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How to Succeed at: Writing Applications
The University of Sheffield © 2014 Page 1 of 2 How to Succeed at: Writing Applications
Tips for positive writing
When writing applications you need to describe examples from your life experience, which act as evidence that you have the attributes the employer wants. To do this, you need to write in a way that persuades the reader that the were significant experiences. This worksheet introduces some techniques that help you do this, and includes some exercis that help you practi writing in an effective way.
5 tips for writing in a positive way
Tip no.1 – Don’t list
When writing about your experiences don't just list your activities or duties. This will mean very little to the recruiter as they won’t know what tho duties actually involved or what you got out of them. Where possible, go on to describe the results you achieved and the skills or qualities you demonstrated.
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Tip no.2 – U power words
Accelerated Accomplished Achieved Adapted Advanced Advid Analyd Assd Challenged Co-ordinated Committed Communicated Compiled Completed Conducted Consistently Created Debated Decided Delivered Designed Developed Devid Effective Empathid Enhanced Ensured Enterprising Enthusiasm Established Exceeded Excelled Extended Fulfilled
Heading Helped
胜利者英文Implemented Improved Incread Influenced Informed
Investigated Ledlove will remember
Maintained Managed Mediated Monitored Motivated Negotiated Persuaded Planned
Professional Promoted Provided Reprented Rearched Resolved Responsible Significant Specialid Succeeded Successfully Team Working Tested Trained Upgraded Utilid Versatile
labor dayTip no.3 – U verbs at the start of the ntence
Starting a ntence with a verb or power word (eg , Completed…, Negotiated….Delivered….) not only does this provide a strong and clear opener but it can also make your skills and achievements stand out, especially if the recruiter is speed-reading your application. It also stimulates the reader to want to learn more about you.
Tip No. 4 - Write in an active style
An active style puts the emphasis on the action you took, rather than what you were expected to do - the latter ts a rather passive tone which won’t impress a recruiter. Here’s an example:
Passive style: ‘The project required me to rearch information from various sources. I had to make conclusions and prent my findings in a report. It involved working under pressure and coping with deadlines.’
Active style: ‘Rearched information using va rious sources including databas and scientific journ
als. Produced a comprehensive report that detailed my findings which received 76% (equivalent to a ‘distinction’ level grade). Learnt the value of prioritising tasks for effective time management.’
In the passive style, the ntences are accurate, but weak and vague. Using the active style, the writer implies that they took the initiative.
Tip No. 5 - Write concily (short ntences, line spaces & bullet points)
同位语从句的引导词This paragraph shows how text in a CV or application form can often be difficult to read when grouped together in one huge ‘block’. Selectors could have difficulty in extracting the key information and this is not what you want to happen. Not only can it be difficult to extract pertinent i nformation, huge blocks of text don’t always look good on the page, and can create a poor first impression. This negative attitude may influence how employers react to the content of applications. It can also lead to a negative judgement on how well you communicate. If you claim to have good communication skills and then prent long paragraphs of text that are off-putting to read, then you are failing to communicate effectively through your application.
Compare a large block of text with a bullet point approach, where text is also broken up by sub headings and line spacing:
Organid information
∙Look how easy it is to get a similar number of words across by splitting the text into two ctions and using bullet points and bold text.
∙The are easier to read, look neater on the page, and grab an employer’s attention to create a positive first impression.
∙Employers can e your key points clearly without real effort.
rangerEffective wording
∙You have to u short ntences and get to the point.载客
小学六年级英语试卷
∙You need to give examples and evidence to prove your point.
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∙This style makes it easier to read and communicate key lling points relevant to the job or postgraduate study.
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