01 May 2023
A strong covering letter can go a long way to securing an interview. Your cover letter provides an opportunity to stand out from the crowd, let your personality shine through and demonstrate why you are the ideal candidate for the role. This is a chance to show that you are familiar with the company and are able to talk knowledgeably about what they do.
Do your research
It is crucial you do your research when crafting a cover letter. Unlike your CV, you should not have a template that you reuse for each application, as a good cover letter is tailored specifically to the recipient organisation.
Is the recruiter looking for someone to mentor, or a candidate who is experienced in the role? Whilst some organisations may not ask for a cover letter, it is always good practice to send one, as it demonstrates a desire and willingness to go the extra mile. Consider it one more way to ensure that you stand out from the crowd, as a great many applicants will only send in a CV.
Work your covering letter
The covering letter isn’t just a short note to introduce your CV – it is an opportunity to impress and grab the attention of your potential employer. Spotlight your abilities and experiences.
Ensure your covering letter compliments and works with your CV as they are designed to work in concert with each other to sell you as the perfect candidate, and not just as duplicates of the same content. The most frustrating thing for recruiters is when a cover letter simply rehashes and surmises the contents of the CV. See it as an opportunity to stand out from the competition.
Style and structure
Address your covering letter to a named recipient where possible. However, refrain from using ‘Dear Joe’ if you are not on personal terms with the employer. Instead, consider ‘Dear Mr. Bloggs’.
Sign off the covering letter with ‘Yours sincerely’, not ‘Yours Faithfully’. If emailing the covering letter, put it in the body of the email, as it may be misidentified as spam. It is important that you remove as many potential obstacles as possible so that your letter reaches the intended recipient.
Keep it clear, concise and to the point. Use the same font and style as your CV to retain consistency in your application, ensure the correct date is on the CV together with your contact details. Ensure there are no spelling mistakes or repetitions.
A potential structure to consider using is:
