Writing a Job Specific Cover Letter
When writing a cover letter for a specific role, you should always:
- Start by – Carrying out research into the company via their website and social media platforms to understand their culture as well as read the job spec thoroughly so you know what are the key points to outline in your letter to prove you are a match.
- Provide an introduction – always include a brief introduction about yourself stating your main good qualities relevant to the role and company and briefly why you want the job.
- Refer to the company and job you’re applying for – You should write a different cover letter for each job you are applying for that is specific to the roles. If you are applying for multiple jobs at the same time its okay to start with a basic template but make sure you include details that are specific to the job/company and highlight these in each section on education, skills and experience. E.g. do further research into the company and find out if possible who to address the letter to, interesting information about the company that you can refer to in your letter, and always include the job title and company name if you can find it.
- Link in your skills and experience to the job description – In every job description there will be an area that covers both essential and desirable skills. In your cover letter you should explain your relevant capabilities and back each skill up with an example of how/where you’ve used it. Make sure to match as many of your skills to the ones on the job description as possible but keep to the point and don’t waffle. The company will want to see that you have understood what they need to fulfil the role and you are not wasting their time
- Finish the letter with a call to action – Finish your cover letter by asking them if there is anything else they need from you, and refer to further communication e.g. ‘I look forward to hearing from you soon’
Things you should avoid:
- Making your cover letter too long – as this is a summary of your CV it should be concise and to the point, it doesn’t need to be more than a page long at most.
- Typos and spelling mistakes – always proof read before submitting your cover letter, first impressions are really important.
- Mentioning other job applications – Most people apply for multiple jobs at a time when looking for new employment. The employer is probably very aware of this so there is no need to mention other application forms you might have when trying to convince them that you want this job. Every employer wants to feel their job is your dream job and not just another role you are applying for.
