TOPIC 9 COVER LETTERS AND RESUMES

9.1 COVER LETTER

- the letter of application
- the cover letter for your job application
- one to two pages in length and should be accompanied by a
resume or curriculum  vitae (CV)

Brief and serves to :-

-Draw attention to relevant qualifications and work experiences listed
in the resume
 
-Make a match between what you have to offer and the potential
employer’s needs
 
-Persuade your potential employer to consider your application
carefully; and
 
-Support your request for an interview
9.1.1 Guidelines for Writing a Cover Letter
a.First Paragraph
-Summarise the job opening
-Name the job opening
-Ask about the availability of a job opening

b.Middle Paragraph(s)
-Education
-Work experience
-Ability to work with others and/ or alone
-Interest in your field
-Interest in the company
-Responsibilities in previous positions

c.Closing paragraph
-Request for interview whenever convenient
-Provide phone number and e-mail address
Useful key phrases
-I am writing to you in response to your advertisement ……

-I wish to apply for the position of

-As you can see from my enclosed resume, my work

experience
and qualifications match the requirements for this position

-I believe I possess the right combination of …. Skills

-I look forward to an early reply

(More phrases on p. 159)

(Activity 9.2 p.159)

( Refer to Activity 9.3 and Sample Cover letter 2 on pp. 161-
162)
Sample Cover Letter 1

Aloysius Tan Kim Hock

14, Jalan USJ2/4
Taman Crystal
Subang Jaya
46000 Petaling Jaya

12 April 2010

Mr Yeap Hin Lee

Personnel Manager
Logistics Inc.
1516, Persiaran Kelab Emas
47200 Klang, Selangor

Dear Mr Yeap,

Application for the Position of Chief Supervisor

In response to your advertisement for a Chief Supervisor specialising in Port Regulatory Law / am writing/ which appeared in the New
Settlement Times on Sunday, April 12. / I / As you can see from my enclosed resume,/ match  the  requirements  for  this  position / my
experience and qualifications.

I / that I graduated from the Malaysian Marine School in Malacca /would like to point out/ I was  hired  directly  upon  graduation/ with a
Diploma  in  Port  management / due to my expertise in port authority regulations.

During the four years that I worked for Gudang and Co., / in our region. /further deepened /my knowledge  of  regulatory  laws/ I / My 
employer  / wanted to  promote  me  to  head  the  team  of assistants / also thought highly of my abilities / after my first year of employment.

I/ to personally discuss / look forward /the position with you./ to an opportunity /I/ within the next five days to arrange an interview./ will call
you.

Sincerely,

Aloysius Tan Kim Hock

Enclosure
9.2 RESUME

-a document that contains a record of your qualifications, work

experience and achievements
-a summary of personal data, including educational background,
skills, qualifications, work experience, references, hobbies and
interests
-referred to as a curriculum vitae (CV).
Three types of resumes
a.Basic Resume
-Normal part of resume but shorter and simpler
-For school leavers with little experience

b. Functional Resume
- Highlight a wide range of skills and work experience
-Starts with most recent work experience that matches
potential employer’s needs
-Subheadings to highlight job functions

c.Specific Resume
-Emphasis on qualifications, skills and experience relevant to
the job
-Presents experience with criteria advertised
-Use action words such as achieve, adapt, initiate, report, etc
(Activity 9.4 & 9.5 p.163)