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Cover letters


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A cover letter is a fairly straightforward document. It should complement your resume and should also briefly highlight why you wish to work for this particular organisations and how you meet their criteria of attributes.

Some employers don’t read cover letters, however, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t include one. It is an expected part of the formal application process and so should be present.

The document should be one page in length and can follow a particular format to make it easy for you to update when you apply for each particular job. As with your resume it should be thoroughly checked for spelling and grammar errors. This is often where the first impression of you will come from, so you need to get it right.

The Format may look something like the following:

Your Name
Your Address
Date
Employer Name
Employer Address
Dear Sir/Madam

(try to get specific name if at all possible),

Introduction

Why you are writing, where you saw the advert and why they as an organisation interest you.

Body

Highlight your key strengths and attributes in line with what they are looking for. Any other key skills you think are relevant that you will bring to their organisation.

Closure

Refer to attachments and that you look forward to discussing your application further at interview.

Yours sincerely (if you know the name)
or faithfully (if you don’t know the name)

Your name and signature.