HOW TO WRITING EFFECTIVE COVERING LETTER

A cover letter is a document that accompanies your resume in response to an advertised position. It is a letter of introduction that highlights your key achievements and entitles you for a job opening. A cover letter should be tailored to different jobs, different employers. Few employers seriously consider a resume that is not accompanied by a cover letter. Cover letters are typically one-page documents.

A cover letter reflects your communication skills and your personality. The main purpose of this document is to introduce you in such an interesting manner that the reader will not only continue reading your resume but also be willing to call you in for an interview.

A cover letter tells the employer the type of position you are seeking, and exactly how you are qualified for that position.

It also tells the hiring manager what caused you to apply: whether an advertisement, the recommendation of a friend who worksthere, or your own research, etc. This information tells the hiring manager how well you know the firm and position. This alone can encourage the employer to keep reading.

This is the first document the reader views, and if it fails to captivate interest your resume might not be viewed at all.

The effective covering letter will:

1. use one side of A4 only — just three or four paragraphs at most

2. state clearly what the vacancy is and how you heard of it, or if a speculative approach, indicate what sort of work you are interested in

3. be personalized by being addressed to the person due to receive it (telephone for the name if necessary)

4. explain why you are interested in the job, highlighting your strengths, your understanding of the work, how well
suited you are to it

5. take the opportunity to explain a gap or even a weakness, but do so carefully using a positive approach. The power word list may be helpful here

6. be consistent in the approach you make in your letter and in your CV. The covering letter is meant to play up the positive impression of the application and the application to reflect the positive claims made in the letter

7. indicate availability for interview

8. show enthusiasm, a focused and business-like approach
9. use clear and official, but not stilted, language; at the same time you should avoid expressing yourself in a waythat is overly casual or familiar. All the rules apply re spelling, typos and overall appearance - more so than ever in the case of the covering letter.