You’re on the lookout for a job but also wondering if you need to include a covering letter with every application you make. Sometimes, recruiters request for one and sometimes they don't. So, you ask yourself; “what should I do?”
To do or not to do, that is the question!
Well, the answer would certainly veer towards the “yes" response. Play it safe and include a covering letter whether or not it's requested. Don't overthink it and procrastinate at great length. Get it composed, on the double!
Why it's a good idea
Employers will no doubt have had a look at your CV, scanning each and every section of your educational and career history to date. However, what a covering letter does in it’s own right, a CV won’t.
Your covering letter will explain why you are choosing the role, what you have to offer and how you will be able to benefit the company. It’s your story to tell the employer why you are the best candidate for the role, and your chance to shine and illuminate your personality. In addition, it's a great persuasive tool to get the hiring manager to want to meet you.
Composing an individualised covering letter for each position you apply for can take time but don’t let it put you off. You’ll be in a better position of receiving a positive response.
What you should include
There are a few things to bear in mind when composing your covering letter. The following points are food for thought:
Address your covering letter to the hiring manager
Personalisation is great and wins bonus points so if you know the hiring manager's name, use it. And if you don’t, research and hunt it down. It will show your interest and perseverance.
Keep the covering letter short
Employers don’t have much time to read through lengthy text so keep it short and concise, honing in on what you want them to know about you. Remember, they will be ploughing through plenty of applications so you want to keep the content as engaging as possible. Keeping it to one side of a page is a good idea; three to four paragraphs long.
Include three relevant skills
A covering letter should burst full of the relevant skills you have in connection with the position you are applying for. You want your potential employer to know that you have what it takes to fulfil the role effectively and efficiently.
Avoid using covering letter templates
With the plethora of help out there for job hunters, you may have come across templates for CVs, resignation letters and in the case of this article; covering letters. Our best advice would be to steer clear of using such templates as they can appear to be too generic. Acting as more of a guide is a better use for them but it’s important to keep your covering letter tailored to your own skill set and the job you are applying for.
Our expert team are here to help
If you’re having trouble writing up your covering letter or simply don't have the time, our friendly team is here to help. We’re confident that we can format your covering letter perfectly. We will present you as an excellent candidate for your dream job, explaining why you stand out from the rest. Our competitive prices and fast turnaround mean that you will get your covering letter at an excellent price and in time for those applications.
Contact our professional team to get more information and advice.
Above all, good luck with your job application!
