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How To Write An Amazing Cover Letter

Most job hunters spend hours crafting the perfect CV, knowing that this is one of the best ways of showing your experience and qualifications. But just as important is the cover letter which you send off with your CV. This is your chance to sell yourself, and secure an all-important interview. Lots of people get cover letters very wrong. So here are our top tips for writing a killer cover letter. Customise It We know that it’s time-consuming to write a fresh letter for each job you apply for. However, employers can spot a generic cover letter a mile off. It’s really worth taking the time and making an effort to come up with something original for every position. This also gives the opportunity for you to state exactly why you deserve an interview for the vacancy. Go Beyond Your CV Too many people just reiterate facts which have already been stated on their CV. Don’t just make generic statements such as “I managed a team of six people”. This is your opportunity to talk a bit more about the approach you took to meet challenges in your last job, or give a few more details to illustrate your experience. Try to use the words and phrases included on the job advert when crafting your letter. If, for example, the advert talks about someone being “detail-focused”, explain how you developed that skill in a past job. Keep it Brief Although it’s very tempting to write the equivalent of War and Peace, explaining every aspect of your experience and qualifications, there’s no need to do so. The idea is to give the employer enough information to help them decide whether it’s worth calling you for interview or not. Leave the smaller details for interview should they wish to ask. Concentrate on your major achievements and most important experience. On side of A4 paper, either handwritten or typed, is plenty for a covering letter. Spellcheck and Proofread Employers often receive hundreds of covering letters and have to come up with a quick and easy way of cutting them down to decide who to interview. Often, anyone who hasn’t followed specific instructions such as sending a handwritten letter or printing your CV in black ink will have their application rejected. The same applies to spelling mistakes and grammatical errors, so get someone to check over your cover letter before hitting the send button. Get The Right Name Starting your letter “to whom it may concern” or “Dear Sir” isn’t the approach you’ll looking for when applying for a job. If a name is given on the advert, address your letter to that person. If not, it might be worth calling the company to ask. At the end of the letter, try to finish with remark about hoping to hear from them soon, or encouraging them to contact you if they require more details. Always remember to include your own name and contact details so they can contact you to offer you an interview.

What Qualifications Should I Put On My CV

Every advice site about writing your CV will stress the importance of keeping things brief. Two sides of A4 is as long as any CV should ever be. If you’ve been to school, college, and have professional qualifications too, then your qualifications alone could fill that space, and more. What type of qualifications are worth including, and which can be disregarded? Consider the Stage of Your Career Your CV isn’t a static thing which you just add to as you progress through your career. If you’re in your late teens, then your A-level grades are far more relevant than they are when you’re in your forties. Similarly, if you’ve done lots of professional training or obtained certificates in a specific skill, these are probably more relevant than the exams you sat at school. Each time you move on to a different position, take the opportunity to re-evaluate your CV and think about whether it’s time to condense the academic section. Recent Graduates – Degree and Subject Marks If you’re about to leave University, or are a recent graduate, your degree subject and classification should be at the top of your academic section on your CV. There’s no need to list every class you studied and every grade; if employers want to see an academic transcript they can request this separately. You may also wish to include your A-level or Scottish Higher passes and grades, but omit your GCSE or National 5 passes if there isn’t space. Many graduates write “8 GCSE passes including Maths and English” or similar rather than listing each one separately. Professional Qualifications Employers are also going to be interested in other types of qualifications other than the purely academic. If, for example you have been trained on specific software packages, or done professional qualifications in Marketing, Accounting, Project Management or similar, then these may be more relevant to your application. This is especially true if your degree is in a subject which isn’t directly related to the field you are hoping to work in. It’s also worth mentioning any professional qualifications which you are working towards, even if you haven’t sat any exams yet. This shows a willingness to learn, and that you are ambitious to progress in your career. Other Qualifications No employers are going to be interested in things like swimming certificates or cycling proficiency. But evidence of other types of skills can be a valuable addition to any CV. If you’ve taken part in the Duke of Edinburgh programme, for example, you could use this to show planning and teamwork. Having a food hygiene certificate is useful for roles in catering or food production. If there is a possibility that you might be asked to drive to visit clients or customers for a job, mention that you have a driving licence. Employers may also be interested in first aid qualifications, or qualifications in coaching sport or refereeing, as this demonstrates a wide range of skills.

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