MSc TRAINING

RESUME & COVER LETTER CRAFTING

WORKBOOK

YOUR SKILLS &

COMPETENCIES

YOUR EMPLOYERS’
INTERESTS & NEEDS &
PASSION PREFERENCES

Online resources for research into jobs and employers

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

One of my areas of interest (job / industry) is _______________________________________

The top 3 Skills / Competencies and top 3 Values / Beliefs needed for the job / industry are

Skills / Competencies Values / Beliefs

1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

BRING YOUR WORKBOOK TO EVERY SESSION

One Achievement Story = One Bullet Point; C A R stands for

C_______________________ A _________________________ R ______________________

The corresponding Action Verbs (and Adjectives / Adverbs) that I can use are

Skills / Competencies Values / Beliefs

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

Achievement Story #1

Achievement Story #2

Achievement Story #2

My pace for crafting my resume is

DAY TIME ACTIVITY
Day 1 1 hour Research and identify key words
Day 2 1 hour Map back to experience
Day 3 2 hours Craft achievement stories for one organisation
Day 4 - 6 2 hours Craft out achievement stories for the other organisations
Day 7 4 hours Assemble, format and make cosmetic changes
Day 8 3 hours Draft out cover letter

BRING YOUR WORKBOOK TO EVERY SESSION

 CAREER
CREATION RESUME CRAFTING CHEAT SHEET
REMEMBER:
• The reader has less than 10 secs to read and no less than 10 resumes to look through.
• The reader is specifically looking for the person with the precise skills and traits that is missing in his/her
organization. Your resume should help the reader pick out those precise skills and traits quickly.
• Your resume should show a hint of your personality (eg. through your interests or personal statement)
in order for you to be memorable.
• Your resume should tell the same ‘story’ that you will be sharing in your interview.

CONTENTS OF A RESUME
• Name and Contact
• Career Objective / Personal Statement (optional unless it is very unique and eye-catching)
• Education – the ONLY listing section
• Scholarship or Awards
• Final Year Project and Research Projects
• Work Experience
• Co-curricular Activities
• Voluntary or Social Work Experience
• Technical Skills
• Professional Membership
• Interests / Additional Information

GENERAL TIPS
• Clear and uncluttered layout
o One page (max 2 pages if you have more than 5 years of experience)
o Name and contact details prominent (use NUS email address and include Singapore mobile number)
o No photo unless required
o Simple formal and readable font (Arial, Calibri, Verdana - no more than 12-point size and no less
than 10-point size)
o Regular and consistent format (paragraphs, bullet points, tabs are all aligned)
o Black font with white background
o Good balance of text and white space
• Consistent and accurate punctuation
o Capitalize a word ONLY if it is a proper name such as the name of a major, a title, or a department.
Examples: Master of Business Administration or Master of Science in Management. Do not
capitalize additional words within a phrase or sentence for emphasis.
o Spell out degrees such as Master of Science in Marketing Analytics and Insights. Abbreviate or use
acronyms only if they are more appropriate than using the full name, i.e. IBM not International
Business Machines. In the case of companies like TCS – spell out Tata Consultancy Services, as some
employers may not be familiar with the abbreviation. Months can be abbreviated Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, etc.
o You do not need periods at the end of bullets unless they are multiple-sentence bullets. However,
whether or not you use periods, be consistent with punctuation throughout the entire resume.
 CAREER
CREATION RESUME CRAFTING CHEAT SHEET
• Clear and precise language
o Correct grammar and spelling
o Succinct; not verbose (do not be too technically detailed)
o Appropriate professional tone (no colloquialisms like ‘clinched’); avoid the passive voice with personal
pronouns, such as “I, me and my, they, them, their”.
o Use current industry-specific language (make reference to any technical skills)
• Education, work experience and CCAs should be listed in reverse chronological order.
o Place dates along right margin in plain text. Use the format Aug 2020 - Jul 2021 (no need to spell
the month in full), in the same line directly across from the job title and at the right margin. Indicate
the full length of service i.e. month and year. If appropriate, explanation of employment periods
may be indicated in parenthesis in italics after the job title: for example: (Part time during academic
year).
o Place locations of universities and companies flushed to the right margin in plain, lower and upper case
letters. Spell out both city and country. To enter multiple locations with the same employer, enter all
on the same line with the employer’s name, flushed to the right margin.
o Optional: Brief Description of Employer - to provide the reader with a brief description of the employer,
put on the line directly to the right of the employer’s name in upper and lower case letters. This is
particularly helpful if the company’s name is not recognized.
o Italicize position titles in lower and upper case. Place in EXPERIENCE section directly under the
company’s name.
• Updated and prepared references (no need to list but ensure that your referees are prepared to receive
a phone call )

IMPORTANT TIPS
• Target your resume to the specific employer
o Find out the values, historical milestones and notable characteristics of the organization
o Go beyond website - use alumni, network, seniors, Careers Advisors, LinkedIn
• Demonstrate insight and knowledge about the role/position
o Use JD or comparable JD from another company
o Understand skills and qualities specified (refer to them specifically in your resume)
o Understand the industry trends
• Show some personalization/personality
o Mention interesting hobbies, passions, experiences
o Craft specific personal statement / career objective
• Showcase specific and transferable skills
o Review and examine your experiences fully
o Use C. A . R . statements – each statement tells a story of achievement
(C=Competency, A=Action and R=Results)
o Do NOT write out a task list / list of responsibilities
o Use different experiences to demonstrate different skills/ strengths to avoid repetition.
• Your file should be saved with your full name and date of draft (eg. John Doe_1 Jan 2020)
 CAREER
CREATION RESUME CRAFTING CHEAT SHEET
HOW TO WRITE AN ACHIEVEMENT STORY / BULLET POINT

COMPETENCY
• List down the skills required for this job
• Find the corresponding action verb; avoid passive verbs
• Use strong action words like “Planned, Conceptualized, Proposed, Spearheaded, and Initiated”.
They should all be in past tense too.

ACTION
• Talk about what you did.
• How you did it.
• Who you worked with or tools you used.

RESULTS
• Talk about your achievement
• Quantify them, where possible. %, $, Hrs, Grades, Turnout of event
• If not, show that you understand the purpose of what you were doing (be specific)

COMPETENCY ACTION RESULTS

Led a group of 8 the annual event through detailed the event successfully attracted a
members to brainstorming sessions and by working breakthrough attendance of 500
organize closely with external vendors, such participants and more than 20
that industry representatives.

OTHERRESOURCES
NUS CFG: http://nus.edu.sg/cfg/students/career-resources/create-an-impressive-resume
NUS VMOCK: https://www.vmock.com/nus
NUS BIZ Symplicity (career portal): https://nusbiz-csm.symplicity.com/

NUS Business School subscriptions (access through the career portal):

Vault
HigherEd
MBA -Exchange

External sites:
Jobscan
GradSingapore
185 Powerful Action Verbs
 CAREER
CREATION SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
Communication Proposed Shaped Diagnosed
/ People Skills Publicized Solved Educated
Addressed Reconciled Encouraged
Advertised Recruited Data/Financial Skills Ensured
Arbitrated Referred Administered Expedited
Arranged Reinforced Adjusted Facilitated
Articulated Reported Allocated Familiarized
Authored Resolved Analyzed Furthered
Clarified Responded Appraised Guided
Collaborated Solicited Assessed Helped
Communicated Specified Audited Insured
Composed Spoke Balanced Intervened
Condensed Suggested Budgeted Motivated
Conferred Summarized Calculated Prevented
Consulted Synthesized Computed Provided
Contacted Translated Conserved Referred
Conveyed Wrote Corrected Rehabilitated
Convinced Determined Represented
Corresponded Creative Skills Developed Resolved
Debated Acted Estimated Simplified
Defined Adapted Forecasted Supplied
Developed Began Managed Supported
Directed Combined Marketed Volunteered
Discussed Composed Measured
Drafted Conceptualized Netted Management/
Edited Condensed Planned Leadership Skills
Elicited Created Prepared Administered
Enlisted Customized Programmed Analyzed
Explained Designed Projected Appointed
Expressed Developed Qualified Approved
Formulated Directed Reconciled Assigned
Furnished Displayed Reduced Attained
Incorporated Drew Researched Authorized
Influenced Entertained Retrieved Chaired
Interacted Established Slashed Considered
Interpreted Fashioned Sliced Consolidated
Interviewed Formulated Contracted
Involved Founded Helping Skills Controlled
Joined Illustrated Adapted Converted
Judged Initiated Advocated Coordinated
Lectured Instituted Aided Decided
Listened Integrated Answered Delegated
Marketed Introduced Arranged Developed
Mediated Invented Assessed Directed
Moderated Modeled Assisted Eliminated
Negotiated Modified Clarified Emphasized
Observed Originated Coached Enforced
Outlined Performed Collaborated Enhanced
Participated Photographed Contributed Established
Persuaded Planned Cooperated Executed
Presented Revised Counseled Generated
Promoted Revitalized Demonstrated Headed
 CAREER
CREATION SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
Hired Logged Reviewed Developed
Hosted Maintained Searched Engineered
Improved Monitored Solved Fabricated
Incorporated Obtained Summarized Fortified
Increased Operated Surveyed Installed
Initiated Ordered Systematized Maintained
Inspected Organized Tested Operated
Instituted Prepared Overhauled
Led Processed Teaching Skills Printed
Managed Provided Adapted Programmed
Merged Purchased Advised Rectified
Motivated Recorded Clarified Regulated
Navigated Registered Coached Remodeled
Organized Reserved Communicated Repaired
Originated Responded Conducted Replaced
Overhauled Reviewed Coordinated Restored
Oversaw Routed Critiqued Solved
Planned Scheduled Developed Specialized
Presided Screened Enabled Standardized
Prioritized Submitted Encouraged Studied
Produced Supplied Evaluated Upgraded
Recommended Standardized Explained Utilized
Reorganized Systematized Facilitated
Replaced Updated Focused Others Synonyms
Restored Validated Guided Liaised
Reviewed Verified Individualized • Communicated
Scheduled Informed • Bridged
Secured Research Skills Instilled • Mediated
Selected Analyzed Instructed • Coordinated
Streamlined Clarified Motivated • Networked
Strengthened Collected Persuaded • Interacted
Supervised Compared Simulated
Terminated Conducted Stimulated Developed
Critiqued Taught • Progressed
Organizational Skills Detected Tested • Advanced
Approved Determined Trained • Improved
Arranged Diagnosed Transmitted
• Cultivated
Catalogued Evaluated Tutored
Categorized Examined
Coordinated
Charted Experimented Technical Skills
• Organised
Classified Explored Adapted
• Directed
Coded Extracted Applied
• Managed
Collected Formulated Assembled
Compiled Gathered Built • Synchronised
Corrected Inspected Calculated
Corresponded Interviewed Computed Cooperated
Distributed Invented Conserved • Collaborated
Executed Investigated Constructed • Pooled resources
Filed Located Converted • Partnered
Generated Measured Debugged • Joined forces with
Incorporated Organized Designed • Teamed up with
Inspected Researched Determined
 Your Name
(Optional) Mailing Address
[email protected] | +65 9090 9090

EDUCATION

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE Singapore

Master of Science in Marketing Analytics & Insights, expected July 2021 Aug 2020 - Present
• Specialization if any, (Optional) List GMAT (only if above 700) and CAP score (only if above 4.0, indicate that it is out
of 5.0 – example 4.5/5.0)
• List awards, honors, noteworthy coursework
• Activities such as clubs. Format: Officer title, Club name
NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY City (if applicable), Country
Bachelor of Arts/Science, Major Aug 2000 - May 2004
• Achievements, honors, GPA, class rank
• Thesis, study-abroad program, clubs, positions held

EXPERIENCE

COMPANY NAME 1 (Optional: briefly describe company, useful for local or small firms) City (if applicable), Country
Job Title (Optional: Division) May 2012 – Present
• Each bullet should describe results and achievements. Quantify how well you did the job. Bullets can be 1-3 lines
long, and can include multiple sentences.
• List bullets in the order starting with the most significant, the one that is most impressive. Group responsibilities and
activities in a way that is logical for the reader.
• Recent internship and work experience bullets are critically important, and must demonstrate leadership,
teamwork, skills, drive, results, or your ranking in relation to your peers.
COMPANY NAME 2 (Optional: briefly describe company, useful for local or small firms) City (if applicable), Country
Job Title 1(Optional: Division 1) Jun 2009 – Jul 2011
• Each position should contain between 2-4 bullets. Readers lose interest if sections are too long.
• Proceed with additional bullets that drill down to key achievements, describing the activities with action verbs,
avoiding passive tense). Try to include numbers and results to quantify your achievement.
• Note of caution: make sure that your bullets do not sound like a job description, a list of all the tasks that you are
required to complete. Describe specifics of what you worked on – your results and impact. For example, if you
created daily reporting or analyis, how many people was it circulated to and what kind of impact did it have?
Job Title 2 (Optional: Division 2) Feb 2007 – May 2009
• Text of the body is all set at 10.5 point font. If you need less space, you can raise it to 11 point. Minimum is 10pt.
Leave the category (Educ, Exp, Skills and Activities) and contact info at the preset size.
• It is often best to list awards and promotions within the bullets for a particular position – it reinforces the point that
you have excelled in that role. Also helpful to provide relative comparison, “accelerated promotions” or “one of only
three Booz employees worldwide selected for this annual award” – context is key.
• If you use periods in one bullet, you must use periods in all bullets.
COMPANY NAME 3 (Optional: briefly describe company, useful for local or small firms) City (if applicable), Country
Job Title (Optional: Division) Jul 2004 – Jan 2007
• As the position becomes less recent, it makes sense that you would have fewer bullets for the position. You might
condense what were 3 bullets into one. The assumption is that over time you have advanced in your career, and the
interesting content is at the more recent point.

SKILLS AND ACTIVITIES (This section IS required, but the title can be changed to best suit your needs/preference)
• Group like items together: one line each for special computer skills, certifications, languages.
• Lump personal hobbies or activities into one line, and choose items that are interesting and true – possible
conversation starters.
• It is not recommended to include Word, Excel, Power Point in a resume as proficiency is assumed – only higher level
and more specialized computer skills.
• For languages, indicate level of proficiency as one of the following: basic, conversant, proficient or native.

(Optional) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (This section is NOT required; if used choose a title that suits your content)
• Use this section if you need an area for information that is not covered above such as: publications, your widely
visited website/blog, details of your portfolio, your start-up, a non-work and non-school related honor/award –
anything that makes you stand out as a unique and interesting candidate. Or, if you just need more space!
NUS MSc Resume Template 2020 (rev 130120) [Type here] [Type here]
 Haruko Uchida
[email protected] | +65 5555 5555

EDUCATION
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE Singapore
Master of Science in Finance, December 2019 2018 - 2019
• GPA: 4.8/5.0
x Honours with Highest Distinction
• Represented NUS MSc Finance in Explore Goldman Sachs Case Study Challenge 2019, in a team of four
and presented solutions for two cases to senior leaders

TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY (EXCHANGE PROGRAM) Beijing, China

Master of Business Administration Sep 2011 - Jan 2012
BELOIT COLLEGE Wisconsin, USA
Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration/International Relations 1999 - 2003
• Dean's List Fall 2002; Spring 2003

EXPERIENCE
BENTELER DISTRIBUTION SINGAPORE PTE LTD Singapore
(German distributor of steel tubes, bars, and plates)
Market Analyst May 2011 - Present
• Conducted a market study on hydraulic tubing products in Singapore through approximately 50
company visits with the result that 10 potential customers were identified
• Received and opened discussions on enquiries valued at nearly S$300K; 90% of which eventually
developed into a completed sales
MARINA BAY SANDS PTE LTD (Singapore-based subsidiary of Las Vegas Sands Corp) Singapore
Business Analyst, Procurement & Supply Chain Department (Internship) Nov 2010 - July 2011
• Conducted a strategic analysis of the procurement and supply chain function; identified KPls and
produced business case proposals
• Built a model to analyze the relationship between payment terms and discounts
• Produced a nomination report for the IIAPS Asian Supply Chain Excellence Awards 2012 on behalf of
Marina Bay Sands
TOKIO MARINE ASSET MANAGEMENT CO, LTD Tokyo, Japan
(Investment advisory arm of Tokio Marine and Nichido Fire Insurance Co, Ltd.)
Fund Manager, Private Equity Department Jan 2007 - July 2010
• Oversaw a portfolio with 20 private equity fund investments valued at nearly US$200M
• Conducted investment management and fund review meetings; attended investor conferences as the
company representative in the US, China, Australia, Singapore, and Japan
• Executed investments in the US, Europe, China, Japan, and Australia; led four investments in 2010
• Maintained responsibility for targeting, researching, and evaluating international investment
opportunities in the US, Europe, and Asia; reviewed 60 to 70 prospective investments per annum
• Was entrusted with a lead role in multiple, complex negotiations; championed lower fee expenses

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• Overseas living experience: Singapore (July 2009 to present); Belgium (August 2009-June 2009);
California, USA (January 2007-June 2007); and Minnesota, USA (August 1999-July 2002)
• Participant of student exchange program at University of California, Berkeley (August 1993)
• Fluent in Japanese and English
 Rajan Sivathamby
[email protected] , +65 5555 5555

EDUCATION
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE Singapore
Master of Science in Management , expected December 2019 2019-Present
• Exchange Schools: WU Vienna (Winter 2019) and Bocconi University, Milan (Spring 2020)
• Relevant coursework: Investment Banking (Grade A), Macroeconomics and Finance: Asia
• Pursuing CFA Level 1
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE Singapore
Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical Engineering) 2001-2005
• 2nd-Class Honours

EXPERIENCE
CITIBANK SINGAPORE LTD Singapore
Assistant Product Manager, Portfolio Management and Sales Jan 2007-July 2010
• Developed key marketing strategies to grow the general insurance portfolio for the bank, which resulted in
achieving the target revenue of $9M for the bank for 2010.
• Streamlined customer sales experience by reviewing sales calls - reducing the overall rate of complaint cases
from 30% of sales to less than 3%.
• Coordinated sales team training and liaisons with insurance partners for new product design and product
launches.
• Developed and managed online product content and marketing to streamline customer experience.
• Managed and conducted 3 promotions and 2 lucky draws as part of an insurance-related product marketing
drive.
• Liaised with creative agencies and other external partners to design and create new Web-based marketing
content.
Personal Banker, Wealth Management
• Provided investment sales advisory on unit trust, foreign exchange currencies, structured products and
insurance.
• Managed portfolio for around 350- 400 affluent retail banking customers.
• Increased portfolio size by 15% in net assets under management.
• Serviced and managed client-related issues.
• Acquired accounts, new customers, credit cards and funds for the bank.
HITACHI SEMICONDUCTOR PTE LTD Singapore
Equipment Engineer Aug 2005-Sep 2006
• Managed the CVD equipment series to support the production line.
• Developed and managed the maintenance and product quality output for the equipment.
• Successfully managed to eliminate a long-standing particle difficulty with the equipment.
• Led a team of Technicians and Assistant Engineers who supported the equipment.

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
• Led a team of 8 members to successfully plan and complete a marketing technology; incorporated an important
business proposal.
• Serves as a committee member of the NUS Tamil Language Society.
• Led a team of script writers to write, direct and act in a 2-hour social drama that was staged in the NUS University
Cultural Centre and attended by a 5000-strong audience.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• Languages: English (native proficiency); Tamil (native proficiency).
• Software skills: MS Office, Bloomberg, C Programming and Java Programming.
• Interests: dragon boat (member, AlumNUS), archery (with Team NUS), cricket
• Qualifications: passed CMFAS Module 1B, BCP, PGI, 5, 6, 8, 9 and HI.
 ZHANG HUAN
[email protected] / +65 5555 5555

EDUCATION NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF

SINGAPORE Singapore
Master of Science in Marketing Analytics & Insights (expected July 2020) 2019 - Present
• GPA (4.63 / 5.00)
• Winner of simulation game in the class on “Data Analytics Simulation: Strategic decision making”
developed by HBS professor Tom Davenport from amongst 80 contestants

NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY Singapore

Bachelor of Communication Studies (2nd Class Honours, Upper Division) 2001 - 2005
• Minor in English Literature
x Set and Property Manager, Paparazzi Productions
x Writer for the Communication and Information Club

EXPERIENCE
PEARSON EDUCATION SOUTH ASIA PTE LTD Singapore
Senior Editor, Regional Publishing June 2008 - November 2009
Editor, Regional Publishing February 2006 - June 2008
• Managed a variety of higher education and trade books from manuscript stage through to print:
o Principles of Marketing: A Global Perspective surpassed the previous edition’s sales in less than
12 months
o Human Resource Management: An Asian Perspective received positive feedback for its uniquely
visual learning approach
• Improved publishing standards by initiating and carrying out training programmes for editors
• Increased quality consistency through revamping operating standards and procedures
• Spearheaded the introduction of Pearson's new e-book products across Asia in conjunction with
Vitalsource Technologies Inc.
• Acquired over 10 custom publishing projects from selected higher-education institutes in Singapore
• Supervised a team of 2-3 editors in Singapore and Malaysia from March to June 201O
• Nominated as a Pearson Leader by colleagues in 2007

PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE Singapore

Temporary Editorial Assistant (contract) October 2005 - February 2006
• Developed and wrote editorial features for the magazine
• Acted as photographer for interview photo shoots

SMART INVESTOR, THE LEXICON GROUP LTD Singapore

Student Intern January 2004 - August 2004
• Sub-edited and proofread magazine articles and layout prior to publishing
• Wrote editorial features and various short articles for the magazine, meeting all deadlines
• Developed editorial schedules and pagination for monthly issues

SKILLS & ACTIVITIES

• Languages: English (native), Mandarin (conversant), Japanese (basic proficiency; attained JLPT N4
certification), French (beginner)
• Other skills: project management; copyediting, proofreading, and indexing in English; photography
• Personal interests: books and publishing, films, and learning foreign languages
 CAREER
CREATION
COVER LETTER CHEAT SHEET
THE PURPOSE OF A COVER LETTER
• To explain in greater detail your reasons for applying and how this fits with your career plans and
interests.
• To explicitly answer why the company should choose to hire you by demonstrating how you meet
the key criteria for the post and what sets you apart from other candidates
• To provide evidence of your written communication and language skills, including the ability to be
clear, succinct and articulate.
• To give you another opportunity to market yourself and can strengthen your chances

IS IT ALWAYS NECESSARY TO SEND A COVER LETTER?

• Have one just-in-case; even if you don’t send it because writing it provides good practice to be able
to provide relevant information at an interview.
• Most HR do not read cover letters because of time constraints but the line managers sometimes
do.
• Don’t send a cover letter if you are posting your CV on a database/ with an agency where it will be
seen by numerous employers – this fundamentally prevents you from tailoring your cover letter
to a specific employer (which you must ALWAYS do for a cover letter).

FORMAT OF A COVER LETTER

• Cover letters should be no longer than a page.
• Keep paragraphs short and use clear fonts (eg. Arial, Verdana, Calibri) with font size at 11 or 12.
• You can write in a paragraph format, use bullet points and/or bold to highlight key points.
1. Address and salutation: Address the letter to a named person if possible - a quick email or
check of the organisation’s website should elicit this information. If not possible, address it to
‘The Hiring Manager’.
2. First paragraph: An introduction, explaining which job you are applying for, how you heard
about the post, and some brief background on who you are e.g. in terms of your academic
projects or previous internship experience.
3. Middle section: Evidence of how you meet the top 3 or 4 criteria for the role, with brief
descriptions of your experience and your achievements.
4. Final section: Explain what attracts you to this role in this organisation and how the role fits in
to your career plans.
5. Concluding paragraph: A conclusion summarising what makes you suitable for the job and a
statement expressing interest in an interview.
 CAREER
CREATION
COVER LETTER CHEAT SHEET
WHERE TO START?
• Do your research on the organization, the role and the industry – use the job description,
conversations with the HR, alumni, Careers Advisors, discussions at networking events, internet
(organization website, interest group websites, Glassdoor, LinkedIn and others)
• Select
o The top three or four criteria for the role and focus your evidence on these.
o The key soft skills which are relevant to the job.
• Think of your Unique Selling Points in relation to the key job criteria - what differentiates you from
the competition.
o Greater depth of expertise in this field
o A particular blend of experiences which give you a unique perspective (e.g. having worked
in both academic research and industry)
o Specific achievements in your current and previous roles
o A qualification which is highly relevant to the role, but which not all the other applicants
will have
o A passion for and commitment to this industry or working for this organization.

SITTING DOWN TO WRITE…

• Put your most convincing evidence first. You need to make an impact in the first few sentences.
Talk about your current or most relevant job first.
• Illustrate your achievements with brief but specific examples, explaining why these are relevant to
this role. You can refer the employer to the CV for more detail. Do not attempt to summarise your
CV or give too much detail – you need to be selective about the points that you highlight.
• Concentrate on the areas which differentiate you from the competition rather than the basic job
criteria.
• Demonstrate how well you have researched the role and the job context when explaining your
career motivation. Never send the same or a similar letter to more than one employer. Never ‘cut
and paste’ as employers will suspect a lack of research and career focus.
• Focus on what you can do for the organization and not what the organization can do for you.
Especially do not write trite statements about why you want to join the organization (eg. a top 100
global organization)
• Explain your rationale if you are seeking a career in an industry not related to your studies or
experience.
• Be succinct. Do not use technical jargon which the employer might not understand.
• End on a note of enthusiasm and anticipation.
 CAREER
CREATION
COVER LETTER CHEAT SHEET
Cover Letter Template
Name
Address Line 1
Address Line 2

Date

Mr. John Lim

Campus Recruiter
Technology Corporation
11 Raffles Place 1136-00,
Singapore 522123

Dear Mr. Lim (If unknown, "Dear Hiring Manager," NOT “Dear Sir / Madam or “To Whom it May Concern”)

First Section:
Open with an impactful statement and include a brief self-introduction stating your degree programme and the year in
which you will graduate. Be clear to indicate the purpose for writing, specifying the position you are seeking (e.g. summer
Internship, full-time position) and your interest towards the said position, industry, or general career area.

Tell how you heard of the opening or organisation (e.g. job posting on TalentEDGE from Career Services Centre). Express
enthusiasm about the job to capture the employer's attention.

Second Section:
Explain how your qualification and career plan matches the job, and align your value­add proposition with the employer's
needs.

Highlight relevant skills. Mention one or two qualifications, specialised training, or related experience which you think would
be of greatest interest to the employer. Give examples drawing from your resume that you meet the requirements of the
role. Tell the employer why you are particularly interested in their company, type of work, or industry. Always think of what
the job asks for and how you can extract transferable skills from your own experience

Target your letter to the requirements and selection criteria of the role. Details provided should show that you have done
your research and understand what the job entails, as well as what the company and the industry at large are looking for.

Inject your own personality and style into your writing to differentiate yourself so that you stand out from the other
candidates. Remember - do not lift information from the company's recruitment website.

Final Paragraph:
Close by reiterating your interest in the role and and ask for an interview at the employer’s convenience, referring the reader
to your resume and related attachments. Finish on a positive note, and thank the employer for their time.

Yours sincerely,
Your signature
Your name

Enc: Resume, Academic Transcript

Esperanza Pinto
383 Bukit Batok West Ave 5 #03-306, Singapore 650383 | Mobile (+65)-84843272 | [email protected]

1 March 2020

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am applying for the Postgraduate internship with Strategy and Transformation group in Ernst
& Young Singapore. I am a Master of Science in Management candidate with National University of
Singapore with 6 years of diversified experiences as an IT consultant and in industries such as
telecommunication, manufacturing and finance, coupled with 3 years of entrepreneurial experience
in network marketing business.

I am particularly impressed by EY’s special report “Six essentials for driving frugal innovation”, which
outlines that in order for companies to innovate frugally, they need to set audacious objectives, focus
on customer needs, team up with innovative partners, make the most of what you already have,
identify and overcome potential obstacles and find an aspiring leader. Joining EY will be a great
opportunity to help companies transform to be more efficient. I spoke with Ms Janie Loh, a consultant
with EY’s Singapore office, and I was particularly impressed by her knowledge and experience in the
strategy consulting.

During my Master programme, I have completed a 4-month management practicum project with
Becton, Dickinson and Company (a global med-tech company) in 2016, where I made recommendations
of Licensing and Partnership (L&P) models to BD’s President of Greater Asia in order to expand to
developing Southeast Asian countries. These recommendations are currently being implemented in BD.

As an IT Systems Analyst, my achievements include generating significant cost savings by streamlining

a wafer map analysis application in STMicroelectronics, a top 5 global semiconductor manufacturing
company. Prior to that, I was an IT consultant where I managed various projects, leading to my being
the only one out of more than 80 analysts that received my manager’s recommendation to become a
Project Manager.

I am looking forward to offer my best contributions to EY, leveraging my analytical skill, leadership and
past experiences. I am excited at the prospect of joining EY as a Strategy Consultant intern, and I hope
I will be afforded the opportunity to expand on my application through an interview. I am reachable
either at [email protected] or by phone at +65-8123 4567. Thank you very much for your
consideration and I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Esperanza
Esperanza Pinto
Parker Colaco
92 Lamington Drive
Singapore 613242

Mr. Amit Patel

Strategy & Transformation Group
Ernst & Young
One Raffles Quay North Tower, Level 18
Singapore 048583

2 March 2020

Dear Mr Patel,

Application for EY Master Summer Internship (Strategy & Transformation Group)

I am interested in an internship with EY Strategy & Transformation Group and heard about the opening
through the National University of Singapore (NUS) Career Service Office. I am currently a first year full-time
student taking NUS Master of Science in Management degree.

Strategy consulting interests me as I enjoy and excel at breaking problems into small pieces, designing
methodologies, drawing connections across issues and proposing solutions with creativity. In addition, I look
forward to the challenges and fun working closely with different clients, in different locations and on different
industries. EY Strategy & Transformation Group is fast-growing, works on high-level strategy and has a wide
range of projects. An internship with EY Strategy & Transformation Group is definitely valuable for
Master candidates who want to pursue consulting as a career.

I was trained in Civil Engineering during my undergraduate in NUS and held many leadership positions
throughout my studies. After graduation, I joined the Policy and Planning Group of the Land Transport
Authority (LTA) and I was promoted twice to Principal Transport Planner before leaving for Master education.
I excelled at my previous job because I have outstanding analytical skills and could see the big picture to find
urban planning solutions with the support of various quantitative and qualitative assessments. As urban
planning must fit the overarching strategy of the nation, I was involved in many high-level discussions of
national policy and strategy. Outside work, I spend a significant amount of time coaching the NUS Chinese
Debate Team because I enjoy the inquisitive process of preparing for a wide range of debate topics and I find
satisfying to see the team I lead getting multiple international championships. I believe my intellectual
curiosity, problem-solving skills, self-motivated nature and leadership make me a suitable candidate for EY.

Enclosed is a copy of my CV for your review. I look forward to the opportunity to further discuss how I could
contribute to your team. Please contact me at [email protected] or 9456 1234 if any other information is
needed. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Parker
Parker Colaco
 CAREER
CREATION JOB SEARCH LOG
COMPANY INDUSTRY JOB TITLE

NAME OF RECRUITER DESIGNATION CONTACT ADDRESS

SOURCE DATE OF CONTACT DEADLINES

DATE CV SENT INTERVIEW DATE JD

THEME(S) WHY IT EXCITES ME

HOW IT RELATES TO ME HOW I CAN ADD VALUE

 RESEARCH INTO TARGET JOB MARKET

Size & Life cycle Demographics

Structured / Ambiguous Work Attitudes
Culture / ‘Currency’ Immigration Issues
Career & Training Path Political Climate
Society

Work-Life Priorities
Life cycle Company
Competencies
Legacy & Footprint ‘Dopamine Hits’
Transferability
Job
Industry
Function

SOCIETY
Demographics
(Median age of
population; diversity)

Work Attitudes
(eg. Swedish vs Japanese)

Immigration Issues
(Entry/visa challenges)

Political Climate
(Stability)

JOB FUNCTION
Work-life Priorities
(Shifts; seasonal work;
mobility requirements)

Competencies
(Technical skills required)

Dopamine hits
(Moments of pleasure in
the job)
 COMPANY
Size & life cycle
(MNC or SME; Start-up/
family business/ publicly-
listed)
Culture / Currency
(Personalities preferred;
What’s considered star
quality?)
Career & development
path
(Career progression
prospects; training
offerings)

Who’s the Boss

(Your manager is key)

INDUSTRY
Life cycle
(Sunrise or sunset)

Legacy & footprint

(Contribution to
society/humanity)
Transferability
(Can you move easily to
another industry with the
same job?)

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS