Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
Well, the time has come to actually get a job. I've got an application to get in by Friday, for which I need my CV (I have this pretty much sorted) and a covering letter explaining why I'd be ideal for the job. Any advice or tips on either would be welcome. This particular job (which is representative of the sort of thing I'm looking for) is an admin assistant, part time. It is in an archaeological context, although the nature of the job means that the context is probably secondary to the job itself, if you see what I mean.
I haven't had to apply for a job for years, so I'm a bit rusty on how to 'sell myself' (Down, Patrick, down!)
More specifically, my queries are:
How long should the letter be? I'm assuming that the CV should be more general, and the letter more specific to the job. I'm guessing the trick is to read the job spec, then say why you fit it perfectly?
And what sort of things to mention? I have the necessary Office and database skills, I think, and some admin experience, and I'm a fast learner and all that, but I also think that I have values like reliability, punctuality, good health (IE, not off sick all the time) - should I mention these, or does that seem like scraping the barrel? Also, I'd like to make it clear that this wouldn't just be a stop gap while I finish the PhD, I have no great ambitions for beyond that point, so I'm not looking to do this for a year and then sod off. Should I make that clear too at this stage? (I know some people might think I was 'over-qualified' for the job, but I WANT something less stressful, that's the point....)
Anyway, any advice gratefully recieved. I feel a bit stupid, at 38, to be in such a state over job hunting, but I've just not had to do it much in my life....
I haven't had to apply for a job for years, so I'm a bit rusty on how to 'sell myself' (Down, Patrick, down!)
More specifically, my queries are:
How long should the letter be? I'm assuming that the CV should be more general, and the letter more specific to the job. I'm guessing the trick is to read the job spec, then say why you fit it perfectly?
And what sort of things to mention? I have the necessary Office and database skills, I think, and some admin experience, and I'm a fast learner and all that, but I also think that I have values like reliability, punctuality, good health (IE, not off sick all the time) - should I mention these, or does that seem like scraping the barrel? Also, I'd like to make it clear that this wouldn't just be a stop gap while I finish the PhD, I have no great ambitions for beyond that point, so I'm not looking to do this for a year and then sod off. Should I make that clear too at this stage? (I know some people might think I was 'over-qualified' for the job, but I WANT something less stressful, that's the point....)
Anyway, any advice gratefully recieved. I feel a bit stupid, at 38, to be in such a state over job hunting, but I've just not had to do it much in my life....