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Writing pack · 8 templates

From your CV to your resignation letter, in English that shows your real work

Eight templates for every step of a job search in English: CV bullets that show what you achieved, interview answers you can say out loud, the follow-up after the interview, the salary conversation, your reply to the offer, the reference request, the resignation letter and the message to a recruiter. Write your notes in Arabic or English; every result is built only on your facts.

See the templates

Who this pack is for

  • Graduates and professionals applying for jobs in English: in the Gulf, in Europe or with remote international teams.
  • Anyone whose CV is a list of duties ("responsible for…") and who knows their work deserves better English.
  • People facing an interview, a salary talk or a resignation in a second language who want to sound calm and natural.

What recruiters and hiring managers look for

  1. Achievements, not duties Every CV says "responsible for". Yours should say what changed because you were there.
  2. Numbers they can believe How many, how much, how fast. A true approximation beats a vague claim; an invented figure falls apart in the interview.
  3. Fit with this job The words of their job ad, used where they honestly describe your work, and the most relevant results first.
  4. A natural voice Interview answers that sound prepared rather than memorised, and messages that sound like a confident person, not a form.
  5. Professional manners A thank-you within a day, a calm negotiation, a gracious resignation. The job market is smaller than it looks.

The heart of this pack

From duty to achievement

Recruiters skim a CV in seconds, and duties all look alike. An achievement bullet answers one question: what changed because you were there? Where you know the result but not the figure, keep a [number] and look up the real one. Never guess.

  1. Action verb
  2. What you did
  3. How
  4. Result, with a number
  1. Duty

    Responsible for preparing the monthly financial reports.

    Achievement

    Cut month-end reporting from 10 days to 4 by building a reusable Excel model for 6 cost centres.

    The duty becomes a change you caused, with a before and an after.

  2. Duty

    مسؤول عن متابعة المستحقات المتأخرة مع العملاء

    Achievement

    Recovered [amount] in overdue payments from [number] clients in [time] by calling each account weekly and agreeing payment plans.

    Written in Arabic, returned in English. The figures you did not give stay as [brackets], for you to fill in with the truth.

  3. Duty

    Handling the social media accounts of the company.

    Achievement

    Grew Instagram followers from 2,300 to 9,100 in 8 months with a weekly content calendar and short product videos.

    Every number comes from your own notes. Nothing is added that you did not write.

  4. Duty

    Worked in a team to organise events.

    Achievement

    Coordinated logistics for 3 career fairs with 40 employers and about 1,200 students, leading a team of 6 volunteers.

    Even teamwork has a scale: how many people, how many events, and which part was yours.

Turn your duties into achievements Open the outline

The templates in this pack

Write a draft from a short form, or open the outline in the workspace with the recommended settings and write it in your own words.

  1. CV achievement bullets

    Turn a list of duties ("responsible for…", even in Arabic) into strong achievement bullets, with a [number] wherever you still need a real figure.

    Write a draft Open the outline
    Tips, outline and settings

    What the recruiter looks for

    • Achievements, not duties: what changed because you were there.
    • A strong verb first (cut, built, led, negotiated, trained), never "Responsible for" or "Helped with".
    • A number in most bullets: how many, how much, how fast, how often. A true estimate ("about 120 clients") beats none; an invented one can cost you the job.
    • One line each, two at most, with the bullets that matter most for the job you want at the top.
    • The words of the job ad, where they honestly describe your work: many CVs are screened by software first.

    Recommended workspace settings

    Mode
    Business
    Emotion
    Neutral
    Vocabulary
    Standard
    Length
    Shorter

    Outline

    [Job title], [Organisation], [City] | [Start] to [End]• [Action verb] [what you did], [how: the tool, method or scope], [the result, with a number]• [Action verb] [what you did] for [how many people, clients or items], [the result]• [Action verb] [a problem you solved], [what changed afterwards, with a number]• [Action verb] [something you built, improved or started], [who used it, and how often][Verbs that work: Built, Cut, Led, Trained, Negotiated, Automated, Reduced, Launched, Resolved, Recovered]

  2. Interview answers

    "Tell me about yourself", "Why do you want to work here?", strengths and weaknesses: answers in natural spoken English, built on your real story.

    Write a draft Open the outline
    Tips, outline and settings

    What the interviewer listens for

    • A clear shape. For "Tell me about yourself": present, past, future, in about 90 seconds, not your life story.
    • One real example for every claim: a strength is believable only with a moment that shows it.
    • A real weakness you are working on, and what you do about it. Not "I am a perfectionist".
    • For "Why here?": something specific about this company, then how it connects to what you have done.
    • Spoken English: short sentences and contractions, learned as three points, not memorised word for word.

    Recommended workspace settings

    Mode
    Standard
    Emotion
    Balanced
    Vocabulary
    Simple
    Length
    Balanced

    Outline

    Tell me about yourself (about 90 seconds)[Now: what you do today, in one sentence.][Before: the one or two experiences that led here, with a result.][Next: why this role is the natural next step.]Why do you want to work here?[Something specific about this company: a product, a project, a value you have seen in action.][How it connects to what you have done, and what you want to do next.]What are your strengths?[One strength, said plainly.][A real moment that shows it, and the result.]What is your greatest weakness?[A real weakness that will not stop you doing this job.][What you are doing about it, and how it has improved.]

  3. Follow-up after an interview

    A thank-you within a day, a polite check on the decision, or a note that another offer has a deadline, each with one detail from the conversation.

    Write a draft Open the outline
    Tips, outline and settings

    What the hiring manager looks for

    • A thank-you within 24 hours, short enough to read on a phone.
    • One specific detail from the conversation, so it could not have been sent to anyone else.
    • Your interest restated in one sentence, linked to one point that matters for the role.
    • For a status check: wait until the date they gave has passed, then ask one polite question.

    Recommended workspace settings

    Mode
    Business
    Emotion
    Balanced
    Vocabulary
    Standard
    Length
    Shorter

    Outline

    Subject: Thank you: [role] interviewDear [interviewer's name],[Thank you for the conversation on [day], in one sentence.][One specific thing you discussed, and why it made you more interested in the role.][Optional: something you want to add to an answer, or a link to your work.][Close: you look forward to hearing about the next steps.]Best regards,[Your name][Phone]

  4. Salary and offer negotiation

    Ask for a better salary or terms with enthusiasm, one specific number, factual reasons and an alternative, without apologising.

    Write a draft Open the outline
    Tips, outline and settings

    What HR and the hiring manager look for

    • Enthusiasm first: thank them and say clearly that you want the job.
    • One specific number, not a range: they often meet you somewhere in between.
    • Reasons based on facts (market data, your skills for this role, a real competing offer), not personal need alone.
    • An alternative ready if the salary cannot move: a review date, a signing bonus, remote days, training or leave.
    • A calm, collaborative tone: you are solving a problem together. Get the final terms in writing.

    Recommended workspace settings

    Mode
    Business
    Emotion
    Neutral
    Vocabulary
    Standard
    Length
    Shorter

    Outline

    Subject: [role] offer: [salary / start date]Dear [name],[Thank you for the offer, and one clear sentence saying you want to join.][The request: one specific number or change.][Your reasons, in facts: market data, the skills you bring to this role, or a real competing offer.][An alternative if the salary is fixed: a review after [six months], a signing bonus, remote days or training.][Close: you are confident you can agree on terms, and you are happy to talk.]Best regards,[Your name]

  5. Accept or decline a job offer

    Say yes with the agreed terms on record, or say no gracefully and keep the door open.

    Write a draft Open the outline
    Tips, outline and settings

    What the employer needs

    • Your answer in the first sentence: yes or no, clearly.
    • When you accept: the job title, salary and start date restated exactly as agreed, so there is a written record.
    • When you decline: thanks, a short reason or none, and no burnt bridges. The same people may hire you in two years.
    • A reply before the deadline they gave, or a request for more time before it passes.

    Recommended workspace settings

    Mode
    Business
    Emotion
    Balanced
    Vocabulary
    Standard
    Length
    Shorter

    Outline

    Dear [name],[Your answer, in the first sentence: you are pleased to accept, or you have decided not to accept, the offer for [role].][If you accept: the terms as agreed: title, salary, start date. If you decline: a short, honest reason, or none.][If you accept: the next steps: the documents you will send, and any question. If you decline: thanks for their time, and a wish to stay in touch.]Sincerely,[Your name]

  6. Reference request to a former manager

    Ask a former manager to be your referee: a reminder of your work together, the job, what to expect and an easy way to say no.

    Write a draft Open the outline
    Tips, outline and settings

    What your former manager needs

    • Your request before anything else: never list someone as a referee without asking first.
    • A reminder of your work together: the dates, your role, one project they will remember.
    • The job, what it needs, and who may contact them, how and when.
    • Your CV and the job ad attached, so they can speak to what matters.
    • An easy way to say no, and thanks whatever the answer.

    Recommended workspace settings

    Mode
    Business
    Emotion
    Balanced
    Vocabulary
    Standard
    Length
    Shorter

    Outline

    Subject: Reference request: [job title] at [company]Dear [name],[A short hello, and a reminder of your work together: your role, the dates, one project.][The request: would they be willing to act as a reference for [job] at [company]?][What to expect: who may contact them, how (a call, an email or a written letter) and when.][What they could mention: one or two things they saw you do that matter for this job. Your CV and the job ad are attached.][An easy way out, and thanks.]Best regards,[Your name][Phone]

  7. Resignation letter

    Resign in three short paragraphs: the date, a sincere thank-you and the handover, with no complaints and no long reasons.

    Write a draft Open the outline
    Tips, outline and settings

    What your manager and HR need

    • The essentials in the first lines: that you are resigning, your job title and your last working day.
    • A last day that respects the notice period in your contract.
    • A short, sincere thank-you and an offer to help with the handover.
    • No complaints and no long reasons: the letter stays in your file, and you may need a reference.
    • Tell your manager in person first, then send the letter the same day.

    Recommended workspace settings

    Mode
    Business
    Emotion
    Neutral
    Vocabulary
    Standard
    Length
    Shorter

    Outline

    Dear [manager's name],Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation from my position as [job title] at [company]. My last working day will be [date], in line with my [notice period] notice period.[A short, sincere thank-you: one thing you learned or valued.][The handover: what you will finish, document or hand over before you leave.][Close: best wishes to the team, and how to reach you.]Sincerely,[Your name]

  8. Message to a recruiter on LinkedIn

    A first message, a reply or a connection note: the role, two facts that fit and one easy question, in under 100 words.

    Write a draft Open the outline
    Tips, outline and settings

    What a recruiter looks for

    • The role you mean, named in the first line: a job title, a reference or a link.
    • Two facts that match the role, ideally one with a number. Not your whole CV.
    • One easy question: is the role open, may you send your CV, would a 15-minute call work?
    • Short: under 100 words, and under 300 characters for a connection request.
    • A complete profile behind the message: photo, headline and the same facts as your CV.

    Recommended workspace settings

    Mode
    Business
    Emotion
    Balanced
    Vocabulary
    Standard
    Length
    Shorter

    Outline

    Hi [first name],[The role: the job title or link, and how you found it.][Your fit, in two facts: your experience and one result with a number.][One easy question: is it still open, or may you send your CV?]Thanks,[Your name]

Common mistakes Arabic speakers make

Most of these come from habits that work in Arabic job applications, or from phrases copied out of old CV guides. Each one quietly costs interviews.

  1. A CV of duties

    "Responsible for" tells the recruiter what your contract said, not what you did. Start with a verb and end with a result.

    Before

    Responsible for managing the social media accounts of the company.

    After

    Grew Instagram followers from 2,300 to 9,100 in eight months with a weekly content plan and short product videos.

  2. Inflated or invented numbers

    An impressive number you cannot explain is worse than none: interviewers ask how you measured it. Use the real figure, or keep a [number] and go and find it.

    Before

    Increased sales by 300% and saved the company millions.

    After

    Raised monthly sales in my branch from about $18,000 to $24,000 in [number] months by [what you changed].

  3. The opening everyone uses

    "I am writing to you to express my interest in the vacant position" spends the recruiter's first line on nothing. Name the role and your strongest fact.

    Before

    Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to you to express my interest in the vacant position at your esteemed company.

    After

    Dear Ms Saleh,

    I am applying for the Data Analyst role (ref. DA-114). For the past two years I have built the weekly reports that nine branches of a microfinance NGO rely on.

  4. A memorised answer

    Answers learned word for word sound read aloud, and they collapse the moment the interviewer interrupts. Learn three points and say them your way.

    Before

    I am a hard-working, highly motivated team player with excellent communication skills and a passion for success.

    After

    I'm a data analyst. For the last two years I've built the weekly reports for a microfinance NGO, and the dashboard I made replaced three reports nobody had time to read. Now I want to do that at a bigger scale, which is why this role caught my eye.

  5. Apologising for your salary

    Asking for more money in a second language often comes out as a plea. Give the number, the reason and an alternative, and keep it friendly.

    Before

    Sorry to bother you, but the salary is very low for me and I have many responsibilities. Can you please increase it a little?

    After

    Thank you for the offer. I'm keen to join. Based on the market range for this role in Amman (950 to 1,200 JOD) and my experience with your tools, I'd like to ask for 1,050 JOD. If the budget is fixed, a salary review after six months would also work for me.

  6. A resignation that explains too much

    A resignation letter stays in your file. Long reasons and complaints help no one; the date, a thank-you and a handover do.

    Before

    I would like to inform you that I have decided to resign from my job because of the pressure, the low salary and the bad management.

    After

    Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation as Accountant. My last working day will be 31 December. Thank you for the past three years; I will make sure the year-end handover is complete before I leave.

Write in Arabic, send it in English

  1. 1 Choose a template

    Write a draft from a short form, or open the outline in the workspace and write it yourself.

  2. 2 Write your notes in Arabic

    Choose "Arabic → English". Notes are enough: you do not need full sentences.

  3. 3 Check the English, then send

    You get natural English in the recommended mode. Check every name, number and date before you send it.

Questions people ask

How do I turn duties into achievements on my CV?

For each duty, ask what changed because you did it: what became faster, bigger, cheaper, fixed or new. Then write one line: a strong past-tense verb, what you did, how, and the result with a number. "Responsible for the monthly reports" becomes "Cut month-end reporting from 10 days to 4 by building a reusable Excel model". The CV bullets template does this for a whole job at once, and keeps a [number] wherever you still need a real figure.

What if I do not have numbers for my achievements?

Most people have more than they think: how many clients, reports, students or orders; how often; how long a task took before you changed it. A careful approximation such as "about 120 clients" is honest. What you should never do is guess a percentage. Keep the [number], then check an old report or email, or ask a former colleague.

How do I answer "Tell me about yourself" in English?

In about 90 seconds: who you are now (your role or field), the one or two experiences that led you here, with a result, and why this job is the natural next step. Learn the three points, not the sentences, and practise saying them out loud. The interview answers template writes it in spoken English, with short sentences and contractions.

How do I answer "What is your greatest weakness?"

Choose a real weakness that is not central to the job, say what you are doing about it, and how it has improved. Avoid disguised strengths such as "I am a perfectionist": interviewers hear them every day.

Is it all right to negotiate a salary offer?

In most companies, yes: a polite, specific request rarely costs anyone an offer. Thank them, say that you want the job, ask for one number with a factual reason, and offer an alternative such as a review after six months. Get the final terms in writing.

How do I write a resignation letter in English?

Three short paragraphs: that you are resigning, with your job title and your last working day (respecting the notice period in your contract); a short thank-you; and an offer to help with the handover. No complaints and no long reasons. Tell your manager in person first.

Can I write my notes in Arabic?

Yes. Paste the duties from your CV in Arabic, fill in any template's fields in Arabic, or open an outline in the workspace with "Arabic → English" selected. Job titles, company names, numbers and dates stay exactly as you wrote them.

Does a good CV or a good answer guarantee a job?

No, and no tool can promise that. Hiring depends on your experience, the role, the timing and the other candidates. Clear writing makes sure your real work is not lost in the wording.