Now that you have a fantastic CV, make sure it gets read by ensuring your covering letter gives the right message. A perfect CV can be ruined by submitting it together with a poor covering letter. Don't let yours let you down. Here are some essential tips on how to get the best chance of interview success in your next job application.
What should you do?
- Write to a named person, not to 'Sir / Madam', and ideally to the appropriate decision maker, such as the Head of Human Resources or the Chief Executive.
- Phone the organisation to check the person's title, initials and the correct spelling of their name.
- Match your skills and achievements to the employer's needs by researching the role and the company.
- Keep your points brief and don't repeat information verbatim from your CV: knowing your CV well will enable you to pull out relevant strands of information.
What shouldn't you do?
- Write more than one page.
- Use dense chunks of text - your letter must be readable at a glance.
- Hand-write your letter unless specifically requested.
- Use your initials: opt for the format 'Janet R Smith' rather than 'J R Smith' when typing your name at the end of the letter.
- Forget to sign your letter, put it in the right envelope, and keep a copy for your records.
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