Calling all jobseekers: your cover letter needs you…
Even if you know everything about the perfect cover letter, putting one together can seem like a stressful ordeal. Not only do you have to think about the contents, you also have to consider what structure and formatting will make it stand out.
We’ve already covered what a cover letter is and how to write a cover letter, but if you’re still feeling frustrated when it comes to formatting – here’s our cover letter template to help you get started:
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Opening the letter
Once you’ve covered the letter writing basics (address, hiring manager’s name if you have it), the opening paragraph should be short and to the point.
Explain what job you’re applying for and where you found the vacancy.
Feel free to mention the website by name (e.g. ‘as advertised on reed.co.uk’) or, if someone referred you to the contact, mention their name in this section.
Example:
I wish to apply for the role of IT Manager, currently being advertised on reed.co.uk. Please find enclosed my CV for your consideration.
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Second paragraph – Why are you suitable for the job?
Briefly describe your professional and academic qualifications that are relevant to the role and ensure you refer to some of the skills listed in the job description.
If you have no specific academic or vocational qualifications to cite, use your relevant experience to win merit.
And if you’re lacking in practical work experience? Use personal skills or attributes to show what makes you the perfect fit for the role.
Example:
As you can see from my attached CV, I have over three years’ experience in the IT Industry, and I believe the knowledge and skills built up during this time make me the perfect candidate for the role.
Five things you need to stop doing on your cover letter
Third paragraph – What can you do for the company?
Use practical examples to emphasise what you can do for the company. These might be performance-based, and could include examples from previous positions, your current job or even from your academic career.
Always make sure your examples are as quantifiable and pertinent as possible. ‘Increased revenue by x%’, for instance, sounds a lot more impressive than simply stating you ‘Increased revenue’.
Other (role-specific) examples include ‘drove x% more traffic to the website during my time in employment’, ‘an increase in students grades by x’ and ‘achieved a first class distinction grade in my dissertation on x’.
Example:
In my current role as Senior Marketing Executive at Software Company X Ltd, I have been responsible for increasing incoming client enquiries for our B2B product lines by 156% in under 12 months, which helped the business increase its revenue by 55% year-on-year.
Fourth paragraph – Reiterate
Here’s where you reiterate your interest in the role and why you would be the right fit for the company.
Example:
I am confident that I can bring this level of success with me to your company and help IT Company LTD build upon their reputation as one the UK’s fastest-growing software houses. With my previous experience and expertise, I believe I can hit the ground running and start actively contributing to the business as soon as possible.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss my application further.
Closing the letter
Thank the employer for their time. It is also a good opportunity to indicate that you’d like to meet with the employer for an interview.
Sign off your cover letter with ‘Yours sincerely’ (if you know the name of the hiring manager)/’Yours faithfully’ (if you do not), and your name.
Example:
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss my application further.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
Final thoughts
Remember: this is a template, not a ready-made cover letter.
This means that it’ll only be effective if you actually put the work in. So before you get started – take some time to research the company and role, and think about how your skills and experience make you a good fit.
Then, do this for every single job you apply for. Because although you won’t have to completely rewrite your cover letter each time, making small changes that make it tailored to the job are essential.
Finally, your cover letter will always look different depending on your situation – whether you’ve just graduated, you’re coming back from a career break, you’re looking for part-time work, or anything else.
Take a look at our cover letter help & tips for specific pointers on how to write yours.
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thank you very much for this template.. it has really helped gather my skills and get the job of my dreams!!
Rubbish.
Sorry, I beg to disagree. This is where the problem is for a lot of people these days, being able to put together a decent cover letter is just as important as how good your CV looks, if you bother to read these comments and related articles, YOU will see that they will help you if YOU APPLY your time and effort into presenting yourself appropriately. I myself am looking for a new job, and finding out what employers want to see on your CV or covering letter is worth the time and effort. Yes, it’s frustrating having to do all this, but none of us will get anywhere unless we make the effort.
This was extremely helpful. Reading through the article gave me better insight into how to present my cover letter and this would be very helpful from the perspective of the hiring company.