Now you’ve followed our CV Do’s and Don’ts, you need a killer covering letter to help you stand out from the crowd and make sure you get that phone call offering you an interview.

A covering letter shouldn’t just be a copy of what’s on your CV and you shouldn’t have a standard covering letter – your covering letter, like your CV should be tailored to the job you are applying for. So how can you write that great covering letter?

1) Opening.

Your opening should consist of your contact details and greeting. Make sure your contact details are clear at the top of the letter, along with the date. Include the title of the job you are applying for and a reference number if the role has been given one. This helps the person going through the applications to assess you against the correct criteria. Make sure you have a professional e-mail address. It was one of the tips on the CV article a few weeks back, but it’s worth reiterating it now. Addressing your letter directly to the recruiting manager also helps, but you don’t always have this, so in this case, address the letter to ‘Dear Sir / Madam.’

2) Break it down.

Your covering letter should be broken into 3 main section – why you, what you can bring to the role and your sign off. Why you? That’s the question the recruiting manager is asking as they are reading your letter and CV. Pick out the main points from the job or person specification and show how you meet the criteria. What can you bring to the role? You’ve just stated why you’re the best for the role, but what will you bring to the organisation? Think about what you are passionate about and how that links to the job specification and the company values. Sign off. Conclude with reiterating why you want the role and include a thank you for considering your application. If your letter was addressed to a specific person, your sign off should be ‘Yours Sincerely’ or if you have addressed the letter to Sir / Madam, your letter should conclude with ‘Yours Faithfully.’ Don’t forget to add your name at the end of the letter, leaving space for you to sign it.

3) Keep it brief.

Your covering letter should be no more than 1 side of A4. Your recruiting manager will have lots of CV’s and letters to read through, so keeping it short and sweet, making sure you cover the main points. Make sure it’s well laid out with an easy to read font and broken down into paragraphs, so it doesn’t look like a wall of text.

So what’s this got to do with The Wage Shop?

Job hunting is hard, so follow our tips and make the best of every opportunity to project the best image of yourself. Don’t forget once you’ve landed that role, The Wage Shop are on hand to make sure you’re paid correctly, on time and manage all your tax and national insurance requirements. So you can focus on working hard and getting settled into that new role.

We also offer a Payment Advance service so you can access your money when you need it so you can be ready for the first day. Whether that means a new suit or coffee’s to soften up the new colleagues, we’re here to help.

Head over to the website for more details or Contact Us to register.