Ambition in Action - CV’s and Cover Letters
How Will This Session Help Me Get Ready For Work?
Most jobs require us to put our thoughts into writing. That might be filling in an application form, detailing our skills on a CV, or writing a cover letter to explain why we are right for a role. Many people find writing about themselves tricky or worry about using the wrong words, but with a few simple techniques, you can present your experience clearly, showcase your strengths with confidence, and make a brilliant first impression!
Questions to get started
Thinking about everyday life, when was a time you had to explain something to someone—like helping a family member, a customer, or a friend? How did you make sure they understood you?
When you hear the phrase "formal language," what kind of words or situations come to mind, and how is that different from how you talk to your friends?
If a close friend or family member asked you what your best quality or skill is, what would they say—and what is a real-life example of you using it?
Focused Virtues
The Focused Virtue for this session is Wisdom.
Wisdom gives us the insight to choose the right words when applying for a job, selecting formal language and clear examples so our strengths shine and our ambition is clear.
Ask Yourself: "Can I grow in wisdom to present my true value to employers?"
Reflect with care, write with confidence.
Skills Development:
Ambition in action - CV’s and cover letters
When applying for your first job, writing a strong CV and cover letter takes true wisdom. Showing your ambition isn't about boasting—it is about thoughtfully picking the right details, choosing the correct tone, and proving your value to an employer.
First, demonstrate wisdom by using appropriate language. An application is a formal setting, so avoid informal slang or overly casual phrases. Write in clear, complete sentences to show respect and professionalism. Be careful with overly technical terms unless you are certain the manager reading your application shares that specific background; keeping your writing clear and direct ensures everyone understands your achievements.
Next, focus on highlighting your skills. Group your abilities into basic skills (like literacy and numeracy), essential transferable skills (like teamwork and problem-solving), and any technical skills you have picked up through school, hobbies, or volunteering. Reflect on your past experiences to show employers where your strengths lie.
Finally, back up every claim with facts and examples. Don't just say you are hard-working; give concrete evidence to prove it. A wise way to structure your bullet points or cover letter paragraphs is:
State your skill: "I have strong customer service skills..."
Provide facts: "...developed over six months volunteering at a local charity shop."
Give an example: "For instance, I regularly greeted visitors, managed the checkout, and helped resolve customer queries quickly."
By choosing the right formal language, clearly listing your skills, and providing real evidence, you will present your ambitions wisely and make a great impression on paper.
Interview Practise: Case Studies and Questions
"Can you give an example of a skill you have and tell us about a time you used it in real life?"
"How do you change the way you communicate when speaking to a customer or manager compared to talking to a friend?"
Case Study
Alex is applying for a customer service job at a local leisure centre. Alex has never had a paid job before, but spent six months volunteering at a local youth club, where they helped run the tuck shop, managed the weekly register, and helped calm down upset children.
In their cover letter, Alex wrote:
"I am really good with people and I'm very hard working. I want this job because I need the money."
How can Alex use their youth club volunteering experience to write a more formal, professional letter?
Guidance and Resources for Facilitators
Facilitator Guide: Ambition in Action – CVs and Cover Letters
Many entry-level learners (including those with EAL) face barriers when putting their ambitions on paper. They often struggle to recognise their transferable skills, default to overly informal language, or feel intimidated by formal application processes. As a facilitator, your role is to guide them past self-doubt, reframe everyday life experiences into assets they can use, and help them communicate their strengths using the virtue of wisdom.
Core Concepts & Background Information
To support your group effectively, draw upon these core concepts from the underlying skills framework:
1. The Structure of Persuasive Evidence (Facts & Examples)
Communicating ambition effectively requires backing up claims with evidence. Help learners move away from vague self-praise ("I am a hard worker") by introducing structured evidence:
Facts and Statistics: Quantifiable data or verifiable details that provide hard evidence (e.g., number of months spent volunteering, size of a team managed, or frequency of a task).
Narrative Examples: Real-life stories that illustrate how a skill was applied. A strong example establishes the Where (context), Who (people involved), Why (the problem), How (the solution), and What (the positive result).
The Application Formula: Guide learners to use the simple structure: [My Skill/Opinion] because [Facts]. For example, [Example].
2. Mastering Workplace Register (Appropriate Language)
Choosing the correct register shows respect for the setting and demonstrates professional awareness:
Informal Register: Casual language and slang suited only for close friends and family.
Formal Register: Clear, complete sentences with precise vocabulary, suitable for CVs, cover letters, and professional settings.
Technical Register: Industry-specific jargon - however while technical terms show expertise, using them inappropriately can confuse an employer who does not share that specific background.
3. Categorising Personal Skills
Skills are abilities that can be learned and improved over time. Help learners identify their capabilities across three distinct categories:
Basic Skills: Abilities needed for daily life and work (literacy, numeracy, basic digital skills).
Essential Skills: Highly transferable core abilities such as communication, teamwork, creative problem-solving, and self-management.
Technical Skills: Specialized abilities required for specific tasks or job roles (e.g., operating machinery, coding, or till handling).
Guiding Reflection & Overcoming Barriers
1. Overcoming the "I Don't Have Any Skills" Barrier
Learners with limited formal work history often assume they have nothing to put on a CV.
Reframing Strategy: Expand their definition of skill-building. Organizing a household budget, coordinating family schedules, volunteering at a local community group, or managing caregiving duties all build vital essential skills like time management, problem-solving, and financial literacy.
Prompting Reflection: Avoid asking general questions like "What skills do you have?" Instead, ask targeted, scenario-based questions:
"Think about a busy week at home or school. What tasks did you organize to make sure everything got done on time?"
"When was a time you had to explain something clearly to someone who was confused? How did you help them understand?"
2. Overcoming the Language and Register Gap
Learners often struggle to translate their everyday experiences into formal workplace language, either relying on casual slang or getting bogged down trying to sound overly academic.
Reframing Strategy: Treat register selection as a practical workplace tool rather than a test of vocabulary. Reframe formal language as a way to ensure their achievements are clearly understood by anyone reading their application.
Prompting Reflection:
"If you were telling a friend about helping out at an event, what words would you use? Now, how would you explain that same story to a site manager or employer?"
"Look at this phrase: 'I sorted out a big mess with the stock.' How can we rewrite that in a formal sentence to show your problem-solving skills?"
3. Overcoming the Modesty Barrier with Evidence
Many learners feel uncomfortable writing positive statements about themselves on a cover letter, viewing it as "boasting."
Reframing Strategy: Show learners that stating facts and examples removes the feeling of bragging. A fact is not a boast—it is simply a truthful record of what happened.
Activity Idea : Pair learners up. Ask Partner A to state one thing they are good at doing. Partner B must act as a detective and ask "What is the proof?" until Partner A provides a specific fact or story (e.g., "I am reliable" becomes "I arrived 10 minutes early for every class last term").
Delivery Tips for the Session
Keep Vocabulary Concrete: Break down abstract terms like register into actionable descriptions: "matching your words to the person you are speaking or writing to."
Use Side-by-Side Comparisons: Show simple, real-world contrast examples of informal, formal, and technical sentences so learners can visually spot the difference.
Focus on Incremental Builds: Help learners build their CV line by line using simple templates rather than overwhelming them with full document design all at once.