Your CV should provide a good overview of your experience, education and skills. Your CV and cover letter make up your job application, and it’s often the CV that employers look at first. So it’s important your CV is clear, well organised and targeted to the job you’re applying for. You can tailor your CV by asking yourself these questions: What skills are required in the job announcement? In which previous positions or on which university courses have I acquired these skills?
It’s a good idea to make a basic CV on which you write down all your experience. And we mean everything! From your first job to the higher stages of your education. Then when you apply for a position, you can select the most relevant aspects and put them on your targeted CV. Your targeted CV should be short (max. 2-3 pages) and easy to read, with clear headings and bullet points. When elaborating on these points, be as clear and precise about what you can do.
Don’t forget to make an effort with the layout! By investing time in the design, you show that you are making an effort. A well-designed CV is much more eye-catching than a simple Word document.
We have made an example (on the right) that you can use as inspiration for your CV – both for the layout and the content.
When you apply for a job, the main purpose of your cover letter is to make your prospective employer interested – and to get you a job interview. Along with your CV, your cover letter is what makes your first impression, so it’s important you say why you’re applying for the position and what you can offer the company or organisation.
Your cover letter is about giving an honest impression of who you are and what you have to offer. By showing how you see the fit between yourself and the job, you can help the employer envision how you would integrate into their workplace. Once you’ve sent your application, there’s nothing more you can do. Then it’s up to the hiring committee to decide if they agree.
Before you write your application
Start by reading the job announcement carefully. Underline the important skills and tasks so that you can show how you can take on the role and work with the tasks that are described. You can draw on your CV and your experience to show them what you can do.
It’s also a good idea to do some research on the company and the workplace. By visiting their website or LinkedIn profile, you can often get a good impression of who they are and what they do. Perhaps something will catch your attention and make you think: This is where I could make a difference!
If you have any questions about the position, contact the person who is mentioned in the job announcement. But don’t just call for the sake of calling. Avoid asking questions that you could have found the answers to yourself.
And remember that the company or organisation is of course looking for a competent employee. But more important than that – they are looking for a colleague. So show them who you are 😊
How to write a cover letter
There is no one right way to write a cover letter. Your cover letter must be your own, and it must sound like you. But here are a few tips to get you started:
- Keep your cover letter to one page
- Focus on what you can contribute – both professionally and as a colleague
- Match the tone of your writing to the tone of the job announcement
- Send your CV and cover letter in PDF format
We have written an example cover letter that you can use as inspiration when you write your own.
Are you planning to mention your disability when you apply for a job?
The Danish Association for Young People with Disabilities recommends that people with disabilities are upfront about their disability when they apply for a job. This makes it easier for employers to meet their support needs, perhaps by making use of compensation schemes. Not all employers know that they can make use of these schemes when hiring people with disabilities or support needs. But you can tell them! Then you can focus on how you can work together to put a good support framework in place so that your skills speak for themselves.
It might be helpful to ask yourself the question: Is it possible that my disability will affect the way I perform my job responsibilities and tasks in the workplace?
If it is, then it makes sense for your prospective employer to know this – so that they can consider the right support options from the start and avoid your disability becoming an obstacle for you at work.
You can always talk to your SPS adviser or the career guidance team if you’d like to discuss any specific challenges you’re facing and the support options available to you. This will also help to give you the vocabulary to discuss your disability, any challenges you face, and your support needs – so that it’s easier to talk about it with a prospective employer.
Remember! It does not reflect badly on you if you have received tailored support during your studies – quite the opposite. It shows that you have found a way to manage the challenges you’ve encountered, and that is a skill in itself.
Preferential access to a position
If you have a disability and you are applying for a job in the public sector, you have the right to request preferential access to an interview. This means that your prospective employer must invite you to an interview.
If you request preferential access, it’s a good idea to explain or indicate why – so that your prospective employer understands. By taking ownership of your decision, you demonstrate strength of character, create a good framework for understanding, and avoid misunderstandings.
Once the hiring committee has read your application, they will no doubt want to hear more about your skills and experience. They will also want to learn more about who you are.
There isn’t a fixed agenda for a job interview, which is precisely why it’s a good idea to be prepared to talk about a bit of everything. Here are some examples of questions you could be asked:
Your skills, experience and attributes
How will you use your skills and experience to perform the tasks described in the job announcement? How do you collaborate with others? What type of professional tasks do you enjoy the most? What is important for you in your working life? What kind of colleague are you? Do you have any specific suggestions for how to approach a task or for initiatives that we could launch in the workplace? Have you worked on anything during your time at university that could be relevant for the position – for example, an assignment or project?
It’s a good idea to support your answers by drawing on previous experience or feedback you’ve received – for example, feedback from previous employers, responses from study group work, or experience you’ve gained by working on different projects and assignments and applying different working methods.
Remember that you can also ask questions during your interview
Your job interview is also your opportunity to feel whether you would enjoy working at the company or organisation. A job interview is not an interrogation. It is a conversation. And the interest goes both ways! So feel free to ask questions. This shows that you are keen to know more about the workplace and how you could contribute to it.
