A cover letter is a document sent alongside your CV when applying for jobs. It acts as a personal introduction and helps to sell your application.
These letters are necessary as they give you the chance to explain to an employer why you're the best candidate for the job. While your CV outlines your skills, qualifications, and experience, the cover letter allows you to highlight your most relevant achievements, demonstrate your motivation and show how your strengths align with the specific job and organisation. It provides context to your application, showcases your communication skills and helps you stand out by expressing genuine interest and personality in a professional way.
It's important for your cover letter to make a lasting impression. To achieve this, you'll need to:
- Tailor to the organisation - You should rewrite your cover letter every time you apply for a position to target the company. It is worth doing research on the organisat
- Format - Presentation is important so you'll need to format your cover letter properly. Make sure the document is as uncluttered as possible. Use the same font and size as you use in your CV and if you're sending it through the post or handing it in, use good quality plain white paper to print it on.
- Use keywords that appear in the job advert - This lets the employer know that you've read and understood the job description. It also demonstrates that you've taken the time to tailor your application to the job.
- Identify your USPs - These are your unique selling points (USPs). Be positive about what you have to offer and clearly outline how your skills and experience meet those requested in the job description. Demonstrate why you're the perfect candidate.
- Include examples - Back up the claims in your cover letter with real evidence or examples that show how and when you've used your skills and experience.
- Save a copy - If you're invited to interview, you might need to refer back to it.
Learn how to write a personalised and compelling cover letter that complements your CV and demonstrates why you’re the right fit for the job role. Check here how to write a cover letter.