A cover letter is extremely important. In cases where you have been asked to provide a CV and cover letter, never ignore providing a cover letter. You want to write a strong cover letter to convince who is hiring, to look at your CV.
So, what is a cover letter and why is it so important?
A cover letter is an opportunity for you to show that you have the experience and knowledge needed to do the job that you are applying for. This shows that you have read the job description and requirements and have tailored why your education, experience and knowledge makes you a great candidate for the role.
You don’t want your cover letter to have screeds of information that is on your CV. Yes, it is important to reference some information from your CV, but not too much that you are repeating yourself.
How to write a cover letter
1. Include your name and contact information
Clearly list your full name, phone number email address and date at the top right of your document. Making it easier for a recruiter or whoever is hiring to contact you. You can also include your street address.
2. Include a greeting
If possible, try to greet the recruiter/person who is hiring or the hiring department if you are struggling to find any names.
3. Introduction paragraph
It is important to grab the readers attention straight away here, to entice them to continue reading. Without going into too much detail, you can include an experience, portfolio/project, previous role, or passions that make you the right candidate for the role. As well as this, you should include who the company is, what they do, the position you are applying for, why you are interested in the role and why you would fit in.
4. Body paragraph
This is where you want to expand on your experience, skills, projects, previous roles, passions, and motivations. It is important to include any positive impacts that you have caused in your role. As well as, listing responsibilities of your current role, especially if they are similar or relate to the responsibilities of the role you are applying for.
5. Closing paragraph
Summarise and emphasise why you are interested in the role and why you would make a great fit in the team.
6. Include a call to action
Finish up your cover letter with a call to action. This encourages the reader to move forward with your application. You could ask to be called for more information or to view any relevant work. Finally, thank them for reviewing your application.
Other important points to note:
Ensure that your cover letter is no longer than one page.
Keep it simple and easy to read.
Hyperlink any important work, such as a website or portfolio.
Save your cover letter as a PDF to keep the formatting.