Your application toolkit: CV, cover letter, personal statement, school app
EBy the Elevate Career Hub team
Almost every job or school application comes down to four documents. Get them right and you give yourself a real shot; get them wrong and even strong candidates get passed over. Here’s the practical, no-fluff version of what each one needs, the same checklist we walk our clients through.
The CV
- Tailor it to the specific role, the version that works for everything works for nothing.
- Lead each role with results and numbers, not a list of duties.
- Keep it clean and scannable; a reader should grasp your story in seconds.
The cover letter
- Address a real person where you can, it signals you did the work.
- Open with why this role, at this company, now, not “I am writing to apply”.
- Connect your experience to what they actually need, then stop. One page, tops.
The personal statement
- Start with something specific and true to you, skip the famous quote.
- Show the thread connecting where you’ve been to where this programme takes you.
- Demonstrate commitment with real examples, not adjectives about yourself.
The school application
- Research the school properly and answer what they’re actually asking.
- Let your achievements and involvement show your character, not just your grades.
- Give referees enough notice, and a reminder of your highlights to draw on.
One rule sits above all of these: be specific, be honest, and ask someone you trust to read it before you send it. If you’d like that someone to be people who’ve been inside the rooms where these decisions get made, book a free chat, we’ll tell you what’s working and what to sharpen.