Job centre help

chocolatechipcookies

is there anyone at the Job Centre who will sit down with me and help me with cover letters? My CV is ok, I just have a really hard time telling people why they should hire me. I know what I want to say, I just find it difficult to put it in words. There's a job I'd love to apply for and I was hoping if I take the information, someone might help me write out a cover letter and give me some tips.

Do they provide this service? I apply for so many jobs and I think my cover letter may have a lot to do with me not getting interviews. I'd like to change that.

LittleVoice

Yes, you should be able to get help at a jobcentre.
Go along and ask about this.

You may find there are independent people (ie not jobcentre employees) who come in on a specific day in the week and may work on an appointment system.

They would probably look at your CV too - because your covering letter should not include any facts which are not covered by the CV. Your covering letter is really only to highlight particular things on your CV which meet the specific requirements of the job you are applying for.

chocolatechipcookies

LittleVoice wrote: »

Yes, you should be able to get help at a jobcentre.
Go along and ask about this.

You may find there are independent people (ie not jobcentre employees) who come in on a specific day in the week and may work on an appointment system.

They would probably look at your CV too - because your covering letter should not include any facts which are not covered by the CV. Your covering letter is really only to highlight particular things on your CV which meet the specific requirements of the job you are applying for.

I might as well show them my CV, any help will go along way for me.

kittycatface

Hi,the main library in your area may have a careers service, definitely try asking there. Because libraries are council run, even if there's not a careers service in that building they should know where there is one. The service in cambridge library helped me with my CV and cover letters for free. I was on Job seekers allowance at the time but the job centre staff weren't very forthcoming with the help - hope yours are! Loads of luck

Oldernotwiser

LittleVoice wrote: »

Yes, you should be able to get help at a jobcentre.
Go along and ask about this.

You may find there are independent people (ie not jobcentre employees) who come in on a specific day in the week and may work on an appointment system.

They would probably look at your CV too - because your covering letter should not include any facts which are not covered by the CV. Your covering letter is really only to highlight particular things on your CV which meet the specific requirements of the job you are applying for.

I have to disagree with the second part of this. Your covering letter should not duplicate information that's already included in your CV. What would be the point in saying something twice?

Nextstep advisers offer a free and independent service, either through the Jobcentre or by making an appointment direct.

https://www.nextstep.co.uk

chocolatechipcookies

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I have to disagree with the second part of this. Your covering letter should not duplicate information that's already included in your CV. What would be the point in saying something twice?

Nextstep advisers offer a free and independent service, either through the Jobcentre or by making an appointment direct.

https://www.nextstep.co.uk

I think that's my problem. I can't figure out how to sell myself without repeating a few things on my CV. Thanks for the link! I'm going to the library tomorrow and Job Centre Monday.

LittleVoice

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I have to disagree with the second part of this. Your covering letter should not duplicate information that's already included in your CV. What would be the point in saying something twice?

Nextstep advisers offer a free and independent service, either through the Jobcentre or by making an appointment direct.

www.nextstep.co.uk

What I wanted to get over is that you don't put in the covering letter something which is not in the CV. It backs up the CV by highlighting particularly significant points that are in the CV - I'm thinking of one or two points specific to the job.

The covering letter has to be relatively short (one page with good margins/white space) - and there is value in saying things twice if that gives the emphasis to help the reader find the detail and perhaps say it in a slightly different way. But the CV is what is important and should be capable of standing alone. In some ways, the covering letter is a courtesy as well as providing the emphasis I've mentioned.

sjcjd

I have only read CV's with covering letters for admin roles, so I am sorry if this is not your area of expertise, but I think it is the same for all roles.

People appeal by their covering letter-whether it was typed, emailed or handwritten; it makes you want to look at their CV.

Maybe thats just me and I dont want to say for every employer out there; but if you are direct in what your acheivements and strengths are and you say when you are referring to the enclosed/attached CV, it made me look at the CV.

Good luck

chocolatechipcookies

sjcjd wrote: »

I have only read CV's with covering letters for admin roles, so I am sorry if this is not your area of expertise, but I think it is the same for all roles.

People appeal by their covering letter-whether it was typed, emailed or handwritten; it makes you want to look at their CV.

Maybe thats just me and I dont want to say for every employer out there; but if you are direct in what your acheivements and strengths are and you say when you are referring to the enclosed/attached CV, it made me look at the CV.

Good luck

Thanks for the advice!