Covering Letter Tips
The covering letter is a vital part of any job application. A good one can really put your application ahead of the pack in a potential employer's eyes. The purpose of a covering letter is similar to the blurb on the back cover of a book: it is your first chance to introduce yourself to a potential employer and coax them into reading the whole application with interest. The following tips are designed to help you write a top class covering letter.
- If you know the name of the person you are applying to, address them directly. Only use Sir / Madam if you have to.
- Mention any reference number you may have, as well as the title of the job you are applying for and details of where you saw it advertised.
- Include any information that is specifically asked for in the advert and follow any other instructions that are given.
- Outline your current situation and why you want this job, making the information you give as relevant as possible to the position you are applying for.
- State why you want to work for this particular organisation, demonstrating some background knowledge of them and the position you are applying for.
- Let your potential employer know what you personally can contribute to the role, in terms of skills, achievements and personality traits – say why they should want to meet you.
- Don’t simply try and match every criteria listed in the job description, be specific about your achievements and why you would be valuable to the organisation.
- Finish off with an expression of interest in continued contact with the potential employer, e.g. “I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.” State when you will be available for interview and mention any other commitments now to avoid them becoming an issue later on.
- Finally, check your letter carefully for any spelling or grammatical errors and ensure that all of it makes sense. It is always a good idea to have someone else check it over for you.