Personalise it – find the name of the hiring manager or the person most likely to receive or read your application in the first instance.Just like your CV, every cover letter you submit should be written to match the job role you are applying for, and it should be comprehensive and, if possible, personalised: The basic format of a cover letterĮvery cover letter you write should be tailored to the specific job role or company you’re applying for, but there is a basic format to follow for every cover letter:īrief, probably less than one side of A4 – 250-300 words maximum.Ī cover letter is important but remember, it’s an accompaniment to your CV, not your actual CV. It also shows your passion for the job and sector. You could start on LinkedIn and search for key employees those with CxO roles may well share goals, roadmaps and more on their profiles.īuilding up a good body of information about both the company and its industry will help you tailor your cover letter for each company you apply to. This information can be trickier to find. The organisation’s aims for the coming year and beyond.Which sector or industry do they operate in? Do some online searches for news, using Google or any other search engine with a ‘news’ results tab. The sector and any recent news or trends.There are free trials available with tools such as Semrush, Ahrefs that can help you identify a company’s competition. Some organisations have obvious competitors – Nike and Adidas, for example – but it won’t always be this obvious. The company’s competitors and market position. This information too can usually be found online.If they don’t have their own website (which is highly unlikely) then they will most certainly have some social presence: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are good places to check. Any reputable company will have some form of online presence where you can do this research. What skills and experience are listed in the job description? What skills do you have that this role calls for? Do you have other skills that you believe will be of benefit to the company and position? Put those in your cover letter and then detail why you think they’re relevant and important.For a larger company, it will most likely be the hiring manager or the head of HR. Who will be receiving and reading your cover letter? This will likely depend on the size of the company doing the hiring – if it’s a small organisation, it may well be the CEO or owner of the business.These are the important things you should research before you begin writing your cover letter: Planning is key to the success of any endeavour, and it’s certainly true for your cover letter and your CV. “Failing to plan is planning to fail” is a saying attributed to Benjamin Franklin, and it’s true. Some recruiters will receive hundreds or even thousands of applications for a role, so your cover letter is your chance to stand out from the crowd and it’s an essential component of the application process.ĭownload our cover letter template How to research and plan your cover letter For this reason, your cover letter should be tailored to every application. It needs to position you as the right person for the job by highlighting skills that you have that are essential for the role. It’s important to remember that the cover letter is independent of your CV – in other words, it shouldn’t be just the same information presented differently. It’s your chance to showcase both your personality and suitability. Its purpose is to introduce yourself and to highlight your key skills, particularly those that are relevant to the job you are applying for. What is a cover letter and why is it still important?Ī cover or covering letter is a brief, single-page document that accompanies your CV when you apply for a job. Use a ‘cold’ cover letter to approach a company you’d like to work for.How to structure and write your cover letter, with examples.How to market yourself in your cover letter.The basic format of a good cover letter.How to research and plan your cover letter.What is a cover letter and why is it still important?.Writing a winning cover letter is a skill. If you’re unsure what to include, our guide will help you:
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