A cover letter will be your first introduction to a potential employer. It is important to make a good first impression, which you can do by following these simple guidelines.

Try to address your cover letter to the specific person who will be reading it. Read the job description again to find a name. If this is not possible, ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ or to ‘To Whom it May Concern’ will suffice.

Cover Letter Contents

Section Description Size
Introduction The introduction should include a line about you and your current status. It should also set out the purpose of your letter including the position you are applying for as well as where you saw it advertised. 5%
Why This Job You should then go on to say why you want the particular role you are applying for, why you want to work for that specific company and why you would be a good fit. 30%
Why You This should follow on to highlight what you can add to the organisation or simply, why you would be good at the job. This section should be closely aligned with the job specification and highlight relevant skills and experience, including a small selection of specific examples. However, keep it brief and try not to simply repeat the lines off your CV. 55%
Conclusion The closing paragraph should indicate your desire to move forward with the application, perhaps mentioning any unavailable dates for potential interviews. You should also thank the employer and say how you are looking forward to their response. 10%

You should sign off with 'Yours faithfully' if using Dear Sir or Madam or 'Yours sincerely' if you are writing to a named person.

Useful Tips

Layout

  • Use a formal letter layout
  • Keep it short and to the point; no more than one A4 page
  • If sending via email, put it in the body of the email, not as an attachment

Content

  • If at all possible, include the name of the recipient
  • Keep all skills relevant to the specific job
  • Avoid vague statements
  • Create a compelling case for the employer to want to meet you

Extra

  • Tailor the CV to each vacancy
  • Check carefully for any grammatical and spelling errors
  • Ensure all information is accurate
  • Use your own words and avoid jargon

Further Information

The Student Development team offers 'CVs and Cover Letters' Workshops and a one-to-one meeting service. Remember to check the online careers resources for your programme and LinkedIn Learning.