Writing a Cover Letter

Getting your CV right is crucial when applying for a job, but your cover letter is important, too. It should be tailored to the position you are applying for, providing more detail about your accomplishments and qualifications.

And although every cover letter is different, there is some key information to include and some specific formatting requirements.

Formatting a Cover Letter

If you are writing a letter that will be printed, a cover letter should be formatted in the same way as any formal letter. This includes:

• Your address at the top right of the page
• The recipient’s name and address below this on the left
• The date on the next line on the right
• Begin the letter (‘Dear…’) on the following line on the left

How to Begin and End

The salutation (greeting) and valediction (sign off) you use is important in a cover letter. The salutation should be:

Dear [full name of recipient here],

If you cannot find the name of the person to which you are writing, simply use ‘Sir or Madam’ or ‘Hiring Manager’.

After this, the first line or so should run clarify why you are writing, including the job role and where you saw it listed. Something along the lines of:

I am enquiring about the position of grand vizier advertised on EvilHenchmen.com on the 19th of May 2016. Attached is my CV for your consideration.

You would follow this with the main body of your letter (see below for suggestions). In the last few lines, though, you should thank the recipient for their consideration and say that you look forward to hearing from them.

Finally, the valediction (i.e. the sign-off at the end of the letter) shouldn’t be too informal, but it doesn’t have to be stuffy and old-fashioned either. ‘Kind regards,’ is a good choice for most situations.

Content

While a CV should be a very brief summary of your career, a cover letter is where you can go into more detail about yourself. This includes your experience and why you would be suitable for the role you’re for.

It may feel uncomfortable to brag about your achievements, but nobody else is going to champion you! Emphasise the experience and skills which make you a strong candidate. This means expanding upon what you say in your CV, providing examples where possible.

Show enthusiasm but maintain a professional tone. It is also important to tailor your cover letter to its recipient. You may, for instance, want to be more adventurous when applying for a job in a creative industry.

Keep things relatively short if possible. It’s important to address the requirements of the role, but doing so concisely will impress employers more than providing a comprehensive account of your entire employment history! (Employers may have to read a lot of applications, after all.)

Above all, remember that one size does not fit all when it comes to cover letters. Don’t use a generic letter for every application. Writing a new one each time may be time consuming, but it could be what wins you an interview.

If you would like to have a cover letter checked for errors, upload your document to Proofed’s specialist CV and cover letter services.