UEFers Hone Professional and Impressive CV and Cover Letter Writing Skills

To equip UEF students with the best preparations for their internships and post-graduation job interviews, the Center for Corporate Partnerships organized a workshop titled “CV and Cover Letter Writing Skills” on the afternoon of April 8th.

During the event, MSc. Le Nguyen Thanh Dong - Director of the Center for Corporate Partnerships, shared with UEFers how to write a CV and Cover Letter that "scores points" with employers from the very first step: the application process.

MSc. Le Nguyen Thanh Dong shares the importance of a CV in job hunting

A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a concise summary of personal information, educational background, work experience, and skills. Depending on the job position and the candidate's inner strengths, CVs can be categorized into three main types. The first is the Chronological CV, which is currently used mainly for academic positions and is less common elsewhere. The second is the Functional CV, which highlights key skills; this type is typically for those with 3 to 5 years of work experience. The final type is a Hybrid or Entry-level CV, suitable for fresh graduates or candidates with limited experience, primarily showcasing educational qualifications, extracurricular activities, and academic achievements.

According to Mr. Thanh Dong: “Recruiters only take about 5 to 7 seconds to look at an applicant's CV before deciding whether to keep or discard the file. Therefore, an application CV must be meticulous, professional, and impressive in terms of format and layout before even considering the content.”

The more impressive and professional the CV, the higher the chance of catching the recruiter's eye

Students listened to an analysis of key points to note when creating a CV, including the "dos and don'ts" of a professional profile.

Alongside the CV, the Cover Letter is an essential part of the application package that many students often overlook. Based on Western templates, MSc. Le Nguyen Thanh Dong provided guidance on the necessary components of a Cover Letter and the points that should be modified or simplified to suit Vietnamese enterprises and contexts.

At the end of the program, students experienced designing and creating CVs in pre-assigned groups right in the classroom. Initially, the groups were somewhat confused, but with a positive learning spirit, they completed their CVs with a variety of creative ideas.

Students listen attentively to instructions for the practical CV writing session

This was a beneficial and practical activity for students, especially those preparing for internships or seeking employment. Following this practical skills session, students will surely be able to design impressive CVs and Cover Letters to conquer recruiters at the very first "challenge" step.