in my final year of college.
I particularly enjoy working with silk and lace to design feminine pieces and I can always be found
experimenting with my own creations at home.
My current job at KitKit Fashion, where I have been employed for two years, has allowed me to be
involved with all areas of production – from deciding on designs and fabric, to assisting with cutting
and distribution. It is a small company and I have been very grateful for the opportunity to be involved
with every aspect of the business; however, I feel I am now ready to move on to bigger and better things
in the fashion world.
For as long as I can remember, fashion has always been a major part of my life. For many years I have
immersed myself in all the latest Australian and international fashion news, allowing me to stay one
step ahead of trends and keep my eye out for new, up-and-coming designers. My favourite labels include
Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, Sass & Bide, and of course, Poppy & Rose.
I have been a long-standing and loyal customer of the Poppy & Rose brand for many years and it would
be an absolute honour to work for your company. I am passionate about fashion, clothes and fabrics
and I believe that my combination of unpaid work experience and employment has provided me with
the necessary skills to be an excellent assistant designer for Poppy & Rose.
I look forward to meeting you and discussing the position with you further.
Sincerely
Zoe Judd
27
References
Bovée, C.L., Thill, J.V. (2017) Business communication today, global edition. New Jersey:
Pearson.
Thill, J V. & Bovee, C.L. (2011). Excellence in Business Communication. 9th edition. Boston:
Prentice Hall.
Downes, C. (2008) Cambridge English for job hunting. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press.
Guffey, M.E. & Loewy, D. (2018) Essentials of business communication. Mason, Ohio: South-
Western & Centage Learning.
Useful Links
https://novoresume.com/career-blog/write-resume-cv
www.hloom.com/resume
Gudmundsson, P.A. & Snider, S. (2020, February 28) How to write a cover letter.
Money.usnews.com
https://money.usnews.com/money/careers/applying-for-a-job/articles/how-to-write-a-cover-
letter
28

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Unit 2

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LUE4002 Professional Communication in English for Business Unit 2

Unit 2 Preparing a resume and a cover message

By the end of Unit 2, you should be able to:

- Discuss different resume styles and formats.

Figure 1: Source: www.shutterstock.com

Figure 2: Source: www.shutterstock.com

Figure 3: Source: www.shutterstock.com

Your resume is your personal “advertisement”. It is chiefly intended to secure an

Applicants also need to be purpose-driven and conscientious. Employers want to see

led needs delegation experience

Capacity for analysis In my final year project, I…

Figure 4: Source: www.hloom.com

Figure 5: Source: www.hloom.com

Figure 6: Source: www.hloom.com

…………………… Public Relations and Communications professional ……………

………………….. software developer dedicated to ………………….. improve tools and

To establish myself as a valuable ………………….. in an organization where my career goal

What you say is who you are…

Figure 8: Source: www.shutterstock.com

The use of AI is increasingly common in many job recruitment processes. If a computer

Marketing & Communications Officer

Career level Entry level

creative analytical opinionated

keen cater professionally

strongly proficient empathetic

THIS IS WHO I AM + THIS IS WHAT I CAN DO FOR YOU IF YOU HIRE ME

Personal statement checklist (1)

Personal statement checklist (2)

Personal statement checklist (3)

The remaining sections of your resume can be pretty straightforward:

Attaining Consistency in Writing Job Descriptions

c) Adjectives (choosing the appropriate adjectives to highlight specific work skills)

detailed-minded generate helped strong

Peter Ho Man Fung

Objective To ………….. a career in accounting as an assistant accountant offering my ………….

Activities & • Engaged …………….. in both organizing and joining

Extracted from an application letter

According to your advertisement, you need a customer-oriented Flight Attendant who

Management skills • Analysed

Figure 9: Source: www.shutterstock.com

Effective cover messages for job applications

summarize interest context excel

Position Supply Chain Pricing Analyst Apply here

1. Excellent communication skills in a variety of media

1. Communicate price quotations to clients timely

Dear hiring manager,

Sea-Air Global Transport consistently …………………. as a top transportation firm in the

My verbal communication skills would be best …………………. in an interview, of course. I

Figure 10: Source: www.shutterstock.com

Dear Ms. Smith

Re: Assistant Fashion Designer position (Ref: 2187/10)

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