What is a Cover Letter? A Cover Letter is basically a formal letter that you attach to your CV (Curriculum Vitae) – also know as your Resume – when you apply for a job.
The cover letter is a formal communication to the company you wish to work for, and is usually the only opportunity you will have to “pitch” your case for employment. It is normally a single page which you attach to the front of your CV.
So what is in a good cover letter?
- It is vitally important that each job you apply for has an individually written cover letter.
- The cover letter should be specifically addressed to the person to whom you are applying to for the job – this is often listed in the job advertisement
- The cover letter must have a date on it
- If you are applying for an advertised job, make sure you quote the name of the job, the date of the advertisement, and the publication or website you saw the job advertised in.
- The cover letter must be written as a formal letter, following business letter layouts (see the examples below), which governs the positioning on the page of the various pieces of information.
- The cover letter should contain 2 or 3 paragraphs which explain you are interested in the job and how you are suitably qualified.
What else do I need to know about a Cover Letter?
- The cover letter must be typewritten, or perferably word processed on a computer and printed
- Ideally, you would have the cover letter and the accompanying resume professionally printed on good quality paper stock.
- It is best to send the cover letter and resume in a large envelope so they don’t have to be folded. That way they arrive in the best possible condition. First impressions count.
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I hope this has been of some use for you in gaining an understanding of what is a cover letter.
