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снеговик
Joined: 01 Apr 2015
Posts: 28
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 Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2015 9:57 pm Post subject: Should I write a cover letter for my application? |
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Я хочу быть крутым учителем в России, поэтому, прочитайте и полюбуйтесь!)...
So, should I include a cover letter with my application? I have a biology degree and they train us to write like we are cutting someone with a knife—that is, concisely and to the point. But sometimes this can come across as pomposity.
Anyway, is a cover letter required, or even wanted at all??? I'd rather not include one, if that were possible.
Thanks)) |
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Phillip Schofield
Joined: 02 Feb 2015
Posts: 116
Location: The Land of Pelmeni and Honey
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| Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 6:56 am Post subject: |
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| I would say that it depends entirely who you are applying for. If you're applying for a McSchool, it probably doesn't matter. They tend to trawl through a great number of CVs and it's not likely that they'll even read a cover letter. Make sure you highlight your prior experience and qualifications. |
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esl_prof
Joined: 30 Nov 2013
Posts: 2006
Location: peyi kote solèy frèt
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| Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 12:32 pm Post subject: Re: Should I write a cover letter for my application? |
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| снеговик wrote: |
| I have a biology degree and they train us to write like we are cutting someone with a knife—that is, concisely and to the point. But sometimes this can come across as pomposity. |
As the previous poster suggested, you may not need a cover letter in certain instances. However, a well-written letter does distinguish you from the numerous other applicants for the job and eventually you're going to apply for a job that requires you to write one. Cover letters are sort of unique genre when it comes to writing, but the good news is that it is a genre that is not difficult to learn (unlike, say, sonnets or creative non-fiction).
Here's some advice that's helped me write about seven cover letters over the last three years, all of which landed me interviews and the final one resulting in a full-time job offer (yeah!). While geared towards community college job searches in the U.S. context, the author's basic approach--with minor modifications--should work for any teaching position. Of course, do be sure to inquire about the norms and expectations for application letters in the countries where you're applying so that, again, you can modify this model as needed.
http://chronicle.com/article/That-Crucial-First-Impression/124876/ |
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nemnoga
Joined: 12 Dec 2008
Posts: 21
Location: Russia
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| Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 9:08 am Post subject: |
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Show you've looked into the company, and are not someone randomly email blasting for 1000 vacancies in hopes one of them is going to promise you all that and a bag of crisps too 
Last edited by nemnoga on Sun Mar 20, 2016 3:37 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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Fairly high cringe factor here too. And the length of those CVs! Every crappy part-time job detailed, every seminar attended in every unrelated field. Highly binnable.
In answer to the opening post, yes, write a covering letter/email. Keep it short and to the point. Remember that many schools have a Russian admin filter before the CV gets passed along to the DoS.
So, state clearly what your quals are, your teaching experience, what position you are applying for (Kids teacher, ADoS, Business English teacher, Exams prep), why you are interested in working for them. If you have a Celta or a Delta, make sure that this stands out! : )
Good luck! |
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Phillip Schofield
Joined: 02 Feb 2015
Posts: 116
Location: The Land of Pelmeni and Honey
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| Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Sashadroogie wrote: |
So, state clearly what your quals are, your teaching experience, what position you are applying for (Kids teacher, ADoS, Business English teacher, Exams prep), why you are interested in working for them. If you have a Celta or a Delta, make sure that this stands out! : )
Good luck! |
Indeed. One CV I received had the CELTA hidden away beneath a list of utterly irrelevant information. The guy even listed all of his primary school details over his CELTA.
As with all job applications, try and make the most useful skills stand out. I really don't care what you did when you were 6 years old. Chewing crayons is not high on the list of skills I look for. |
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esl_prof
Joined: 30 Nov 2013
Posts: 2006
Location: peyi kote solèy frèt
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| Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 12:01 am Post subject: |
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| Phillip Schofield wrote: |
| One CV I received had the CELTA hidden away beneath a list of utterly irrelevant information. The guy even listed all of his primary school details over his CELTA. |
It may be a leap of logic to conclude that an applicant who doesn't exercise common sense on a CV or resume will not use common sense in the classroom either, but I'd still be inclined to quickly round file the resume and move right along to the next one in the stack. Given the hundreds of job seekers out there, most hiring supervisors can afford to be picky. |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 7:28 am Post subject: |
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I dunno... An applicant for a teaching position in a school that specialises in Business English lessons and teaching communication skills would do himself a grave disservice by not sending a proper CV. If he can't even use his own communication skills to present himself positively to a school, how skilful could he be in the classroom?
Perhaps for dancing monkey routines out east it might not matter, but when the job requires some sort of professional abilities then a basically competent CV is a must. |
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Phillip Schofield
Joined: 02 Feb 2015
Posts: 116
Location: The Land of Pelmeni and Honey
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| Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 8:42 am Post subject: |
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| Sashadroogie wrote: |
Perhaps for dancing monkey routines out east it might not matter, but when the job requires some sort of professional abilities then a basically competent CV is a must. |
Well, thankfully he was applying for our 'Dancing Monkey' position. I just need to fill the 'Juggling Clown' vacancy and we're sorted. |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 10:27 am Post subject: |
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| Shouldn't be too hard. I know just the place for you to source some suitable lovelies... |
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снеговик
Joined: 01 Apr 2015
Posts: 28
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| Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 8:50 am Post subject: |
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| I assume that some of the boxes they make you tick (years of experience, CELTA etc) are used to auto-sort the applications. |
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esl_prof
Joined: 30 Nov 2013
Posts: 2006
Location: peyi kote solèy frèt
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| Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 12:00 pm Post subject: |
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| снеговик wrote: |
| I assume that some of the boxes they make you tick (years of experience, CELTA etc) are used to auto-sort the applications. |
Definitely a safe assumption. |
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