Conquering Your Cover Letter
A cover letter, to accompany your job application, can seem daunting to write at first. But it’s important to remember, it’s just a letter – one that simply introduces you to an employer and asks them to think about your application.
It doesn’t need to be long either – it’s best to keep it to 3 to 5 paragraphs. Keep your language and tone professional and always ensure the details of the company and the recruiter’s name are correct.
Tip: While you can create a template letter to give you a jump start on the format each time, remember that you should tailor each letter you write to the company and the specific role you are applying for. One size does not fit all in cover letters, so don’t just duplicate the same one every time.
Here are a few other things to bear in mind:
❓What to include
🔸 Introduce yourself and explain how you found the advertised job. Mention the job title, and the reference number if there is one.
🔸 If you’re not applying to a specific vacancy, but instead inquiring about any job openings, be clear on what sort of job you’re looking for. Let the employer see how keen you are to work for them.
🔸 What skills and experience do you have that match what the employer is looking for? Make sure to highlight them in the letter and back up any statements you make with facts.
🔸 Convey your enthusiasm about working for them and let them know how you share their work values, culture and style. Make sure you have done your research about their company or organisation, as this will help you to identify the points which mean the most to you.
🔸 If you have gaps in your employment history, that could be noticeable on your CV, you could talk about the skills you gained while you were between jobs.
At the end of the letter thank the employer for considering your application. Let them know that they can get more details from your CV, and tell them you’re looking forward to hearing from them in due course.
Make sure your contact details are correct on both your cover letter and CV, and let them know how they can best contact you.
Yours sincerely or yours faithfully?
- If you know the name of the person you’re writing to, you should end the letter with ‘Yours sincerely’.
- If you’ve addressed the letter ‘Dear Sir or Madam’, you should end the letter with ‘Yours faithfully’.
Before you send it off do one last check of your spelling and grammar, and make sure to keep a copy of your cover letter as they may ask you about it in an interview.
If you want further advice and to explore opportunities within the FM industry right now, we have a bunch of jobs just waiting for your expertise – get in touch with us for a chat!