CVs and covering letters
The start: grab the reader’s attention
You want the employer to want to read your letter. Remember, this is all about selling yourself. It's essential you make a good impression at the start of your letter.
Address your letter to a specific person
If you're applying on the off-chance, first ring the company or organisation to find out the name of the recruiter or the head of the department you want to work for. Don't just address it to Human Resources Department – your application may never get through to the right person who's hiring.
If you're replying to an advertisement, address it to the person named in the advertisement.
In both cases, make sure you spell their name correctly and address them with their preferred title, whether it's Mr, Mrs, Ms, Dr, etc.
Explain why you're writing
Avoid starting with ‘I am writing….’. It’s stating the obvious. If employers have to read hundreds of CVs it can become repetitive and it will not stand out from the others.
If you're responding to an advertisement, be clear about what you're applying for. Include the full title of the job, the reference number (if included in the advertisement), and where you saw it advertised.
If you're applying on spec, be clear about what type of job you're looking for.
Be enthusiastic, show motivation
The start of the covering letter is a good place to show how keen you are to get this job and work for this employer. Many employers will be skim-reading covering letters, so the opening paragraph is your opportunity to impress them with how much you know about their work.
Explain why you believe you are the right person for the company, what makes you highly motivated to work for this particular employer. Show that you're familiar with their products and services, and recent news. You could also explain that you're enthusiastic about working for them because you fit into their values, culture and working style.
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