cover letter university of kent

CV & Cover Letters for Law

How to write a cv.

• For CV writing advice see – https://www.kent.ac.uk/ces/student/cvs.html  – This advice is from our Careers & Employability Service and is a good starting point to a basic layout format.   I think that there are enhancements that can be made to this format so please do seek a critique of your CV once you have drafted it.  You can do this by booking an appointment with a Careers Adviser.
• https://www.law.ac.uk/employability/programmes/legal-careers-guide/legal-cv-and-covering-letter-examples/ – This great package of career information includes a chapter on CV writing (Chapter 6).   You can register to use this site without paying or being a student of the University of Law.
• Online Learning:  The central Careers & Employability Service has a series of presentations available, which cover a range of employability topics from CV’s, Interviews, LinkedIn, to view on https://www.kent.ac.uk/ces/student/online-learning.html

How to get a review of your CV

• Book a Quick Advice Appointment with an adviser in the Careers & Employability Service – click on the first option on the first tab on https://www.kent.ac.uk/ces/advice.html 
• Use the Careerset CV reader: https://careerset.io/kent   You will need to save your CV as a PDF document and then upload it to the CareerSet platform.  This is a secure platform and your details are not stored.   You will get instant feedback on content, choice of words, layout and overall effectiveness.   You can also upload a job description to see how well your CV matches with the job.

Writing a Cover Letter

• For law, the best on-line advice is available on nthe University of Law’s website here https://www.law.ac.uk/employability/programmes/legal-careers-guide/legal-cv-and-covering-letter-examples/ – This great package of career information includes a chapter on CV writing (Chapter 6).   You can register to use this site without paying or being a student of the University of Law.

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Radiologic Technology: Cover Letter Basics

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Getting Started

The cover letter, or letter of application, always accompanies a resume that is mailed. A cover letter may or may not be required for an online posting, so adhere to application guidelines. A cover letter is NOT needed when handing your resume directly to an employer. In general, although a cover letter may not be formally requested, an assumption should be made that it is required.

General Guidelines

Your letter must be free of errors and grammatically correct. Do not over use the word “I”.

If the employer asks you to include salary requirements in the letter, always state your requirements in a range, and that you are open to negotiation.

Customize your letter to each organization and match your skills, experience, and personality traits to the position.

Read your letter out loud to ensure that your ideas flow and to catch any awkward sentences or overuse of words or phrases.

Use a business letter format with left-justified margins, and center the letter vertically on the page.

The letter should be no more than one page in length and printed on the same paper as your resume.

For electronic transmission of your letter, employers often prefer certain formats. One of the easiest and most reliable methods is to convert your cover letter to a PDF through Adobe Acrobat Writer.

Source: KSU's Career Services Website

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Sample cover letter for Internship position at University of Kent

Trainee on the vacancy database.

Dear     

I was very interested to read your advertisement for a Graduate Trainee on the University of Kent vacancy database as it precisely fits my career plans.

I first became interested in retail banking during an "Insight" course which I attended during my second year at University. Since then, discussion with my careers adviser and my own research have confirmed my belief that this is a career which will enable me to use not only my interest in business and finance but also my skills in working with people, both in an advisory and a managerial capacity.

I am particularly interested in a career with Elsewhere Bank, because of the high reputation of your graduate training scheme, and your commitment to giving new recruits early responsibility.

During my time as a student I have had a variety of part-time and vacation jobs, all of which have required me to work as part of a team and to deal directly with the public. I found my work at the Tourist Information Office particularly valuable in teaching me the importance of ascertaining customers' needs and providing clear and accurate information in response to those needs.

As part of my degree course, I chose to carry out a final-year project which involved a statistical analysis of 150 questionnaires sent to local employers. To process this information, I taught myself to set up and use a database and felt great satisfaction in completing this project well ahead of the end-of-term deadline. Although my overall degree result was a 2.2., this particular piece of work was awarded a high 2.1.

I will be available for interview at any time apart from the 12 - 24 August when I have arranged a holiday in Italy. I look forward to hearing from you shortly and enclose my CV for your consideration.

Yours sincerely

• University of Kentucky ®

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Cover letters, 101 best cover letters .

by Block, Jay & Betrus, Michael, ©1999, 0-07-134257-5 From Amazon.com Beat out the competition for the best jobs, create an image of accomplishment, professionalism, and competence that today’s employers are begging for! Job-seekers have paid hundreds of dollars for the expertise in these dynamic guides — and regarded every cent as well spent! With these job-landing tools on your desktop, you’ll have the same savvy working for you, for far, far less — with the same great results. 101 Best Cover Letters shows you how to put together compelling letters to accompany your resume..

15- Minute Cover Letter

by Farr, Michael & Kursamark, Louise, ©2005, 1-59357-175-5 From Amazon.com: Mike Farr's revolutionary advice in six quick chapters. Includes dozens of professionally written cover letters and writing advice.

Best resumes & Letters for Ex-offenders

by Enelow, Wendy S. & Krannich, Ronald L., ©2006, 1-57023-251-2 From Amazon.com: Over 700,000 ex-offenders are released from U.S. state and federal prisons each year. Another 10 million are processed through jails and detention centers annually. Unfortunately, nearly 70 percent of ex-offenders return to prisons and other detention facilities within three years. Their number one problem in making a successful transition is finding and keeping a job. Here's the first resume and letter guide designed to assist ex-offenders in finding rewarding employment. Written by two of America's leading career experts, the book addresses special employment issues facing ex-offenders and provides sound advice on how to write, produce, distribute, and follow up resumes and letters. Includes more than 100 examples of outstanding resumes and letters written for ex-offenders. Part of the new Overcoming Barriers to Employment Series.

Cover Letters for Dummies

Kennedy, Joyce Lain 2009 978-0-470-40221-4 Cover Letters From Amazon.com: Cover letters are alive and sell! When they’re written right, that is. To stand out in today’s sea of qualified job seekers, learn to craft riveting new breeds of cover letters, create vibrant images online, and discover sensational self-marketing documents you never imagined. This completely revised and updated 3rd Edition of Cover Letters For Dummies brings you all this — plus over 200 great new samples by 62 successful professional cover letter/resume writers. You’ve probably suspected that passive and sleepy cover letters merely hugging resumes won’t get you where you want to go. Especially in a shaky job market. The verdict’s in. Since the last edition of Cover Letters For Dummies, blazing fast change in tools, technology, and how hiring managers come calling and how we invite them to look us over, means big dramatic changes in our job messages. In this exceptional handbook of contemporary job messages, you’ll discover fresh ways of thinking about cover letters that captain an entire team of new-style job messages.

Cover Letter Magic

by Enelow, Wendy & Kursmark, Louise, ©2007, 1-59357-364-2 From Amazon.com: This new second edition includes more than 150 winning cover letters for every profession and situation. Readers get great tips from before and after transformations that turn boring letters into knockouts. Plus, there are tips on resumes, e-mail and scan able cover letters, thank-you letters, and dozens of sample opening paragraphs. Also provides proven first paragraphs to start the cover letter with strength. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Cover Letters That Knock 'em Dead

by Yate, Martin, ©2006, 1-59337-747-2 From Amazon.com: A great cover letter can't always get you hired, but it can get your resume read with serious attention. Learn how to stand out from the crowd by packaging your background and work experience into a readable and powerful sales pitch. Cover Letters That Knock 'em Dead arms you with the key words and phrases you need to land that critical first interview and provides you with follow-up letters to help turn those meetings into job offers. Cover Letters That Knock 'em Dead will show you how to customize your bio and work history to keep employers begging for more. Cover Letters That Knock 'em Dead is packed with proven techniques for getting the right message across in seconds.

Knock em' Dead Cover Letters 8th Edition

Yate, Martin, ©2008, 978-1-59869-673-4 From Amazon.com: This book has been a top seller in its category for more than ten years! Now, in an all-new updated edition, Martin Yate shows readers the words and phrases to use that get them that critical first interview. This edition includes new material: an update of the text; a step-by-step procedure for turning weak cover letters into strong ones; the latest strategies for online cover letters and job searching; and a new section, Before and After, reveals how to transform sloppy cover letters into powerful tools. Millions of job searchers are entering the market. This book is an essential tool to help them get hired.

Power Letter Express

by Jackson, Tom & Buckingham, Bill, ©1994, 0-8129-2131-3 From Amazon.com: Career guru and bestselling author Tom Jackson provides shortcuts to success with his third low-priced, high-quality job hunting guide.

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Your covering or cover letter is a polite and professional introduction that accompanies your CV when applying for an advertised vacancy or enquiring about potential job opportunities in a company. 

• It builds on two or three key pieces of information within your CV and expands them by explaining in more depth how those skills and experiences match the job role.
• Use the covering letter to show you are keen to work for the company by demonstrating that you have researched the organisation thoroughly.

A well-written and researched covering letter, sent alongside a targeted CV will help you secure you an interview.

Your next steps

What works best for you?

Book an appointment to have your covering letter reviewed

Book your place on a covering letter workshop

Take our short online course

How to write an effective covering letter

Hayley Gillmore, Students' Union Employability Manager, gives her top tips on writing an effective covering letter when applying for a job vacancy. 

An employer's perspective

When we read covering letters we look for someone who can demonstrate a strong 'can do' attitude to work. They might not necessarily have the knowledge, but more important to us is that they are able to articulate their determination to really want to do it.

Jane Shepherd, Shepherd PR 

How long should my covering letter be? 

Length and font.

Your covering letter should be well presented, concise and to the point. It should ideally be no longer than one side of A4. It's a good idea to pick a modern font such as Calibri or Sans serif, font size 11 or 12 - it's advisable to use the same font as your CV.

How should I attach or send my cover letter?

Emails and covering letters.

When applying for a position by email, you can either use the email itself as a covering letter and attach your CV, or write a brief email message and attach a separate covering letter as well as your CV. If you choose this option, your email should be professional in style.

If you attach a CV and covering letter to your email, avoid repeating information in the email which is in your covering letter. The email should be brief and professional, referring to your CV and covering letter attached.

When attaching your CV and cover letter, ideally do this in PDF so it’s readable on any device. Also remember to name the file appropriately, such as ‘your name’, ‘date’ ‘company name you’re applying to’. First impressions count even down to the little details.

What tone and language should I use? 

Using active verbs when talking about tasks you've undertaken can be very effective. Here is our list of active verbs.

Action verbs for covering letters 

Levels of formality

Choosing the right tone for your covering letter is key to its success. If you are unsure about the tone of your covering letter, make an appointment with our team to clarify any doubts.

While you want to come across as respectful and professional, being too formal and over-polite is not advisable either.

While linguistically correct, these three statements come across as too ceremonious:

• I hereby apply for the position of graphic designer
• I would highly appreciate the opportunity to have my application considered and thank you in advance for your time and attention

Over-familiarity can be equally easy to fall into, so avoid sentences:

• I hope this email finds you well
• Consider me for this project and you will not be disappointed

Keep it simple as shown in these two examples:

• I am delighted to have the opportunity to submit this application.
• I am applying for the post of graphic designer advertised on your website as I believe I have the skills and experience to make a valuable contribution to Sigma Solutions.

Structuring your covering letter 

Example covering letters.

These covering letter examples will demonstrate how to present your covering letter based on the advice provided on this page. We have three examples depending on your circumstances.

1. Covering letter and CV for an advertised vacancy

2. covering letter to send to a company to enquire if they have vacancies, 3. covering letter and cv to highlight online work experience.

Post pandemic, many companies have adapted to a more hybrid working culture. As part of this, some in-person activities such as internships, part-time jobs and volunteering experiences have moved online. These activities are just as important for your personal and professional development and you will have developed a new range of skills, such as collaborating on group projects remotely using new software.

We have created a covering letter and CV in response to a job vacancy to highlight how to showcase your experience of virtual activities and the skills developed. More on CVs.

How should I start the covering letter?

At the start, include your personal contact details and the date to the letter. Ideally you should address your covering letter to the person who will be reading it.

The covering letter should be addressed to a named person and often you can find the name of the hiring manager in the job advert, for example: Dear Dr. Harman, Dear Mrs Stevenson, Dear Alex Wozniak, if possible

If no name is given, or you are sending a speculative application, then take the time to find the appropriate contact using LinkedIn or the company's website to find the head of human resources or the head of the department the vacancy is based within. 

It is good practice to include a job reference number or the name of the advertised role. This helps your application get to the right person within the organisation.

What should I include in the opening paragraph?

Open positively and politely, with a short introductory statement that explains the purpose of the letter and details how you found out about the job advert. For example:

• I am applying for the position of graduate management trainee advertised on your website as I would welcome the chance to work for Transco Exports

Then briefly highlight your relevant qualifications or experience that make you a strong fit for the role.

What should I include in the main part of the letter?

The body of your letter should be two or three concise paragraphs to outline

Why you want to work for the organisation

Why your previous experience or skills make you a good candidate

Explain your motivation to work for the company

You should include a paragraph that demonstrates you have researched the company and explains why you want to work for them.

You should research and mention specific aspects of the company that appeal to you, such as its mission, values, recent projects, or achievements. Explain why you are attracted to the company and how you can contribute to its success.

Find out how to research a company

Explain why you’re the ideal candidate

To do this, ensure you understand the job requirements and what they're looking for in applicants. You can then:

• highlight how your skills, experiences, and achievements align with their needs
• provide specific examples that demonstrate the skills required for the role
• include examples from your studies, work experience including part-time jobs, and other activities you're involved in
• quantify your achievements whenever possible to make them more impactful

Make sure to refer to your CV, especially to highlight any key experience that’s relevant to the role. A simple line such as, “My attached CV outlines my academic and work experience to date.” will be fine. 

Our example cover letters can demonstrate good practice (see above).

Some more examples of good practice

To help structure your information and provide evidence in a professional way, we have included some examples.

• I have developed sound organisational and presentation skills during my degree
• I have developed sound organisational and presentation skills during my degree by participating in student working groups and research projects, giving presentations to staff and fellow students
• As you can see from my CV, I have previously undertaken similar duties to the ones required by this post
• I have previous experience of providing technical support and dealing with client requests in a pressurised environment, as shown in my CV

Relate examples to the post

If you present personal experiences as evidence of having certain competencies, relate your achievements to the post as clearly as possible. In the following examples, the second version is much more specific and better connected to the job. For a post of assistant events organiser:

  Not specific enough

• The various parties I organised for the Spanish Society were amongst the most popular on campus – they were always full to the brim, people had a great time and I became well known at university as a result

Much more specific

• I organised three parties for the Spanish Society covering all costs through sponsorship and ticket sales. Attendees highlighted a vibrant atmosphere and excellent value for money, and I was asked to help organise other events as a result

Focus on the employer's needs

Focus on the employer’s requirements and how you can meet the employer’s needs – not how the post can meet yours. Check these examples:

• This post constitutes a great opportunity to update my design skills and will also help towards the costs of my studies
• This post constitutes a great opportunity to build on my design skills complementing the knowledge gained in my masters studies

Avoid clichés

Employers will read about countless ‘ambitious recent graduate looking for a challenging position’ who can ‘think outside the box’ and are ‘team players equally happy to work by themselves’ as well as ‘fast learners with a can-do attitude who always give 100%’.

How should I close the covering letter?

Conclude your cover letter by reiterating your interest in the position and expressing your desire for an interview. Thank the reader for their time and consideration.

• If you know the recipient’s name, then end with Yours sincerely. 
• If you do not know the recipient’s name, then end with Yours faithfully 

Should I include information about my disability?

Sharing information about disability.

Telling a perspective employer any information about a disability(s) is a personal choice. It is up to you if, when and how. If you are unsure at any stage, consider what would be the advantage of sharing at that point. If you decide that you want to, think about what would be most relevant for the employer to know at this specific stage of the recruitment process. For more information, see our page on  applying with a disability

And finally...

Who can check over my covering letter.

Read your draft carefully for grammar, punctuation, capitalisation and spelling, and have it proofread by someone with a sound knowledge of English and an eye for detail. You can use tools such as Grammarly.com to help you with this.

You can make an appointment to have your covering letter reviewed by our team and discuss any queries you may have. However, we are not able to offer a proofreading service.

The Centre for English Language Education (CELE) offers help on the appropriate use of language for job applications, cover letters, interviews and presentations. Personalised one-to-one consultations allow you to guide the focus according to your needs. This is not a proofreading service, but a tutor can offer advice on language choice, formality and structure to help your application stand out.

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Letters - Cover & Thank You

View PDF This is a link to a PDF version of the webpage with identical content Career Exploration and Development 261 Schwartz Center 330-672-2360 www.kent.edu/career

Cover Letter - Structure and Content

The cover letter, or letter of application, always accompanies a resume that is mailed. A cover letter may or may not be required for an online posting, so adhere to application guidelines. A cover letter is NOT needed when handing your resume directly to an employer. In general, although a cover letter may not be formally requested, an assumption should be made that it is required.

Your letter must be free of errors and grammatically correct. Do not over use the word “I”.

If the employer asks you to include salary requirements in the letter, always state your requirements in a range, and that you

are open to negotiation.

Customize your letter to each organization and match your skills, experience, and personality traits to the position.

Read your letter out loud to ensure that your ideas flow and to catch any awkward sentences or overuse of words or phrases.

Use a business letter format with left-justified margins, and center the letter vertically on the page.

The letter should be no more than one page in length and printed on the same paper as your resume.

For electronic transmission of your letter, employers often prefer certain formats. One of the easiest and most reliable

methods is to convert your cover letter to a PDF through Adobe Acrobat Writer.

Cover Letter -- Sample Structure and Content

Your Present Street Address City, State Zip Code ------------------------------------- 1 Line Space Today’s Date ------------------------------------- 2 Line Spaces

Individual’s First and Last Name (If no name available, try to identify the organization if possible). Title Organization Street Address City, State, Zip Code ------------------------------------- 1 Line Space Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:  (Use “Dear Hiring Manager” if specific contact information is not available). ------------------------------------- 1 Line Space Introduction.  (First paragraph)  • Indicate the position for which you are applying and how you learned of the opening (name of publication or website, career center, employment service, etc.). • Specify your major, degree, institution.  • State basic reasons for applying and why interested in the position in a way that will capture the attention of the prospective employer. ------------------------------------- 1 Line Space Body.  (One to two paragraphs.) • Highlight your qualifications specific to the position.  • State why you wish to work for this particular company, and how you can contribute to their products or services  • If you are a recent graduate, explain how your academic background makes you a qualified candidate for the position. • If you have practical work experience or an internship,indicate specific achievements or unique qualifications.  • Provide evidence of skills.  • If asked to include “salary requirements,” always state a range and that you are open to negotiation. ------------------------------------- 1 Line Space Conclusion.  (Closing paragraph) • Express the fact that you are qualified for the position. • Indicate your desire for a personal interview to discuss your qualifications. • List your phone number and email in the letter and offer any assistance to help in a speedy response. • Advise the employer of your flexibility as to the time and place. If necessary, specify a certain time to call. • Indicate that you will call in one – two weeks to confirm that your materials have been received, or close with a statement or question that will encourage a response. ------------------------------------- 1 Line Space Sincerely, ------------------------------------- 3 Line Spaces *Place your neatly handwritten signature here.*

Your Name Typed ------------------------------------- 1 Line Space Enclosures  (ONLY needed if enclosing several documents.)

Thank You Letter - Structure and Content

The thank you letter can make a critical difference in your candidacy and help you stand out among other candidates.

Prepare your letter using a business letter format on high quality paper. Depending on your relationship with the person who

interviewed you, a handwritten note on professional stationary or note card may also be appropriate.

If you previously corresponded with the employer by email, it is acceptable to send your thank you "letter" via email.

However, post mail often conveys a more personal touch.

The letter should be addressed to the person with whom you interviewed. Ask for your interviewers' business cards, or write

down the interviewers' titles and the proper spelling of their names before leaving the interview site. If there were a number of

interviewers, send a customized thank you letter to each individual.

Keep your letter brief and concise. Mention the date of your interview and affirm your continued interest in both the position

for which you interviewed and the organization.

Reiterate your most important skills and qualifications, how you expect to contribute to the organization, and any unique

points of interest discussed during the interview. You may also add any details or skills you forgot in the interview, and you

can also attempt to ease any reservations you heard from them.

Express your appreciation for the opportunity to interview, tour the facilities, meet other employees, etc., and confirm follow up

procedures.

Supply any additional information that was requested at the time of the interview.

Mail your thank you letter in a matching envelope within 24 – 48 hours following the interview.

Thank You Letter -- Sample Structure and Content

1234 Main Street Kent, Ohio 44240 ------------------------------------- 1 Line Space Date ------------------------------------- 2 Line Spaces

Susan Smith ABC Pharmaceutical Company 543 Main Street City, Ohio 44444 ------------------------------------- 1 Line Space Dear Ms. Smith: ------------------------------------- 1 Line Space Thank you for the opportunity to interview with you on Friday, March 2XXX. I appreciated the company tour and an opportunity to meet a number of your staff. The Account Representative position we discussed is an excellent opportunity for which I feel uniquely qualified. ------------------------------------- 1 Line Space As we discussed, my background in the sciences as well as business will enable me to interact effectively with both physicians and pharmacists. Not only would I be able to discuss the technical aspects of your products, I understand first hand from my internship experience the importance of marketing strategies and building relationships, while also meeting the bottom line. ------------------------------------- 1 Line Space If you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at (330) 333-3333, or via email at [email protected] . Again, thank you for the opportunity to interview for this exciting position. I look forward to hearing from you soon. ------------------------------------- 1 Line Space Sincerely, ------------------------------------- 3 Line Spaces

Have your letters reviewed by a Career Advisor during daily drop-in hours. For more information, visit www.kent.edu/career .

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Get help with your CV and cover letter

We know that if you have the right tools and the motivation you can do amazing things in your early career. So we want to introduce you to CareerSet an AI-powered tool to help you review or update your CV and cover letter based on the job desiciption.

Ready to make your job application game stronger? CareerSet - an enhanced AI-based platform designed to improve your CV for future job applications, is here and available to all LivUni students and graduates! 

Boost Your CV:  Wondering how good your CV is? CareerSet gives it a score and shares tips to make it even better. Think of it as your personal CV buddy.

Tailor Your CV to Jobs:  Make your CV match the job description. CareerSet helps you find the right keywords and skills. Easy peasy, right?

Spruce Up Your Cover Letter:  Your cover letter gets a little makeover too! CareerSet checks it for important stuff, making sure it stands out.

Meet GPT Magic:  And here's the cool part – CareerSet now uses GPT tech for writing suggestions. It's like having a writing wizard by your side.

Ready to make your job application game stronger? Just click  https://careerset.com/liverpool  to see what CareerSet can do.

To get started, log in with your academic credentials. Enter your University of Liverpool (MWS) details as follows on the following screen: Your MWS username followed by @liverpool.ac.uk and your MWS password. 

Look out for the GPT magic in the 'Score My CV' section – it's where the fun begins!

Accessing CareerSet

All graduates have free unlimited access to CareerSet!

To get started:

• Go to CareerSet
• Log in with your University of Liverpool login details (example [email protected] ) .

Handshake Resources

Whether you are writing your CV for the first time, applying for a graduate job or a PhD role, our CV and Cover Letter resources can provide you with the tools you need to succeed.  

Access our guides, checklists, examples, and templates via Handshake

On average you only have about 30 seconds to impress a potential employer with your CV. Watch the video below from Career Coach Mazi to get top tips and useful advice to design and produce a CV that stands out for all the right reasons and make your CV shine.

Cover Letters

Your CV will also need to be accompanied by a strong covering letter. This resource will guide you through structuring a successful covering letter. The resource includes example covering letters and "Do's and Don'ts" for you to see whether you are along the right track.

Covering letters; how to write them and what they should look like (including examples)

Make use of all resources available to you, whether that be by popping into the Careers Studio to chat or accessing the online resources via Handshake. Ellis Ewin, Career Coach and Psychology student

Get CV feedback from a Career Coach

Before you start to use your CV, get a Career Coach to have one last look. Our Coaches can provide additional feedback and advice to make your application stand out. Send your CarreSet Feedback to a Career Coach in a Handshake message now.

Back to: Welcome to Your Future

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• Careers and Employability Service
• Application forms

Cover letters

Personal statements.

A cover letter will often accompany your CV when you are applying for a work or study opportunity. So even if you spend lots of time perfecting your CV, your application can still be affected by the quality of your cover letter. It is therefore important that you take time to create a well-structured cover letter targeted to each and every opportunity you apply for. View some examples of cover letters on the Target Jobs website .

The purpose

• To encourage an employer to read the accompanying CV or application form
• To draw together relevant facts from your CV or application form and shape them to the needs of the employer; demonstrating your ability to do the job/course
• If speculative: to explain why you are sending your CV

If you are asked to send a ‘letter of application’, you might treat this as an extended cover letter. The tips provided in these pages will also help you to construct this type of letter.

Preparation

• Research the company or organisation using resources such as the company or organisation's website, recent news articles or their social media.
• Thoroughly research the role/course you are applying for including the main duties and responsibilities of the opportunity are or what modules and projects are available throughout the course
• Identify aspects of the role or course that are most important to you
• The length of a cover letter should be about one side of A4, using a font of no smaller than 11. Using a matching font and style to your CV gives your application a coherent and professional look. If the employer is asking for a lot of information and you can’t fit it onto one side, don’t reduce the font size any smaller – it’s better to go over two sides in a readable font than squeeze your information onto one side
• Occasionally you may be asked for a handwritten cover letter. As handwriting generally is larger than typed text, it is usually OK to go onto two pages

A top tip we can offer is to tailor your cover letter for each application. You can adapt information you cut and paste from previous applications, however be very careful that it is appropriate to the job you are applying for.

When planning, consider the following points:

• What are your key strengths in relation to the opportunity?
• What has motivated you to pursue this opportunity?
• You may need to illustrate how your skills satisfy the requirements (e.g. Leadership, Team work, Communication) so think of some examples of where you will have demonstrated these (such as work experience, university experiences, volunteering, Leicester Award, Internships, interests, hobbies)
• What differentiates this job and company to you from their competitors?

Writing your first draft

Make sure that your cover letter/statement has a clear structure, so that the employer can easily recognise what you are addressing. We suggest using a structure similar to this:

I.C.M.E Structure

I – Introduction: A brief opening to introduce yourself and outlining the position or opportunity you are applying for and where you saw it advertised.

C – Capability: One to two paragraphs that explains why you are suitable for the role. You should refer to the job/course description and demonstrate how you meet the requirements for the opportunity.

M – Motivation: One to two paragraphs that detail why you are interested in the company/institution and the position/study. Make sure you are specific and demonstrate that you have done your research.

E – Ending: A couple of lines that thank the reader for his/her time and state that you are looking forward to hearing from them. Refer back to the specific course or job requirements.

Use subheadings and bullet points to highlight key information and help your cover letter stand out by using direct, positive and appropriate language.

TOP TIP: Expressing things more positively can make the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful application. Below are a few examples:

• “I am a good communicator” rather than “I feel that I am a good communicator”
• “I have excellent communication skills” rather than “Some people have told me I am good at communicating”
• “During this experience I successfully managed seven people” rather than “During this experience I had to manage seven people”

Proof-reading and amending

After all the time and effort you have spent developing your cover letter, it would be a shame to send it before you have proof-read and thoroughly checked it through. To make absolutely sure, get someone else to read it – the best of writers miss mistakes in their own work due to familiarity with the text.

Using MyCareers

How to access MyCareers as a graduate.

Learn more about Linkedin and how you can write a great profile.