Right, I WANT this job, but need some help

[nutcracker]

It is for a receptionist in a health centre, 20 hours a week, with sick and holiday pay, and it is local to me.

The ad states that no experience is needed as full training will be given.
However it does ask for a good standard of general education which is where my application will fall down, as although I am by no means thick, my exam results aren't great.

It also asks for basic computer literacy and good keyboard skills, both of which I do have, but no qualifications to show for it.

I have to send my CV and a hand written covering letter.

I have a CV which is ok but nothing special.

Any hints and tips of what I can do to improve my chances of gettng this job, would be greatly appreciated.

Is there anyone who could look at my CV for me and tell me if it is any good or not ??

Bump

Different companies will mean different things by "good standard of general education". I have hired staff where the post is advertised to graduates in the past and have had applicants that can't write a sentence properly or spell! Which you clearly can do! I would spend time carefully writing a covering letter and refer to your computer literacy, it doesn't necessarily matter if you have no qualifications in that regard and given you don't you should try and be as specific as possible. For example state the packages you have used e.g. word (letters), excel (spreadsheets)? internet, email, powerpoint (presentations)? Think of as many as you can and include all. If you refer to packages like word, internet, etc showw you are computer literate!

nutty you need pink teddy.

Sounds good . Draw attention in the letter to work experience such as your stint at Wilkinsons (ie customer service) iirc you worked in a care home for a while ? , computer literacy in Word etc, professional telephone manner, any voluntary work .

I'll have a look at your CV if you like. I'm no HR expert but I'm a copywriter

Thanks spicemonster, whats your email addy ?

Have never had to have a good telephone manner for any of my previous jobs, unless you count talking to prospective mindee parents when I was childminding ??

baileybeyond @ yahoo.co.uk (no spaces obviously).

In your cover letter as LIZS says, you need to draw attention to all the stuff in your CV that would be useful in this job. As they given you a list of qualities they're looking for, it would be really useful if you made a list of all the stuff you think makes a good receptionist and then explain how you have those skills/qualities in your covering letter.

For example - discretion, polite, calm under pressure, organised etc

H\ave sent it Spicemonster, thanks.

Will work on a covering letter once ds has gone to bed.

Awww Nutcracker - I could do with a job like that near me - sounds fab. Hope you are successful.

Message withdrawn

Thanks Twiggy and Cod

I'm trying to do the cover letter now, but I am stuck.

This is what I have so far .....

I would like to apply for the role of receptionist, as advertised in the recruitment section of Sutton Coldfield News.

I consider myself to be a great candidate for this role, as I am confident, discreet, hard working and polite with the ability to stay calm under pressure and stay focused.

I have a, polite and pleasant telephone manner and treat other members of staff and the public with respect.

I am a keen and confident computer user, competent in using email and internet as well as being able to create Word documents and produce a Power Point presentation.

There are too many I's aren't there ?

Plus how do I finnish it off ? I look forward to hearing from you soon ?

Give date of advert

Spellcheck ! 2s's in focussed !

3rd paragraph - refer to your specific experience with customer related jobs.

Express willingness to be trained to use new packages.

How about "I would welcome the opportunity to discuss the role and my suitability in more detail and look forwrad to eharign frm you soon."

Yours ...

Thats fab Liz, thanks.