What should be in a decent cover letter?
Discussion
I'm not in HR but I did write quite a few cover letters last year - It's hard to know where they end up - if they are using an online submission portal etc, then it is reasonable to assume that every interviewer will also get to read it.
I think they are mostly just looking for people who have read the job spec and done some research / learnt something about the company.
I used it as an opportunity to explain why my background and skills met their requirements and why I'd be perfect for them / the role / the company etc.
I think they are mostly just looking for people who have read the job spec and done some research / learnt something about the company.
I used it as an opportunity to explain why my background and skills met their requirements and why I'd be perfect for them / the role / the company etc.
fat80b said:
I think they are mostly just looking for people who have read the job spec and done some research / learnt something about the company.
I cannot emphasis this point enough. Cut and paste letters stand out like sore thumbs and do nothing to ingratiate the applicant with the hirer.
The opening paragraph is your opening gambit... so, if the job was for salesperson for a widget company, you'd go in with: Dear Sir (use a name if you can), For the past 35 years' I've been selling widgets averaging £1m in sales over the past 10 years. Last year, I sold £1.2m's worth. You've stated a target of £800k so I'm able to bring the skills and capacity to exceed that.....
That sort of thing!
I can only say be honest, sell your skills to the role, do your research.
I was told (sadly the job fell through due to lost contacts) that a cover letter I sent got me an interview last year, and this person only received one original one with over 100 applicants, and that was mine.
It is your way of being you, try and introduce some gentle humour if possible, make it obvious you have researched the company and role. It's your human side to sell, rather than plain stats and skills achievements which are very lean.
I would put more emphasis on this than the CV, which in my experience are very often fabbed and full of lies.
I was told (sadly the job fell through due to lost contacts) that a cover letter I sent got me an interview last year, and this person only received one original one with over 100 applicants, and that was mine.
It is your way of being you, try and introduce some gentle humour if possible, make it obvious you have researched the company and role. It's your human side to sell, rather than plain stats and skills achievements which are very lean.
I would put more emphasis on this than the CV, which in my experience are very often fabbed and full of lies.
Ok, that's good advice.
There are a couple of potential flies in the ointment, firstly, I've been a contractor for 14 years and this is a permie job, and secondly the job is 250 miles away and would involve relocation.
I'm happy to explain and re-assure around these points in an interview, but would you address either of those points in a covering letter?
There are a couple of potential flies in the ointment, firstly, I've been a contractor for 14 years and this is a permie job, and secondly the job is 250 miles away and would involve relocation.
I'm happy to explain and re-assure around these points in an interview, but would you address either of those points in a covering letter?
RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:
Keep it brief and to the point, short of it reading too abruptly. The reader is likely to be skim reading and looking for 'keywords' to then pay more attention and potentially put in the 'yes' pile.
This is the source of my confusion to be honest, if I was doing the interviewing that's what i would do with a CV. I'd want the cover letter to be concise, but to go above and beyond the CV.zippy3x said:
This is the source of my confusion to be honest, if I was doing the interviewing, that's what i would do with a CV. I'd want the cover letter to be concise, but to go above and beyond the CV.
Your CV conveys facts. Your letter ought to connect those facts to the role and illustrate you understand the brief.First they go through a robot which checks for keywords relating to the job spec, along with the CV/Resume. That is why they either want them in word format, or input in to their own portal.
Then, if computer says "Yes", a human (well, they work in HR so they aren't really human) will spend 6 seconds scanning your letter and your CV.
Then they decide if they want to move you forwards.
Tip I was given is trawl the ad for keywords and make sure they are all in both your letter and resume - play them at their own game.
Then, if computer says "Yes", a human (well, they work in HR so they aren't really human) will spend 6 seconds scanning your letter and your CV.
Then they decide if they want to move you forwards.
Tip I was given is trawl the ad for keywords and make sure they are all in both your letter and resume - play them at their own game.
StevieBee said:
fat80b said:
I think they are mostly just looking for people who have read the job spec and done some research / learnt something about the company.
I cannot emphasis this point enough. Cut and paste letters stand out like sore thumbs and do nothing to ingratiate the applicant with the hirer.
The opening paragraph is your opening gambit... so, if the job was for salesperson for a widget company, you'd go in with: Dear Sir (use a name if you can), For the past 35 years' I've been selling widgets averaging £1m in sales over the past 10 years. Last year, I sold £1.2m's worth. You've stated a target of £800k so I'm able to bring the skills and capacity to exceed that.....
That sort of thing!
In my experience, unless you have an offer already, being a contractor is either a blessing or a total no no, a lot of bosses will literally tell you they think you will roll at the first decent contract, perhaps from experience or simply attitude. However some will favour your experience, exposure to different ways of doing things, most will say nothing and you wont get anywhere.
As regards location, I have found it very difficult, nigh impossible to find anything BEFORE moving, I don't work at the high end of jobs, so I would guess most hirers and agencies can't be othered, and would rather take on people locally.
Not always the case, but certainly in my recent experience you are usually binned instantly if you are from far away, they have too much near to them, regardless of what you say or do.
As regards location, I have found it very difficult, nigh impossible to find anything BEFORE moving, I don't work at the high end of jobs, so I would guess most hirers and agencies can't be othered, and would rather take on people locally.
Not always the case, but certainly in my recent experience you are usually binned instantly if you are from far away, they have too much near to them, regardless of what you say or do.
RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:
zippy3x said:
This is the source of my confusion to be honest, if I was doing the interviewing, that's what i would do with a CV. I'd want the cover letter to be concise, but to go above and beyond the CV.
Your CV conveys facts. Your letter ought to connect those facts to the role and illustrate you understand the brief.RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:
zippy3x said:
This is the source of my confusion to be honest, if I was doing the interviewing, that's what i would do with a CV. I'd want the cover letter to be concise, but to go above and beyond the CV.
Your CV conveys facts. Your letter ought to connect those facts to the role and illustrate you understand the brief.2/3 page max, well formatted, easy to digest paragraphs.
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