The Cover Letter
Write the perfect cover letter to accompany your CV
Your CV’s wingman, a cover letter, functions as a way of introducing yourself to employers. It is your first opportunity to make a good impression and explain your current situation, employment status, skills, and capabilities.
However, they aren’t always requested, and you may not know how to write one. So, is it a good idea to include a letter with your CV?
We can tell you that it definitely is a good idea, and it can help you land a position quicker.
With a cover letter, you can show you’re willing to go the extra mile and explain your qualifications and other important professional information in detail.
By sending a personalised cover letter to a company, you show dedication and willingness before you even start the job. Within the letter, you can share ideas and goals that you feel make you a strong candidate.
This will help you stand out amongst hundreds of applicants.
This guide explains:
- What a cover letter is,
- Why you should include a cover letter for a job application,
- How to write a cover letter,
- Best cover letter formats to use
After building your CV with our AI-powered tools, you can use your qualifications to create custom cover letters to any company you’re interested in working for.
What is a cover letter?
First off, let’s break down what a cover letter is.
A cover letter is a formal letter with which you present recruiters in conjunction with your CV.
Essentially, it’s an introduction to your personal profile and CV, as well as a way of presenting yourself, your experience, characteristics and why you think you are a suitable candidate for the job specification.
Additionally, you’ll also mention your values that coincide with the company’s philosophy.
A cover letter will mention:
- Your interest in the role
- Your understanding of the company
- Your relevant skills and experience
- Your achievements
- Unique value that you can bring to the role
- Professional goals
If you discuss all of these topics and include the right keywords, you’ll not only get noticed easier but start making a strong case to be hired before you even have an interview.
Why include a cover letter in a job application?
Many question why it is useful to include a cover letter in a job application, arguing that your CV should do your job for you.
However, a cover letter can give you an extra advantage when applying for a job, as only a minority of applicants bother to write one.
Your cover letter makes your job application stronger on many levels, for the following reasons:
- You can explain more about your values and goals
- It allows you to reinforce how your skills and experience will help
- Writing a personalised cover letter shows interest, determination, and eagerness.
- You can explain your current employment status and why you left your previous job or are looking to do so.
- Employment gaps can be explained as well, such as maternity or study leave.
Even if you know how to write a CV, some of the details above will be hard to explain. A cover letter allows you to give more explanation to employers.
How to write a cover letter
A well-written cover letter will excite an employer and make them interested in speaking with you.
As mentioned before, you’ll need to include a well-rounded summary of your work experience which prepares you for the job position, as well as skills (both personal and professional) that you possess which would benefit the company.
The structure of a professional cover letter is simple:
- A header
- Contact details
- Company’s address
- Date,
- Opening paragraph,
- Main body paragraph, a
- Closing paragraph
You should then add your signature/electronic signature. Here’s how you can put all of these parts of your letter together:
- Research the company and role: Gain a full understanding of the company’s culture and the job’s requirements by studying the job description.
- Use a proper format: Use a professional font and layout, including your contact details, the date, and the employer’s information at the top.
- Add a compelling opening: Address the letter to a specific individual if possible and start with an engaging opening line that mentions the job title and where you found the listing.
- Discuss your fit for the role: Express your enthusiasm for the opening and align your skills and experiences with the job requirements, using specific examples.
- Mention company characteristics: Show your knowledge of the company by referencing specific aspects that attract you to it.
- Provide a call to action: Conclude by summarizing your suitability, expressing eagerness for an interview, and thanking the reader.
- Conclude your letter: End with “Yours sincerely” or “Yours faithfully” followed by your name.
- Proofread and edit: Ensure there are no errors and that the tone is professional and concise.
Always remember to tailor your letter to each position you apply to. Take advantage of our cover letter builder to make customising each letter much easier.
Cover letter format
How you include the information in your cover letter is key. You may have plenty of interesting qualifications but if your letter is difficult to read, it will be hard to win over a hiring manager.
Just like a CV layout, you’ll want to focus on creating:
- Clear structure: Gives you a rounded and strong personal profile, which increases your chances of getting the job.
- Solid format: Helps present your qualities well and shows employers your professionalism as good MS office computer skills!
Here are some tips to help you create the right structure for your letter:
- The cover letter is usually divided into three sections/paragraphs: introduction, main body and conclusion
- You should sign the letter (these days an electronic signature is fine)
- Choose a font which is easy to read and keep all format simple
- A cover letter should usually range from half a page to one A4 page length
Cover letter advice
When writing a cover letter, you should consider the best way to try to get through to recruiters. A key point that hiring managers will often look out for, is whether or not you have researched their company well enough.
They also want to see a professional and error-free letter. Use these additional tips to make sure your letter is ready for HR approval.
- Talk highly of yourself
- Don’t draw attention to your flaws. Instead, comment on positive factors which make you a strong candidate for the job
- Close with a winning sentence, which will leave employers on a strong positive note
- Ensure that your email address is professional
- Tailor each cover letter to each job listing. Recruiters will notice when they are reading a generic cover letter
- Don’t repeat yourself relisting skills or work experience, as recruiters will get bored or think you are trying to bulk out your letter
Key Points
While you may feel that a cover letter isn’t worth the trouble, you would benefit a lot from including one with your application.
However, it’s important that you keep the following in mind:
- Use a neat and readable format
- Cover letters should follow a certain structure
- You should read the job description first and then customise your letter
- Mention your goals and career plan
By following these tips and mentioning your relevant skills and experience, you’ll be getting calls for interviews in no time.