Dear Mr. Miller,
I am currently studying at ESADE business school in Madrid
and will graduate next June. Last year I completed an
internship with Air France in Paris where I acquired
extensive knowledge of the airline industry. I am also now
working as a part-time check-in agent for Iberia in Madrid.
At present, I am focusing on profit centre business models,
and I am keen to pursue my career development in the field
of air transport. Access Airlines is well-known for its
innovative approach to financial management: with the
theoretical knowledge and the practical experience I have
acquired, I feel I could make a significant contribution to
profitability as a future profit centre manager in your
organization.
I will be available to work from the beginning of July next
year. Please find enclosed my résumé and a copy of my Air
France internship report.
I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet you to
discuss the possibility of a position with your company. You
can reach me at the above address. Thank you for your
interest: I look forward to speaking to you in the near future.
Sincerely yours,
Adriana Fernandez
Comprehension
• How much does the covering letter tell you about
Adriana’s educational and professional qualifications?
 How much does it tell you about her relevant
experience?
 What position is Adriana applying for?
 What are the strengths and weaknesses of the
letter?
 What words indicate she learnt American not British
English?
Internet research
• Look up ‘internship’ on the Wikipedia website at:
www.wikipedia.org
Wikipedia, which is
an online free-content
encyclopedia, is a
great source of
information when
doing research on the
Internet.
Extracts from an interview
Interviewer: Did you find the advice to
interviewees on our website useful?
Candidate for job: I did not spot that.
Interviewer: You say in your CV
that you speak Spanish. Where
did you learn that?
Candidate: Actually, I’m not that
good at it really but I learnt it on a
summer job in Argentina.
Interviewer: Why have you decided to
apply to our company?
Candidate: Well, I need to get a job to pay
off my student debts and with a chemistry
degree obviously I thought about
pharmaceutical companies.
Interviewer: Have you got any
questions you’d like to ask us?
Candidate: No, I don’t think so at this
stage.
Keep in mind that every interview is based on three underlying
questions:
What makes you the ideal candidate for the job?
What is it about the role that interests you?
Why have you decided to apply for GSK?
Tips and preparation:
Reread your CV before the interview - you need to make sure you
can demonstrate your areas of expertise with live examples
Practise your technique and get feedback from friends - this will
also help with the nerves
Think about your attitude - be positive, enthusiastic, natural
and honest
The key to a successful interview lies in preparation:
Find out as much as you can about GSK before your interview
If you're new to the pharmaceutical sector, find out about it by reading
newspapers and looking online
Try and anticipate the questions you may be asked and think about
how you'll answer them
Have a few of your own questions ready to ask
Check the format of the interview - will there be any personality or skills
testing?
At the interview:
First impressions are vital - make the most of them
Guide the interviewer towards a discussion of your strengths
Show you've done your research - mention the facts you've
discovered If you're asked a difficult question, don't feel you
have to answer immediately Take your time and think
about your response
Keep your answers concise and be confident
http://www.gsk.com/careers/uk-hints.htm
Education
1989-1995 Milton Road Primary School, Cambridge
1995-2000 Chesterton Community College, Cambridge: 10
GCSEs – Maths, English, Chemistry, Biology,
French, German, Latin, Art, Religious Studies,
Geography
2000-2002 Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge: 4
‘A’ levels – French (A), Italian (A),
Classical Studies (A), Business Studies (A)
2002-2006 BA in Modern Languages (2.1) from the
University of Newcastle
Justine Dominga Collier
Date of birth
4 November, 1986, Auckland, NZ
Nationality
New Zealand
Address
14 Green Street, Newcastle NE13 8BH
Telephone
01879 122 7789
Education
2004-2007
2002-2004
BA in Economics at Newcastle University (Expected
final grade 2:1)
Northern High School: 3 ‘A’ levels – Mathematics (A),
Economics (B), French (B)
Work history
Oct-Mar 2005 Internship with Arbol Oil
I played an integral part in the finance department. This position
required familiarity with accounts software, and involved liaising
with colleagues in South America.
June-Sept 2004 Information officer with Newcastle Social Security
I was responsible for managing a confidential personnel
database. I coordinated a three-day visit for a representative of
the Spanish government.
Positions of responsibility
2006 Secretary of Newcastle Junior Chamber of Commerce
I was responsible for communications and edited a monthly
newsletter. I also liaised with guest speakers and the local
authorities.
2005-present Voluntary work for the charity OUTLOOK
I devise and organize events for disable children.
Social Secretary for the University Basketball team.
Other
Bilingual Spanish
First violin in a string quartet
Typing speed: 90 wpm
References
Mr Bowers, tutor, Newcastle University
Mrs Broadbent, Principal, Northern High School