Writing an Effective Covering Letter

A Covering letter is a document which is sent along with your CV to the company you want to work for when they advertise a job vacancy.  It is a great opportunity to sell yourself along with the skills you hold, but many people make basic errors when they write their covering letter.  Here are our top tips for making your covering letter work for you.

  1. Make sure it is no longer than 2 sides of A4.  Any longer than this and you are likely to be waffling!  Stick to the point you are making and make sure your letter stays nice an short.
  2. Make it neat.  Keep your font size to around a 10-12, in a sensible font such as Ariel or Times New Roman.  These are clear and easy to read as well as look professional.
  3. Tailor your letter to the job – make sure you explain exactly why you suit that particular job!  Lots of people make their cover letter vague and able to use with all job applications, but since this letter could make the difference between the CV being read or not, it is always worth tailoring it to each and every job.