What Makes a Good Covering Letter?

When it comes to submitting an application, most places ask for a CV and a covering letter. We know a CV is a very important document, but a lot of us are guilty (myself included) of copying and pasting the same covering letter and sending it to employers. And believe it or not, employers can spot this very easily. Even though many of us place a huge amount of importance on making sure our CV stands out from the crowd, we don't apply the same amount of emphasis on our covering letter. And this is a damn shame. I totally believe that our covering letter is equally important as our CV. When an employer sees your application, they tend to read your covering letter first. And if your covering letter is a simple copy and paste exercise, then employers will reject it. Immediately. I know how hard it is when it comes to sending out applications. You want to send your CV to loads of employers so you can improve your chances of getting an interview. But if you're covering letter is not up to scratch, then you are simply wasting your time. You stand a better chance of getting an interview if you invest in equal amounts of time on tailoring your CV and writing a good covering letter. So how do you write a good covering letter? Well in this blog post, I am going to share 3 steps (plus one bonus step) to help you get started:

1. Research the Company That You're Applying For

Most covering letters are very repetitive and quite generic. And they usually read like this:

“Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to express my interest in applying for the <add name of position> at <add name of the company>. I came across this opportunity on the <add name of job site>.

I have attached my CV to this application which shows my skills, experience and qualifications.

If you have any questions, please let me know. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards,

<add your name>”

I am guilty of writing a covering letter like this. And it got me nowhere. Many applicants don't talk about the company they're applying for and many employers would disregard these applications because it immediately shows they have only applied for the position for the sake of it. If you see a position that you like, get to know the company first. Visit their website, find out about their industry and figure out why this company would be a great fit for you. That's all it takes. Employers really do appreciate it when you've taken the time to research their company. And check out the news too. Sometimes, if a company has been performing well it is usually reported in the media.

2. Explain How Your Skills Will be Useful To The Company.

As mentioned a little earlier in this post, having the right CV is equally important to having a good covering letter. A covering letter should be seen as an introduction to your CV. And the best way to do that is to showcase your skills. To do this, you need to have a read through the job description or job profile. Highlight any skills that you feel will be extremely important to the role and then provide examples of you using your skills in your covering letter. Remember, it is all about selling yourself.

3. List Any Achievements

Highlighting any relevant achievements that you gained is hugely beneficial. This shows employers that you have experience and capable of attaining a similar success in the role that you're applying for. You don't have to list your achievements separately, you can also intertwine your achievements whilst you sell your skills.

4. Speculative Application (Bonus Step)

Covering letters play a pivotal role when it comes to speculative applications. To explain what speculative applications are, they are applications that you send to prospective employers who haven't advertised their roles. One thing you have to keep in mind is that listing vacancies with either recruitment agencies, job sites and other media outlets are extremely expensive. And employers really appreciate it when you come to them, rather than the other way round. The best way to approach these applications with a covering letter is to explain why you want to the work for the company and what skills you can offer to help them exceed. This will form the basis of a strong introduction. Then you can give examples of your skills and highlight any relevant achievements. Obviously, the more covering letters you write, the better you get. Hopefully this blog post will encourage you to put more effort into your covering letter in future applications Thanks for reading. What do you think of covering letters? Have I missed anything out? Let us know in the comments section below. Featured image: Pixabay
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