Cover letter Advices
In the days when all applications were sent by post, the cover letter was the
first chance you had to ‘wow' a prospective employer. Now the process is largely
electronic based, nothing has really changed.
Whether you're emailing your application or submitting it through your account, you have the chance to write a few choice words that will entice your reader to take a detailed look through your CV.
In the beginning…
Address your reader – if you know their name always put “Dear Mr Bloggs” rather
than “Dear Joe” as over-familiarity at this early stage might suggest an unprofessional
attitude.
The first sentence should then clearly state your intention to apply for the
job. Recruiters are often covering many vacancies at one time and can get easily
confused as to which applicant is applying for which job. Include any reference
numbers provided to make it easy for them.
You want to reference your aptitude to do the job successfully, but your cover
letter is not your autobiography – the main bulk of your experience and abilities
should be included in your CV. The focus should be on how you meet an employer's
needs so avoid the perception of being self-important.
Pick the main responsibility they're looking for you to undertake in the role
and give an example of why you're the person they're looking for. “My experience
of managing Network Support Engineers will help to ensure the smooth running
of your computer systems to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your
business.” is an example of a need that can be met.
Watch the length
Two short paragraphs is plenty of room to sell yourself. You want to be as punchy
as possible as your reader will probably be a very busy person with limited
time to trawl through a long letter. Concise and compelling is the way to go.
You may want to include a ‘next step' for your reader, such as “To see how I
could take your marketing to the next level, take a look at my CV to see the
achievements I've had during my time with ABC Widgets.” This clearly points
the employer to the part of your CV you think will persuade them to give you
the job.
If you're applying to a number of similar positions, chances are you're tweaking
one letter and using it for multiple openings. That's fine, as long as you are
customising each one. Don't forget to update the company, job and contact information
- if Mr. Jones is addressed as Mrs. Smith, your application will go straight
into the bin.
Be sure to include your contact details so they can get hold of you when they
need to. This information should also be on your CV, but there's no harm doubling
up.