How to write a Cover Letter – TheEmployable Top Tips…
One part of the job searching process that often gets overlooked is cover letter and how to write a cover letter successfully. We tend to always focus on the CV and the application form and forget that a good cover letter can be a critical element in our quest for employment too.
The whole purpose behind the cover letter itself is to give the employer or recruiter a brief overview of you, your skills and why you are the best candidate for the job. To help you out, we have put together some basic tips on how to write a cover letter…
Size
Yes, size matters . Remember this is not an essay. Your cover letter should be no more than 1 A4 page and should ideally contain no more than 3-4 short paragraphs.
Style and Grammar
The letter should be written in a formal manner. Always try and address it to a named individual, even if this means contacting the company directly to get the HR or hiring manager’s name.
Make sure that there are no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. After all, this is effectively your first introduction to the employer. It is vital therefore that you make a good first impression from the off.
Introductory Paragraph
The first paragraph should be fairly short, introducing yourself, what position you are applying for, where you had heard about the role and also what other items you are attaching or enclosing, i.e. CV or application form etc.
“Why this” Paragraph
The next paragraph should summarise why you are applying for this job, with this particular employer and how your career to date or future career plans fit in with the vacancy they currently have.
Continued on page 2…
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Discussion
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[…] Get a named contact Getting the name of a person to send your application to is absolutely essential. Sending a generic Dear Sir/ Madam letter to a HR department or just to the company in general will more than likely be ignored. You need to ensure that the recipient of your letter is the decision maker for recruitment. Check the company website or try calling the company or even perhaps use the likes of Linkedin to try and establish a specific name. The Cover Letter When applying speculatively you need to ensure that the cover letter which accompanies your CV is doing all it can it sell you, your skills and your experience to the employer. Your cover letter should firstly show that you have researched the company and clarify why you are contacting them specifically. You should also outline the type of role you are looking for and “sell” how your skills and experience will be of benefit to the employer in that type of position. The key thing though is to ensure that you convey how you will add value to the company as opposed to giving the impression that you are simply desperate for a job, even if that is the unfortunate case. For other tips on writing a cover letter, click here. […]
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