The covering letter
A CV should never be sent out into the world unaccompanied. Its best friend is the covering letter. Get it right and you’re halfway to the interview.
If you send a CV to a firm, either cold or in response to an ad, it must be accompanied by a covering letter, or, as is more likely, a covering email.
Take immense care with it. Whereas your CV is, necessarily, quite dry, your covering letter is the literary equivalent to the grip of your handshake or the look on your face. It should give a sense of who you are.
Getting started with your covering letter
Draft the content you want it to contain. It should be short – certainly no more than say 300 words and shorter is fine.
Dear…
If at all possible, get the name of the person you’re applying to. It shows you’ve made an effort and Sir or Madam makes you sound like you're from the 50s. If you really don't have it and can't ring them up to get it, write the name of the company.
Next line
Say which job you’re applying to – you might prefer to present this as a reference line below the Dear… and above the rest of the text.
First paragraph: I spotted your advertisement in…
Where you found the ad or why you’re writing to the firm. Firms appreciate this information, so be helpful to them.
Second paragraph: My record in achieving is just what you’re looking for…
Who you are and what you’ve got going for you. Where you’re working now or what you’ve just been up to, professionally.
Third paragraph: As you can see from my CV, attached…
Invite them in to check out your CV. Cherry pick one or two real corkers from it – such as a recent achievement (record sales stats, new installation completed) and get the reader warmed up.
Fourth paragraph: I look forward to discussing the post with you at interview…
Tie it up nicely and let them know you’ve got more to say at interview.
Yours sincerely
It’s worth putting your mobile number below your name – should they want to contact you, especially if you’re applying out of the blue or not directly in response to an ad. Always make it easy for the recruiter.
Before you send!
Check and check again for accuracy, grammar and spelling. Your covering letter must be as immaculate as your CV. Does each paragraph start with an "I", as in "I will" or "I have"? If they do, re-jig the first sentence of each so that they no longer start with the same letter. Two "I"s is okay out of five paragraphs, no more. The same goes for "My".
Check the voice - what the letter sounds like if you read it aloud. It should be to the point and not rabbiting, but it can be warm and personable, too. After all, your covering letter is an introduction to the best of professional you.
Make sure your CV is actually attached. It doesn't do to miss it off and then send it later with an "Oops".
Send it now!
