How to write a cover letter

A well-written cover letter can be essential to securing employment. Therefore, you must be confident that you are writing a good cover letter. Read the following advice that answers the typical cover letter doubts.

Typical doubts on writing the cover letter

Where to start with a cover letter

The first thing you should take into account when writing a cover letter for a job offer, or a more general speculative cover letter, is your potential employer. You must ask yourself: what can I offer the company? What makes the perfect candidate for this particular job role? Analyse the offer and try to imagine that you are the person who is going to read your cover letter.

What is a speculative cover letter?

A speculative cover letter is a general cover letter that is not written in order to apply for a specific job position, but instead is sent to a company who are not necessarily offering any vacant job roles. The purpose of this type of application is to show a company that you have initiative and are very keen to join their company.

Tailor the cover letter to the job role

Adapt the cover letter depending on the type of job offer you are applying to. Remember, space is limited and you only have one opportunity to make a good impression on the potential employer.

The length of the cover letter

As a general rule cover letters should take up one page. No more. It is important to clearly space the different sections of your cover letter, so the reader can easily find the important information. A clear, concise cover letter also helps you quickly make a good impression that shows you are organised and tidy.

Overall, the cover letter should be brief and organised.

Structure of the cover letter

To achieve the impression of organisation and tidiness it is recommended to know the parts of the cover letter and what you should include within each section. You must structure it well and touch upon several essential points that are discussed in our advice for writing a cover letter section.

On a well-written cover letter, one can discover the most important information from a brief glance.

What to highlight on the cover letter

Remember, the cover letter accompanies the CV when carrying out the job search and allows a candidate to highlight their best qualities to a potential employer.

To know what you should include on your cover letter, the best thing to do is to put yourself in the shoes of the recipient. The letter should respond to the expectations of the person responsible for carrying out the selection process.

Try not to write about personal or professional qualities without relevance to the job offer. If there is a skill you possess that is not relevant to the job role, wait until the job interview and you can use it then to demonstrate your skills and competencies.

If you still harbour doubts about writing a good cover letter then download a free template to use as a guide.

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