A (decent) covering letter (in US English a cover letter) is an important element of applying for a job. OK – forget important, it’s huge. Hundreds or thousands of people apply for the good jobs these days so the covering letter is more important than its been in decades. It gets them to read your CV. So it’s almost more important than your CV – because if it’s rubbish, they may not even read your beautifully crafted CV.
Because a covering letter is free form and doesn’t follow an official structure like a CV, it may seem daunting or scary to write. Get over it – a good cover letter should be your standard practice. It’s a competitive job market – play up or sit and watch.
Some tips for writing a successful covering letter.
1. Short and sweet
The company you’re applying for may receive hundreds of cover letters for one job. Short cover letters which are straight to the point will jump out. Don’t bother with the formalities, go straight into why you would be good for the job.
2. New information
Do not just repeat your CV, it’s unnecessary and a waste of time. Instead highlight and expand on parts of your CV which are relevant to the job you are applying for.
3. Make it personal
If you have a connection or history with the company, mention it. A covering letter should make you sound interesting, not generic and stale. It would also be good to reveal some of your personality and your motivations.
4. Talk about the company
Show that you are enthusiastic and interested in the job by researching the company. Perhaps mention why you would fit into that company specifically.
5. Don’t talk about the job description
Do not use the job description as a check box to go through and say how you can do each task. Instead indicate what the general responsibilities are and explain how your experience shows that you can carry them out successfully.
6. Use short sentences
Short sentences (2 clauses max) are easy to read. Don’t use big words but sprinkle over some of the company’s jargon from their website or literature. Some jargon – do not horseshoe everything in.
7. Avoid cliches
I hate cliches. You should too. Do not use them. Just a few of the worse: cutting edge, 110%, world class.
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