Top tips for writing an effective cover letter
The name game: Always write to a specific individual – avoiding addressing covering letters to Dear ‘Sir’ or ‘Madam’. Use ‘Mr’, ‘Mrs’, ‘Miss’ or ‘Ms’ and then the surname of your contact. Never use their first name. Try to look for this information ahead of writing to the company using LinkedIn or the company webpage.
Careful consideration: Tailor your letters to each application – don’t mass produce them. You will undoubtedly get more interviews by sending out a small number of well-written cover letters, than by sending out many poorly written ones.
Size matters: Keep things concise – three or four brief paragraphs is fine. A covering letter should be a maximum of one A4 page.
Writing your cover letter
When you start writing the content of your cover letter, there are a few simple tips and tricks you can follow to help you fully flesh out your cover letter.
Skills and Experience
Arguably the most important part of the cover letter, make sure you highlight in full detail any skills and experience you have that makes you suitable for this role. This could be experience you gained from previous job roles, or a skill you picked up from a hobby.
Correct Starts and Ends
The same as any other letter, a cover letter should typically still follow a certain structure.
This includes adding your name, address, phone number, the date, and enclosing or attaching a copy of your CV.
While to some this may seem trivial, using the correct format for your letter will ultimately make your application look more professional.
Find Out Who To Address Your Letter To
Leading on from proper letter formatting, finding out who you need to address your letter to can be beneficial as well.
While just using “dear sir/madam” does work perfectly fine, using the name of whoever will eventually be reading your letter makes your entire application look a lot more personal and professional.
Use The Advert As a Guide
If you’re stuck for what you should write on your cover letter, refer back to the job advert.
Typically, employers will list what qualities they are looking for in candidates. This gives you a good starting point for finding ways that your skills line up with the job advert.
Fill Gaps in Your CV
No matter what the reason for it may be, gaps in your CV with no explanation never look good. If you do have any gaps, use your cover letter as a place to explain them.
Remember to keep this as concise as possible to not take away from the rest of the cover letter.
Keep Things Concise
Ultimately, your application won’t be the only one that employers need to read through.
With this in mind, keeping your cover letter as short as possible would be beneficial for your application. This doesn’t mean you have to skip information, instead try to find places to use simpler language, shorter, more direct terminology, or in some cases using bullet points. What is most important with this is finding a good way to shorten your letter while still keeping the letter professional.
Proofread
After fully writing your cover letter, remember to properly proofread it. Any missed spelling, grammar, or punctuation mistakes can make your application look less professional and reduce your chances of success.
Need More Job Application Advice?
Whether it be interview tips or general information, Paragon Skills are here to help guide you through the entire process. Whether you’re looking for an apprenticeship, or you’re an employer looking to hire an apprentice, Paragon Skills can help. If you’re not sure where to start, get in touch with our expert team today.