The term 'CV ' is an abbreviation for 'curriculum vitae ' which in Latin roughly means 'the course of my life '. The function of a CV is to serve as a self-marketing tool in an individuals search for a job. It could be argued that the way in which a CV communicates the suitability of a job candidate is through the effective use of Impression Management. IM refers to the tactics people use in order to elicit a desired impression from an audience, these tactics can be said to be either conscious or unconscious (Schlenker, 1980, p.6). As part of the Professional Development module, this assignment will be focused on the analysis and evaluation of two fictitious and competing CV 's and their accompanying cover letters. I will critically evaluate not only the appropriate skills both these applicants possess but also the suitability and effectiveness of their CV 's. The CV 's belong to Harvinda Patil and James Davis who are both applying for a placement position within the Psychology Department at Goldsmith, University of London. I will be analysing the two CV 's through the eyes of their potential employer and making a decision as to who would be the more suitable candidate for the job.
Both candidates submitted a covering letter in order to introduce their CV 's. Unlike a CV, cover letters should be addressed directly to the employer who is being contacted. It should avoid going over the same points that are on the CV but instead it should relate these points to the specific job (Giang, 2012; cited from Business Insider, 2012). In Harvinda Patil 's cover letter she describes her working roles and the skills she has gained from them, but in some cases she fails to link this back to the job she is applying for. For example, Harvinda talks about how she is a research apprentice for a PhD student. She then goes on to describe how this has developed her research skills and provided her with the opportunity to put her
References: Giang, V. (2012). 7 Steps To Writing A Cover Letter That Will Actually Get You An Interview. Retrieved on 5 November, 2012, from http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-02-18/news/31074218_1_letter-job- listing-jobfox). Innes, J. (2009). Brilliant Cover Letters. Harlow: Pearson Education. Jones, E. E., & Pittman. T. S. (1982). Toward a general theory of strategic self- presentation. In J. Suls (Ed.), Psychological perspectives on the self (pp.231- 262). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum. Kemp, L. J. (2006). Learning about Teamwork in an Online Study Environment. MERLOT Journal of Online Teaching and Learning, 2, 30-41. The Ladders, (2012). Keeping an eye on recruiter behaviour. Retrieved on Novemeber 5, 2012, from http://blog.theladders.com/ux/you-only-get-6- seconds-of-fame-make-it-count/. Porter, J. (2012). 3 Personality Types That Can Harm Your Business. Retrieved on 5 November, 2012, from http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/224046. Rynes, S., & Gerhart, B. (1990). Interviewer assessments of applicant "fit": An exploratory investigation. Personnel Psychology, 43, 13-35. Schlenker, B. R. (1980). Impression management: The self-concept, social identity, and interpersonal relations. Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole. Troyer, Lisa, and C. Wesley Younts. (1997). Whose Expectations Matter? The Relative Power of First- and Second-Order Expectations in Determining Social Influence. American Journal of Sociology, 103, 692-732.