Have you been asked to attach a cover letter to your job application recently and found it a bit of a struggle to write it? Every time you send out a CV, it’s imperative that you attach a cover letter that is tailored specifically to the job that you are applying for and the company that you are applying to — it can be a vital component of your application.
Not only do they serve the purpose of drawing the reader’s attention to relevant parts of your CV, but they also give you an opportunity to discuss your motivation for applying to the position and the company.
It’s important to show consistency between the case you make for yourself in the cover letter and on your CV. Both elements of your application should complement one another and paint a clear picture of who you are, what your relevant experience is and what you’d be like to work with to the recruiter.
Having sifted through countless online articles and templates of “perfect” cover letters, we decided that we’d be better off hacking the process so we reached to recruiters at some of our partner companies to see what they looked for in a cover letter — the results of which can be seen below.
1. Less is more 📃
Try to keep it to one page only. Recruiters go through a lot of these letters and oftentimes get turned off as they start creeping onto a second and sometimes third page!
You should be able to put together three or four paragraphs at most stating clearly what the vacancy is, how you heard of it, why the role/company interests you and why you would be a good fit.
2. Get your basics right first 🔤
Write it as a professional business letter with your address as the top right and the company address at the top left.
Address it to a specific person rather than “Dear Sir or Madam”. A simple search on LinkedIn will establish who is in charge of recruitment. Make sure you get names, addresses, and titles exactly right — sloppy addressing makes a bad impression! Also, our closing salutation when you have addressed a letter directly to an individual is “yours sincerely”.
It goes without saying but check spelling, typos, overall appearance and ask someone to proofread your cover letter before you send it off
3. Paragraph #1 — Get to the point 🎯
Your opening paragraph should specify why you are writing and should also refer to your degree course and results expected/gained.
e.g ”I have recently graduated with a 2.1 Honours Degree in Marketing at Technological University Dublin and am very interested in the position of Marketing Executive as advertised on LinkedIn”
4. Paragraph #2 — Why the company? 🌐
It’s crucial to tailor your letter to each particular job or company to which you apply. Why do you want to work for that particular company? You should state that you are very interested in working for them and give the reasons why — using this as an opportunity to show that you have done your research.
Explain why you are interested in the job, highlighting your strengths, your understanding of the work involved, how well suited you are to it. Vague statements like “I want to work for you because you have a good reputation” won’t impress an employer.
Demonstrate your knowledge of the company — look them up online, visit their website, talk to people you know who might work there. If you’re specific in your reasons for wanting to be a part of their team it will show that you have done your research and used your initiative which is something every employer is looking for in new recruits.
5. Paragraph #3 — Why you? 🙋🏻♂️🙋🏼
Don’t simply mindlessly repeat what is said on your CV, but draw attention to your most relevant qualifications, experience, and skills as they relate to the position for which you are applying.
Why do you want that particular job? Why should they employ you? What do you have to offer? Do you have a unique selling point that will make you stand out from other candidates? Read the job description carefully and draw attention to the most recent and relevant examples of your ability to do the job.
You can include relevant examples of your work experience, relevant college modules, project work as well as personal skills developed through work experience and interests. You may also wish to include some of your personal qualities that are an integral part of the role.
Examples
- “As you will see from my attached CV, I have gained experience in…..”
- “My summer work experience in ….has given me an insight into………”
- “I see that this position offers… In respect to this, one of my key strengths is the ability to… I recently demonstrated this quality through…”
6. Paragraph #4 — Closing the show 📝
Close your letter with a statement that you would like to discuss employment opportunities and that you look forward to hearing from them.
Avoid apologetic endings like “thank you for taking the time to read this letter. Sorry to have bothered you”. You need to end on a strong positive note and move matters forward by indicating your availability for interview.
e.g. “I will be pleased to attend for interview at any convenient time and I look forward to hearing from you”
Ian from Gradguide
Gradguide is a career guidance and mentorship program designed to help college students and recent graduates land their first job in tech. We pair you with a mentor to help improve your CV & LinkedIn, upskill, find the right roles to apply for, prepare for interviews, and seek referrals to the best companies around.
