Cover letters accompany your CV when you apply for a job. Getting this right may be more important that the actual CV. Cover letters are usually sent when you are enquiring about particular employment positions within the company or are sending in a CV or job application for a specific job. They can also be used after you have had a personal introduction or telephone call with an employee within the company.

Here are some tips for getting your cover letter right.

1. Make sure they are no spelling or grammatical errors. One error could mean that you lose the job.
2. Research the company you are applying for – this could make you stand out from other applicants.
3. If you are applying to a specific industry – try to use common industry phases. If you have relevant qualifications focus the letter around them and make sure that these are well highlighted.
4. Don’t over complicate the language. Make it clear and concise.
5. Let the employer know what follow up action is required to take this to the next step. i.e. phone call, e mail, letter etc. Remember to put these details in your letter.
   
   

There are different formats of cover letters depending on whether you are sending it electronically via e-mail or via hard copy ie as in a letter. These will be explained below.

Your cover letter should be drafted in such a way that leaves the employer in no doubt as to your skills, experience and the reason for applying to that particular company.

After the heading the format of the cover letter should be as follows.

1. The first paragraph should contain basic details and information about yourself, the reasons for writing to the company and how you learned about the position or company.
2. This is where you can explain about where your CV and skills base fit into the position applied for. It is also where you sell yourself and state why you are particularly interested in the type of work or company applied for and use the details in your CV in doing so. You can mention here about research you have conducted on behalf of the position applied for.
3. The last paragraph should contain details about thanking the employer for reading your application.It is at this part that you will be asking the employer for an interview or a telephone call to discuss future employment opportunities and any matters they deem relevant that has not been covered in your CV or cover letter. It will also be when you state what follow up you will be endeavouring to undertake ie telephone call in a specific time period or email to a particular person. Do not leave it for the employer to contact you at an unspecified time or date. You need to show the confidence that this is something you will be undertaking as after all it is your future!

The format of the letter may vary and you may find that you wish to provide enough information so that there four paragraphs. Whilst endeavouring to provide all relevant details remember to keep it short and concise as you need something to fill the time at the interview.