1. CVs in English

2. I: CV basics II: Skills-based descriptions III: Cover letters

3. I: CV basics

4. Start from scratch! Don’t just translate your French CV
CVs in English require:
more detail (2 pages)
more marketing of your skills and experiences
explanations
concrete examples
When writing your CV in English, don't just take your French CV and translate it.
You will need to make major changes, and it is usually best to start from scratch, with a clean document and a clear head.
On an English CV, you will need more detail, than a French CV - look at the examples, see that they are generally 2 pages
You will need to do more marketing of your skills and experiences
explain and develop everything that you include
Include concrete examples to show what you are capable of

5. Details No photo No date of birth or gender
Nationality can be included, in particular if it means that you do not need a work permit.
Don't forget to record an answerphone message in English

6. Education
In reverse chronological order, from Université Paris II to lycee:
Name and location of the institution
Dates attended (years not months)
Grade or classification
75%
“in the top x% of students”
Description
Title and grades for all M1 modules
Grades by year for undergraduate degree, and highlight
relevant modules
research projects /dissertation
Do mention awards and scholarships
Begin with your most recent qualification.
For all institutions from lycee onwards:
Name and location of the institution : don’t forget to mention that Assas is France’s top law university.
Dates attended (years not months)
Grade or classification: (give the official name in French. Translating degree classifications is very difficult, and there is no agreed equivalence. For that reason your best route is to present your marks as %. In England above 70 is a first, but many sources suggest that only French degrees above 80% (16) are considered as equivalent to first class.
For that reason, give a mark out of 20 and also a %. It is also beneficial to explain that your grade puts you in the top x % of students. Particularly true if you are applying to the US - 70% may be considered a low mark.

8. Experience Legal sector experience / legal work experience
Name and location of the company
Dates
Position
Description
It is useful to include a Legal work experience or Legal sector experience section.
This can include anything you have done, paid, unpaid, observations, vacation placements, mini-pupillages, participation in mooting, negotiation competitions, Student Legal Advice Centre work, court visits, work shadowing lawyers etc.
As with the 'Education' section, you should follow the same pattern for each entry, with (usually) one entry per company
· dates (including months for periods less than a year)
· the name and location of the company (including country if not well-known), no need for e
· your position if there is a convenient, impressive-sounding title for what you did
· a description (see below); this is by far the most important part.
When it comes to writing the actual descriptions, you should use, bullet points, with CV-style sentences:
· omit the person pronoun (usually 'I')
· start most sentences with a dynamic 'action verb' in the simple past tense (or present tense, if it is a current role)
One thing you should not do is make lists with nouns. Unlike French CVs, English CVs are always written with verbs, and usually dynamic verbs, as much as possible. More about that later, when we discuss descriptions in more detail.

9. Other work experience Include: part-time “student” and summer jobs
voluntary / unpaid work
Focus on transferable skills
. Additional work experience > in the UK and the US it is a really positive point if you have worked during your degree - in a bar, a shop, a supermarket employers love this - it shows really positive things about you > determination, ability to manage your time, trustworthiness - if you have worked in holidays or in term time, make the most of it, don't be shy
If you have done voluntary work, this can also be useful
You need to think about transferable skills which you developed in these roles and focus on those - skills like team-working and commercial awareness

10. Activities and interests
Focus on a few activities and interests, rather than a long list with no details
Include
team and group activities
positions of responsibility
7. Activities and interests > these are v important, part of student societies, especially if you have been involving in organising or running something, if you are part of a sport society, are a student representative this is important

11. Additional skills Languages: bilingual, fluent, conversational, basic
proficient in / experienced user of...
some experience of...
Languages
IT: proficient / experienced user of some experience of

12. References No requirement to name them on your CV Two referees
One academic, one professional (usually your most recent employer)
References are usually requested by an employer on an application form or after the interview stage if the candidate has been successful. It is generally assumed that you will be able to provide references so you don’t need to mention them on your CV.

13. II: Skills-based descriptions

14. Making your experience count
Each experience presented in your CV should demonstrate a skill that the employer wants to see.
Identify the skills the employer is looking for
Important skills for law:
Look at the employer’s website and read the job advertisement carefully
The really important part of your CV are the ones where you talk about your experience: your academic experience to some extent, but even more your work experience, legal and otherwise, and your activities and interests.
But sections cantt be just lists, you need to use these sections to show your skills, and show that they match what the employer wants.
As far as possible, each of the experiences your present here should show how your gained or used a skill that the employer was looking for.
1. Identify skills the employer is looking for
1. Identify the skills the employer is looking for
What skills are important in law?
Academic ability
Flexibility
Good time management
Ability to persuade
Commercial awareness
Negotiation skills
Marketing ability
Accuracy and attention to detail
Integrity
Teamwork + OTHERS
There may be others. If you are going to apply - read the job advert, look at the firm's website - which skills do they ask for, what seems important to them?

15. 2. Map your skills Choose 5 skills
Identify times when you learned, developed or demonstrated those skills:
At university
During legal work experience
In other work
In extra-curricular activities
2. Map skills, choose 5 skills you think are important in general, or if you have a specific job in mind, for the job or company you are most interested in
Now map skills
Think of times when you practiced/learned those skills?
At university,
during legal work experience
in other work
in extra-curricular activities - think about times you learned of demonstrated these skills
What did you do that demonstrates that you have this skill?

16. 3. Present your skill using the CAR method
Give the date, and the title of your role
Context: Explain the situation, be brief but specific
Action: What did you do? What was your role? What action did you take?
Use bullet points
Omit the personal pronoun “I”
Start sentences with a dynamic action verb in the simple past
Don’t make lists with nouns
Results: What did you achieve?
Use numbers to quantify your actions and results.
Present your skills using the CAR method
Write 1 - when the experience took place, and a titile
Present What you did, using method
Context - situation, brief but specific
Action - what did you do? what was your role, what action did you take?
VERBS are very important - give list of verbs to use
Result - what was the outcome, what did you achieve? impr0ve? Qualify and Quantify?
10 minutes - write two, choose two experience you have in work experience or student experience and present it in this way > demonstrates skills employers are looking for
get several students to present examples and correct them / improve them

17. 10 minutes - write two, choose two experience you have in work experience or student experience and present it in this way > demonstrates skills employers are looking for
get several students to present examples and correct them / improve them

18. III: Cover letters

19. Cover letters Research the company and the role
(website, industry press, social media etc)
What are they looking for?
Why do you want this role in this company?
How do your skills and experiences meet their needs?

20. STructure
Your name and address top right
Their name and address top left
Date > right
Dear Mrs/Mr/miss/Ms Smith
Dear Sir/Madam - rude
Dear Sir Yours faithfully
Dear Mrs M Yours sincerely

21. Cover letters Heading: Application for internship First paragraph:
Who you are, and why you are writing
Second / third paragraphs:
Why you are interested in this role / company: be specific and back it up
Your skills and experience: highlight key elements
Don’t exceed one page
Introduce yourself and explain why you are writing. If you are responding to an advertisement, state where you saw it.
. You need to think about how you would like to introduce yourself;mention the course you are studying, where you are studying and when you will finish your studies
WHY THIS COMAPNY/WHY THIS ROLE
Explain why you are interested in the job and the organisation. Tailor the letter to the organisation and job description and make it clear that you have not sent out multiple copies of the same letter to different employers. If you can, say something original about the organisation: don’t just repeat the text from their publicity material.
Draw on your research, especially of you’ve been able to speak with any members of staff at careers fairs. Be specific about why the position is particularly attractive for you, and back this up with evidence from your past, or by linking this to your overall career plans, and what you find exciting about this sector.
SKILLS - how match what looking for
Explain why you are well-suited to the position. Refer to the relevant skills, experience and knowledge you have and match what you say to the requirements outlined in the job description. Tell your story and highlight key elemenst so that you are building on, but not using exactly the same phrases contained in your CV.
No set structure - balance depending on lots of factors > niche work in a particular area etc

22. Ending the letter Dear + a named individual - Yours sincerely
Dear Sir/Madam - Yours faithfully