Wondering if it’s too much effort to write a covering letter when applying for a job?
One of the most crucial functions of a covering letter is to enable you to make a good first impression on the employer. A well-written covering letter that highlights your best role-specific strengths can position you as an outstanding candidate among equally qualified applicants.
What is a covering letter?
A covering letter introduces you to an employer and asks them to think about your application.
It’s a short letter, 3 to 5 paragraphs, that you should send with your CV or application form.
You should always include a cover letter when you apply for a job using a CV. You can write it as an email if you’re applying online or print a copy to go with a paper application.
Top Tips
Do your research
When writing a covering letter, let the employer know you’re keen by showing that you’ve researched the company. Learn more about what they do through:
their website
latest news articles
awards and affiliations they hold
talking to people you know who work there
Send it to the right person
It's important to address your covering letter to someone by name. Check you have the details of the person you need to send it to.
You'll need their name and preferred title. For example, ‘Dr,’ ‘Mr,’ ‘Mrs,’ ‘Ms,’ and their job title. You should also make sure you have the right company name and address, including postcode.
If you don’t know their name
If the job advert does not include a name, you can check the company website. Try to find details of the head of the department, head of human resources or a recruitment manager.
If you still cannot find a name, ring up and ask, or if all else fails, you can start your letter with ‘Dear Sir or Madam.’
What to include
Introduce yourself and explain how you found the advertised job. You can mention the job title, and reference number if there is one.
If you’re asking about any job openings and not applying to a vacancy, tell them what sort of job you’re looking for. Let the employer see how keen you are to work for them.
Show you're right for the job
Highlight the skills and experience you have that match what the employer is looking for. Convince them that you're enthusiastic about working for them. Let them know you share their work values, culture, and style.
Give extra information
If you have gaps in your employment history, you could talk about the skills you gained while you were out of work.
If you’ve mentioned on your CV that you have a disability, you might want to talk more about this in your cover letter. Organisations like Disability UK can give you advice on how to do this. You do not have to mention your disability at this stage if you prefer not to.
End your cover letter
Thank the employer for considering your application. Let them know that they can get more details from your CV, or LinkedIn profile and tell them you are looking forward to hearing from them.
Let them know how they can best contact you. Make sure your contact details are correct on both your cover letter and CV.
Sign off
If you know the name of the person you’re writing to, you should end the letter with ‘Yours sincerely.’
If you’ve addressed the letter ‘Dear Sir or Madam,’ you should end the letter with ‘Yours faithfully’.
Don’t forget
When writing your cover letter, remember to:
write a new one for every job you apply for and make sure it’s tailored to the company and the specific role
use the same font and size as you do for your CV, so it looks consistent and professional
make sure the company name and recruiter’s details are correct
use the right language and tone – if they are a trendy start up, the language you use may differ from a large, established corporate application. Match their tone and style.
Keep it professional and match the keywords used by the employer in their job advert
be clear and to the point. 3 to 5 neat paragraphs are enough.
show you’ve done your research into the job and the company
highlight your most relevant skills and achievements to stand out from other applicants
back up any statements you make with facts.
double check spelling and grammar before you send it
keep a copy of your cover letter. They may ask you about it in an interview
Contact Us | Robinson Grace HR Consultancy for further advice and support or email support@robinsongracehr.com
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The content of our blogs is intended for general information only and does not replace legal or other professional advice.
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