Who is normally the first agent of a company to review if your resume is a good fit for the job

A good cover letter puts your résumé in context and persuades the prospective employer that you are a good match for the position in question. If your cover letter does its job, the prospective employer will begin to consider your candidacy and go on to review your résumé in detail.

Your cover letter also serves as a sample of your organizational and communication skills. For this reason, it's essential to spend time writing and organizing the content, and to proofread it carefully. The time and care that you devote to constructing and writing your cover letter and résumé will demonstrate to the prospective employer that you're capable of producing high quality work.

Finally, your cover letter expresses your interest in the particular position or particular organization. Cover letters should be individually tailored for each job prospect. Your letter should convey to each prospective employer that you have an understanding of the job, and that you've done some thinking about how you could fit in to the organization and contribute to its goals.

How should I approach the writing task?

Your cover letter is your opportunity to market those aspects of your skills, abilities, education, training, background, and experience which are most relevant to the position you're seeking. This means that you will need to begin by doing some thinking about your skills and background and how these relate to the position for which you're applying. (For more information about skills, visit the Humanities Academic Services Center website.) Your cover letter should reflect your individuality, but remember that you are "introducing yourself" for the first time to a stranger: it's best to err on the side of professionalism.

Read the job announcement carefully. What are the most important qualifications being sought? How can you best demonstrate that you have them? Try to put yourself in the prospective employer's position: What would you want to know about a candidate for this particular job? What information would be most important to you? Include only the most relevant attributes and experiences you possess which specifically match the job for which you're applying.

Research the company or organization: What does the employing organization do? What are its goals? What is its history? How does it fit in to its industry? What characterizes the organization's culture (e.g., is it casual, conservative, highly structured, diverse, traditional, modern, fast-paced, etc.)? Some information, such as the organization's mission, purpose, clients, partners, and a sense of its "style" can be found on its website (if it has one). There are also industry and employer directories available on the web, in the libraries, and at UW Career Center in 134 Mary Gates Hall. Local and national newspapers, industry-related publications and journals, and the Washington Occupational Information System are also good resources.

Address the letter to a specific individual. As with all writing, it's important to identify your audience. Taking the time to find out the hiring party's name and correct title is another way to demonstrate your interest in the position.

How should I format my cover letter?

Your cover letter should be three to four paragraphs in length and limited to one page. Like an essay, its content can usually be divided up into three parts:

The introduction states the position you're seeking, explains how you learned about the position, and indicates your interest. It often also contains a brief statement of your qualifications (education, experience, and skills).

The body highlights the most important qualities you can offer to this particular employer, related to the position that you're seeking. Because you will be attaching your résumé, this is not the place to go into great detail. What you are attempting to do is to get the employer's attention and interest him/her in your candidacy. This is also the place to present other relevant information about your characteristics or background that may not be evident from your résumé. You might provide the employer with some specific examples of how you've demonstrated particular key skills or how you fulfill the most important qualifications listed in the job announcement.

The conclusion should summarize your qualifications and your interest in the position. Be sure to close your letter with a request for action or an indication that you'll be following up. This might include a request for an interview, a statement of your intent to call the employer on a specific date, or the dates you'll be in town for an interview. Finally, always thank the employer for considering your application.

Sample Cover Letters

Mary Martin 221 Peachtree Street Seattle, WA 98105 (206) 555-5555

April 22, 2013

Ms Stephanie Everly Managing Editor Dickinson Press 12 Main Street

Amherst, MA 11001

Re: Editorial assistant position

Dear Ms Everly:

I am writing to express my keen interest in the editorial assistant position you advertised with the University of Washington's Career Center. I will be receiving my bachelor of arts degree in English in June 2012, and I am eager to join a small publishing house where I can use my skills in writing, editing, proofreading, research, and critical anaylsis. Based on my knowledge of Dickinson Press publications and objectives, I believe that my educational background and abilities would be an excellent match for the editorial position.

Through my academic work in English language, literature, and writing, I am prepared to make meaningful contributions to editorial discussions and to function as a member of your editorial team. In addition to my university training, I have held editorial positions with Bricolage, the University of Washington's undergraduate literary journal, and with Steubing Press, a small publishing house specializing in non fiction and regional publications in the Pacific Northwest. These intern positions have provided me with experience in editing, proofreading, fact checking, production scheduling, working with off-site vendors, sales, marketing, and customer service. My positions with a small publication and a small press have taught me to manage my time effectively, adapt readily to new responsibilities, work as a team member, and function well under pressure. The writing skills I developed through my background as an English major have been further refined in both of these positions, where I learned to write concise, persuasive prose for press releases, catalog statements, and website content. Both positions afforded me an in-depth understanding of the important and varied behind-the-scenes work involved in book publishing.

I hope you'll agree that the combination of my academic training and my internship work in publishing has provided me with excellent preparation for the demands of a literary editorial position with Dickinson Press. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss this opportunity in greater detail.

Sincerely,

Mary L. Martin

Encl: résumé

Mary Martin 221 Peachtree Street Seattle, WA 98105 (206) 555-5555

April 22, 2013

Keeshia Rodell Marketing Director Echomedia Marketing Group 123 Avery Place

Seattle, WA 98111

Dear Ms Rodell:

John Bingham of Hemming Communications tells me that you are seeking a marketing assistant at the Echomedia Marketing Group, and he suggested that I send you my résumé. I am particularly interested in the public relations work that Echomedia has done in the non profit sector, and I hope you'll agree that my academic background in English along with my promotions internship with the Experience Music Project make me a good candidate for this position.

In June, I will be receiving my BA in English and Communications. My background includes relevant course work in mass media communications, concepts of new media, media structure, and cross-cultural communications. I have also developed strong writing, persuasive, and critical analysis skills through my major in English.

In the course of my internship in promotions, I gained practical skills in managing media campaigns, doing press work, and planning promotional events. One of my tasks with the EMP was to prepare promotional materials for upcoming museum events and to distribute these materials to the local media. Because there was often very little lead time, I learned to obtain information quickly and assimilate it into a persuasive set of ad materials in short order. At the end of the internship, I was commended by my supervisor, Marion King, for producing high quality work on a strict timeline. I am diligent, creative, and flexible, and I work well as a member of a marketing team.

I look forward to speaking with you about the suitability of my English and marketing background for this position with Echomedia. I will telephone you within a week in the hope that we can set up a meeting soon. Thank you for considering my application.

Sincerely,

Mary L. Martin

Encl: résumé

A cover letter accompanies your CV as part of most job applications. It provides the hiring manager with further detail on how your skill set aligns with the role, what you can bring to the team and why you want the position. Cover letters also allow the recruiter and hiring manager to develop a better understanding of your suitability for a position. 

Your cover letter will often make the first impression in the mind of a hiring manager, making it an essential part of your application. In addition to this, employers tend to favour CVs that are accompanied by a cover letter and will often specifically request one as a mandatory requirement to apply for their vacancies.

In this ultimate guide to cover letters, we’ll be discussing the following topics:

·         What cover letters are?

·         How to write a cover letter

·         What traits and attributes your cover letter should include to stand out

·         A cover letter template for you to use in your next application

What is a CV cover letter?

A cover letter is a one-page document addressed to the interviewer or hiring manager that includes your contact details, the role you are applying for and further detail surrounding the information in your CV. Cover letters should highlight your interest in the role and expand on your skills and experiences that make you best suited for the position.

Within the cover letter, you should align your qualifications, relevant skills and previous experience clearly to the job description to emphasise that you have done your research into the role and are keen to join the team.

How to write a cover letter

A good cover letter will increase your chances of being invited for an interview with the hiring manager. Below we go through ten key tips for maximum impact:

1. Address the contact mentioned in the job advert

Take care when addressing your cover letter to ensure it is received by the correct person - ideally the hiring manager - and make it clear which role you are applying for. If you don’t know the name of the hiring manager, either ask the recruiter, or simply write ‘To whom it may concern’.

2. Outline your current job situation and why you want to move on - don’t be negative

If you are currently employed, explain the reasons for your interest in the new role in the cover letter, whether that be career progression, personal interests, or even that you are just looking for a change. If you are between jobs or have previous employment gaps on your CV, use the cover letter to highlight the reasons for your interest, but also ensure you are upfront as to why you have been out of employment previously.

3. Show you’ve done your research

Being able to demonstrate an understanding of the company’s history, their area of business and the work they do, to an employer, reflects your level of interest in the role. Someone who has clearly made an effort to find out more about a company and referenced this in their cover letter will be viewed by the hiring manager as a more committed candidate than one who has not. Be sure to look through the company website, find out what you can about the company's culture, and come prepared to discuss its history and its evolution.

4. State why you are interested in working for them as an employer

Use the cover letter to demonstrate how the role will impact your greater career goals: how will you be able to use your skills and grow within the organisation? Is the described culture one you would be happy to work within? Make sure you can articulate the reasons why you want to work for the company and include them in your cover letter. If you need help in defining your career goals, or wants tips on how to hit them, check out our latest article on the subject.

5. Tell them why they should be interested in you as an employee

Most top candidates will be skilled and hardworking professionals, so it’s important to consider why you would be the perfect candidate and communicate this in your cover letter. Highlight your past accomplishments and any additional skills that would benefit the organisation if you were selected to fill the position.

6. Tailor your cover letter to the job and avoid repetition

If you’re applying for multiple roles, don’t fall into the trap of reusing the same cover letter. It should be tailored to the role you are applying for and in line with the job description and company’s personality.

7. Highlight your transferable skills, achievements, and versatility

Transferable skills can help determine your suitability for a role, so be sure to include any personal characteristics or personality traits that make you a better fit for the role and interesting to a hiring manager. If you have achieved great results in a similar role, be sure to highlight your success.

8. Tailor your information, but don’t slavishly match the job description

Where your skills and experience fit the criteria, mention the crossover between them, but don’t use every word or listed skill set to describe yourself in your cover letter.

9. Make sure it’s neat, brief, and typo-free

A typed, one page and error-free cover letter is expected. If your cover letter contains spelling mistakes, your CV will very quickly find itself in the ‘no pile’, regardless of how experienced or skilled you are.

10. End by politely expressing interest in further dialogue

Invite them to get in touch or make reference to speaking further in an interview to emphasise your keenness to join the team. If you don’t hear back, send a follow-up email or call the interviewer to touch base.

Traits to showcase in a winning cover letter

During a recruitment process, recruiters and hiring managers may receive hundreds of CVs and cover letters to review. Your cover letter must reflect the unique capabilities that you possess, which position you as an ideal candidate for the job. 

A well-written cover letter is an opportunity to show the reader you embody the key attributes necessary for the role, which is why it is important to invest the necessary time and effort into writing yours. Below, we discuss a few of the qualities and attributes your cover letter should demonstrate:

Valuable

What do you have to offer as a professional, and how could you positively affect the organisation if you were to be offered the role? Sell your key strengths confidently in your cover letter to grab the reader’s attention. This will increase the likelihood of progression through the selection process.

Literate

There’s nothing worse than a glaring spelling error on your cover letter. A mistake in your letter suggests to the hiring manager not only that you lack attention to detail, but also that you don’t care enough to take the time to proofread. Therefore, it’s important to make sure you check it over and have a friend do so as well before submitting. A fresh pair of eyes could go a long way in securing an interview. A well-written cover letter can also showcase your ability to effectively communicate via written text. A thorough spelling and grammar check is an absolute must. 

A unique candidate

Use your cover letter to display your unique combination of skills and experience that relate to the job selection criteria of the role. Provide examples that will demonstrate a clear link between your knowledge, experience and abilities, and the needs of the employer.

Experienced

While soft skills, as well as academic abilities, are critical for securing an interview, your cover letter should also demonstrate your experience in relation to the job description to the hiring manager. Be sure to include examples of relevant experience in your cover letter to highlight the value you would bring to the role and why you would be the best-suited candidate for the position. 

Enthusiastic

A tailored, compelling cover letter shows you have taken the time to research the company and understand the employer’s needs and job requirements. It is an opportunity to express that you are enthusiastic about the role, keen to be part of the team and demonstrate the value you would add to the company.

Your cover letter template

Now that you know how to make sure your cover letter is ticking all the right boxes, you are ready to start writing. Like a CV, there is a certain amount of personal preference involved when writing your cover letter. Typically, most will follow similar guidelines, but candidates choose different layouts in which to order their information according to preference and the job they are applying for.

Below, we have provided a full cover letter template:

Dear <<Hiring Manager>>,

In response to your recent advertisement for the 'Human Resources Recruitment Specialist - MP123456' on https://www.michaelpage.co.uk, please find attached my curriculum vitae for your consideration. I have the following experience which is well aligned to the requirements of the role:

·         Successful human resources recruitment specialist with four years’ experience.

·         Experience gained in leading FTSE 250 global recruitment company.

·         Thorough understanding of the human resources market having worked on both specialist and generalist roles.

·         Multiple sector experience having worked with both the private and public sector

In my current role as a human resources recruitment specialist, I have:

·         Established relationships with the human resources functions of leading retail banks and as a result now have preferred supplier status not only for HR, but the wider business.

·         Diversified client base by 20% YoY.

·         Increased job numbers across client base by 45% YoY.

·         Increased productivity and revenue by 30% YoY.

·         Been requested to serve as account director by one of the 'Big Four' and have successfully performed in the role.

·         Managed multiple projects alongside day-to-day activity; organising CSR day, charity quiz which raised £6,000 for charity, client, and candidate entertainment event.

I believe that my experience to date is very well aligned to the requirements of this role, and I am confident that I will be a valuable asset to your organisation. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via the contact details provided on my CV. I am available for an interview at your convenience and I look forward to hearing from you. 

Kind Regards,

<<Your name>>

What’s next?

A cover letter can be a make-or-break factor in a job application, but it is often challenging to know where to start. By following the top tips and using the template in this article, you’re sure to create a cover letter that will bring your CV to life.

If you would like to speak to one of our specialist consultants for more information or to discuss any of our current job opportunities, please get in touch today.