Sometimes, you can spend what seems like an eternity scrolling through job listings and then, all of a sudden, one jumps out at you as something that you think you’d be perfect for! But how do you convince your future employers that you have what it takes? Well, a CV is certainly an important factor, but alongside a CV it’s always a good idea to send a cover letter to ensure any recruiters get a more well-rounded idea of who you are and why they should invite for an interview.
Here’s the Brave Island team’s top 5 tips for writing an eye-catching cover letter:
Keep it short and sweet!
A lot of recruiters will be looking through tens, if not hundreds of applications, so it’s in your best interest to avoid rambling and instead catch your readers attention right from the start. You should always start by saying which role you are applying for and why you are the best candidate that they will see. One side of A4 paper is plenty for them to read.
Talk up the company!
A bit of flattery can go a long way, and when you talk about what about the company stands out to you it will show your future employers that you’ve done your research and this isn’t just another copy and paste cover letter that you’ve already sent to 20 other recruiters!
It can also be beneficial to address the person reading the letter by name where possible, this gives the letter a more personal touch rather than just saying Sir/Madam. If you can’t find a name, you can just write “Dear Recruitment Manager” or “Dear Recruiter”.
Tailor the letter to the role
Provide specific examples of how you meet the requirements of the job, you shouldn’t rewrite your CV, but you should aim to support it. If the job listing calls for someone who works well under pressure, describe a time where you were in a high pressure situation and you dealt with it well. Or, if it calls for a great team player you can talk about times where you’ve demonstrated good teamwork. If you are applying for your first job or you don’t have much workplace experience, you can always talk about examples from school or hobbies like sports teams or clubs you’re involved with.
Check, double-check and triple-check!
It might sound obvious but you should be extra careful not to leave any spelling or grammar mistakes in your cover letter. Getting this right will help your reader to see that you are professional and have an eye for detail. Most word processing programmes will come with a spellcheck but you should still look back and check before sending off your application. If possible, why not get a friend or family member to have a read through too? A fresh pair of eyes can often spot little mistakes that you missed the first time around.
Be honest
If the position you’re applying for asks for three years experience in a particular field and you only have two, express your eagerness to learn and provide examples of times where you’ve picked up on new skills quickly or adapted to challenging situations.
