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