Application for Admin / receptionist

Denning.

Yes some might get an interview, some might get a job. Some people get a job just by walking into a shop and asking for one and the manager liking his guts.

Guess what? That is rarity. Job hunting is about playing the odds, when someone has 100s of applications if it is anyway an effort to find the important details they just won't bother. Any excuse to bin you and they will take it.

sniggings

Southend1 wrote: »

They should give a very concise overview of why the applicant is suitable.

exactly, that cover letter is far from concise.

For an admin roll, I would be expecting to see the applicant being able to write a very concise letter, this cover letter does not show that.

The OP goes into detail of where they have worked in the past etc in the cover letter. There is no reason to repeat what is already in the CV.

Southend1

Denning. wrote: »

Your cover letter should be a few lines explaining the few competencies/qualifications mentioned in the advert which you don't have but that you confident they won't hold you back.

Dear Sir

I saw your advertisement in the Jobcentre for the role of administrative assistant. Unfortunately I have never learned shorthand, nor can I type quickly and accurately. I have no experience of processing invoices. However, despite not meeting these requirements, I think I would make an ideal candidate for the post.

Please find enclosed my curriculum vitae.

Yours faithfully

&c.



Hmmmm.......

I wouldn't do it that way myself.

Southend1

sniggings wrote: »

exactly, that cover letter is far from concise.

For an admin roll, I would be expecting to see the applicant being able to write a very concise letter, this cover letter does not show that.

The OP goes into detail of where they have worked in the past etc in the cover letter. There is no reason to repeat what is already in the CV.

If there is no application form, there's every need to expand on the CV, linking experience with the competencies required for the job.

Southend1

Denning. wrote: »

Yes some might get an interview, some might get a job. Some people get a job just by walking into a shop and asking for one and the manager liking his guts.

Guess what? That is rarity. Job hunting is about playing the odds, when someone has 100s of applications if it is anyway an effort to find the important details they just won't bother. Any excuse to bin you and they will take it.

Agreed. I'm much more likely to bin an application if the applicant hasn't bothered with a decent cover letter.

It depends on the recruiter's preference. I would always hedge my bets and write a brief cover letter around the length of the OPs, or longer if there is no application form. It makes it a lot easier if the applicant provides a brief explanation how the experience listed on the CV translates to the competencies required for the job. It also shows they know what they are talking about.

Denning.

Southend1 wrote: »

Agreed. I'm much more likely to bin an application if the applicant hasn't bothered with a decent cover letter.

It depends on the recruiter's preference. I would always hedge my bets and write a brief cover letter around the length of the OPs, or longer if there is no application form. It makes it a lot easier if the applicant provides a brief explanation how the experience listed on the CV translates to the competencies required for the job. It also shows they know what they are talking about.

If your CV doesn't show how you meet the competencies you are doing your CV wrong.

sniggings

Southend1 wrote: »

If there is no application form, there's every need to expand on the CV, linking experience with the competencies required for the job.

You are really not helping the OP here, that cover letter is not right, saying it is will see the OP not even getting an interview.

As I have said, no need to repeat what is in the CV, the CV should be reworked if it doesn't contain all relevant facts.

Denning.

There seems to be a real problem in this forum of doing the same thing over and over again despite it not working and refusing to consider that possibly their approach to job seeking might be inefficient.

inb4 'dats wot da jobcenter sed 2 do'

Southend1

Denning. wrote: »

If your CV doesn't show how you meet the competencies you are doing your CV wrong.

No, that's what the application and cover letter are for. The CV usually simply lists qualifications and previous jobs, perhaps with a brief sentence or two to explain each previous role. There's not a lot of room for much more, unless you use big paper, a tiny font or have very few qualifications and little experience.

sniggings

Southend1 wrote: »

No, that's what the application and cover letter are for. The CV usually simply lists qualifications and previous jobs, perhaps with a brief sentence or two to explain each previous role. There's not a lot of room for much more, unless you use big paper, a tiny font or have very few qualifications and little experience.

you are so wrong, it's called a COVER letter for a reason, if they wanted you to make up your own application form it would not be called a cover letter.