Cover letters...

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Whether you send a CV or an application form, a cover letter can enhance your chance of selection for interview, many candidates will neglect to include a cover letter therefore you can gain a competitive advantage.

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The cover letter is a further opportunity to tailor your application more closely to the role and to draw further attention to your experience and competencies, i.e. your unique selling points.  It is the first document which the prospective employer will see and it must have real impact and be compelling in terms of your match to the wants and needs of the role.

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Your letter needs to be drafted in such a way that it makes the reader want to look at your CV or application form.  Every sentence has to add value, so give the letter careful thought and again be prepared to spend time drafting and re-drafting.

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Your cover letter should be:

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• Ideally just 1 page and succinct.

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• Relevant to the purpose, i.e. either a:

  • Response to an advertisment

  • Contacting a recruiter or headhunter

  • Speculative

  • Networking contact

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• The model should follow the following format:

  • Opening Paragraph - ‘Why you are writing’?

  • Middle Paragraph - ‘What you can offer’?

  • Closing Paragraph - ‘Let’s Meet’

 

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If you are drafting a letter to a Recruiter - think about the following:

 

• The reason for writing e.g. due to their reputation.

 

• The role you are looking for.

 

• That you will follow up with a phone call demonstrating your commitment to signing up with them and to look at a time for meeting.

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If you are writing a speculative letter, think about:

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• Outlining you are writing following your research of the organisation and the special projects, expansion etc they are undertaking at present. Always write to a named person.

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• Having defined what the organisation is about, describe what you have that could be of benefit to them, e.g. you could support the delivery of their objectives (there is no need to mention you are redundant / out of work).

 

• Indicate you will follow up with a call: e.g. ‘I will phone you in the next few days to determine if a meeting would be beneficial to you’.

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• Remember 50% of speculative approaches are unsuccessful because individuals fail to follow up. You are selling yourself and need to demonstrate what you have that they need to deliver their objectives therefore you do not wait for them to come back to you.

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If you are responding to an advertisement, consider:

 

• Outline you are responding to the advertisement which you saw in…….. on ….date.

 

• Having reviewed the advertisement, you believe you have the following to offer.

 

• You look forward to meeting to discuss further.

 

If you are making contact through your network, include:

 

• You are writing because (name) suggested you wrote to make contact.

 

• What are you looking for and the strengths you have to offer.

 

• Enclose a copy of your current CV for your background information.

 

• Close with your commitment to follow up with a phone call in the next few days.

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Exercise

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Cover letter templates.  Click the links below for the template that works best for your approach and amend so that it's in your language and relevant to the situation or position you're applying for:

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1. Response to a job advert

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2. Response to a recruitment agency

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3. Letter for a network meeting or contact

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4. Letter following a network meeting

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4. Speculative letter