HOW TO WRITE A COVERING LETTER

To set yourself apart from the competition produce a positive and relevant covering letter that directly relates to the job you are applying for.

A covering letter should always accompany your CV, unless you are told otherwise.  It enables you to personalise your application and showcase essential aspects of your CV in greater detail. Hiring Managers may also utilise them to gain a better understanding of your personality, attention to detail, and written communication skills. 

Always try and address your cover letter directly to the person who will be reading it. Bear in mind that you are more likely to receive a reply if you send it to the right person.

Advertised positions will usually include a contact name, but if not, it is worth taking the time to find out who the letter should be addressed to.

If you are still a student, or recent graduate, you can access your university’s careers and employability service for additional help.

A speculative application can sometimes be an effective method of creating a career opening, especially in highly competitive industries.

Carry out some research on the job and the company you are sending your application to. Examine the company’s website, particularly the “About Us” page, to learn about its goods or services, mission, and organisational structure. Look through their “Meet the Team” pages to help identify the department & manager you wish to work for, using their title and last name when professionally greeting them. 

You are not legally required to disclose a disability, so you shouldn’t feel pressured to do so.

However, you should not lie and say you don’t have a disability if you do, as this could mean you lose a potential job offer. If you choose not to disclose a disability in your covering letter then you can do so at a later stage.

You are entitled to reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010. Raising your disability during an interview (after you’ve outlined why you’re the best fit for the job) may be a good idea. It could help you explain any career gaps that are present on your CV. Everybody is unique, so do what best works for you. If you’re qualified to do the job, your disability should be irrelevant.  

Employers don’t always distinguish between a Masters and Bachelors degree when recruiting. They may value the additional maturity, but it is up to you to explain in your covering letter what skills and knowledge you have gained through this higher qualification.

Present yourself, in your covering letter, terms of the extra abilities you have and how this relates to your career goals…

• Emphasize your ambition  
• Highlight specialised knowledge  
• Illustrate any transferable skills (analytical, organisational, interpersonal…) 
• Describe how your degree will bring value to the company 
• Refer to the content of the course & any placement experience 

With employers often receiving huge volumes of applications for each vacancy, you need to ensure that your cover letter makes a lasting impression.

Here are some rules you’ll need to stick to if you want to increase your chances of success:

• Be concise and to the point – keep it to one side of A4.
• Use the same quality plain white paper you used to print your CV.
• Include a named contact whenever possible to show you have sent it to them personally.
• Relate your skills to the job advert and make a case for why the employer should want to meet with you.
• Proofread – always double-check your spelling and grammar, you could use a computer spellcheck program.

• Target the company by tailoring your cover letter for each application.
• The page layout should be easy on the eye, set out with the reader in mind.
• Check to make sure you’ve got the company name and other key details right.
• Read it and cut out any unnecessary words or sentences.
• If sending electronically, put the text in the body of the email rather than as an attachment to avoid it being detected by spam filters.
• Stick to your own words, avoiding jargon and formal clichés.

Your covering letter is an opportunity for you to demonstrate how well you articulate yourself to potential employers, and it should attract them to read your CV. If you want to ensure it is as effective as possible, avoid these common mistakes: 

• Failing to address the letter to a named individual at the company
• Being too formal (“Dear Sir/Madame”) or too informal
• Repeating what is written in your CV
• Forgetting to proofread your letter and sending it full of mistakes
• Spilling over onto a second page
• Sharing unnecessary personal details and giving rambling explanations,
• Concentrating too much on your qualifications rather than your skills and experience
• Failing to target your letter to the specific job you’re applying for
• Bragging!