Nothing is quite as aggravating as filling out all of your details, uploading your CV, and then seeing you still need to make a cover letter.
If you’re new to searching for jobs, you are going to need to get used to this.
Unless the post explicitly states it isn’t necessary, you should send a cover letter with your application.
A well-written cover letter will boost your possibility of getting hired.
Here are some examples of how it gives you a better chance of landing a job:
- Sets your CV apart from the rest
- Shows how you will be valuable to the company
- Gives your info
- Says when you will be available
If a hiring manager cares about what an applicant says in a cover letter, all of this will give them a better understanding of who you are as an employee.
An essential piece of advice is no cover letter is better than a bad cover letter,
When you write your letter, ensure you are including the correct information as well as the correct structure of a cover letter.
Knowing how to structure the content of your cover letter is just as important as building your CV.
If you write your cover letter poorly, there is a good possibility the hiring manager won’t even give your CV a look.
Continue reading the guide to learn how to write the ideal cover letter to go along with your application.
Why are cover letters important?
A good introduction sets the tone for what’s to come next. A cover letter sets the tone for job applications.
You need an engaging CV, but your introduction is what will grab a recruiter’s attention first.
These are some ways you can use a cover letter to your benefit.
Demonstrates your character
A CV states your abilities and experience, however, can it show off your personality?
With a cover letter, you can sell yourself to the person reading the letter.
A CV’s structure doesn’t let you explain your character traits. You can describe how your previous personal and professional experiences have shaped who you are today.
Show you are the perfect match
It is possible to tailor a CV to the position you want to obtain. Including the skills and experience that are relevant to that job can help your CV stand out.
You can use the same strategy with a cover letter.
When you write your letter, include all skills and work history that are relevant to the job vacancy.
A general cover letter structure allows you to modify your document to the position you are applying for at that moment.
Demonstrate your enthusiasm
Another way a cover letter can be useful is by showing just how much you want to work for the company.
Coming across as eager is not a bad thing at all.
Recruiters would love to hire someone who knows what the business is about and wants to work for them.
Prove you can follow instructions
For recruiters, it’s important to establish that your potential employee can do what you ask them to do.
Carrying out instructions and tasks is the most basic part of being an employee.
Writing a cover letter proves you can do what your boss tells you to do.
If it is well-written, then you have even more possibilities.
How to structure a cover letter in the UK
Giving your letter a proper outline will smoothly introduce the introduction of your application. Learning how to structure a cover letter is not all that complicated.
You only need to pay attention to some important advice. You don’t want to make your letter too long or appear untidy.
When you make your outline, include the following parts in your structure.
- Introductory paragraph
- Second paragraph
- Third paragraph
- Conclusion
Writing each of these parts will give your letter the neat appearance it needs to attract the eye of a hiring manager.
Including all of your qualities and experience is fantastic, but never forget a proper cover letter structure for UK jobs.
It may be the difference between receiving an interview or being passed by.
Review the following parts of a cover letter’s outline to know exactly what you need to write.
Introduce yourself
This part is quite simple. In your first paragraph, explain the motive for writing the cover letter.
Go over several topics:
- The position you are applying for
- When you would be available to begin working
- How you discovered the vacancy
This will set up the rest of your letter.
Explain how you fit the position
In this section, explain how you are the perfect candidate for the position. Then make sure to write about why you want to work for the company or organisation.
Focus on your relevant experience
One of the best ways to make your CV engaging is to highlight specific skills and experiences related to the vacancy. Do your research about what skills the company is looking for.
Then tailor your cover letter and CV to suit that vacancy.
Finish your cover letter
Make sure to summarise the content of your letter, and affirm that you would like an interview and a response.
Qualities to highlight in a cover letter
As a job applicant, you have the chance to make your personal qualities shine through thanks to your writing.
Make sure that your cover letter conveys the following qualities.
- Beneficial: Specify how your skills will benefit the company and are suited for the vacancy. The more you highlight those strengths, the more engaging your application will be.
- Educated: Your cover letter mustn’t contain any spelling or grammar errors. Make sure you review your writing once you have finished. A carefully written and reviewed cover letter will say to a hiring manager that you pay attention to detail.
- Special: You have the opportunity with your words to demonstrate that you are the ideal candidate. Show, with examples, that you are the candidate best suited for the role.
- Accomplished: Describe how your experience and achievements make you the best candidate. Use examples of your past work and education to connect them to the job you are applying for.
- Keen: It’s also important to show that you are excited about the possibility of working for the company or organisation. A recruiter wants to hire someone who likes what the company does and can bring in an enthusiastic worker into the workplace.
Highlight related skills
Your CV will not be the only one that the recruiting manager is looking at.
Each applicant fills their CV and cover letter with information that can come off as unoriginal or cliché.
When you examine the job posting, make sure to research certain topics, such as
- Exact skills suited for the role
- Experience desired
- Education needed
Once you understand what the hiring manager is looking for, you can specify how these skills will help you be successful in the workplace.
Tips for writing a cover letter
You have probably been told what to include in your curriculum vitae. You have also probably been told what not to include.
Follow the same advice when you write your cover letter.
There are items and terms you should put in a cover letter, as well as items that are better left out.
It is crucial to know what to include and what to avoid in your cover letter.
Check out the table below to better understand the difference.
| Include | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Job-specific skills and experience | Making it longer than an A4 sheet of paper |
| The correct format | Copying another person’s cover letter |
| Easy to follow language | Unoriginal buzzwords |
You can avoid making your cover letter too long by keeping it simple. Do not think more is better in this case.
A simple list of your achievements will not win any manager over.
You need to explain how you will help the company using examples and why you are excited.
Make sure the letter does not go over 4 paragraphs or one A4 page.
It is also handy to form your cover letter, like a template, and then save that structure.
You can change what you highlight such as abilities and experience each time you apply for a job in a different industry.
Creating a cover letter is essential, but it doesn’t always have to be a nuisance.
Use this guide to create the perfect cover letter structure, afterwards make a CV, and you will be called in for interviews before you know it.
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