ESI-UK Job Helper

Build your CV, make it look professional, find jobs, write your cover letter and get ready for interview. Everything stays on your device.

Welcome to the ESI-UK Job Helper

A free tool to help you get into work. Build or improve your CV, find local jobs, see how well you match them, and apply with confidence. Getting started takes about 20 minutes, and you can save your progress and come back any time.

How it works

  1. Your CVUpload or paste the CV you have, or build one by filling in the boxes. We’ll suggest wording for the type of work you want.
  2. CV checkWe check your CV against good practice and tell you what to fix first.
  3. Design and saveOptional. Choose a simple, professional look and save as Word, PDF or Google Docs. Happy with your own CV? Skip this step.
  4. Find jobsSearch real local vacancies, get ideas for jobs that suit you, and save the ones you like to your job tracker.
  5. CompareSee how your CV matches a job, what’s missing, and ESI-UK training that could fill the gaps.
  6. ApplyWrite a cover letter in the same style as your CV, answer application questions and get ready for interview.

Your job tracker

Keeping a record of your job search helps you stay organised, follow up on applications and show your progress, for example in your Universal Credit journal or your reviews with ESI-UK. Download it now and keep it with your CV. It opens in Excel or Google Sheets and has four tabs:

  • Job Tracker: one row per job. Record where you found it, the closing date, when you applied, what happened and what you’ll learn from it. It shows how many days are left to apply and when to follow up.
  • Learning Log: courses, training, volunteering and certificates, with the hours you spent.
  • Weekly Planner: a simple routine of two hours a day, with space to write what you did.
  • Summary: fills itself in to show applications sent, interviews, offers and learning hours.

You can also keep your tracker here in step 4. When you download it from there, the jobs you’ve saved are already filled in.

Your privacy

Your CV and everything you type stay on your device. Nothing is saved online. Use “Save my progress” at the bottom of the page to keep a copy for next time. If you’re on a shared computer, press “Clear everything” when you’ve finished.

Need a hand?

ESI-UK offers free one-to-one help with CVs, applications and interviews, and a free job club in Rossington every Friday. Find out more.

Start with your CV

Paste or upload the CV you have, or build a new one by filling in the boxes.

Been here before?

How to write a great CV

Employers often spend less than a minute on a CV, so make the important things easy to find.

Keep it short and clear

  • Two sides of A4 at most. One page is fine if you’re new to work.
  • Use a simple font (Arial, Calibri or Georgia) at size 10–12, with clear headings and bullet points.
  • Keep it to one column, with no tables, text boxes or pictures, so online application systems can read it.

Put things in this order

  • Contact details: name, town, phone and email. You don’t need your full address.
  • Personal profile: 3–4 lines on who you are, your strengths and the job you want.
  • Key skills: 5–8 skills that match the jobs you’re applying for.
  • Work experience: most recent first, with job title, employer, dates (month and year) and bullet points.
  • Education and training: qualifications, courses and certificates, with the year.
  • Other information: driving licence, languages, volunteering, interests that show useful skills.

Show what you achieved, not just your duties

Responsible for the till. Served up to 150 customers a day on the till, handling cash and card payments accurately.

Start each bullet point with a doing word (served, packed, trained, organised) and add numbers where you can.

Leave these out

  • Date of birth, age, marital status, photo, National Insurance number or religion.
  • “References available on request”. Employers will ask.
  • Anything that isn’t true. Employers check.

Gaps and little experience

  • Explain gaps in one honest line, like “2023–present: caring for a family member”.
  • Volunteering, caring, school projects, hobbies and helping friends or family all show skills. Use them.

Every time you apply

  • Change your profile and skills to match the job advert, using the same words where they’re true for you.
  • Check spelling and grammar, then ask someone to read it.
  • Save it as “Firstname Surname CV”. Send a PDF unless the employer asks for Word.

Your CV check

Fix these

    Already good

      Choose a design and save your CV

      Pick how you want your CV to look. All the designs are simple and clear, so employers and online systems can read them easily.

      This step is optional. Happy with how your own CV looks? Keep using your own file and . If you made changes in the CV check, copy them into your own file too.
      Style
      Colour
      Font
      Change the words in your CV

      Save your CV

      Most employers prefer a PDF. Send Word only if they ask for it.

      Find jobs

      Search for real local jobs, then compare any of them with your CV in one click.

      Jobs you could look at

      Ideas based on your CV. Tap one to search for it.

        Search other job sites

        My job tracker

        Save jobs you like, then record when you apply, what happens and what you’ll learn from it. Download it as a spreadsheet with a summary, a learning log and a weekly planner. Useful for your Universal Credit journal and your ESI-UK reviews.

          Opens in Excel or Google Sheets. Includes a summary of how your job search is going, a learning log and a weekly planner.

          How your CV matches this job

          Your CV already shows

            Gaps to close

              Other words the advert uses a lot

              Use them in your CV and cover letter where they’re true for you.

              Training and support from ESI-UK

              Apply for the job

              Write your cover letter in the same design as your CV, answer any application form questions and get ready for interview.

              How to write a great cover letter

              A cover letter tells the employer why you want this job and why you’d be good at it. Keep it to one page, around 250–350 words.

              Write it for each job

              Employers can tell when the same letter has gone to everyone. Use the job title, the employer’s name and the words from the advert.

              Four short paragraphs

              • Opening: the job you’re applying for and where you saw it.
              • Why you fit: two or three things from the advert that you can do, each with a real example.
              • Why them: something you like about the employer, such as their customers, values or reputation.
              • Close: when you can start, and that you’d like an interview.

              Getting the greeting right

              • If the advert gives a name, use it: “Dear Ms Patel”, then end with “Yours sincerely”.
              • If there’s no name: “Dear Hiring Manager”, then end with “Yours faithfully”.

              Make it sound like you

              I am a hard-working team player with excellent communication skills. At Tesco I often covered the busiest Saturday shifts, and I trained three new starters on the tills.

              Sending it

              • If you’re emailing, put the job title in the subject line and keep the email short, with your CV and letter attached as PDFs.
              • Check the employer’s name is spelt right. It’s the most common mistake.
              Answering application form questions (optional)

              For jobs that use an application form instead of, or as well as, a cover letter. For questions like “Tell us about a time you gave great customer service”, employers look for your answer in this order.

              Getting ready for an interview

              Before the day

              • Read the job advert and your CV again. Expect questions about anything on them.
              • Look at the employer’s website so you can say what you like about them.
              • Plan your journey and aim to arrive 10 minutes early. For phone or video interviews, find a quiet spot and test your camera and sound.
              • Wear something clean and smart for the type of job. If you’re not sure, go one step smarter than the staff usually wear.
              • Bring anything they ask for, such as ID or proof you can work in the UK.

              Questions you’re likely to be asked

              • Tell me about yourself. Keep it to work: your experience, your strengths and why you want this job. About a minute.
              • Why do you want this job? Link what the job involves to what you enjoy and are good at.
              • What do you know about us? Mention one or two things from their website.
              • What are your strengths? Pick two that match the advert and give an example of each.
              • What’s your weakness? Choose something real but not essential to the job, and say what you’re doing to improve.
              • Tell me about a time you… Use the situation, task, action, result order from the answer builder above.
              • Can you explain this gap on your CV? Be honest and brief, then talk about what you’re ready to do now.
              • Do you have any questions for us? Always say yes. Try “What does a typical day look like?” or “What training do you offer?”

              Afterwards

              • Send a short email thanking them for their time.
              • If you haven’t heard back by the date they gave, it’s fine to call or email to ask.
              • If it’s a no, ask for feedback. It helps with the next one.

              Want to practise? ESI-UK can do a mock interview with you. Get in touch or come to the Friday job club in Rossington.

              Want someone to look over your application? Get free help from ESI-UK or come to our Friday job club in Rossington.