CV & Cover Letter Week: Lessons from the (Apparently) Overqualified

 

This week was CV and cover letter week in our Learning Through the Workplace workshop and lecture and I’ll admit it, I felt deflated.

As an older, mature student who’s been on the job market for the better part of twenty years and having taught employability skills to GCSE pupils for many of those, it felt… well, a little irrelevant for me to be there.

But, once again, I was proven wrong.

There is definitely an art to writing a CV, and an even finer one to writing a cover letter. Only a few days ago, a fellow teacher had asked me to help her write hers, so sitting through a lecture I’d delivered countless times before felt almost pointless. Yet, I still learned a few things.

Number 1: Don’t Be Arrogant

Thinking you already know it all is usually the first sign that you don’t.
I realised my CV could be improved. It could be refined, tailored, and more clearly aligned with what employers actually want. It wasn’t bad but it was basic.

Number 2: Be Forward with Your Achievements

Your achievements are your best assets.
Even the ones that come naturally to you like being bilingual, in my case, may not feel like “exploits,” but they are valuable. They might just be the edge that sets you apart.

Number 3: Don’t Waffle

Overloading your cover letter with irrelevant details is the quickest way to lose your reader.
They want essentials, a few interesting sparks, and above all, to see that you’ve done your homework. Show that you’ve researched them before deciding you want to work for them.
If they don’t feel that connection, they probably won’t feel compelled to invite you further.

Number 4: Be Likeable — But Not Overbearing

Show your personality without throwing confetti.
Even if your hobbies seem “boring,” make them sound alive.
Fishing and reading can become quests for water dragons and adventures in devouring literature, it’s all in how you frame it.

Number 5: There’s Always Room for Improvement

Every bit of experience counts, even a short course, a volunteering role, or a small side project.
They all tell a story of dedication and ambition in a competitive industry that values both.

So, I swallowed my pride, revisited my CV and cover letter, made a few honest changes and accepted the simple truth: I don’t know everything, and there’s still so much to learn.