Jobfind’s Cover Letter Tips

Don’t underestimate the importance of the Cover Letter.

The Cover Letter is the first thing an employer will see when they pick up your resume. Its main purpose is to introduce your resume and highlight why you’re the best candidate for the job. It can demonstrate your communication skills, level of professionalism, give insights into your personality and tell someone how much attention you pay to detail (e.g. spelling and grammar).

So make sure your Cover Letter is really working to your advantage.

How? Well, here are a few tips.

Setting It Up:

• Use a standard ‘business’ format for your letter. That means the date and addressee details at the top left of the page and your contact details at top right. List your name, address, phone number and email address (even if it’s on your resume as well).
• Be original! Use cover letter examples as a guide only and avoid common or clichéd expressions. Remember…you want to stand out from the rest.

Content:

• Your ultimate goal is to convince the reader you should be considered for the position by outlining your current skills and career goals. You can do this by writing a paragraph or simply by writing bullet points.
• State who you are, why you are writing and how you heard about the company/vacancy.
• Write about the requirements of the job directly and include some of the language used in the advertisement.
• Mention something positive about the company and why you would like to work there.
• Don’t say anything negative about your current employment situation or personal life. Keep your letter positive and enthusiastic.
• Clearly state what documents are attached. Never send original certificates or references, send copies only.
• Finish your letter by highlighting your enthusiasm and stating that you look forward to hearing from them.
• If you are sending it by post, sign your letter in blue or black ink. If you are sending it via email, your full name printed as the sign-off is appropriate.

Before You Send:

• Make sure the letter includes the correct company name and contact details.
• Double-check for spelling or grammatical errors. Ask someone else to check it and make suggestions (a fresh pair of eyes always helps!).
• Ensure your letter is evenly-spaced and that there’s plenty of ‘white space’.
• If sending by post, print your cover letter on clean, crease-free paper.

Once You’ve Sent It:

• Keep a copy of all your letters to refer to when you are contacted.
• If you haven’t received a reply within a few days of the closing date, contact the employer to politely follow up on the progress of your application.