4 Points You Need In A Cover Letter!

4 Points You Need In A Cover Letter!

Sending a cover letter with your CV provides the best possible opportunity to sell yourself to a potential employer and to make your application stand out from the others. So, whether you are asked to provide one or not, you should always include a covering letter when applying for a job.
A covering letter has the dual purpose of being your first chance to make an impression with your prospective employer, make them want to read your CV and meet you; it should also identify you as a good, if not the best, candidate for the role by linking your skills and experience to the requirements of the employer.
Ideally, your covering letter should not exceed 1 side of A4, should be clear and concise and written in a standard letter format; remember it’s a formal application for a job, not a friendly exchange of views with your friends.

1. Make Yourself Clear

Clearly state what job that you are applying for and where you found out about it.

2. Explain Your Interest

Explain why you’re interested in the role and for working at the company; Use this section to show your knowledge of the company (e.g. their products, services, position in their industry or main competitors), your understanding of the position on offer and your motivation for applying.

3. Highlight Your Skills, Experience and Knowledge

Show how they relate directly to what the employer wants (use the job advert to find out what the key requirements are); Show what you can do for the company. Remember; your CV has all the ‘facts and figures’ about your career, you don’t need to repeat those in the cover letter, but you clearly summarise your key strengths for the role.

4. End Your Letter Positively

Show that you are ready to proceed to the next stage of recruitment. Let the employer know you are enthusiastic about the role and committed to working with the organisation.

So To Sum Up…

…It should, by now, be clear that a covering letter needs to be tailored directly to each role you are applying for; you can’t have a generic one as that will just show your potential employer that you’re not prepared to put the effort in. So, as with any application, you will need to do your research and spend time thinking about how you fit the role and why this employer should consider hiring you. The upside of this extra effort is that, when you get called in for an interview, you will already have done much of the research and preparation needed to be successful.
You can also use your covering letter to explain any gaps in your work history (e.g. periods of unemployment); employers will want to know what you were doing during these periods.
Finally, 2 important points – don’t be tempted to send only a very basic covering letter; you need to be saying much more about yourself and your skills than simply “Please find enclosed my CV” and make sure you sense check and spell check your letter; there’s nothing worse than applying for a job and spelling the company name incorrectly!

A big thank you to Bridges for sharing this content!

Discover Youth Friendly Employers

The British Library Work experience, internships and apprenticeships with The British Library open up a WORLD of possibilities. EXPLORE NCFE Vocational Qualifications Young people get amazing perks when they work for the NCFE, with apprenticeships and more. The training is great, too. EXPLORE Martin Brower Careers Break into business, admin and supply careers with Martin Brower. Don't settle for the status quo. EXPLORE Careers in Racing Horse racing is a great career choice! British Racing is the 2nd largest spectator sport after football. EXPLORE Surrey County Council Careers Thinking about rewarding apprenticeships and early careers in a diverse environment? Fire up your career with SCC! EXPLORE Aspiration Training Traineeships & Apprenticeships in childcare, dental nursing, teaching, health/social care, and business admin EXPLORE Catch22 Youth Services Want to overcome barriers in life, whatever your background? Want employers to give you a chance? We can help. EXPLORE Royal Air Force There’s nothing like a career in the RAF, it’s not just a job but a way of living. EXPLORE Haven Joining Haven is more than just a job. Our early careers are a breath of fresh air! EXPLORE Coca-Cola EuroPacific Want to work for one of the most well-known brands in the world? They work hard to develop their young people! EXPLORE ABP Foods Apprenticeships, graduate schemes and an AMAZING early careers academy in the world of sustainable food EXPLORE Severn Trent Careers Discover opportunities for apprentices, graduates and undergraduates in the office and beyond! EXPLORE Generation: Free Skills Training Get FREE skills and careers training today! Generation gives you skills and connects you with employers to find a job fast. EXPLORE Prezzo Restaurant Careers Prezzo offers so many early careers, from cooking great food and giving great customer service to managing like a boss! EXPLORE Coach Core Apprenticeships See how Coach Core Apprenticeships get you into sport careers EXPLORE Environment Agency Careers Our work helps to protect and improve the environment to make it a better place for people and wildlife. Join us! EXPLORE Careers in Eyecare From healthcare lab to high street fashion - you don't need a degree to open your eyes to eyecare careers EXPLORE Essex Youth Service Aged 13-25 and live in Essex? Get involved in fun activities, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award and online Plan B Traineeships. EXPLORE Get Into Teaching You can get a teaching degree for FREE with apprenticeships! EXPLORE Historic England Discover early careers in heritage for all backgrounds, skills and interests. EXPLORE IHG Early Careers Discover how you can grow your career in hospitality! EXPLORE Working in local government Local government touches everyone's lives every day EXPLORE McDonald's Early Careers You probably knew you can get McDonald's Apprenticeships. Did you know you can also study for a FREE Management Degree? EXPLORE Pret Apprenticeships & Careers When you apply for a Pret Apprenticeship or junior role, you’ll belong to a community of achievers. Get support on your own unique career journey! EXPLORE VHR Technical Recruitment The VHR talent academy can help you get into a successful technical recruitment career - with NO experience! EXPLORE
VHR
NCFE

Email us at info@youthemployment.org.uk or call 01536 513388.

Build Skills + Confidence

Want a big boost in your life and work skills? Sign up to our free online Young Professional programme today!

Young Professional Programme

Get FREE skills training when you sign up. Get support with your personal confidence, positive attitude and coping with change!

Self Belief | Communication | Teamwork | Problem Solving | Self Management

FREE Online Courses

Boost your skills and careers confidence with FREE online courses. Complete them your own pace and get a certificate for your CV! Sign in as a Young Professional to get automatically enrolled.

Get Jobs + Experience

Find Opportunities

Looking for jobs and opportunities near you? Sign in as a Young Professional to see the latest jobs, apprenticeships, grad schemes, CV workshops, career events and early career opportunities in your area!

Latest Careers Help

Be Yourself

Mental Health

Stay Curious

Overcoming Barriers

For Students

Student Guides

For Teachers

Teacher Resources

Teachers - see how to use the Young Professional programme in your school or college, with lots of free teaching resources at your fingertips.