How to write a fantastic cover letter – our top 5 tips!

1)    Know your audience

There’s nothing worse than sending the same generic cover letter to every job you apply for. The tone, style, and language, used in each should be tweaked depending on the company you are applying for. A good way to gage what is appropriate is to have a look at their website, and try to write in a style similar to theirs.

2)   Sell yourself

A cover letter is a unique opportunity. Unlike your CV you can effectively create an argument as to why you are specifically suited to that role in particular. Connect personal, and previous work experiences to the role you are applying to. Employers love to see how your personal attributes make you suitable for a role, and they should come away from your cover letter feeling almost like they have already interviewed you.

3)   Stand out

Although you should draw on previous work experience, don’t copy out your CV in your cover letter. Employers can already see your GCSE grades, they want to see something that isn’t on your CV. For instance, you could show an example of when you did something outside of your job specification in your last role, which made a difference in a positive way.

4)   Don’t drag on

It’s a letter not an essay. Plan out what you are going to say, there is nothing worse to an employer than reading waffle. Make sure you cover the essentials especially highlighting what makes you superior to other candidates applying.

5)   Most importantly – Focus on the company not yourself

Make sure you haven’t written a generic cover letter. Employers can see when someone has copied and pasted their cover letter template, and simply changed the name of the company they are writing to. They want to see you have done your homework, and can demonstrate knowledge of their company values, the type of work they do, and where they fit in their industry.