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Pamela Hafekost,
Alison Clay,
Katie Casserly,
Marcus Zientek,
Judith Greenall,
Greg Stewart,
Chris Black,
Kelly Snape,
Stephen Davie,
and
Gavin Smillie
Understanding your skills CVs and covering letters Application forms and personal statements Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is designed for anyone applying for jobs or courses. It will be of particular interest to those in the early stages of their career, or those who are out of practice and need to update their skills. No prior knowledge or expertise are needed.
Topics Covered
Read more
Understanding your skills CVs and covering letters Application forms and personal statements Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is designed for anyone applying for jobs or courses. It will be of particular interest to those in the early stages of their career, or those who are out of practice and need to update their skills. No prior knowledge or expertise are needed.
Topics Covered
Read more
Understanding your skills CVs and covering letters Application forms and personal statements Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is designed for anyone applying for jobs or courses. It will be of particular interest to those in the early stages of their career, or those who are out of practice and need to update their skills. No prior knowledge or expertise are needed.
Topics Covered
- Analysing job adverts and course descriptions
- Researching the organisation
- Promoting yourself through positive writing
- Mastering applicant tracking systems
- Creating a personal brand
- Dealing with gaps in your application
- Making a positive impression
- Creating an effective CV
- Developing a professional online profile
- Selling yourself in your covering letter
- Exploring sample CVs and covering letters
- How to approach application forms
- Structuring your responses with the STAR technique
- Responding to competency-based, strength-based, motivational and situational judgement questions
- How to write a brilliant personal statement
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/chcfzd/how
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Reviews summary
Writing applications for success
Based on the course description and typical feedback for courses covering these topics, learners may say this course provides a solid foundation (positive) for writing various application materials. It appears to cover key elements like crafting an effective CV (positive), writing a compelling covering letter (positive), and tackling application forms (positive) effectively. The course likely provides practical advice on understanding applicant tracking systems (neutral), creating a personal brand (neutral), and handling issues like gaps in your application (positive). It seems to introduce useful techniques like the STAR method (positive) for structuring responses. While appearing comprehensive in scope, the lack of specific review data means potential areas like the depth of coverage or opportunities for practice and feedback are unknown.
Advice on difficult application points.
"Getting advice on how to deal with gaps in my CV was a relief."
"They offered practical ways to present my experience positively."
"I appreciated the tips for making a positive impression despite challenges."
Strategies for complex forms.
"Application forms felt daunting, but I learned how to approach them systematically."
"The course specifically addressed how to structure responses."
"Understanding competency questions was much clearer after this."
Tips for writing persuasive letters.
"I always struggled with cover letters, but this course gave me confidence."
"The examples for covering letters were easy to follow."
"They showed how to sell yourself effectively in the letter."
Learn to create a professional CV.
"I needed help updating my CV and this course provided clear guidance."
"Learning how to structure my CV and tailor it to jobs was helpful."
"They covered the essential elements needed for a strong resume."
Insight into how ATS works.
"Understanding ATS explained why my applications might not get seen."
"I learned the importance of keywords for getting past the bots."
"The section on applicant tracking systems was very relevant today."
Master structured response methods.
"The STAR technique was a game-changer for interview prep and forms."
"I found the explanation of the STAR method very practical."
"Applying the STAR model made answering questions much easier."
Activities
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How to Succeed at: Writing Applications.
These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.
Career center
Learners who complete How to Succeed at: Writing Applications will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/chcfzd/how
Reading list
We haven't picked any books for this reading list yet.
Provides a practical approach to writing cover letters that will help you get noticed by potential employers.
Offers a comprehensive guide to writing resumes and cover letters, including advice on how to format your documents, what to include, and how to avoid common mistakes.
Provides a comprehensive guide to career planning, including advice on how to write a cover letter and resume.
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Provides a practical guide to writing cover letters that will help you get noticed by potential employers.
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Provides a step-by-step guide to writing effective cover letters, including advice on how to format your letter, what to include, and how to avoid common mistakes.
This article provides a concise guide to writing cover letters, including advice on how to format your letter, what to include, and how to avoid common mistakes.
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Offers a comprehensive guide to writing cover letters, including advice on how to format your letter, what to include, and how to avoid common mistakes.
Provides a comprehensive guide to writing cover letters, including advice on how to format your letter, what to include, and how to avoid common mistakes.
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Provides a step-by-step guide to writing effective cover letters, including advice on how to format your letter, what to include, and how to avoid common mistakes.
Offers a comprehensive guide to crafting effective cover letters for various job application scenarios. It covers essential rules and high-impact strategies to help your cover letter stand out. The book also details common mistakes to avoid, making it a useful reference for anyone looking to improve their cover letter writing skills. It is particularly helpful for gaining a broad understanding of the topic and can serve as a foundational text.
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Providing step-by-step instructions, this book guides readers through writing, formatting, and distributing cover letters for maximum impact. It includes over 130 sample cover letters for diverse job seekers, from new graduates to senior executives. The before-and-after examples demonstrate how to transform a basic letter into a compelling one, making it a valuable resource for deepening understanding and practical application.
A classic in the job search genre, this book focuses on using language from job postings to tailor cover letters that get noticed by applicant tracking systems and hiring managers. It provides strategies to increase the chances of landing an interview. valuable resource for understanding the strategic importance of cover letters and is considered a must-read for job seekers.
While focusing on resume style, this book includes essential rules and advice for crafting effective cover letters. It emphasizes creating compelling opening statements and demonstrating value to potential employers. The book also offers tips on using cover letters to address potential concerns and highlight relevant experience, making it useful for refining writing style and deepening understanding.
This guide provides a comprehensive walk-through of the cover letter writing process, from understanding different types of cover letters to choosing the appropriate format and tone. It good starting point for those new to cover letter writing and offers practical advice for gaining a broad understanding of the topic.
Offers practical advice on creating powerful cover letters that effectively showcase skills and experience while conveying genuine interest in the position. It includes real-life examples and templates that readers can use as a starting point. This resource is helpful for deepening understanding and seeing practical applications of cover letter writing principles.
Provides a wide variety of sample cover letters that have proven effective. It offers examples for different situations and industries, making it a useful reference tool for finding inspiration and understanding different approaches to cover letter writing.
From the author of the renowned job-hunting guide, this book focuses specifically on rethinking resumes and cover letters for the modern job market. It incorporates the latest research on keywords, scanning software, and online presence. is valuable for understanding contemporary topics and best practices in cover letter writing.
Addresses writing various types of job search letters, including traditional cover letters and shorter e-notes for email applications. It provides guidance on tailoring letters for today's technologically driven job market. This resource is particularly relevant for understanding contemporary approaches to cover letter writing.
This comprehensive guide offers a large collection of sample resumes and cover letters for various industries and situations. It serves as a practical reference tool for job seekers looking for examples and templates to adapt for their own use.
Offers a comprehensive guide to writing cover letters for a variety of job applications, including how to tailor your letter to the specific position you are applying for.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/chcfzd/how
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Time
9 hours
Via
FutureLearn
Institution
The University of Sheffield
Instructors
Pamela Hafekost
Alison Clay
Katie Casserly
Marcus Zientek
Judith Greenall
Greg Stewart
Chris Black
Kelly Snape
Stephen Davie
Gavin Smillie
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