A well-written cover letter is an essential part of any job application.
Highlighting your skills and experience effectively, and tailoring your cover letter to the role you’re applying for, is important and could be the difference between getting an interview and getting ignored.
Here is some important information about cover letters.
What is a cover letter?
A cover letter is a written summary of your skills, experience, and suitability for a job. It’s usually sent to employers alongside your CV, and is traditionally shown as the cover of your application.
How is it different from my CV?
Although your CV and cover letter cover the same ground, they have slightly different purposes – and differ in terms of formatting, layout, and the depth of information included.
Your CV is a comprehensive summary of your professional experience, academic qualifications, and skill-set.
Your cover letter is used to emphasise why you’re the best candidate for the job. It highlights your interest in the role and company, expands on the skills and experience that relate most to the job you’re applying for, and generally explains your CV in more detail.
Should I address career gaps in my cover letter?
Your cover letter is the perfect place to elaborate on any career gaps you might have in your CV – as long as you do it constructively.
There’s no need to go into great detail – but you also shouldn’t attempt to hide anything. Instead, be honest, proactive, and resourceful with your explanation.
And, aside from emphasising your desire to get back into work, addressing gaps in your CV in your cover letter is a great way to be prepared for any questions or discussions that might come up later on in the application process.
Cover letter dos and don’ts
DO
- Do your research
- Talk about your relevant skills and experience
- Use the job description as a guide
- Include real-life examples to prove your skills
- Follow a clear, easy to read and concise format (length should be one page maximum)
DON’T
- Use the same cover letter for every job Be overly personal
- Make it all about you
- Draw attention to your weaknesses
- Make it too long
TIPS AND SAMPLE OF COVER LETTER
Behind every CV is a good cover letter…A cover letter is an essential part of almost every job application. Not only do you have to make sure it sells your skills and abilities to recruiters, you also need to do it in a clear and concise manner – that ultimately persuades the reader to want to meet you.
We’ve already covered what a cover letter is, but here’s our step-by-step guide to help you get started on writing one:
Do your research
First things first, you need to do your research.
Take some time to look into the role you’re applying for and the company – and use this information to tailor your cover letter accordingly.
Here are a few key things you should find out before you start writing:
- What does the company do?
- Who are their competitors?
- Who are their target audience?
- What does the role involve?
- What are the essential skills?
Once you’ve found answers to these questions, you’ll be able to make it clear in your cover letter how your skills and abilities match up with what the employer is looking for. Not only will doing research give you the knowledge you need to tailor your cover letter and CV to the style of the company, it also demonstrates that you’ve got a real interest in the specific role and company.
How to format a cover letter
Your cover letter should be well-presented, concise, and to-the-point.
So use an easy-to-read font, and don’t get carried away with embellishments. No pictures, no Comic Sans, and definitely no word art necessary.
Aside from ensuring it’s written using clear paragraphs – it also should be the right length. Too long, and you’ll risk rambling (and/or boring the recruiter); but too short, and you’re unlikely to have covered everything.
Aim for half a side of A4 (or one page maximum), and you’ll be on the right track.
Five things you need to stop doing on your cover letter
How to address a cover letter
Cover letters should be addressed to the person dealing with the applications.
Usually, this will be shown somewhere in the job advert – and if not, don’t be afraid to find out. Start by visiting the company’s website to track down the name of a relevant recipient, and if you have no luck there – there’s no harm in simply calling and asking. Not only will you be able to address your letter accurately, you’ll also demonstrate your initiative and genuine interest in the role.
If you manage to find a name – address with ‘Dear Mr Smith/Dear Ms Jones’.
And if you don’t? ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ will suffice.
How to structure a cover letter
Although there are no set rules on how your cover letter should be structured, making sure it flows well is vital if you want to impress recruiters.
Here’s a rough guideline of how your cover letter should look:
Opening the letter – Why are you getting in touch?
The opening paragraph should be short and to the point, explaining why you’re getting in touch. It’s also useful to include where you found the ad i.e. as advertised on XXX. If someone referred you, mention their names in this section.
Example: I wish to apply for the role of IT Manager, currently being advertised on XXX Please find attached my CV for your consideration.
Second paragraph – Why are you suitable for the job?
Briefly describe your professional and academic qualifications that are relevant to the role and ensure you refer to each of the skills listed in the job description.
Example: As you can see from my attached CV, I have over three years’ experience in the IT Industry, and I believe the knowledge and skills built up during this time make me the perfect candidate for the role.
Third paragraph – What can you do for the company?
Now’s your opportunity to emphasise what you can do for the company. Outline your career goals (making it relevant to the position you’re applying for) and expand on pertinent points in your CV – including examples to back up your skills.
Example: In my current role as Senior Marketing Executive at Software Company X Ltd, I have been responsible for increasing incoming client enquiries for our B2B product lines by 156% in under 12 months, which helped the business increase its revenue by 55% year-on-year.
Fourth paragraph – Reiterate
Here’s where you reiterate your interest in the role and why you would be the right fit for the role. It’s also a good time to indicate you’d like to meet with the employer for an interview.
Example:
I am confident that I can bring this level of success with me to your company and help IT Company LTD build upon their reputation as one of the UK’s fastest-growing software houses. With my previous experience and expertise, I believe I can start actively contributing to the business as soon as possible.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss my application further.
Closing the letter
Sign off your cover letter with ‘Yours sincerely’ (if you know the name of the hiring manager), or ‘Yours faithfully’ (if you don’t), followed by your name.
