Hi, there. This is Harry. Welcome back to Advanced English Lessons with Harry, where I
tried to help you to get a better understanding of the English language, where you're trying to
improve your business, English, conversational English. Even if you're applying for jobs in
the international community, then this is where to come. If you need any help, you know where we are.
And I'll give you the address at the end of this particular lesson.
So in this advanced English lesson, we're actually looking at CV or covering letters
to look at some phrases that you could use that will give you or leave the person you're
talking to with a very positive impression about you. So if you're writing business
letters just to practice or if you're writing a letter for a job application
where for the summer or you've just left college or you're looking to work for an international
company, then pay attention, because some of these phrases are those that you could use.
And we'll also look at some that you shouldn't use. Okay. So advanced English lesson
All about CV and covering letters and phrases to give and leave a positive impression.
We've got ten of these in the first list. Okay. So I'll give it to you
and then I'll give you an idea as to what it means. So first one,
I'm very much in touch with. So here you're describing your skills. It could be hard skills
or soft skills. I'm very much in touch with current market trends. So if you're looking
for a marketing job or a sales job, then this is an expression that you could use.
I'm very much in touch with current trends in the technology industry.
I'm very much in touch with trends in the fashion industry.
Number two, I have considered both or extensive experience of or with case, so I have considerable
experience of
selling technology. I have considerable experience of running a district or a area
for sales. I have extensive experience of managing people or building teams.
So depending on the the position you're looking for, the job you're going for,
when you can use an expression that I have considerable experience or extensive experience,
the meaning is the same, but they are both business-orientated expressions that will
indicate to the person that you have got the sort of knowledge and the extents,
the extent of knowledge that they are looking for in that particular position.
Next,
I enthusiastically maintain my knowledge of. So this has gone to tell the person
that you've got great enthusiasm for your position. Not only that,
but you maintain your knowledge by constant reading, attending courses,
giving training, whatever it happens to be. You and Susie astutely maintain or keep
your level of knowledge up to the required level in that particular field.
So it could be in the area of medicine, it could be in the in the legal area, it could be in the
area of accounting or whatever it happens to be. You study, you improve, you keep up to date with
what is happening. So you enthusiastically maintain your knowledge of something.
If you want to tell somebody that you have been involved in certain committees,
that you were responsible partly or fully for certain developments in your previous
company or in university, then you can use an expression like I played an active role
in. Now it could be very simply have played an active role in the political
debates that took place in our university political club.
Or I played an active role in the theatrical club. So people see that you're a people person,
you're not shy, that you're you like to put yourself forward and you could
easily make presentations. Oh, I played an active role in all sports so that you
are seen as a team player, somebody who gets on well with other people.
I played an active role in
Number five I acquired or I developed some relevant skills in this area while
doing some job placement over the summer, or I acquired or developed some valuable skills when
doing my
training program in some other company. So here again,
you're underlying or you're trying to inform. This would be
employer that you've got skills, certain skill set that would be suited
related to the position that you're applying for.
So I acquired or I developed relevant skills or
valuable skills or even both. I acquired and developed relevant
and valuable skills in the following area. So you can set it out quite specifically.
A more simple
expression to use. I have been able to I've been able to put into practice all
the knowledge I gained in the final year of my university. I've been able to develop my
career quite successfully and I'm applying for this position because
So I've been able to open for you to
edit or add any other explanation, but it's a good way to introduce the skills that you have, the
skills you have, the skills you have developed, and the specialty or the experience that you now
I have obtained. Okay.
Number seven, I have taken a keen interest in politics since I started university. I've taken
a keen interest in international diplomacy. I've taken a keen interest in world economics,
whatever the topic happens to be. Again, you're using strong words to emphasize your knowledge,
base your interests and how adaptable you would be to a position that they are offering.
Some just general statements to make in your covering letter could be. I
feel that with my breadth of knowledge that with my in-depth knowledge, with my
interests, with the performance I've had, the experience gained in other companies, blah,
blah, blah. So I feel that with my knowledge, with my experience, with my contacts, you know,
perhaps you've got a really strong network of key people in that business that would make
it easy for you to start a career in selling marketing, development, whatever it might be.
I would be very well qualified to represent your company. I would
be very well qualified for this position because of my extensive knowledge of the
international business community that operates in a company or our country.
I'd be very well qualified to
take part in these forums that you will run
in the business development areas to represent the company in any international
trade shows or trade fairs.
And then finally, I believe
And I am certain that my knowledge of systems will be valuable to your future development.
I believe I am certain that my knowledge of criminal law will enable me to represent your
legal firm in the best possible way. So again, depending on what job you're applying for,
where you see yourself, what your skill levels are, both soft and hard skills,
you can use any of those or any of these particular phrases to help you.
So let me give them to you one more time. Number one, I'm very much in touch with. Number two,
I have considerable or extensive experience inside of or with I enthusiastically
maintain my knowledge of. Number four, I played an active role in. Number five,
I have acquired or developed some relevant or valuable and or valuable skills. Number six,
I have been able to seven, I have taken a keen interest in number eight.
I feel that with my whatever extensive knowledge, in-depth knowledge, whatever
that might be. Number nine, I would be very well qualified to represent your company,
to take part in trade fairs, to run your training department.
And then finally, number ten, I believe
I am certain that my knowledge of this area will enable me to do the
job that you require. Okay. So all really, really good
Expressions that if you include one or two or three of these in your covering letter,
your CV, it would certainly go a long way to explain to
potential employers exactly who you are and what they want to get.
Okay. So what we're going to have now is a quick little quiz and relate in relation to
some other matters. Okay. So what you're going to see on the screen is a couple
of expressions. Okay. And you then have to choose which of these expressions is
appropriate or which of these expressions is inappropriate for a covering business letter.
So something very, very formal. So here are the expressions that you're going to see.
Here is
my CV. I am attaching here with my CV. Please find attached to my CV. So
you have to choose which
of those is inappropriate,
which of them you would not use with your covering letter for applying for a job.
Okay. So for those of you who have selected that
here is my CV, yet that would be inappropriate. It's nothing wrong with it. It's nice, clean,
simple English, but it's not the most appropriate for a business style covering
letter you would want to say I am attaching herewith my CV. Please find attached my CV.
Okay. Now the second one again, We're looking for you to select
the inappropriate option out of these. Okay, So
It's the end of the letter. Okay. So at the very end of the letter.
I look forward to hearing from you
in due course. I look forward to hearing from you in a bit. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Okay. And again, for those of you who selected the inappropriate one as in a bit. Absolutely
right. So the most appropriate would be I look forward to hearing from you in due
course or I look forward to hear from you soon. I would prefer the first one. I look
forward to hearing from you in due course. Much more businesslike, but not in a bit.
Okay.
And remember, when you use
look forward to it's always followed by the i n g. I look forward to hearing from
you. I look forward to meeting you. I look forward to greeting you. I look forward to
lunching with you. Whatever it might be,
it's always I and G. Follow following I look forward to.
Okay, so it's just some simple competitions that just to check how you use the beginning.
Of your.
CV covering letter.
And then also how you would end or sign off with your cover letter or CV. So I
look forward to meeting greetings. See all right.
Okay, So if you have any difficulty with those or you find them a little bit problematic, well,
drop me a line. I'll certainly help you a little bit more to understand the type
of expressions and phrases that you can include in CVS and covering letter to give you the best
chance of being listened to, the best chances of getting invited to an interview, and hopefully
the best chance of getting that all-important first job or second job that you want to get.
Okay, So it's a bit about practice. As we said before, you know what the drill
is. If you if you really want to try and use these and practice and come back to me
with any questions that you have. Okay. So I really appreciate you watching. I
appreciate you listening, John. Me again for the next lesson. This is Harry and goodbye.