Summary of Job Seeking and Career Planning
Job Seeking and Career Planning: Your Student Guide to Success
Introduction
A job application helps you present your personal details, education, work experience, and interests to a potential employer. This guide explains how to write short, clear documents (a CV and a letter of application), where to look for jobs, and how to choose a job that fits you.
A CV (curriculum vitae) is a short document listing your personal data, education, work history, skills and interests. A letter of application is a short, formal letter that explains why you want a job and why you are suitable for it.
1. What to include in a CV
Break your CV into short paragraphs or sections. Each section should be easy to read.
Personal details
- Full name (name and surname)
- Date of birth
- Address
- Email address
- Sex (write Male/Female/Other when asked in English forms)
Personal details are basic facts about you that help the employer contact and identify you.
Education and qualifications
- List all schools you attended, from most recent to earliest
- Include special courses, certificates, or vocational training
- Mention practical skills you learned (computer skills, language levels, etc.)
Example:
- High School: Example Secondary School, 2018–2021
- English course: Basic Business English Certificate, 2022
Work experience
- List every job, including summer jobs and part-time work
- Give dates, job titles and short descriptions of duties
- Employers value reliability: showing regular work history helps convince them you will be punctual and responsible
Example:
- Sales Assistant, Small Shop, Summer 2020 — served customers, opened and closed the store
Interests and hobbies
- Short list of relevant hobbies that show positive traits (team sports, volunteering, learning languages)
- Avoid writing hobbies that may give a negative impression (e.g., “only listening to music and hanging out”) without adding constructive context
Interests and hobbies show your character and how you spend your free time, which can be important to employers.
2. How to write a short letter of application
A letter of application must be brief and formal. Keep it to one short page.
- Start with how you found the job (newspaper, website, friend). Example: "I would like to apply for the kindergarten teacher position advertised in the newspaper SME on 1 April."
- Give your personal details and a short statement about your education.
- Summarize relevant work experience and skills that make you a good candidate.
- Explain briefly why you want the job and how you can help the employer.
- Close politely and include contact details.
A letter of application is a concise, polite message that explains your interest in the specific job and highlights your main qualifications.
Example letter structure
- Opening line: where you saw the offer
- Short personal summary: name, main qualification
- Main paragraph: key experience and skills for the job
- Closing: polite thanks and contact details
3. Where to look for jobs
- Online job portals (for example: PROFESIA.sk or other local sites)
- Newspapers (job adverts section)
- Word of mouth: friends, family, networks
- Job centers (úrad práce) or government employment services
Looking for a job means actively searching in different places and using both online and offline sources.
4. How to choose the right job for you
When choosing a job, think about what matters most to you. Consider:
- Salary: do you need a well-paid job now?
- Enjoyment: will you like the daily tasks?
- Travel: does the job require travel and is that good for you?
- Working hours: fixed 9-to-5 or flexible shifts?
- Team vs. solo work: do you prefer working with others or alone?
- Safety and conditions: is the job dangerous or physically demanding?
Write down your priorities. This helps you focus on job offers that match your needs.
Choosin
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Job Applications Guide
Klíčová slova: Job Applications and Job Search
Klíčové pojmy: Include full personal details and sex when required, List all education and special courses in order, State every job including summer and part-time work, Keep the letter of application short and formal, Start the letter by saying where you found the job offer, Use online portals, newspapers, friends and job centres to find jobs, Decide job priorities: pay, enjoyment, travel, hours, team vs solo, Choose hobbies that show positive traits, avoid vague leisure-only hobbies, Check spelling and contact details before sending, Use a one-page CV and a half-page letter for simplicity