Niche Recruitment

Posted by Niche Recruitment
12th July 2023

How to Write The Perfect Cover Letter

When it comes to job applications, a well-crafted cover letter can be the key to unlocking new opportunities. A cover letter allows you to explain your skills and experience in a more detailed way than your CV permits. It’s an opportunity for you to tell the hiring manager who you are, and to explain exactly why they should hire you. Cover Letters are essential when applying for a job role and can mean the difference between an interview or a rejection email.

Your cover letter isn’t a stand-alone document, it should compliment the experience and skills listed within your CV. An introduction to who you are, a cover letter offers you the opportunity to demonstrate that you possess the job-specific skills and experience the hiring manager is looking for.

There’s no denying a cover letter contributes to a successful job application. However, most of us will find ourselves scratching our heads when faced with the task of writing one. So whether it’s the cover letter’s structure or tone of voice that has got you stumped, you’ve come to the right place.

Welcome to your cover letter crash course!

Design

It’s worth noting that if you are writing your cover letter within an online job application, there’s no need for you to put your contact information at the top of your text, as you would have likely put this in a previous section on the form.

However, when you are uploading the cover letter as an attachment, the design and layout are worth considering. To create a cohesive application package, it’s important to match the formatting of your cover letter to your CV.  Use the same font styles and sizes for headings and body text. Ensure that you use the same colour scheme throughout both documents. This is not only visually appealing but also showcases your attention to detail.

Structure

Your cover letter doesn’t have to be an epic novel, keep it to one page and between 250 to 400 words long. In this case, less is more.

You will want to include the following sections within your cover letter:

• Contact information and greetings
• Introduction
• Qualifications and Education 
• Job-specific experience and skills
• Why you are a good fit for the company
• Closing paragraph

It’s worth noting, that these sections might change dependent on the job role and your level of experience.

Greet Your Reader

If you’ve been given the name of the hiring manager or recruiter, address your cover letter to them. For example, ‘Dear Michelle Graham,’. If you do not know the hiring manager’s name, use a general greeting. For example, ‘Dear Hiring Manager’.

Opening Paragraph

The opening paragraph of your cover letter serves as your first opportunity to capture the attention of the hiring manager, and sets the tone for the remainder of your letter.

In your opening paragraph, convey your genuine enthusiasm for the company and the position that you are applying for. Highlight specific aspects of the company that resonates with you. Such as their; values, culture and products/ services. This demonstrates that you haven’t just stumbled across their job vacancy, but that you’re genuinely interested in contributing to the success of the company.

Re-read The Job Description

Re-read that job advert! Take note of the skills and experience required in the job description. Ensure that you reference these in your cover letter. Use the same re-occurring keywords found within the advert copy within your letter, this will clearly demonstrate that you possess the ideal experience and skills.

Closing Paragraph

The closing paragraph of a cover letter is effectively a conclusion. The tone in which you end your letter will leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Start by emphasising once again, that you are a good fit for the role and that hiring you will be beneficial to the company. Then sign off with a clear call to action. For example, explain that you are looking forward to hearing from them regarding your application. Or that you’d appreciate the opportunity to further discuss your qualifications and skills.

So whether the prospect of writing a cover letter excites you or fills you with extreme dread, we hope this guide helps you get started!

Are you on the job hunt?

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Here at Niche Recruitment, we help job seekers land their dream job roles across numerous industry sectors. Could you be our next success story?…