Your cover letter

The cover letter is a one-page letter sent together with your CV, to entice employers to consider your application. It typically has two main sections that answer the questions: ‘why are you the best candidate for the role?’, and ‘why do you want to work here?’.

A cover letter is a more detailed way to highlight key relevant experiences, provide details about particular skills you have, and demonstrate your knowledge of the employer. 

Presentation. Use a clean, professional layout for your letter. Employers will pay attention to the way you write, viewing it as an indicator of your ability to communicate. Ideas should be structured clearly and presented well, with no spelling or grammar mistakes.

Content. Describe your achievements and responsibilities in your past roles, and how they have prepared you to meet the requirements of the job you are applying for. If your experience is in a different industry than the one you are applying for, emphasise transferable skills, such as communication, teamwork, flexibility, or attention to detail. Use examples to show how you gained the skills the employer seeks.

Style. The letter should not exceed one side of an A4 (three to four paragraphs long). Sentences should be short and snappy. Long paragraphs dissolve ideas and indicate a lack of confidence.

Recipient. Address the letter to a named hiring manager if possible. If the job advert does not mention a name to address the cover letter, you can call the company and ask about the name of the person who deals with recruitment. Start with ‘Dear’ + Mr/Ms/Dr/etc (if you know the name) or Dear + Sir/Madam (if you don’t know the name). If you are unsure whether a woman is a Miss, Mrs or Ms, the rule is to use ‘Ms’.