Your cover letter is an important document – a key part of your application to a prospective employer. It is surprising that jobseekers often pay scant attention to it. Many candidates fail even to write one and only submit their CV or application form. Craft a strong cover letter and your application could really stand out from the crowd. So if it’s of such importance you’ll need to know how to produce the perfect cover letter. That’s where we step in.
1. Always send one
The cover letter’s job is actually twofold. At its basic level, the standard one-page cover letter performs a simple courtesy function. It is a socially acceptable way of introducing you and explaining which vacancy you’re applying for or which area you are enquiring about. It also provides the recruiter with a handy list of your contact details.
2. Don’t rewrite your CV
It should provide edited, juicy highlights from your CV. However, it should not merely repeat what the CV includes but rather distils the key themes into one place.
3. First Paragraph and last line
Don’t waffle in your first paragraph, make the reason you’re writing clear and sell yourself; writing what makes you better than others straight off. Finish with a call to action, request they contact you for a meeting or interview and let them know you will be in touch to discuss.
4. Talk about the company
Do some research into the company/ organisation and include information about them. Specifically, tell them what you are impressed with and what attracts you to them.
5. Provide quality evidence of your qualities
Pick out the top 3 or 5 (max) qualities the employer is seeking in their advert or job specification if there is one. These should be qualities that you have already covered in your CV and they should be the 3 to 5 things that you refer to – not explain – briefly in your cover letter. Provide concrete examples and solid numbers wherever you can. For example, after you’ve introduced yourself in your letter you could include lines similar to these:
“You will see from my enclosed CV that I match your requirements precisely. I have worked in the education sector for over 10 years and have led a number of departments that ranged in size from 5 to 20 people.”
Or
“You will see from my CV that I have worked in both Further Education and Secondary Education and have successfully developed Virtual Learning Environments in both sectors.”
Your cover letter then is an additional ‘sales’ document…selling you
6. Reflect your personality
Ensure the letter shows how motivated and enthusiastic you are. Do not include negative comments. Try to use dynamic acting verbs for each skill you are explaining, such as:
People skills – Collaborated, communicated
Teaching – Instilled, motivated, encouraged
7. Relevant and brief
A well-written letter should draw the recruiter’s eye to relevant experience on your CV. It is an, admittedly brief, space in which you draw a positive picture of yourself in the mind of the employer. Ensure it is never more than a page long.
8. Contact details
Wherever possible send your letter and CV to a named individual, particularly if it is more of an enquiry than a specific role application. Research using websites, ask friends and colleagues if they know of anyone or ring through to reception and get yourself a name and job title. It will look a lot better than sir/ madam.
9. Sign the letter
Unless you’ve had to sign an application form, your cover letter is the only place where you provide your signature. This may seem old fashioned in this digital age but it’s still a strong signal of your authenticity.
10. Neatness/ presentation
Finally, make sure your covering letter is clearly laid out with no typos or spelling errors. Do this and, compared to many jobseekers, you’ll already stand out as an impressive candidate!
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