Cover letters are the first chance you get to stand out to your potential employer but there is no clear cut formula.
Ultimately, the sole point of a cover letter is to draw attention to your resume, which holds all of your relevant information, experience and skills.
In four or five paragraphs, you should be able to show competent language skills, that you’d be suitable for the role in terms of your skills and experience, and you have a genuine interest in the job.
To get this right, a cover letter should be unique to the organisation and job you’re applying to.
It must never feel like a one size fits all application letter that has been sent out to everyone.
Those candidates who articulate their specific interest in the organisation who produce the stand-out examples are on a winner.
Explain why you have applied for this job, what appeals to you about the role and why you would love to work for this organisation but make sure you don’t repeat the information on your resume.
The style of the cover letter will always depend on the person and the industry, but keep it professional.
It’s always best to address the letter to a named person – LinkedIn is usually a good place to search, or it’s advisable to call the organisation and ask for the correct name.
If not, you can use “Dear Sir/Madam” (although this formality may not be suitable for more modern, start-up companies) or use their job title.
And if a job ad doesn’t specifically ask for a cover letter, it’s always worth writing an email in the form of a cover letter.
A cover email is a pitch. Imagine it as what you’d say to the recipient if you had the chance to hand over your resume in person.
A good cover letter should make potential employers take an interest in you.
But to show them why you’d be the right person for job, you must first know what is good about yourself.
The key is to take stock of your unique selling points.