CVs and covering letters : Covering letters

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1. Example CVs
2. Writing successful CVs
3. Covering letters

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Whenever possible, send a covering letter with your CV which demonstrates your motivation, commitment and relevant skills.

• Always tailor your covering letter to the specific role.
• Show you have researched the role, the organisation and the industry.
• Outline why you are attracted to the specific opportunity.
• Highlight your unique selling points.

When applying by email, add the letter as an attachment.

Style

• Use one page of A4 paper and four or five paragraphs.
• Address your letter to a named person, even if you have to contact the organisation to ask who deals with recruitment.
• Include your contact details and the employer’s (including their title).
• Make sure your grammar and spelling are perfect.
• Use a professional tone.
• Link your writing style to the industry, e.g. covering letters for a job as a waitress will be less formal than those for an internship at a bank.

Content

Use the following format as a guide for your letter. You may also want to include an extra paragraph to explain any personal circumstances or anomalies such as low grades or a career change.

• Paragraph 1: a positive, formal introduction outlining how you heard about the opportunity, listing the documents you have enclosed (such as your CV).
• Paragraph 2: outline why you are interested in the role and the organisation, demonstrating indepth research and mature reflection on how the opportunity fits into your career plans.
• Paragraph 3: highlight your key skills and experiences.
• Paragraph 4: highlight your key skills and experiences.
• Paragraph 5: end positively outlining when you will be available for interview.

Disclosure of disability

Legally, you do not have to declare your disability before you start a new job, but failure to do so on an application or medical form, when you are specifically asked, could give rise to dismissal later on.

If you decide to disclose, stress your positive attributes and outline the benefits of your disability, for example:

• highlight your relevant skills;
• outline the extra skills you have gained as a result of your disability.

In your covering letter you could also give examples of how you have successfully dealt with challenges in the past brought on by your disability.

Your disability could also give you access to reasonable adjustments to your role and workplace adaptations (for which the employer may be funded).

More information can be found at equal opportunities.