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Writing a Cover Letter

As with CV writing, there are few firm rules
for producing a cover letter, onlyCover letters should be no longer than a few
suggestions and guidelines. Despite a rangeparagraphs - three or four ideally - as their
of different suggestions and advice forpurpose is to provide a short summary of how
composing one, one thing that is agreed uponyou meet the requirements of the role and
universally is that without a good qualityhighlight the most relevant parts of your CV.
cover letter as an accompaniment to your CV,Limit your cover letter to a side of A4 and,
the impact of your application can beif issuing a hard copy, print it onto the
severely  limited.same  type  of good quality paper as your CV.
It is important that you spend a sufficientIn your first sentence, state who you are and
amount of time writing your cover letter.why you are writing and, if you are applying
This will allow you to highlight the mostfor a specific job posting, cite the title of
relevant parts of your CV - those that makethe vacancy plus any reference number
you most suitable for the role and enticeprovided by the company. If someone else has
potential employers to read on. Remember thatreferred you to the organisation, include
your cover letter should answer the question,this in your opening paragraph too. Be clear
"What can this person do for us?" Thisabout why you are applying for that
doesn't relate only to posted applications;particular  role  at that particular company.
if you are emailing your CV it is still
crucial that you compose a cover letter thatFollowing on from your introduction, take up
grasps the attention of its recipient. Theto three points of particular relevance from
style of an emailed covering letter shouldyour CV and provide further details. Do not
mirror that of a posted application (avoidsimply copy what you have already written in
the temptation to adopt a casual tone whenyour CV - pick out the main highlights and
emailing your CV) this will ensure that youre-phrase them, expanding where necessary,
create a professional impression from thebut try to keep this section to just one or
outset.two  paragraphs.
Wherever possible, address your cover letterIn your closing paragraph, reiterate your
to a specific person. Even if you are sendingenthusiasm for discussing how you meet the
your CV out on a speculative basis, yourequirements of the role during an interview
should try to find out the name of the headand thank the recipient for their time. To
of department or the HR manager at thefinish, you have two options; you can either
company that you are applying to - a simplemake a commitment to contacting them at a
phone call to the company's reception shouldspecified time and date for feedback about
be all that is required to obtain this typeyour application or you can state that you
of information. Letters addressed to 'Sirwill await their response. If you do commit
Madam' will create a similar level ofto contacting them again, ensure you do so.
interest to those you receive that areAs with your CV, check (and double check) for
entitled 'Occupier' - highly impersonal andspelling and grammatical errors. Your cover
much less likely to engage the reader of yourletter should be as flawless as your CV.
application.



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