Top tips for your next cover letter

You’ve polished up your CV, updated your key skills and researched the job you want, but when you go to apply you find that they require a cover letter. We have all been there.

Writing a cover letter can feel a bit overwhelming, especially if you have never written one before or are looking for a career change. You may not be sure of what to include and what should be left out.

This is why the team at PDR have put their heads together to come up with our top tips for your next cover letter.

3 Things to Include:

- Do personalise your letter
Employers respond better when they read personalised letters. This isn’t always possible, but if you know the name of the person your letter is going to, then make sure that you address it to them. You should also personalise the letter so that it is specific for the role you are applying for so that your potential employer knows you have definitely read the job description.

- Do talk about why you would be good at the job
This is the whole point of a cover letter. You need to tell potential employers exactly why you are the best possible candidate for the job. Make sure that you have read through the job description properly and talk about the skills and experiences that you have which are most relevant to the role you are applying for.

- Do make it look formal
Although a cover letter is less formal than other forms of communication with potential employers, it is still an important part of your application. For this reason, you will need to make sure that it looks like a letter. Include your contact details, an introduction and make sure that you sign off with your signature.

Three Things to Leave Out

- Don’t be generic
It’s ok to have a template for your cover letter, but make sure that you personalise it each time. A cover letter is an opportunity to show potential employers that you understand the role you are applying for as well as explaining why you think you are a good fit. It is also your chance to stand out, so make sure that some of your personality comes through in the letter you send.

- Don’t forget to check your spelling
Your cover letter is the first impression that a potential employer will have of you. It is impossible to overstate how important it is to take the time to check that your spelling, punctuation and grammar are right before sending your application. If you are unsure, there are free resources such as "Grammarly" which can help.

- Don’t waffle When companies are recruiting to fill a role, they will often have to read through hundreds of cover letters. They don’t have time to read long, rambling cover letters which don’t really get to the point. Making sure that yours explains why you are the best person for the job without waffling can make the difference between an employer taking the time to read all of your information or putting you to the bottom of the pile.