Writing a Cover Letter/Email

The cover letter/email gives you an opportunity to highlight and expand upon the skills and accomplishments detailed in your CV. Knowing how to write a cover letter effectively could differentiate your application from other candidates and emphasise the distinct benefits you can offer your prospective employer. Share in some of our cover letter advice and specific cover letter tips to help you convince an employer that you’re the right person for the role.

When writing a cover letter, be sure to identify yourself. Specify what the job is. State where and when the advertisement appeared.

One of the fundamental pieces of cover letter advice that we give our candidates, is to refer to their CV and indicate briefly how their skills, experience and qualifications meet the employer’s expressed requirements. Highlight aspects of your CV which make you particularly suitable for the job and stress your unique selling points.

Say why you want to join the organisation and do that particular job. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of the company and writing a cover letter that encompasses this is a powerful tool to engage the hiring manager. Show that you are enthusiastic and highly motivated.

Restate your interest and summarise your suitability. Say when you will be available for an interview and end your letter/email on a polite note.

Pay careful attention to punctuation, grammar and spelling. Keep the tone professional and aim for one page. A tailored cover letter format aligned to the employer’s requirements is key to a good cover letter. Note: A cover letter should only be used when an application is made via mail or a fax (email applications should have a covering email).

If you need any cover letter help or further advice on how to write a cover letter, our specialist recruiters are on hand to assist.