CV, CL during networking

Hi there,

I would separate the two documents because they do not carry the same readiness requirement. The CV has to be ready at all times, including in the conversation you did not expect to turn into a referral. The cover letter does not, because it is written against a specific role and office, and the person referring you is not the one who reads it.

A few things stand out to me:

• Keep one master CV that contains nothing firm-specific, no objective line and no "why this firm" framing. A CV that needs editing before it can be sent is a CV you will send late, and the tailoring you do later is the ordering and two bullets, not the document.
• Send it within 24 hours as a PDF named with your own name, and write the two sentences the referrer can paste into their form. Referral forms usually ask the employee for a few lines of their own, and they are writing them between meetings. Handing them the sentence is the most useful thing you can do in the whole exchange.
• If the referral came up when you were not expecting it, say you will send everything in 48 hours and then send it in 24. Nobody withdraws an offer to refer over two days. I wouldn't send a rushed CV to the person who has just attached their name to it.
• If the referrer does ask for a cover letter, ask which role and office they are submitting you for before you write it. A letter aimed at the wrong opening is worse than no letter.

A referral is almost never lost by taking two days to send a good CV. It is lost by sending one the referrer would have to apologise for.

hey there :)

I’d have the CV ready, but I wouldn’t worry about having a perfect cover letter before the coffee chat. If someone offers to refer you unexpectedly, you can simply say you’d be happy to send over your CV and application materials afterwards.

In fact, having a polished CV ready is useful for networking generally, even if you’re not actively applying yet. For the cover letter, you can always tailor it once you know which role and office you’re applying to.

So basically: CV ready, CL when needed. No need to prepare one for every firm just in case.

best,
Alessa :)

Keep a strong, general CV ready before you start networking. A referral can arise unexpectedly, and the referrer will usually need a document they can confidently pass on. The CV should already be accurate, concise and easy to understand without firm-specific wording.

The cover letter is different. It should be written for a particular role, office and firm, so you do not need one for every initial conversation.

If someone unexpectedly offers to refer you, thank them and ask which role and office they have in mind. Then say when you will send the documents, ideally within one or two days. Use that time to check the CV and tailor any required letter. A careful response after 24 hours is better than sending a weak document immediately. Include the job link and a short reminder of why you fit.

Have your CV ready. You do not need a cover letter prepared before every coffee chat.

When it comes to referrals, you need to follow the referree's guidance.

Simply including their name in your cover letter/appication is not a referral. They have to take specific action!

Often, when they do, they'll need your resume. So just attach it for them so they don't need to ask!