The cover letter is key
There are many reasons why you should accompany your CV and job application with a cover letter. In a competitive market a cover letter tells the employer or recruiter that you are genuinely interested in the particular job being advertised. It is quite common for people to use a "scattergun" approach to job application, sending lots of resumes out whether the jobs are suited to them or not.
The cover letter is your first opportunity to really sell yourself, by briefly detailing in a few paragraphs how your skills and experience specifically match the requirements outlined in a job ad. A cover letter should not just be a regurgitation of your CV, nor should it just cover why you want the job; it should also tell the reader why they should want you.
Some advice when developing a cover letter
- Keep it simple, professional and easy to read. Keep the formatting consistent with your resume in terms of point size and font. Adequate white space between paragraphs is essential and gives your cover letter freshness.
- Your cover letter should be only one page long. Any longer and you’re giving too much information.
- Put your best foot forward; ensure your cover letter is error free. Spelling and grammar mistakes can be a big bugbear for many people. The best way to ensure you have a perfect cover letter is to read through it very carefully (proofread) and ask a friend or family member if they can do the same for you. A fresh pair of eyes will often see things that you don’t.
Content is key
Be positive and upbeat in your statements, use ‘can’ or ‘able to’ when describing things.
Things to consider:
- Use formal letter writing style
- Explain why you’re writing and why you’re interested in the position
- Explain what you can offer the employer
- Match your skills to the job description
- Use some examples to support your statements
- Thank the recipient for their attention
- State when you intend to follow up
Finally, it’s not recommended to include any salary expectations in the cover letter. You should be further along the job application process to raise this.
