Perfecting your cover letter
In this post, one of our CV advisers, Caroline McWilliams, shares her top tips and advice for creating an effective cover letter when applying for jobs and internships.
What is a cover letter?
A cover letter accompanies your CV and gives you the opportunity to expand on your experiences and show how they relate to the particular job you are applying for. It may be tempting to submit the same cover letter for each role, but keep in mind that every company is different and each role may be looking for slightly different skills. Make sure that you tailor your cover letter each time. Sometimes cover letters will be optional but if you have a chance to submit one, always make sure that you do.
How to layout and address your cover letter
Most cover letters should be no more than one A4 page and should be laid out in a formal letter style with your address and the date at the top. Make sure you are using professional language and ensure that you are not being too wordy. Be concise and ensure that you are being relevant to the particular job you are applying for. If you know the name of the person you are sending the letter to, use it! If it is not possible to find this out, use ‘Dear Sir/Madam’, ‘Dear Recruiter’ or ‘To Whom this May Concern.’ Bear in mind, however, that the latter can be considered a little too impersonal.
What content should you include?
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Introduce yourself and say what you are doing now. For example, you are a final year student at the University of St Andrews studying Geography. Also, say where you found the job description. This will be useful to the company in analysing where they are attracting candidates.
Paragraph 2: Show that you CAN do this specific job.
This is your chance to take each of the skills the company has deemed essential and demonstrate how you have gained them. Have a look at the job description and look for a list, table or paragraph entitled essential skills. Sometimes this will be vague or will also state desirable skills. Take each skill in turn and highlight key evidence to show that you have it, taking care not to simply repeat the wording of your CV. You may not have every single skill they have listed but focus on relevant accomplishments and transferable skills to show that you are capable of doing the job. For example, you may have never worked in the law sector before but you have probably gained excellent written and verbal communication skills through your coursework and balancing a part-time job or society commitments alongside your degree demonstrates that you can effectively manage your time.
Paragraph 3: Why do you WANT this specific job?
It can be easy to gloss over this part as you may just need a job, any job! However, you need to convince the company that you are the perfect candidate for this particular job. Have a look at the role description and then think about the past, present and future. What have you done in the past to convince you that you want this job in this particular sector? What do you hope to gain from the role and the opportunities it will offer? Where do you hope it will take you in the future? What is your short-term career goal?
Paragraph 4: How will you FIT into the company?
This is your chance to show that you have researched the company in detail and you know you want to work there. It is a little bit like flirting with them, showing them why you care that they do certain things. Have a look at their website, their mission statement, and find out if they have any particular ongoing projects. Be careful not to simply state facts about the company – they already know this! Instead, tell them why you care what they do and how this will mean you are a good fit for their company.
Paragraph 5: Conclusion
Thank the company for the time and say that you hope to hear from them soon to discuss your application in further detail. This opens the door to further communication and sets up a sense of expectation.
Where to find examples
Be aware that while there are many examples out there, not all of them will be good. Also, keep in mind that hiring practices change so what may have worked for your parents’ generation, might not work for you now. You may find the following resources helpful when looking for examples:
Final top tips
- Proofread your cover letter before you submit it and ask someone else to read it over too.
- Check to make sure that everything you have written makes sense and that you have not repeated yourself anywhere.
- Don’t submit the same letter each time. It should always be tailored for the particular job and company you are applying to.
- Try not to repeat your whole CV. Instead, use select examples that best show off the skills the company is looking for.
- Cover letters can be difficult to write at first. However, the more you practice, the quicker and easier you will find them.
Remember you can also book an appointment with us to have your cover letter checked over by a CV Adviser.