Covering letter - need to rephrase?

Wings_of_Ambition

'ello all,

Am just trying to finish off a covering letter, and there's a bit I'm not sure about. It goes...

"In late 2005, I joined *Company A*, running the day-to-day operations at weekends. Previous to that, I held the position of..."

The words I'm not sure about are "Previous to that" as I think they sound a bit unprofessional. Is there a better way to say it, or do you think it sounds ok?

Cheers

Wings

lurkylurky

Wings_of_Ambition wrote: »

'ello all,

Am just trying to finish off a covering letter, and there's a bit I'm not sure about. It goes...

"In late 2005, I joined *Company A*, running the day-to-day operations at weekends. Previous to that, I held the position of..."

The words I'm not sure about are "Previous to that" as I think they sound a bit unprofessional. Is there a better way to say it, or do you think it sounds ok?

Cheers

Wings

You could say "Prior to that".

Person_one

lurkylurky wrote: »

You could say "Prior to that".

Please do. 'Previous to that' is incorrect and makes me want to respond like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3y0CD2CoCs

Wings_of_Ambition

Person_one wrote: »

Please do. 'Previous to that' is incorrect and makes me want to respond like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3y0CD2CoCs

Hehe, wicked vid.

Wings_of_Ambition

Another question for you. I have the line "I would like to apply for *Position ABC*, and have attached my current CV for your kind attention."

One person I asked to proofread the letter said that 'kind' sounded a bit too sweet. Any thoughts on whether it should stay in or come out?

CGG

"...for your perusal".

lolarentt

....am enclosing my CV

the rest (current, attention, and kind) is unnecessary

Wings_of_Ambition

Cool, lovely, thanks. Last question (I think!).... I've ended with "I am available for interview at your convenience." This is the line I used to use when I wasn't working, but I now need to say "but I need as much notice as possible to rearrange my current work roster". Need it to sound a bit more professional than that. Any ideas?

lolarentt

.... "I am able to attend an interview, but would appreciate some notice of this as my current work roster will need rescheduling"

I'd leave out the bit about the convenience!

Person_one

Wings_of_Ambition wrote: »

Cool, lovely, thanks. Last question (I think!).... I've ended with "I am available for interview at your convenience." This is the line I used to use when I wasn't working, but I now need to say "but I need as much notice as possible to rearrange my current work roster". Need it to sound a bit more professional than that. Any ideas?

I'd leave it out completely, you putting that you need notice won't actually change how they do things, they'll shortlist when they had planned to and they'll pick interview dates that work for them.

If they shortlist you and you can't make the interview you can try and rearrange it, but really its up to them. If it were me I'd be concerned that saying I need notice for an interview would make me look a bit presumptuous and as though I thought I needed 'notice' more than all the other applicants.

LittleMrsThrifty

Person_one wrote: »

I'd leave it out completely, you putting that you need notice won't actually change how they do things, they'll shortlist when they had planned to and they'll pick interview dates that work for them.

If they shortlist you and you can't make the interview you can try and rearrange it, but really its up to them. If it were me I'd be concerned that saying I need notice for an interview would make me look a bit presumptuous and as though I thought I needed 'notice' more than all the other applicants.

Agreed. I would just end with the line "I would welcome the opportunity to discuss the position further at interview."