CVs and letters of introduction are the main tools for those looking for work.
In the CV, individuals provide basic information such as work experience and education. In the letter of introduction, the reason for applying is explained.
CV
The layout must be clear and the information must be concise. The length of a CV is usually 1 to 2 pages.
The CV must include the following information:
It varies how detailed personal information an individual states in a CV. It is important to state a full name and information on how to contact you. This is for example a phone number, e-mail address, or other information.
Information about studies should be written in reverse chronological order. The last study completed is registered first.
Information on the name of the school and the course of study must be written. Also the degree and the year of graduation. If the course of study is not completed, you can write: "Unfinished" behind the name of the course of study.
If you have completed some courses, you can register them in a separate section and state the name of the course, school and the year of graduation.
It is good to record information about previous jobs in reverse chronological order so that the last job or current job is recorded first.
Information on:
workplace
professional title
period of employment
the main tasks and responsibilities in the work, in short
should be provided.
In addition to information on education and work experience, it is important to highlight points in the CV that reflect other individual competencies.
It is common to report language and technical skills, list personal skills or write a short personal profile.
It can also be important to report on rights such as driving licenses, list courses and tell about social work, if any.
Name of person
professional title
telephone number
e-mail address
A co-ordinator is someone who can evaluate the ability of an individual to do his/her job.
Co-ordinators can include the next boss, the previous boss, colleagues, or teachers. It is not good to have a family member or friends as co-ordinators.
It is important to inform the interviewer that they are mentioned in the CV of an individual seeking employment so that the person concerned knows that they may be contacted for a recommendation.
Templates
Here are some of the templates you can use to create a CV:
It is good to have a high-quality CV that can be adapted according to your needs.
You do not need to register all your work experience, studies or courses in your CV. It is good to keep in mind to register what is most important for the job you are applying for at any given time.
If there are many short-term temporary employment for comparable jobs, they can be summarised and reported in one place.
It is important to read carefully the CV to avoid typing or spelling errors.
If the work experience and/or education is limited, it is recommended to focus on other skills, for example personal skills and to include them in the letter of introduction.
A person needs to be able to answer everything that is stated in the CV and it is good to prepare yourself to be able to answer questions about their own career in an employment interview.
Data security and personal protection should always be taken into consideration when handling documents such as CV and letter of introduction. This is done by sending only locked pdf documents or links to locked documents in the case of an application for employment.
A letter of introduction
The briefing letter is accompanied by a CV. It gives a more detailed picture of the applicant's competence and the reasons for applying for a specific job. The briefing letter is usually half to 1 page.
Template for cover letters
(In Icelandic)
In one corner of the letter write a date and place.
Start the letter by stating the name of the recipient and the name of the company.
The job application must also be explained and the job advertisement must be drawn up.
The letter of introduction is presented in several paragraphs, explaining the reasons why the applicant would be a good fit for the job and the reasons for applying.
At the end of the letter, it is good to sign with your full name as well as your e-mail address and phone number.
It is important to explain in a short and concise manner why the applicant considers himself or herself competent to perform the job and in what way he or she believes the company will benefit from his or her work. It is an advantage if the applicant can mention knowledge or experience that makes him or her particularly well qualified for the job in question.
Finally, it is also worth mentioning the applicant’s interest in having an interview to better explain the application.
The letter concludes with a short friendly greeting and a signature. Below the signature are the supporting documents sent, i.e., CV, educational documents etc., as appropriate at each time.
Good advice
It is good to have a carefully crafted letter of introduction that can be adapted to each job and company.
It is necessary to highlight the points that recommend the applicant for the job. At the same time, it is necessary to answer how the person meets the requirements set out in the advertisement.
The focus in the letter should be on the job you are applying for, not what the applicant has done in his life. Be sure not to use “I” too much.
It is very important to have someone read the CV carefully to avoid typing errors or spelling errors.
It is good to save the letter with the applicant's name or ID number, preferably as a pdf file.
Job seekers at the Directorate of Labour are offered counselling and courses in the making of a CV and it is possible to put a CV and a letter of introduction on My pages of the Directorate of Labour.
