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Stand out from the crowd with a tailored cover letter

Written by: Chloe Herrmann
Published on: 8 Aug 2022
Category:

Stand out from the crowd with a tailored cover letter

A tailored cover letter, together with a well written CV, is a great way to ensure you stand out from the crowd and get noticed by a recruiter or hiring manager. 

These are our hints and tips on how to write a great cover letter: 

  • Your cover letter should always be fully personalised to the role and organisation you’re applying for – it is your opportunity to specifically highlight (and elaborate on) your skills, experiences and achievements that make you right for this opportunity 
  • You can include more about your personality including your motivations for applying 
  • Demonstrate that you have researched the organisation and role within your cover letter
  • Generally, cover letters follow the following format:
    • Opening paragraph – confirm the role you are applying for, the vacancy reference number (if applicable) where you saw the vacancy or the name of the person if you were referred by an individual 
    • Second paragraph - Highlight your skills, experience and achievements that are relevant for this particular role and match those listed in the advert and person specification 
    • Third paragraph – Include why you are attracted to the role and organisation and how you feel you’ll be a good fit and asset 
    • Final paragraph – reiterate any key points, thank the reader for taking the time to consider your application and that you hope to hear from them soon.

As with your CV, the presentation of your cover letter is important: 

  • Where possible, address the letter to the specific person managing the recruitment process – this may be mentioned in the advert and instructions for application 
  • Keep it brief – up to one side of A4 is usually ideal 
  • Use simple professional fonts which are clear and easy to read such as Calibri, Times New Roman or Arial in size 12 
  • Ensure it is professional and easy to read – be clear, concise and keep paragraphs short  
  • Keep the formatting and presentation consistent throughout 
  • Check your spelling and punctuation – ideally ask someone else to also proof-read the document too 

And finally: 

  • Ensure your email address is professional and appropriate 
  • Save your document with a useful title – ‘Joe Bloggs Cover Letter’ 

Hopefully these hints & tips will help you write a great cover letter to accompany your CV and secure the next move in your career! Good luck from team WMJobs!