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Hello!1 I'm Patricia Vargas Niño and I'm going to talk about my experience in ESP: English for Specific Purpose.
First, I'm taking this subject because I thought that was going to be good to improve my English.
To begin, we had to tell a story about someone that had gone abroad to work and study at the same time.
After some days I learned how it was studying in the USA, UK and Ireland.
I think that at the end of the year I will have learned some ways to focus my English; my degree, like Erasmus or to go abroad to study in the USA for example; alternatives to present a work, etc...

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Hello, the last 2 weeks we have learned how to do a CV, Résumé and a Cover Letter.

First, we were seeing a blog where had some tips to do a CV and a Résumé and was all very cklear, so when I have to do it I'm going to support myself on this website.

Then, we saw some examples of Amy, a exchange teacher, and we made an idea of this 3 models.
But, in my opinion, the cover letter of Amy was so long and I think that who had to read these in a business, for example, she won't have much time because she will have to do the same with a lot of Cover Letter of others.

Now, I'm going to do this 3 models to presentate me to a erasmus, for example, and I will put here.

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When applying for a job, there are some things you might have to do:

Send a résumé or a CV ( Curriculum Vitae)

Fill in an application form

Write a letter applying for a job

In this post, I'll guide you step by step to help you write a good cover letter and a résumé

Step 1. The difference between a résumé and a CV

Step 2. Writing a CV or a résumé. Templates

Step 3. Writing a cover letter. Some tips.

Step 4. Layout of a cover letter.

Step 5. Sending your cover letter via email.

Step 6. Some tips on how to answer a job interview.

Let's start.

Step 1. What's the difference between a résumé and a CV?

It's more or less the same. The CV is longer than the résumé. The résumé includes a summary of your education, experience, and skills and it's usually one page long whereas the CV is two or three pages long and includes more details like research, awards, presentations, publications ...etc. It's ideal for academics.

Some tips:

Keep it simple. It shouldn't be longer than two pages.

The content should be easy to read

Use reverse chronological order. You should put your most recent job first and then write the other jobs going back in time.

You don't have to write full sentences. Ex: "Developed a social media strategy..."

Skip personal information such "Divorced and with 2 kids".

Step 2. Writing a CV or résumé. Templates.

Here are two links to templates to write your CV or résumé. (Please note that this is not a sponsored post)

you will need to register. Find the templates in the Documents section. Make sure you use a free template

provides guided free templates to build your résumé or CV.

Step 3: Writing a cover letter. Some tips

A job application letter, also known as cover letter normally accompanies a résumé or CV. Nowadays, unless you are specifically required to send a letter by snail mail, cover letters are normally sent by email or attached as a file in online application systems.

Sending an email instead of a letter makes little difference. It's only the layout that varies slightly.

Now here are some tips:

Use formal language.

Don't use contractions and punctuation such as dashes and exclamation marks.

Don't use personal or emotional language.

If you are replying to an advertisement, relate to all the points asked for and give additional information.

Mention your skills and experience and give supporting details.

Have spaces between paragraphs

Keep it short and to the point.

Use a professional email address; kittylou@gmail.com might not be appropriate or very professional.

Remember to check that you have used the appropriate style for the person you are writing to.

Check your email carefully for spelling, grammar mistakes, and punctuation

Make sure you sign your cover letter.

If you are sending your CV or résumé, put "Enclosed: CV/résumé" at the end of
your cover letter

Step 4. Layout of a cover letter.

Presentation

On the Right

Your address: on the right-hand side of the page (without your name)

Date: below your address. Leave a blank line in between.

On the left

Position/name of the person you are writing to. Start one line below the date.

Address of the person or company you are writing to.

Greeting:
Use an appropriate formal greeting. Use a comma after the greeting or nothing.

If you know the name of the person you are writing to:

Dear Mrs/Miss/ Ms + surname if you are writing to a woman

Dear Mr+ surname if you are writing to a man.

If you don't know their names, use

Dear Sir or Madam or Dear Hiring Manager or Dear Human Resource Manager

Alternatively, you can use To whom it may concern

Note that all the salutations start with Dear.

Follow the salutation with a comma.

Opening Paragraph: Always start by stating what the purpose of your letter is. Here you should mention the position you are applying for and where you learn of the vacancy. This section should be short and to the point. It's the most important part of your letter. Here, either you grab the reader's attention or you can bore him and decide not to continue reading.

Some useful expressions:

I am writing in response to your advertisement for...

I am writing to express my interest in the .... position listed on ...(name of the website)

I am writing with reference to your advertisement...

I would like to apply for the .... position advertised in /on......

Main Body: It can be divided into several paragraphs. Organise your content into the different paragraphs.

Here you need to expand on your experience and qualifications showing how you are relevant to this job. Give clear details and examples. You don't need to repeat all the information on your résumé but highlight what is relevant to this position. Emphasize your strengths.

Emphasize also your interest in the job and why you think you are suitable for the job. Remember that your goal is to get a job interview.

If you have attached a copy of your résumé or completed an application form, mention it.

Useful expressions:

I think I am the right person for the job because...

I feel I am well qualified for the position

I think I have the knowledge and experience that is needed for...

I have some/ a lot of experience working with...

With regard to your requirements, I believe that I am a suitable candidate for this post as

I believe I would be good at...

I believe I would make a good .... because I am...

I am very reliable and I get on well with people...

I have always had an interest in...

I think I would be suitable for the job / a good choice ( to be a/ an...) because...

Closing Paragraph:
Explain why you think your application should be taken into consideration. If relevant, mention that you enclose a CV/ reference. State that you are willing to attend an interview and thank the reader.

Useful expressions:

A résumé/CV giving details of my qualifications and experience is attached

As requested, I am enclosing my CV and two references and my completed job application

I hope you will consider me for the position.

I would be able to start immediately

I would be happy to attend an interview any time convenient to you.

Signing off

Using I look forward to hearing from you or Thank you for your time and consideration are good ways to end a formal letter

End with Yours faithfully if you begin with Dear Sir/Madam

End with Yours sincerely if you begin with Dear Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms + surname

In American English, Yours truly and Yours sincerely are commonly used in both cases.

If in the greeting you have followed the salutation with a comma, write a comma also after Yours faithfully/sincerely.
Some words commonly used in job applications
Nouns such as preference, qualifications, company, reference, information, opportunity, experience, position, vacancy, ability, advertisement, employment, résumé, details, interview...etc

Verbs such as apply, reply, advertise...etc

Adjectives such as c onvenient, excellent, qualified, enthusiastic, necessary, energetic, suitable, available, attached, experienced, interested, responsible, p ossible, friendly...etc

Adverbs such as immediately, recently, extremely, sincerely...etc

Get some practice writing cover letters here

Step 5.  Sending your cover letter via email

In the subject line of the message, write your name and the job you are applying for.

Don't write the date or the employer's contact information. Start your email with the salutation

Don't forget to write all your contact details after you sign off.

Practice:

Write a cover letter/email applying for one of these two jobs.

Step 6: Some tips on how to answer a job interview

When they ask you to describe yourself in three words, they are asking you about your professional persona and how you would fit in the company. Talk about what makes you stand out. Talk about accomplishments and skills that you know are relevant to the job you are applying for.

Do some research on the company and show it in your answers.

Don't give them personal details. They are not really interested in your life or your problems.

It's Ok to ask the interviewer questions about the job. You also want to make sure this is the right job for you and at the same time show the interviewer you are interested in the job. Prepare them beforehand and try not to ask yes/no questions:

Can you tell me about the responsibilities of this job?

What are the biggest challenges facing the company/department right now?

What are the next steps in the interview process?

Avoid questions about salary, holidays, etc

Hope this post helps you get the best job 🙂

PDF for this lesson here
Special thanks to Shanthi Cumaraswamy Streat from English with a Twist for answering some of my questions.
Here's a funny sketch where former President Obama tries to sharpen his skills to pass a job interview. Don't miss it!

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When applying for a job, there are some things you might have to do: Send a résumé or a CV ( Curriculum Vitae) Fill in an application form Write a letter applying for a job In this post, I'll guide you step by step to help you write a good cover letter and a résumé Step 1.

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In on post I told about my next work then. Now, I finished these: the Cover Letter and the Résumé.
I focused my Cover Letter and my Réumé to solicitate a job about Marketing in Berlin.

First, in the Cover Letter I told the issue: why I'm writting to this business. Then, my skills and my experience. To finished I told why I want to go to Berlin; because I like this place to desarrollate my professional career.

In the Résumé, I had to organised the info to be more concise.
So I started with my professional skills and my contact. Then I followed with my professional career: as formal function hostess and waiter. I finished with my academic history and some of my interests.

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Disadvantages and Advantages to study in America

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Disadvantages and Advantages to study in America

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In the first post, I talked about how it was studying in the USA, the UK and Ireland.
Now, I'm going to go in depth in what I learned in this project.

In my case, I had to done the work focus in the USA. The teacher gae us a video how support of the undertaking, called Studying in America: 5 things you will like and hate.

We learned that you could take a great experience because you will know a lot of people of different cultures; do so many activities (like theatre, football); know the culture of USA and travel freely with your classmates.

But, in the other hand, if you study in the USA you will have a lot of work and class restrictions; you may study in small town with less status; if you live so far of the university, you won't went home in the holidays; and if you are foreigner, the students probably won't study with you.

In conclusion, I will have more advantages than disadvantages, because it will be a unique experience too.

Finally, I'm going to left the presentation that my group done.

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Since we started the second term, we had done some proyects, watiching videos and read posts to prepare our own interview.

First, we saw a fantastic video which had an excellent model of interview, that appeared what you have to do and don't when you are been interviewing. And we had to collect the main ideas and compare it with a schoolmate.

Then, I did a workteam with Laura, my schoolmate, in the platform Padlet based on the video. So, we used an animated presentation to present in columns the dos and the don'ts in the interview.

To finish the investigation and the proyect, we saw other video with some examples of questions that will have appear in an interview, called

"Top 10 college interview questions and answers" and we talk about it in the class to show examples of each person.

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Top 10 college interview questions and answers

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We are going to do some questions that probably will ask us in an interview.
Each one have to do one questtions of the videos that I mentioned in the latest post "How to prepare an interview".
I have to answer "Who is your hero?" so I'm going to talk about Malala Yousafzai. She is a women that started to be an activist since child when she wanted to go to he school and the war in her country didn't allow.

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In other publication I talked about the presentation that Laura and I did about what to do and not to do at an interview.

So, we made a presentaion with two columns: one of the dos and the other with the don'ts.
We collected 4 dos and another 4 don'ts and we clasificated about the relation with one dos and one don'ts. For example, we said "Expand answers" and "Show that you are inhterested" with  the don'ts "Don't give vague answers" and "Don't have any question at the end", we focused in the way of expression on an interview.-

In one hand, we talked in the dos about: the way to dress, arrive on time and non-verbal language, the way of expression and thw material that you have to present like the CV.

In the other hand, we talked in the don'ts about: don't express arrogant, don't show that you're aonly interested in the money, don't give enough information and don't use negative languaje.

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DOS AND DON'TS by a_patvarnin on Genial.ly

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DOS AND DON'TS by a_patvarnin on Genial.ly

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On the third term we were talking about some issues including the small talk.
Small talk is an informal conversation abour trivial topics that usually are common of all the people of same place.

In one post, we read the experience of Karolina Kulach, a girl that did an Erasmus in Germany, in her first day of Erasmus. She show us some tips to talk on these situation.

In other post, we saw a video about small talk and examples of what we can talk and what we sholdn't talk to make friends or avoid a awkard silence.
So, we can talk about the time, trivial issues, sports... But we sholdn't talk about politics because the person which we will talk could have other ideology different of our.

Finally, we have learned to take a small talk and be peaceful.

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We saw some resources to study and live abroad like where we could live, in a campus or in a sharing flat; where go on our free time; the newspaper of the UK; the things that we have to use in our daily life.

So, I prefer to live on a campus because I will be nearness of my colleagues.
And I want to go to London on my Erasmus, and the activities that we had do had helped me to know a little of the country and when I go to London I will have a relief.