how to write amazing cover letters & applications...cover letters & applications ucl careers...
TRANSCRIPT
UCL CAREERS
UCL Careers Essentials
With Raj Sidhu
How To Write
Amazing
Cover Letters
& Applications
UCL CAREERS
Question:
How do
Application
Forms make
you feel?
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All recruitment relates
to just 3 things…
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1. You can do the job
2. You want to do the job
3. They will like working with you
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1. Leonardo __ ____ Principle
2. How to show ____ (without showing off)
3. Making a personal ______
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E.g…
Q: Raj, how long should
cover letters be?
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1. Leonardo Da Vinci Principle
2. How to show ____ (without showing off)
3. Making a personal ______
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UCL CAREERS
11.
“Also I can execute sculpture
in marble, bronze and clay.
Likewise in painting, I can do
everything possible as well as
any other”
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UCL CAREERS
Job Description
UCL CAREERS
Job Description
UCL CAREERS
Example Application form question:
“What skills make you a good fit for the role?”
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Example Application form question:
“What skills make you a good fit for the role?”
I believe I could be a good fit for the role because of my experience in the
Chemical and Physical society at UCL. While there, I organised an employer
panel event, with representatives from Astra Zeneca. This helped develop my
communication skills – as well as my teamwork skills, as I had to work with 3
partners. We learned about how regulation worked in the pharmaceutical
sector, and I’m interested to learn more and to develop in the Regulatory Affairs
graduate role at GSK. My 67% mark in my dissertation shows my ability to
multi-task, as I worked part-time at the Students Union, whilst also showing my
passion for science, attention to detail and analytical mindset.
UCL CAREERS
Example Application form question:
“What skills make you a good fit for the role?”
Relationship building has been a key part of my success in recent roles.
Working as a restaurant usher last summer, I built trust with queuing customers
by asking them open questions about their experiences of London, and how I
could help them. By responding to their questions, which ranged from afternoon
travel planning to best evening spots, I built a rapport by identifying and
addressing their needs. As a result, partnership opportunities were opened up,
allowing me to communicate food orders directly from queuing customers;
giving the kitchen more time to prepare, lowering waiting time for customers
and increasing table turnover rates. My relationship building skills resulted in
approximately 50% fewer customers abandoned the queue.
Proactivity and self-motivation were features of my success in the …
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Takeaways…
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#1: Start with their skill
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#1: Start with their skill
(Lessons from Eye Tracking Software…)
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Example Application form question:
“What skills make you a good fit for the role?”
Relationship building has been a key part of my success in recent roles.
Working as a restaurant usher last summer, I built trust with queuing customers
by asking them open questions about their experiences of London, and how I
could help them. By responding to their questions, which ranged from afternoon
travel planning to best evening spots, I built a rapport by identifying and
addressing their needs. As a result, partnership opportunities were opened up,
allowing me to communicate food orders directly from queuing customers;
giving the kitchen more time to prepare, lowering waiting time for customers
and increasing table turnover rates. My relationship building skills resulted in
approximately 70% fewer customers abandoned the queue.
Proactivity and self-motivation were features of my success in the …
UCL CAREERS
#2: Think of the mark-scheme
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Job Description
UCL CAREERS
UCL CAREERS
UCL CAREERS
Example Application form question:
“What skills make you a good fit for the role?”
I believe I could be a good fit for the role because of my experience in the
Chemical and Physical society at UCL. While there, I organised an employer
panel event, with representatives from Astra Zeneca. This helped develop my
communication skills – as well as my teamwork skills, as I had to work with 3
partners. We learned about how regulation worked in the pharmaceutical
sector, and I’m interested to learn more and to develop in the Regulatory Affairs
graduate role at GSK. My 67% mark in my dissertation shows my ability to
multi-task, as I worked part-time at the Students Union, whilst also showing my
passion for science, attention to detail and analytical mindset.
UCL CAREERS
UCL CAREERS
#3: The examples
supporting skills
don’t have to be
flashy
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#4: Quality & Depth of
examples > Quantity
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#5: How to show skills
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#5: How to show skills
• Skill + Evidence + quantification
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#5: How to show skills
• Skill + Evidence + quantification
• Harvard Competency Dictionary
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UCL CAREERS
UCL CAREERS
UCL CAREERS
UCL CAREERS
Example Application form question:
“What skills make you a good fit for the role?”
Relationship building has been a key part of my success in recent roles.
Working as a restaurant usher last summer, I built trust with queuing customers
by asking them open questions about their experiences of London, and how I
could help them. By responding to their questions, which ranged from afternoon
travel planning to best evening spots, I built a rapport by identifying and
addressing their needs. As a result, partnership opportunities were opened up,
allowing me to communicate food orders directly from queuing customers;
giving the kitchen more time to prepare, lowering waiting time for customers
and increasing table turnover rates. My relationship building skills resulted in
approximately 70% fewer customers abandoned the queue.
Proactivity and self-motivation were features of my success in the …
UCL CAREERS
1. Leonardo Da Vinci Principle
2. How to show skills (without showing off)
3. Making a personal ______
UCL CAREERS
1. Leonardo Da Vinci Principle
2. How to show skills (without showing off)
3. Making a personal connection
UCL CAREERS
UCL CAREERS
Watch
from 37
seconds
to 1m50
UCL CAREERS
Watch
from 37
seconds
to 1m50
Then let me know what you like / don’t
like…
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Cover Letter Tip #1:
Start with the organisation
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Cover Letter Tip #2:
Subsequent Paragraphs
Focus on 1 skill each
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Cover Letter Tip #2:
Subsequent Paragraphs
Focus on 1 skill each
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Cover Letter Tip #3:
Optimal Cover Letter Length
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#4: The Cover Letter
As A Marketing
Document
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Any
questions
or
comments?