How to write the perfect cover letter

Have you ever seen an advert for your dream job and wanted your application to have the edge over the competition?

The key to getting an interview lies not just in your dazzling CV but in the all-important Cover Letter. A successful cover letter will convince employers that you are the person they must see for an interview – but how do you write this all-important correspondence?

Marianne Hatcher is the Learning and Development Manager at BPS World and she has created the perfect cover letter template for TechTalk Curry’s website. Together Marianne and TechTalk hope to improve an applicant’s chance of getting to the interview stage through writing a strong cover letter – providing them with the right content and format to use.  They have an information page on their website with the option to download our cover letter template:

http://techtalk.currys.co.uk/infographics/microsoft-templates/cover-letter.html.

The template provides a straight forward, step by step list of instructions for what you need to put in a cover letter and why.  Follow our expert and comprehensive guide and you can be assured your cover letter will stand out from the rest! 

                                                                                                                                                                Date

                                                                                                                                                                Your address

                                                                                                                                                                Job reference

Name and title of hiring manager (if known)

Company name

Company address

Dear……..

Paragraph 1

This paragraph needs to be short and to the point. Introduce yourself, state the position you are applying for and where you found the position advertised. Mention you have attached your CV.

Paragraph 2

Explain why you are suitable for the role. Include a brief description of your professional and academic qualifications that are relevant to the role. Make sure you refer to skills you have which are mentioned in the advertised role.

If you do not have specific academic qualification or work experience cite your relevant experience to gain interest, include personal skills to show you are a good fit for the role. You can also refer to any academic experience to support this. Do your research on the company culture and draw parallels to your own ethos and work ethic.

Paragraph 3

State what you can offer the organisation and give practical examples of this. This could be performance –based achievements from your previous or current position.  Make sure your examples are quantifiable and relevant. Stating “Reduced staff turnover by 20%” sounds more impressive than simply stating “I reduced staff turnover”

Paragraph 4

Reiterate your interest in the company and why you would be a good fit with the organisation.

Paragraph 5

Close the letter by thanking the employer for their time and indicate that you would like to meet with them for an interview. Remember to sign of the letter with:

“Yours sincerely” –if you know the name of the hiring manager.

“Yours faithfully if you do not know the name of the hiring manager.

Your name

Notes

The tone of your cover letter will in some ways be dictated by the industry you are applying to i.e. creative vs formal. It will also differ on whether it is a formal response to an application or a speculative request.  You will need to adjust your language accordingly.

Limit the use of “I” in your letter and always look to reference how you can add value in many different ways.

Finally, always re-read your letter and check for any spelling and punctuation mistakes before you hit the “send” button.

If you would like more advice or would like to find out about our recruitment opportunities please contact Marianne Hatcher on 01628 857340 or marianne.hatcher@bps-world.com