Writing a Cover Letter

A cover letter is a short introduction letter accompanying your CV. The purpose of a covering letter is to draw the reader’s attention to the most relevant aspects of your experience and persuade them to read your CV or application form.

The aim of a cover letter is to:

• Inform the employer about which job position you are interested in.
• To express how your qualifications  directly relate to the position for which you are applying.
• Show how you can add value to the organization.
• Encourage the employer to read your CV and arrange an interview for you.
• It is another way of introducing yourself to a potential employer. Every time you send out a CV, you’ll need to have a cover letter to send it along with. It’s a good idea to customise your cover letter for each job you’re applying for.

The Right Format

The Cover Letter should be no longer than one-page in length and contain 3-4 short paragraphs. Leave wide margins (minimum 1 inch) and use a clean, simple font like Arial or Times New Roman. It should appear neat, easy-to-read and appealing to the eye.

Content

• Paragraph One:  Start by stating the job that you are interested in. Mention how you heard about the job – friend, employee, newsletter, advertisement, etc. If you are responding to an advertisement, you can mention it here.
• Paragraph Two:  Explain your qualifications for the job, your skills, talents, accomplishments and personality traits and show how the company will benefit from them. Consider using bullets to make these stand out. Indicate any related experience, educational background, or specialized training that might increase your employability. Write how you can contribute to this company and why your specific skills, talents and accomplishments would be best for the company.
• Paragraph Three:  Tell why the organization, location, or the type of work appeals to you. Describe why you would fit into the company. Invite the reader to review your resume. Show that you have done some research and that you have a good understanding of how the company works.
• Paragraph Four: Close by making a request for an interview and provide your phone number and email address, or indicate when you will follow up. Mention the enclosed CV; give them a reason to read it in-depth .Suggest a time and a way for you to follow up.
• The Closing: It should appear two lines under the body. A simple “Sincerely,” will usually be fine. After your closing, skip three lines and type your full name. Insert your signature above this. Type an enclosure line on the left margin and several lines under your name. This may be in the form “Enclosure” or “Enc. CV”.