How to write a successful covering letter.

Abridged content extracted from:

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/coveringletters.htm accessed on 8 Sep 2014

What is your reader looking for?

Tailored skills from the job description
Clarity (well-written, formatted, specifying job applied to)
Details from your CV (additional accomplishments, explanation of any

gaps, etc.)
Your value, not the basics, why we should hire you
Spelling & grammar
Personal vision & uniqueness
Brevity

How long should your covering letter be?

The key point here is: it should never be longer than one A4 page long.
Who should you address your cover letter to?
Try finding the name of the person to write to. If it is not possible, use:

Dear Hiring Manager

Dear Sir/Madam
Dear Human Resource Director
To whom it may concern
Leave it blank if you don't know the name

How should you start it?

I have just completed my

PhD/Master at the University of

advertisement for

My name is .... and I am writing in

I was most interested to read your

response to your advertisement

advertisement for

I am writing to apply for the post

of .... in your company

I was very interested to read your

I am writing in response to your

Further to your advertisement

in ...., I should like to apply for

With reference to your vacancy for

advertisement in/for

a ....

I am writing to enquire if you have

I enclose my CV for consideration

any vacancies for ....

of the post of

I am seeking a placement within a

Please find enclosed my application

for the post of

I am currently looking for an entrylevel post in

As you will see from my CV

I am very keen to work for ....

I open my own doors. When my

because of your reputation for

I read with interest of your

organisation's plan to .....

peers give up, I go on.

Suggested structure for your covering letter:

First Paragraph

State the job youre applying for.

Where you found out about it (advert in The Guardian newspaper

etc. - organisations like to know which of their advertising sources
are being successful)

When you're available to start work (and end if it's a placement)

Second Paragraph

Why you're interested in that type of work

Why the company attracts you (if it's a small company say you
prefer to work for a small friendly organisation!)
Third Paragraph

Summarise your strengths and how they might be an advantage

to the organisation.

Relate your skills to the competencies required in the job.

Last Paragraph

Mention any dates that you won't be available for interview

Thank the employer and say you look forward to hearing from
them soon.

If you start with a name (e.g. "Dear Mr Bloggs") you should end
with "Yours sincerely". If you start with "Dear Sir or Madam" you should
end with "Yours faithfully".