lse map
How to write
CVs and Cover Letters
lse.ac.uk/careers
Contents
Welcome
Introduction 3
Welcome to How to write CVs and cover letters.
Before you start 4
How LSE Careers can help 5
Layout and design 6
Personal details 10
Education 12
Work experience 14
Achievements, interests and additional skills 16
References 18
CV checklist 20
Cover letters 22
Further resources 27
We have tried to structure this guide around some of the most common questions that our careers consultants are asked by LSE students.
This isn’t the definitive guide to CVs and cover letters as every application is individual. You will always have choices about the emphasis you give certain parts of your life, the way you write and the design you use.
Because of this we have tried to make our guide as general as possible. All our examples and advice relate to writing CVs and cover letters for jobs in the UK.
If you need advice about writing a specialised kind of
CV (like a CV for academia or a very creative position), or would like support applying for roles outside the UK, then you might like to consult our website or seek some one-to-one advice with a consultant.
Don’t forget that LSE Careers offers CV and cover letter seminars throughout the year and CV and cover letter discussions where you can have your application individually reviewed. Just go the careers website for up to date information lse.ac.uk/careers
B
Jenny Owen
Director, LSE Careers
3
Before you start
Basic principles
Relevance
Curriculum Vitae means “story of your life”. However, with only one or two pages for your CV you can’t afford to treat this literally. Be selective about what you include. Always ask yourself the question “Is this going to be relevant to the employer who is reading this?” If it isn’t, then that’s an argument for
.
discarding it. Try and get the most relevant information on the first page as this will create the most impact.
Targeting
CVs and Cover Letters
lse.ac.uk/careers
Contents
Welcome
Introduction 3
Welcome to How to write CVs and cover letters.
Before you start 4
How LSE Careers can help 5
Layout and design 6
Personal details 10
Education 12
Work experience 14
Achievements, interests and additional skills 16
References 18
CV checklist 20
Cover letters 22
Further resources 27
We have tried to structure this guide around some of the most common questions that our careers consultants are asked by LSE students.
This isn’t the definitive guide to CVs and cover letters as every application is individual. You will always have choices about the emphasis you give certain parts of your life, the way you write and the design you use.
Because of this we have tried to make our guide as general as possible. All our examples and advice relate to writing CVs and cover letters for jobs in the UK.
If you need advice about writing a specialised kind of
CV (like a CV for academia or a very creative position), or would like support applying for roles outside the UK, then you might like to consult our website or seek some one-to-one advice with a consultant.
Don’t forget that LSE Careers offers CV and cover letter seminars throughout the year and CV and cover letter discussions where you can have your application individually reviewed. Just go the careers website for up to date information lse.ac.uk/careers
B
Jenny Owen
Director, LSE Careers
3
Before you start
Basic principles
Relevance
Curriculum Vitae means “story of your life”. However, with only one or two pages for your CV you can’t afford to treat this literally. Be selective about what you include. Always ask yourself the question “Is this going to be relevant to the employer who is reading this?” If it isn’t, then that’s an argument for
.
discarding it. Try and get the most relevant information on the first page as this will create the most impact.
Targeting