You’ve crafted the perfect CV to help kick-start your job search, but now you’ve found the ideal part time job to help support you through your studies, great! But the application calls for a covering letter. Don’t worry if you feel a bit confused, we’re here to help you craft a winning cover letter with our cover letter tips.
What is a cover letter?
A cover letter is a letter addressed to a potential employer, whereby you demonstrate why you want the role, what you can bring to the role in terms of skills and experience, and to show how you meet the job specification. This is your chance to impress an employer, not to show off or brag, a degree of modesty, and evidence based achievements will make an employer much more likely to offer you an interview. Finish by stating that you have included your CV with your application. Read on for our cover letter tips
What should I write in my letter?
To begin, introduce yourself, explain briefly why you want to apply for the role and why you want to work for the company in question. Keep things positive, saying things like you want more money or because you hate your current employer will not go down well with a potential employer.
The main body of your letter should go into more detail. It explains to an employer why you’re right for the job in question. Look at the job specification that was included with the job advert. How do you meet the specification? Is there anything on there that you did in your last role? Relevant achievements are essential to include in this section, as they will show an employer that you have a proven track record in terms of your career.
To finish your letter, briefly sum up what you have covered in the main body of your letter. Don’t forget to thank the employer for their time, and that you hope to hear from them soon. Sign your letter, and don’t forget to send it together with your CV to the employer. CVs that include a cover letter are more likely to get a positive response back from an employer.
Following this advice will help you to better impress a potential employer. You do not want to undervalue yourself, your skills or your potential, so make sure that when you are writing your cover letter, that the employer knows what you can bring to them and why they should want to employ you, rather than someone else.
So, remember these cover letter tips, craft a winning application, and best of luck with your job hunt!
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