Your cover letter is your introduction to a prospective employer, therefore worth investing considerable time perfecting this to make it as relevant and expressive as possible.

Whilst highlighting your existing skills that make you perfect for the role, a covering letter can speak volumes about your personality and ambitions.

Take a look at these tips for writing a cover letter that will help you stand out:

Address the hiring manager

When addressing a cover letter you want to make as personalised and suitable to a vacancy, hiring managers don’t want to see To whom it may concern or Dear employer. On job adverts, there is often the name of the hiring manager, but if you can’t find the name then have a look on the company website or LinkedIn.  

Promote yourself 

In your cover letter, you should promote yourself, describe your ambition and express your interest in the new role and company in a way that is distinct from your CV. 

Keep it brief

Hiring managers see a lot of CVs, so make sure your cover letter is only 1 page in length and kept to the point. They don’t want to read an essay of a cover letter, as they don’t have the time to waste when looking to recruit. So start with an introductory paragraph, a paragraph about how you suit the role, and another explaining your experience and your accomplishments. 

Tailor your Cover Letter 

There is no one-size-fits-all cover letter template for all the positions you apply for. The point of a cover letter is to make a positive impression and show why you’re a match for the role but if you use a template it misses out on the details that promote you. 

From the job description match the skills in your cover letter and shows how your experience and skills make you a suitable candidate. Highlight your talent by providing facts or examples 

Show off your past accomplishments

Companies like to hear about what you have been up to and how you love your work. Draw examples of specific projects you have worked on and excelled at in either a few sentences or in bullet point form. 

Full check 

There is nothing worse than spending loads of time sorting out your cover letter to be let down by your grammar or spelling. Always make sure you proofread your cover letter and see if you can get someone to check it over as they might see something you may have missed. 

The don’ts of writing a cover letter 

• Don’t ignore instructions – If an employer gives specific instructions make sure you follow them, for example, they may ask for you to include an answer to a question they need you to have in your cover letter 
• Don’t overshare – Keep to facts than oversharing personal details that are in no relation to the job your applying for 
• Too many bold statements – Employers expect you to brag about what you can do and your accomplishments but the bold statements without facts don’t provide any value