Why you need a covering letter 

You never get a second chance to make a good first impression, so getting your covering letter just right is crucially important. 

A covering letter introduces you and accompanies your CV when you apply for a job. Keep in mind that hiring managers may have lots of projects on the go and will be baffled by an envelope containing nothing more than a CV. It’s not up to them to match it up with a job description, it’s up to you! Ideally, mention the job title, and reference number if there is one. 

Who writes letters these days?
If the CV is sent online, the covering letter simply becomes a covering email. In any case, it should be short; between three to five paragraphs. 

Where to send it
Send it to the ‘right’ person, of course. Aim to dig out the name of the HR manager but if you really can’t find a name, start your letter with ‘Dear Sir or Madam’.

Purpose
The whole job searching process can be distilled into demonstrating that you’re the correct person for a particular role, as defined on the job description. A covering letter is a brief opportunity to explain your skills to the employer, rather than letting them interpret your CV themselves. It could be an excellent way, for example, to translate Military experience into terms that civilians will understand.

The letter can be used to convince them that you’re enthusiastic about working for them and that you share their working culture and values and have the skills they’re looking for.

Back it up
Don’t be vague about your skills and experience. Aim to back everything up with a brief line or so about how you’ve gained and applied your skills – relevant to the job description.

Keywords
Hiring managers are likely to unconsciously scan your letter for keywords from the job description. Using the right language and a professional tone will help to get you through the ‘preliminary sift’.

Write a new letter for each application   
Using a covering letter template is fine, so long as you make efforts to fit the content to each new application individually. 

Matching the letter’s font style to the CV provides consistency and looks professional.

The end
End your covering letter with ‘Yours faithfully’ if you have started it with ‘Dear Sir or Madam’ or ‘Yours sincerely’ if you have started the letter, ‘Dear Mrs Smith’, etc.