The Curriculum Vitae and The Letter of Application

The Curriculum Vitae

A curriculum vitae (known as C.V. for short) is a short account, laid out in a clear form, of the
details of your life. It includes the following things:
○ your name and precise address and telephone number
○ your date of birth
○ a precise record of schools attended
○ a precise record of colleges/faculties attended
○ examination qualifications
○ personal achievements (e.g. in sport or music etc.)
○ employment positions held (including part-time work)
○ interests and activities
○ future education plans
○ references (names and addresses of responsible people who will write a reference for you if
approached)

CURRICULUM VITAE
Andrew Foster
105 Cheriton Road
Dorchester
Dorset DY4 4HQ

Telephone: Dorchester (0305) 69542

Date of Birth: January 15th, 1948

Nationality: British

Languages: Conversational French

Computer literacy: WordPerfect, Lotus 1-2-3

Education
1953-1960 Maynard Boys Junior School, Waltham Forest, London
1960-1967 Romford Royal Liberty School, Romford, Essex
1968-1971 Hull University, Yorkshire
1974-1976 Darlington Hall, Devon
1977-1978 College of St Mark and St John, Plymouth

Qualifications
GCE ‘0’ level examinations (June 1965): English Language (3); English Literature (4);
Mathematics (5); Combined Science (6); History (1); Geography (1)
GCE ‘A’ level examinations (June 1967): History (B); Economics (E); Geography (B)

2nd Class Honours Degree in Psychology (B. Sc.) from Hull University (1971)
Diploma in Music (Darlington Hall, 1976)
Post-Graduate Certificate of Education in Primary Teaching (1978)

Other Achievements
Captain of School Swimming Team (1966-67); School Basketball Team; School Debating Team;
School Debating Vice-Captain (1967); University Basketball Team; President of University Arts
Society (1970); President of Student Union, Darlington Hall, (1975-1976)

Employment
1964-1967 Part-time work weekends/holidays furniture removal
1966-1969 Christmas work for Post Office
9/67 to 4/68 Salesman, Little Foxes Record Shop, Fulham, London
9/71 to 10/72 Salesman, HMV Record Shop, London
10/72 to 7/74 Junior Officer, Arts Council, London
10/76 to 6/77 Paid sabbatical president, students union, Darlington Hall
9/78 to 7/81 Teacher, Grove Middle School, Dorchester
4/83 Self-employed harpsichord constructor

Interests and Activities

Playing the piano and harpsichord; chess; literature; psychology; hill walking; horticulture

Personal
Married 1979
Two children, born 1981 and 1982

References
Dr. Bryan Tunniwell, Darlington Hall, Devon
Mr Richard Raine, Headmaster, Grove Middle School, Dorchester, Dorset

1. Adapt and transfer the information in this Curriculum Vitae to the European
Curriculum Vitae Format on the next page.
 EUROPEAN
CURRICULUM VITAE
FORMAT

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name [SURNAME,other name(s)]

Address [Housenumber, streetname, postcode, city, country ]
Telephone
Fax
E-mail

Nationality

Date of birth [Day, month, year ]

WORK EXPERIENCE

•Dates (from– to) [ Add separate entries for each relevant post occupied, starting with the most recent. ]
•Name and address of employer
•Type of business or sector
•Occupation or position held
•Main activities and responsibilities

EDUCATIONANDTRAINING

•Dates (from– to) [ Add separate entries for each relevant course you have completed, starting with the most
recent. ]
•Name and type of organisation
providing education and training
•Principal subjects/occupational
skills covered
•Title of qualification awarded
•Level in national classification
(if appropriate)
 PERSONAL SKILLS
AND COMPETENCES
Acquired in the course of life
and career but not
necessarily covered by
formal certificates and
diplomas.

MOTHER TONGUE [ Specify mother tongue ]

OTHER LANGUAGES

[ Specify language ]
• Reading skills [ Indicate level: excellent, good, basic. ]
• Writing skills [ Indicate level: excellent, good, basic. ]
• Verbal skills [ Indicate level: excellent, good, basic. ]

SOCIAL SKILLS [ Describe these competences and indicate where they were
acquired. ]
AND COMPETENCES
Living and working with
other people, in multicultural
environments, in positions
where communication is
important and situations
where teamwork is essential
(for example culture and
sports), etc.

ORGANISATIONAL SKILLS [ Describe these competences and indicate where they were
acquired. ]
AND COMPETENCES
Coordination and
administration of people,
projects and budgets; at
work, in voluntary work (for
example culture and sports)
and at home, etc.

TECHNICAL SKILLS [ Describe these competences and indicate where they were
acquired. ]
AND COMPETENCES
With computers, specific
kinds of equipment,
machinery, etc.

ARTISTIC SKILLS [ Describe these competences and indicate where they were
acquired. ]
AND COMPETENCES
Music, writing, design, etc.

OTHER SKILLS [ Describe these competences and indicate where they were
acquired. ]
AND COMPETENCES
Competences not mentioned
above.
 DRIVING LICENCE(S)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION [ Include here any other information that may be relevant, for
example contact persons, references, etc. ]

ANNEXES [ List any attached annexes. ]

The Letter of Application

□ A letter of application should include the following:

○ where you got the information to make the application
○ inquires about the thing you are applying for
○ your personal interests and professional experience that may make your application successful,
including qualifications.
○ your ability to speak foreign languages

□ Language notes
○ Introduction:
I’d like to apply for…

Job:…the job/post/position advertised in …/I saw advertised in …/I’ve just seen in the…
… bursary/scholarship
… course/cultural exchange
Experience: recent
for the last … I’ve been …
I’ve been … since …
general
I’ve had experience of …
I’ve done …before …
past
In 1979 I worked …
… before that I worked …
Interests: I’m very (especially) interested in …
I’m rather keen on …
One of the reasons I’m applying is …
One of my reasons for applying is …
Writing biographical information
I was born and brought up in …
was educated at …
was … given a job … dismissed …
was injured in a car crash …
Time sequences:
○ after and before: After this, I …
After graduating from high school, I applied for …
Before this, I had worked in …
Before moving to Bucharest, I sold my house in Cluj.
 Until then, I lived/had lived
○ same time: During this period, I become ill …
While working at …, I got interested …
While I was working at …
It was then that I started …

Model

14, Newton Road

Densfield
Worcestershire
WO4 6YH
Tel: (01256) 456789
18th May 1992
Ms A Winter,
Personnel Manager,
LIB Publishing
45 Book Street
London W1B 4BK

Dear Ms Winter,
I am writing to apply for the position of Editorial Assistant that you advertised in The Guardian
on 8th May 1996, as I believe it offers the career challenge which I am seeking.

As you will see from my enclosed Curriculum Vitae, I graduated from the University of Sussex
last year and since then I have had a successful year working in a scientific environment with a
local chemical services firm.

I would like to highlight the following skills which I believe would add value to your
organisation:

Organisational skills - developed in my current job with Desford Chemical Services.

Accounting skills - developed in my role as University Entertainments Officer where I prepared

annual reports and accounts and was responsible for a budget of £15,000 per annum.

Interpersonal skills - developed through working in a team environment in my current role and
through a number of holiday vacation positions.

I have a keen interest in scientific publishing and would appreciate the opportunity of an
interview to discuss why I believe I am a good match for your requirements.

I’d be grateful if you could tell me what the wages and hours are before you invite me for an
interview.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Angela Nadia Smith

2. Apply for the following summer job advertised in the Wales Advertiser. Give personal
details, ask about wages, hours and length of season.

Can you swim ? Earn some money this season on one of the loveliest beaches in Wales as a life
guard. Apply in writing to: The Town Clerk, Town Hall, Bangor, Wales

3. Read the following advertisement

Work experience! Come and work in the U.K. for six months or a year, at our expense!
The British Government are just beginning a scheme whereby exchanges may be arranged
between you and someone in Britain doing the same job. You’ll work in Britain while someone
works in your job.
Apply to: JOB SWAP
Department for Economic Trade and Development
London WC2 5TR
Great Britain.

Write a letter of application to the local British Council for the scheme. Explain why an
exchange would be interesting/useful to you. Say something about your English ability. Ask
for more details, or about anything you’re not clear about.