Job Discussion Forums

[SaratheSlytherin]

Hello,

I really appreciate the answer I got for my last CV question, and I hope you can help me with one more question. I couldn't find it on the forums, but I hope you can help me!

I must contact the director at a language school. I speak Spanish, but I'm not sure what title I should use to address him... "estimado..." what? Director? Profesor? Se�or?

Thanks if you can help me! I really want to make a good impression!

[notamiss]

If you can find out his academic title, that would be the best; licenciado, maestro, etc. If not, I'd go with profesor. Not se�or.

[TeresaLopez]

People are proud of their education and usually want to have it recognized. Anyone with a college degree is Licenciado, really pretty much regardless of what it is in. In an education setting, you probably can't go wrong with Profesor. If you have no way to find out, go with Licenciado, using Senor in that context might be considered a slight or insult by some people.

[notamiss]

Right on. The first time (in face-to-face encounters) you call someone se�or[ita] who is actually a licenciad@, you will learn this lesson big time! I don't think it's ever an insult to overestimate.

The only danger for Sara of using licenciado, is, what if he actually has a higher degree � For this reason, profesor might be safer.

[SaratheSlytherin]

Thank you so much, everyone. What you're saying makes sense... I'm glad I asked. It scares me to think I nearly made a serious mistake :S Thanks for everything, once again.

[Isla Guapa]

When writing a formal business letter, it never hurts to preface "profesor" or "licenciado", etc. with "estimado".

[astralfrog]

[Isla Guapa]

[SaratheSlytherin]

Thanks for all your answers. I am really grateful for your help. Right now, I'm getting my cover letter perfect.

Just one thing:

I'm not sure whether to write my CV and cover letter in Spanish, or in English.

I've been told by reliable sources to write it in English, and it makes sense, because I'm applying to teach English! They need to have an idea of your English writing ability.

On the other hand, Susan Griffith recommends writing your CV in the language of your target country, if you speak that language. I speak fluent Spanish and I wonder if a cover letter and CV in Spanish might make a better impression.

I hope you don't mind this; I know you all are busy, but...

should I write my CV and cover letter in English or Spanish?

Thanks again for everything!

[Isla Guapa]

I don't think the question is whether your written English is up to snuff but whether the person you're writing to knows English very well. When applying for English-teaching positions in Mexico, I've written my cover letters in English since I've always written them to the head of the English department of the school in question, whom one could assume reads the language well , and I've never had any problems.

[notamiss]

[mejms]

Where are you applying? To a colegio, university, language school? Depending on the place and how systematic and beauracractic it is, you might even want to realy water down the cover letter. I would recommend writing in English, but try not to make it to sophisticated or academic. Write professionally but simply and directly.

Writing skills in Mexico are lacking for a lot of people in Spanish. Run-on sentences are all too common. This should not be the case in an educational organization, of course, but that all depends on where you're sending the cover letter. I've seen some very poor writing skills across the board. Reading isn't a big part of the culture either. So that's why I recommend keeping it simple. If someone is confused however slightly by your cover letter, they'll lose interest. On the other hand, if it's simple but correct, I don't think they'll doubt your English language skills.

I agree with what people said about titles, but you'll probably also be cut some slack since you're a foreigner.