© Emma Friend Freelance Graphic Design Croydon

STUDENTS

I have had numerous letters and emails asking me for
work experience from as far away as India that contain
common mistakes and irrelevant information. As a result
of this, I decided to put together a few tips for students
in regard to sending their CV to companies and possible reasons as to why companies may not be responding.

Gender Confused

It is not a good idea to start your covering letter with Dear
Sir/Madam. This indicates that you are probably sending
the same email/letter to multiple companies. You should
be selecting companies you really want to gain placements
with and have a valid reason for wanting to do so. Don't just
pick any random company for the sake of getting some sort
of work experience, and always make sure you find out the
name of the person you are sending your CV to. That way it
is not impersonal and you get the gender right.

Do you know me?

A lot of companies get letters/emails from students that are
unrelated to the services they offer. It might be worthwhile
referring to a job you admired by the company, as it shows
you have bothered to research them properly and proves
you understand exactly what it is they do or specialise in.

No GCSEs please

Companies are not interested in GCSE results, especially if
they are not design related. They are interested in software
skills, awards and any industry memberships that you may
have. Also try to avoid adding your hobbies and what you do
in your spare time. They do not need to know that you like
ridding your bike or going to the cinema.

Play safe

Your CV should ideally be sent as a PDF. Do not send it
as a Microsoft Word file, as firstly there will often be issues

with typefaces. If you set a CV out in your favourite typeface,
chances are the person you are sending it to will not have it
installed on their computer. Secondly, you have less chance
of it being opened, as not everyone has Microsoft Word.

It is also a good idea to have your own website and online
portfolio. Don't worry if you can't make or design websites
click on the links to the far left, they will help get you started.

I hope this helps. Remember, if you do not hear back from
companies it doesn’t mean you should give up trying, we
have all gone through disappointment, the trick is to use it
as a way of becoming more determined. Good luck!