TIPS FOR COVER LETTER WRITING

An effective cover letter can bring you a step closer to that coveted job interview. Be sure to customise each cover letter to improve your chances.

What should a cover letter include?

An effective one-page cover letter needs to, minimally, contain the following:

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Introductory paragraph

What position are you applying for? Where did you find the job opportunity?

Your motivations

Why are you interested in this field and company?

Your skills and strengths

How can you contribute to the company?

5 Reasons To Write That Cover Letter

1. They are a good avenue for you to demonstrate your writing skills – unlike resumes, where you write in bullet points and short phrases.

2. It is an opportunity for you to highlight your skills and motivations for your application in greater detail.

3. Recruiters may use cover letters to gauge your level of interest in the position. Applicants who do not submit one may be seen as indifferent to the job.

4. Some recruiters use cover letters to infer a candidate’s personality, which can determine their fit for the role/organisation.

5. The cover letter is especially important for a speculative application. The letter gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself to the employer as well as to set up follow-up steps.

Tip: Internet-proof your cover letter

• Always export your cover letter as a PDF file to recruiters unless otherwise instructed. The PDF format lets you avoid any minor corruptions that word processor documents may experience during an online transfer (e.g. formatting errors).

• When submitting your cover letter and resume through email, write a short email message to introduce your attachments. Alternatively, compose your cover letter as the email message with your resume as an attachment.

• You can also run an email test by attaching and sending the right documents to yourself.