Standing out from the crowd

Even in these modern times, the old school cover letter and resume are still so important for both employers and applicants. With employers in the Cayman Islands receiving hundreds of applications for a single role, you as the applicant have to be standing out from the crowd.

First things first…

Research the role and the employer you are applying to.  Make sure the role suits you and you have the necessary experience and/or qualifications for the job. Then, take the time to prepare the cover letter and your resume. 

Make sure you identify your strengths and achievements throughout this process. This will include your:

• education/qualifications/training courses;
• any awards won;
• current job duties;
• computer skills;
• volunteer work; and
• any charity/sporting/musical interests etc. 

Remember employers want to know the real you; that is how they know that you will be the right person for the job and you aren’t wasting your time or theirs. 

So how do I write a cover letter? 

The ever so important cover letter is the first thing an employer will receive and it is the introduction to them about YOU! Make it personable and show them who you are. This document should be no longer than one page of A4 and be three paragraphs in length; any more or less may put the employer off. 

Address and contact

• Please address this to the correct person (there should be a name on the job role advert). If you do not see a name, then find out by contacting the employer or the recruitment agency that posted the role. This shows initiative and that you are interested enough in the role to go further than other candidates. 

Paragraph 1

• Start with writing exactly which job you are applying for and where you found out about it. 

Paragraph 2

• State why you are interested and why the employer attracts you.

Paragraph 3

• Summarise your strengths i.e. qualifications and experience and relate your skills to the competencies required for the job. 

Top Tip from Nikeeta: If there is a job description use it to assist you. 

Paragraph 4

• Thank the employer and say that you look forward to hearing from them soon.
• Provide your contact details. 

Sign off correctly. 

Top Tip from Nikeeta: Type on clean A4 paper and remember to sign your name in ink and include your contact details.

How to write a resume (also called the CV)

A resume (sometimes called a CV or curriculum vitae) is a document that lists your work experience, education, skills and achievements. When writing this, you should follow the typical order as this is what an employer would expect. Employers like consistency and it makes it easier to compare candidates. 

The normal order of a CV would be as follows:

• Contact Details
• Job Objective
• Education/Qualifications
• Employment History
• Computer Skills
• Volunteering/Awards/Achievements
• Interests and Hobbies
• References: Available upon request

Top Tip from Nikeeta – Double check your grammar, punctuation and ensure that there are no spelling mistakes.  There are lots of tools available both in your word processor or online, such as Grammarly (https://www.grammarly.com/), so there is no excuse for errors like this. 

Once you have finished both your cover letter and resume, re-read and tweak it accordingly. If you have a trusted friend or family member, then ask them to read over it too and make any adjustments necessary. 

Remember, you only get one chance to get this right. Employers will be picky. Poor grammar, poor punctuation, and poor spelling will create a bad impression and it is more than likely that they will not invite you to the next stage. 

Do not let a mistake ruin the chance of getting a great job.

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Invenio Global is here to help you at every stage of your journey. Whilst the above is a brief summary on cover letter and resume writing taken from one of our recent UCCI presentations given by Nikeeta, we are happy to look over any cover letter and CV and provide the necessary advice to candidates.