COVERING LETTERS GUIDE

What are Covering Letters?

A covering letter is a short letter or e-mail sent to accompany and introduce a CV or application form. It is normal and sensible practice to always send one to any employer with your CV, even if they are not expecting it. In many organisations, your CV won't get to the right person otherwise. Your covering letter also allows you to draw attention to and expand on the most important points of your CV. It is important to produce a good covering letter; one graduate employer has stated that it often rejects CVs without looking at them if the standard of the accompanying covering letter is poor

Quick Guide to Covering Letters

A covering letter is one of the single most important factors affecting whether or not your CV will be chosen from amongst potentially hundreds which may apply for particular vacancies. Employers can be inundated with CVs and it is time consuming and difficult to look through all of these, particularly if they all look similar. Remember, make yourself stand out from the crowd!

• Use the covering letter as a way to highlight key skills, specific modules or work experience from your CV. which is relevant to the job you are applying for.
• It can be used to market yourself, stressing the relevant evidence from your CV
• Unless your handwriting is excellent, always type your covering letter. Pay particular attention to punctuation, grammar and spelling as employers are always critical of poor letters.
• Don't send off a standard photocopied covering letter for each vacancy you apply for, employers often recognise this and find it insulting. Write a new letter for each job you apply for.
• You can keep a standard covering letter available and then tailor it to meet the differences in each application.
• Many smaller companies are looking for signs of commitment from potential employees and a good, well written and informative covering letter can help show this.
• Take time to structure your letter, it will help if you know something about the company beforehand as you will have some idea of what the company are looking for.
• Do emphasise how your work experience is relevant to the job. You will have learned many skills during this time and they can be highlighted in the covering letter.
• If you have not had a great deal of work experience, you can use the covering letter to explain how your degree subject has taught you valuable skills, for example, creativity, researching new ideas and a flexible approach to your work.
• If possible, address the letter to the person named as the recruitment point of contact rather than a standard Sir/Madam, again it demonstrates initiative and commitment.