Top Tips for Cover Letters

Too often job seekers spend ages on their CV or application form and then hurriedly compose a covering letter or e-mail to accompany it. Big mistake! Your cover letter should be viewed as your key sales document. Recruiters will read this before looking at any other information you've attached so its vital that this creates a great first impression and makes you stand out from the crowd.

Here are 5 Top Tips to make sure your letter is a winner:

1. Keep it short

Recruiters will scan your letter/e-mail so make sure that you get the key points across but keep it concise. It should be no more than a page in length and consist of around three main paragraphs.

2. Highlight your key strengths/skills/experience that are most relevant for this position

Use the cover letter as an opportunity to clearly state the reasons why you think you'd be a suitable candidate. If responding to an ad then you should detail 3 of the key requirements for the position and show how you match these. Refer to points you've already made in your CV but reword them if possible or provide an additional example.
If your application is a speculative one then detail the key strengths/ skills/ experience that you have that would be of most value for the type or role you would like.

3. Tailor it for each application

Just as your CV should be tweaked slightly for each position you apply for, so too should your covering letter. A standard cover letter is a big no-no; how will this make you stand out from the crowd?
Show that you've done some research on the organisation by stating something about their products/services or opportunities/issues within the markets that they operate.

4. Ensure speculative applications are targeted

Take time to ensure that your letter is going to the right person. This should be the person who has the authority to hire you. Make sure that there are no mistakes in their name, job title or address. Don't focus on particular jobs but rather the contribution you believe you could make and don't send a speculative application by e-mail as it is too easy to delete and may not even be opened. If you've being given their details by one of your contacts then mention them by name.

5. Include a call to action

Obviously if you are responding to an advertisement then your call to action is to be shortlisted for an interview but if you are writing a speculative application then ask for a meeting, say that you will call them and remember to do this.

Following this checklist should ensure that your covering letter attracts the attention it deserves and makes the reader take a good look at your CV or application. Good luck!

Jacqui Mitchell is the founder of Jigsaw Career Coaching (www.jigsawcareercoaching.com) which offers coaching, teleclasses and workshops to people looking to find happiness at work.

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