You’ve written a perfect CV; it’s accurate and up to date, and gives our
recruiters an insight into you, your interests, qualifications and
professional interests.
Now you need a cover letter. A cover letter is a single-page letter written to
the person or company offering the job you're applying for. A well-written
cover letter should introduce you and encourage the person reading it to read
your resume.
Your cover letter is your opportunity to help recruiters see if your skills
and experience match what they are looking for in a candidate. More
importantly, a cover letter allows you to clearly tell them why you’re the
best candidate for the job.
How long should a cover letter be?
Keep it short. A cover letter is meant to be a summary of your resume, so
don’t write more than one page.
These are our winning tips:
1. Show the company your personality!
Introduce yourself and put the name of the position you are applying for.
Using the same language as people who do a particular job shows that you
understand the industry or field that the employer works in.
Address the letter directly to the person named in the job ad. Try not to
address your letter ‘To whom it may concern’.
If there’s no name, you can use LinkedIn to research and find the name of the
relevant person, or go the classic route and call to find out.
2. Share what you love about the company
Mention where you learned about the role, and let us know why you want to work
for the company.
Is it their projects? Their values? Their Principles?
You will find this information via the company's website, visit it (especially
their ‘About us’ page).
If the company name isn't in the advertisement, call the recruitment agency
or advertiser and ask who the employer is.
3. Emphasise your strengths and show off your skills
The next step is to summarise your main skills and experience; specify the
most significant and relevant parts which you believe match the job
description. Each paragraph should focus on a different aspect. Think of your
cover letter as the entrée to your resume. It shouldn’t be so detailed that it
replicates what’s contained in your resume, but should give your recruiter an
understanding of the skills you may be able to bring to a position.
Outline any general skills you think are relevant to the role, such as
communication and interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities and
organisational strengths.
4. Always proofread for grammatical errors and spelling mistakes
After you have written your cover letter – proofread it. And then proofread
again. A cover letter with grammatical errors and spelling mistakes can lead
to your application being rejected.
Use dynamic verbs such as ‘collaborated’, ‘motivated’, ‘managed’ and
‘analysed’ to help convey your points. Make sure to edit your cover letter so
it’s only one-page long.
5. Finish it off positive and strong
Finally, finish the cover letter by suggesting opportunities for further
interaction: for example, indicate your willingness to meet and discuss your
experience in more detail. Always finish on a positive note.
