7 Steps to Creating an Interview Winning Covering Letter

[Joywtome231]

Going back in time, in the days when you applied for work in response to a Job Centre vacancy or an ad in the newspaper. Oh yes, when dragons roamed the land and the internet was a distant dream! You would often find the term ‘Apply with CV and Covering Letter…’

Actually, you still see this term, but the actual meaning of the term ‘Covering Letter’ has changed a little. Originally, you would print, yes print your CV and a Covering letter and fold them up in an envelope with a 1st Class stamp affixed and send it off.

If you are under thirty, you may be thinking ‘How Quaint!!’

I reckon that there are still a few Die Hard employers who like to get a CV through the cayman islands phone number library post along with an enclosed letter [some employers still ask for a handwritten covering letter…I saw this only last week, which perhaps prompted me to write this post] but most advertised vacancies require an email or a file upload. Does that mean that the covering letter is dead?

Covering Letters Re-Invented?
The simple answer is ‘No!’ The long answer is that not only are covering letters still required, they are a vital element of your job seeking arsenal.

Initially, you should have two types of covering note. One that is a general, off-the-peg type of letter that you will use to introduce your CV when you make a speculative approach to an employer. Obviously, you would tweak this here and there to suit the job type or company you are approaching.

The second version is often heavily edited before sending as this is the one you would send when applying for specific vacancies. What is the difference between these two?

When making a speculative approach, you have no idea whether there are any jobs available, and if there are jobs going, what type of work is available? You can’t be too specific here, but you should aim to appeal to the reader and encourage them to click on your CV and look a bit further.

When applying for an advertised vacancy, your opening note or email should reveal that you have read the Job Specification, you should include any references that identify the role to the recruiter [they may be advertising more than one vacancy] you understand what experience and skills are essential and desirable and that you meet the criteria sufficiently to make an application.

Just an additional tip, help the recruiter out by letting them know where you have seen the vacancy, they may use more than one avenue of advertising and this information helps them to identify the most effective route.