How to Write a Great Cover
Letter
Norman Creaney

Why do I need a Cover Letter?
Curriculum Vitae
The cover letter is an
essential part of any job
\"a brief biographical résumé of one's
application or enquiry. career and training, as prepared by a
person applying for a job.\" - Dictionary.com
A well written letter will More common term in the UK
ensure a favourable
reception for your CV. Résumé
\"a brief written account of personal,
A carelessly written letter will educational, and professional
irritate a busy reader, and qualifications and experience, as that
cause the CV to be ignored. prepared by an applicant for a job.\" -
Dictionary.com
It is not difficult to write a More common term in the USA
great cover letter.

Use your Cover Letter to
Introduce yourself.
Persuade the employer to read the rest of your application.
Say what job you are interested in and why you want:
that particular job
with that particular employer
Draw attention to the items in your CV, resume or
application form that demonstrate that you possess the
required skills for the job.
Say how you can be contacted and when you will be
available to start.

Two Kinds of Cover Letter
The enquiry letter:
The response letter:
No vacancy has been advertised.
When responding to an
You are initiating contact with an
advertised vacancy, you will
employer to inform them of your
normally either submit a CV
skills and availability, and to suggest
or resume, or complete a
that they consider you for any
specific application form.
vacancies that arise. This is
sometimes called a cold call,
Your submission should be
speculative or enquiry letter.
accompanied by a cover
letter, which should be brief
Your letter should be brief and
and concise - normally no
concise - normally no more than one
more than one side.
side -and should be accompanied by
your CV.

The Response Letter
<Your address>
<Your phone number>
<Your email address>
<Today’s date>
Dear Sir
Do not give a
I am writing in response to your advertisement in <wherever advertised> for the
frivolously named post of <name of post> .
email address. I am a final year student on the <name of course> at the <name of college> , and
expect to graduate on <graduation date> with <expected classification or grade
average> . I will be available for employment from <earliest start date> . I am
If you leave a particularly interested in the advertised post because <reason for interest> .
message on you are
You may be interested to note the following items on my curriculum vitae, which
telephone, ensure are particularly relevant to this post.
that it is one that is <item 1>
suitable for an <item 2>
employer to hear. If you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look
forward to hearing from you.
The letter should be Yours faithfully
typed and thoroughly <sign your name here – i.e. by hand>
checked.
<type your name here>

The Enquiry Letter
<Your address>
<Your phone number>
<Your email address>
<Today’s date>
Dear Mr. Jones
Send the letter to the
I am a final year student on the <name of course> at the <name of college> and I
head of Human am contacting you to let you know that I would like to be considered for any
Resources. vacancies that you have for <job title or description> . I am particularly
interested in this work because <reason for interest>, and I believe that I have
the potential to make a valuable contribution to your company.
Copy the letter to the I expect to graduate on <graduation date> with <expected classification or grade
head of the average> and I will be available for employment from <earliest start date>.
department in which You may be interested to note the following items on my curriculum vitae, which
are particularly relevant to this post.
you would like to
work. <item 1>
<item 2>
The letter should be If you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look
forward to hearing from you.
typed and thoroughly
Yours sincerely
checked.
<sign your name here – i.e. by hand>
<type your name here>

The Application Form
If you are required to complete a paper form, then you need to
You will frequently be
be careful. You must avoid, at all costs, submitting a form that is
asked to complete, or
dirty or has untidy corrections.
fill out, a specific
application form.
1. Make a photocopy of the original form.
2. Draft your answers on the photocopy.
If you are supplied
3. Do all your proof reading, editing and correcting on the copy.
with an electronic
4. When you’re absolutely certain that what you have
copy of the form, this
written is complete and accurate, then you can transfer
is ideal.
the information carefully and neatly onto the original
form.
You can edit, proof
read and re-edit until
Answer all questions as fully as you are able to.
you are completely
sure that everything
If a question seems not to be applicable to you, you may
is just perfect. The
indicate this by writing \"Not Applicable\" or \"NA\".
final copy will be tidy
Do not say in answer to any question – “see my CV” or \"see
and error-free.
answer to previous question\".

Write, Read, Revise ... Repeat ...
Writing is an iterative process that may include multiple
cycles of proof-reading and revision.
It is very difficult to proof-read your own writing so it is best
to get the help of a friend.
If you cannot get a friend to help then it may help to:
Read your writing out aloud to yourself - this often
uncovers problems that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Do not try to do everything at the one session - leave
some time between writing and proof-reading.

Ac-cen-tuate the Positive
In all communication with a
potential employer:
Mister In-Between
1. Clearly indicate your ~ Johnny Mercer & Harold Arlen
positive attributes –
emphasising those that are
\"You've got to accentuate the positive.
most relevant to the
Eliminate the negative.
vacancy.
Latch on to the affirmative.
2. Say nothing about your
Don't mess with Mister In-Between.\"
negative attributes –
unless you’re specifically
asked.
3. Be truthful – do not tell any
lies.

Related Materials
How to Write a Great Cover Letter
http://knol.google.com/k/-/-/1hzaxtdr9c09g/24#
How to Write a Great First CV (Resume)
http://knol.google.com/k/-/-/1hzaxtdr9c09g/12#