what to include in cover letter uk

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• Careers advice
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How to write a cover letter.

A cover letter introduces you to an employer and asks them to think about your application. 

It’s a short letter, usually 3 to 5 paragraphs long.

When to include a cover letter

You should always include a cover letter when you apply for a job using a CV. 

You can write it as an email if you’re applying online or print a copy to go with a paper application.

When writing a cover letter, let the employer know you’re keen by showing that you’ve researched the company. Learn more about what they do through:

• their website
• recent news articles
• talking to people you know who work there

Send it to the right person

It's important to try to address your cover letter to someone by name. Check you have the details of the person you need to send it to. 

You'll need their name and preferred title. For example, ‘Dr’, ‘Mr’, ‘Mrs’, ‘Ms’, and their job title. You should also make sure you have the right company name and address, including postcode.

If you do not know their name

If the job advert does not include a name you can check the company website. Try to find details of the head of the department, head of human resources or a recruitment manager.

If you still cannot find a name, you can start your letter with ‘Dear Sir or Madam’.

Introduction

Introduce yourself and explain how you found the advertised job. You can mention the job title, and reference number if there is one. 

If you’re asking about any job openings and not applying to a vacancy, tell them what sort of job you’re looking for. Let the employer see how keen you are to work for them.

Show you're right for the job

Highlight the skills and experience you have that match what the employer is looking for. 

Convince them that you're enthusiastic about working for them. Let them know you share their work values, culture and style.

Give extra information

If you have gaps in your employment history, you could talk about the skills you gained while you were out of work.

If you’ve mentioned on your CV that you have a disability, you might want to talk more about this in your cover letter. Organisations like Disability UK can give you advice on how to do this. You do not have to mention your disability at this stage if you prefer not to.

You can get more help with specialist advice on finding work if you have a disability.

Ending your cover letter

Thank the employer for considering your application. Let them know that they can get more details from your CV, and tell them you're looking forward to hearing from them.

Let them know how they can best contact you. Make sure your contact details are correct on both your cover letter and CV.

Yours sincerely or yours faithfully

If you know the name of the person you’re writing to, you should end the letter with ‘Yours sincerely’.

If you’ve addressed the letter ‘Dear Sir or Madam’, you should end the letter with ‘Yours faithfully’.

Tips for writing a cover letter

When writing your cover letter, remember to:

• write a new one for every job you apply for and make sure it’s tailored to the company and the specific role
• use the same font and size as you do for your CV, so it looks consistent
• make sure the company name and recruiter’s details are correct
• use the right language and tone: keep it professional and match the keywords used by the employer in their job advert
• show you’ve done your research into the job and the company
• highlight your most relevant skills and experience to stand out from other applicants
• back up any statements you make with facts and use the STAR method
• double check spelling and grammar before you send it
• keep a copy of your cover letter as they may ask you about it in an interview

Related content

How to write a CV

Completing application forms

Interview tips

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How to write a Cover Letter – Guide with Examples

Not every job application requires a cover letter, but every job application can benefit from one.

Along with a customised CV , which should include a strong personal profile, the cover letter lets you add specific information that puts you right at the heart of the job you are applying for. That means it’s really important to get it right.

Writing a winning cover letter is a skill. If you’re unsure what to include, our guide will help you:

What is a cover letter and why is it still important?

How to research and plan your cover letter.

• The basic format of a good cover letter

How long should a cover letter be?

• Address the hiring manager
• Use the job description
• How to market yourself in your cover letter
• How to structure and write your cover letter, with examples
• Use a ‘cold’ cover letter to approach a company you’d like to work for
• How to send your cover letter

A cover or covering letter is a brief, single-page document that accompanies your CV when you apply for a job.

Its purpose is to introduce yourself and to highlight your key skills, particularly those that are relevant to the job you are applying for. It’s your chance to showcase both your personality and suitability.

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 needs to position you as the right person for the job by highlighting skills that you have that are essential for the role. For this reason, your cover letter should be tailored to every application.

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.

Download our cover letter template

“Failing to plan is planning to fail” is a saying attributed to Benjamin Franklin, and it’s true. Planning is key to the success of any endeavour, and it’s certainly true for your cover letter and your CV .

These are the important things you should research before you begin writing your cover letter:

• 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. For a larger company, it will most likely be the hiring manager or the head of HR.
• 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.
• The company and its culture. Any reputable company will have some form of online presence where you can do this research. 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.
• The company’s competitors and market position.  This information too can usually be found online. Some organisations have obvious competitors – Nike and Adidas, for example – but it won’t always be this obvious. There are free trials available with tools such as  Semrush , Ahrefs  that can help you identify a company’s competition.
• The sector and any recent news or trends. 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 organisation’s aims for the coming year and beyond. This information can be trickier to find. You could start on LinkedIn and search for key employees; those with CxO roles may well share goals, roadmaps and more on their profiles.

Building 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. It also shows your passion for the job and sector.

The basic format of a cover letter

Every 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:

• Paragraph one – The introduction
• Paragraph two – The by-line
• Paragraph three – Show your knowledge
• Paragraph four – Conclusion

Brief, probably less than one side of A4 – 250-300 words maximum.

A cover letter is important but remember, it’s  an accompaniment to your CV , not your actual CV.

Address the hiring manager or recruiter

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:

• Personalise it – find the name of the hiring manager or the person most likely to receive or read your application in the first instance. Addressing a named person shows that you’re thorough and thoughtful in your approach. Sign off with “Yours sincerely”.
• If you don’t have that information and can’t specify a name –  then  start the letter with “Dear Sir or Madam” – but remember your grammar and sign off your letter with “Yours faithfully”.

You should also avoid tired and clichéd buzzwords .

Use the job description to tailor your covering letter

This is possibly the most vital aspect of the cover letter. If you don’t take the opportunity to state that you have the necessary skills and experience, you may as well not bother! 

Detail your skills and provide examples of how you have used them in the past to succeed in your own goals and those of the company you were working for. Mirror some of the phrases used in the job requirements list.

You will most likely need to use different skills and examples for each cover letter, as each job role will require different skills and abilities.  

Market yourself in your cover letter

A bit like your Personal Profile, your cover letter is your chance to sell yourself to the people doing the hiring. There are several good ways to sell yourself, and having done your research, they should be easy to include:

• Demonstrate knowledge – of the role, the company, and the sector in which they operate
• Outline your skills, qualifications and goals – any that are relevant to the role and company
• Highlight your social and interpersonal skills – talk about the clubs and/or societies you are a member of, any volunteering you do – anything that shows your ideals and what you enjoy doing in your spare time

How to structure and write a cover letter

These days it’s unusual for cover letters or CVs to be sent as physical copies, but digital correspondence should still be written in formal business language.

There are several ways to format a business letter, but these are the elements you must include:

• Your address and contact details, including a telephone number (mobile or landline) and email address
• The company’s address
• The opening greeting: Dear xyz

Here’s how it might look:

[Date] [Your address line 1] [Address line 2] [Address line 3] [Your phone number and email]   [Company name] [Company address line 1] [Company address line 2]   Dear [Name or  Sir or Madam ],  

Cover letter paragraph 1: The introduction

The position you are interested in and why you are applying for it – a brief introductory passage that covers three things:

• Why you’re writing the letter
• What job role you are applying for
• How you found out about the job

Something like:

“I am writing to apply for the role of [job title] in response to an advert I saw on [name of job site]. Please find my CV attached.”

Cover letter paragraph 2: The by-line

This paragraph should be all about you and detail the skills you possess that are relevant to the role, particularly those that have been identified in the job advert or description. Be careful not to reproduce your CV. Mirror phrases and skills that are mentioned in the job advert or description.

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Cover letter paragraph 3: Show your knowledge

This is where you can demonstrate the research that you did before applying. Show that you know what sector they operate in and what they do, and demonstrate why you wish to work there, how you could make a difference, and how you align with the company’s ideals, culture and core values.

In short: show that you’re the perfect candidate!

Cover letter paragraph 4: Conclusion

Your cover letter, the masterpiece that it now is, should end with a clear call to action. You want to secure an interview for this position, so mention that and let them know when you’re available for a callback or contact to arrange it. Don’t be demanding, just be confident and clear. If you plan to follow up with a phone call, then let them know. If you’re not comfortable doing this then end your letter with:

“I look forward to hearing from you.”

Thank them for taking the time to read your letter, and sign off with:

“Yours sincerely [ or faithfully  if you don’t know their name ] , [Your Name]”

Use a covering letter as a speculative approach to a company you’d like to work for

Have you noticed a company that you’d really like to work for, but they’re not currently advertising any open positions? In this case, a ‘ cold-contact cover letter ‘ makes a great speculative application letter. Here’s what to include in that cover letter:

• Address the letter formally – Try to get hold of the name of the hiring manager; check their website or call the main number and ask. If not, then address it as “Dear Sir or Madam”. You could alternatively address it to the CEO or Managing Director – once they see it is a speculative application, they will probably pass it to the relevant person within the company.
• Your reason for writing – As there is no vacancy that you are aware of, you should explain why you are writing and what attracted you to the company.
• Mention any contacts – If a friend or acquaintance works at the company and has suggested or agreed that you should apply, then mention them by name and job title.
• Detail your skills and experience – The body of the speculative application should highlight your skills and experiences and provide examples of how you have used them in previous jobs. Then state once more why you’re interested in working for the company; talk about the sector or industry they operate in and show that you have done your research.
• Say what you would like – Which area or department of the company are you interested in? Where would you like to work – sales, marketing, front-of-house, for example?
• Conclusion – Close the cover letter by thanking them for their time and expressing your interest in hearing from them about any job vacancies that might arise.

Remember, each speculative cover letter should be unique.

Send your cover letter

Because you are almost always going to be sending your cover letter online, we recommend that you attach it to your email in a .pdf format. This way, any computer will be able to view the file, and all your formatting will be preserved.

If you need to send your cover letter as the actual body text of your email, your approach will need to be slightly different. First, make sure you format the subject line of your email like so:

Application for [Job Title] – [Your Name]

If you were given a reference number, include that in the subject line as well. Once you’ve done that, it’s time to think about the layout of your letter. The paragraphs can be the same as an original cover letter, but you can remove the addresses, date and signature.

If you’re applying for a job via a job board, you can sometimes afford to scale down your cover letter to its key components.

Check out this example cover letter:

Hi [Name],   I am interested in applying for the current vacancy you have for a [job title].   In my current role as [role title] with [company name], I am responsible for [insert relevant experience relating to job advert] but am currently looking to make a step up into a more challenging role with a reputable company who can offer career growth.   I am currently on a notice period of [notice period] and can interview immediately.   Kind regards,   [Name]   [Phone number]   [Email]

By following these covering letter guidelines and examples you’ll be ahead of many other applicants applying for roles, and one step nearer to securing an interview.

Try to have fun with it – we wish you the best of luck!

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Related Career Advice articles

How to write a cover letter

Everything you need to know write a great cover letter, including:

• What you need to include in your cover letter
• How to layout your cover letter
• The ideal format for your over letter, in terms of length and fonts

Main sections of this guide

What makes a good cover letter, how to layout a cover letter, cover letter layout example, what to include in a cover letter, what not to include in a cover letter.

A good cover letter can be crucial to your job application.

On its own, a cover letter may not seem significant, but a killer cover letter can inspire an employer to look at your CV, which is the main document influencing whether or not they choose to invite you for an interview.

The main signifiers of a good cover letter are:

• It’s tailored specifically to the job you are applying for – not a ‘cookie-cutter’ letter you use for every application
• It’s spells out that you possess the skills required for the job, and that you’d be a good addition to the employer’s culture
• It shows you’ve researched the organisation and demonstrates succinctly how you would be a good fit for the job
• It shows you’re genuinely interested in landing the role
• It supports your CV, but doesn’t reproduce it
• It motivates the reader to look at your CV

Your cover letter should be no longer than one page, and around 300 words. For further information, read our “How long should a cover letter be?” guide.

It should be typed using a standard font such as Arial, Calibri or Verdana, and in 10 or 12 point type for ease of readability. For more information see our “What is the best font for a cover letter?” guide.

Header section with all the key info for you and your application

• Your name (first name and last name)

Your current job title (optional)

• Your email address
• Your mobile phone number
• Your LinkedIn URL (optional)
• Your online portfolio URL (optional)
• The job title of the role you’re applying
• The job code for the role you’re applying for (optional)

The date you’re submitting your application

For more information, see the “Cover letter header” section below in this guide.

Polite, formal greeting

Ideally, you’ll address your cover letter to the hiring manager.

The “How to find out the name of the hiring manager” section of our “How to start a cover letter” guide offers some useful tips to help you find a name.

If you know the name of the person you are writing to, you should follow this format:

• ‘Dear’
• An honorific (such as Mr, Ms, Professor)
• Their surname

For example:

Dear Ms Smith,

If you’re unable to find the name of the person who’ll receive your cover letter, use this professional letter writing convention:

Dear Sir/Madam,

For further advice writing the beginning of your letter, read our “How to start a cover letter” guide.

First paragraph: impactful opening statement

Your goal is to immediately give the hiring manager a good reason to read on, so start with a bang.

If your opening statement isn’t compelling, they may give up, especially if it sounds just the same as ten letters they have already looked at that day.

Second paragraph: evidence you have the required skills

Once you’ve got their interest, explain why you’d be a good fit for the job.

Outline the skills and experience you have that are in line with the requirements in the job description.

This paragraph should help the recruiter see right away that you’d excel in the job.

Third paragraph: example of why you’d be a good addition to their culture

Next, try and give an example from your past employment, education or personal life which shows how your motivations and/or personality traits align with the employer’s goals.

Closing paragraph: ‘thank you’

Your last paragraph should simply be a polite thank you for the time they have taken in considering your application.

For further information, see the “Cover letter closing paragraph example” section in our “How to end a cover letter” guide.

You don’t need to add in a reminder of how to contact you, or say again how keen you are: this should already have come across clearly in previous points.

All you are trying to achieve with your closing statement is to demonstrate that you are a polite and thoughtful person.

Polite, formal sign-off

Sign off in a professional and friendly manner with ‘Kind regards,’. This is the more professional sign-off, and preferred to the more formal ‘Yours sincerely’.

Use your first name only, not your surname.

See the “Cover letter sign-off example” in our “How to end a cover letter” piece.

Look at our “Good cover letter example” piece for advice on how to lay out your cover letter.

It offers a template you can use as a guide for writing your own cover letter, and provides an example letter so you can see how a good cover letter should read.

Cover letter header

You should include the key details of your application at the top of your letter, before the greeting. These should include:

Make sure it is the same as the name on your CV.

For example, if your CV says ‘Stephen Davis’, this is the name that should be used on your cover letter. Don’t say ‘Steve Davis’ or ‘S. Davis’ instead.

Include this if it’s highly relevant to the job you are applying for.

For example, if you’re applying for a position that’s a natural progression from your current job.

If your current job has no relevance, don’t include it here.

Your email address and mobile phone number

Add your personal email and mobile phone number.

Turn your voicemail on.

If your personal email address doesn’t sound professional, create a new one for job applications.

If you have a work email address and/or work phone, don’t use it.

Your contact details should be exactly the same on your cover letter and CV.

Your LinkedIn profile URL, if you have a great profile (optional)

A well-written LinkedIn profile will increase your chances of securing an interview.

For advice on writing your LinkedIn profile, read the detailed “How to write a great LinkedIn profile” guide on our sister site, Totaljobs.

Your online portfolio, if it contains works relevant to this job (optional)

Great examples of previous works that demonstrate you’d excel in the role you’re applying for will almost certainly land you a job interview, even if the rest of your CV and cover letter aren’t that strong.

The job title for the job you’re applying for (and the job code if there is one)

So that the employer can see at a glance to which job your document relates to.

Put the date you send your cover letter and CV, as opposed to the date you started drafting your cover letter.

The date: this should be the date you actually submit your application.

Impactful opening statement

• Which of the employer’s products, services and/or initiatives you admire most
• Why you admire it
• Why you’re motivated to help improve and/or develop it

A referral (if applicable)

If you have been recommended to apply for the job by a shared connection, or a person the hiring manager will be aware of and/or impressed by, mention it in the opening paragraph.

Outline how you know them and why they are recommending you.

Show you have the skills required for the job

The employer needs to know that you have the ability to do the job and meet the requirements mentioned in the job description.

So, if that document requests, “at least two years’ sales experience,” and you have that or more, say something like, “I have four years experience in sales.”

Give examples of relevant experience

Describing how you handled situations in the past helps demonstrate that you’ll be a good choice for the job you’re applying for.

The STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is a good way to communicate this type of information.

Read the “How to use the STAR technique” on our sister Milkround for detailed advice on using the STAR technique in your cover letter.

Show why you’d would be a good addition to the organisation’s culture

Hiring managers like to know that you will fit in with the organisation and share their values. This is known as ‘culture fit’.

They also want people who can add new ideas and perspectives. This is known as ‘culture add’.

Your cover letter is a good place to show how your personality traits and/or motivations align with the organisation’s, and how your interests inside and outside of the workplace enable you to bring new ways of thinking to their organisation.

Explain gaps in your CV (if applicable)

Employers will be suspicious if there’s a gap of months or years in your employment history on your CV with no explanation.

You can explain the reason for the gap in your cover letter and show how you have developed professionally as a result.

• If your gap was due to caring for a child or an elderly relative, you could show how that helped you develop resilience and empathy, and improved your problem-solving and multitasking skills
• If you went travelling or relocated with a partner or family, you could explain how it enabled you to adapt to different environments
• If you were made redundant, clarify the reason for the redundancy and outline any training or volunteering you undertook while you were looking for another job
• If you were ill, state it simply and add that you have fully recovered (you don’t have to go into details of the illness)
• If you were fired, be upfront about it and reassure them that you have changed, learned from the experience and taken steps to ensure you won’t make the same mistakes again

Explain why you’re making a career change (if applicable)

If you’re looking to move into a different type of job, use your cover letter to explain how your previous experience can benefit the job you’re applying for.

For example, if you used to work in retail with a lot of customer contact, you could have ideal skills to work in an online customer care team.

Emphasise transferable skills such as people management, leadership and communications which can be valuable in many different careers.

Don’t include spelling and grammar errors

Spelling and grammar mistakes are the death knell for most cover letters and CVs.

Employers will reasonably assume that if you cannot make the effort of checking your spelling and grammar before sending a letter, you may take the same sloppy approach to working for them.

Make sure you check and double-check your letter before sending it, and perhaps ask a reliable friend if they could check it for you, too.

In addition, there are plenty of online spelling and grammar checkers you could use, most notably the built-in checkers in Microsoft Word and Google Docs.

Don’t include information intended for another application

It’s reasonable to use the same cover letter layout for each job application. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel each time you apply for a job.

Our “Good cover letter example” is designed to cover most job applications.

However, it’s very important that each letter is customised to the job you are applying for and does not include information intended for another employer. So be sure to check the following:

• You’re using the correct job title and reference in the cover letter header
• You have the right date, and not the date you sent the previous letter
• If you’re greeting the addressee by name, make sure it’s the correct name
• Your impactful opening statement is customised to the job you are applying for
• Your STAR examples are appropriate for the job

Don’t repeat the contents of your CV

Your cover letter is the place to elaborate and highlight particular aspects of your employment history and education.

It’s not the place to copy and paste text from your CV.

Don’t include negative comments about other people

Don’t say anything derogatory about previous employers, colleagues, university lecturers or competitors.

Especially, don’t say anything critical about the organisation you’re applying for.

Don’t include lies

Don’t be tempted to lie or stretch the truth, for example about your qualifications or previous jobs.

It’s very easy to discover the truth and most employers will check references and certificates.

Don’t include discuss salary

Your cover letter is not the place to discuss remuneration, even if the employer has asked you for salary expectations.

If they are interested in you, they will possibly discuss salary in a screening interview.

If the job advertisement mentions a salary range, don’t try and negotiate in your cover letter. If they haven’t mentioned it in the ad, and you really want to know, you could call them and ask.

You should only negotiate a salary once you have been offered the job.

For detailed advice on negotiating salary, see the “How to negotiate salary (in the UK)” guide on our sister site Milkround.

Don’t overshare details about your personal life

Don’t share details of your family connections, your ability to drink team-mates under the table, your personal best time in the London Marathon, or anything else that isn’t relevant to the job.

Don’t include humour

Humour is very subjective.

A joke you think is hilarious could be viewed as unfunny or, worse, offensive by someone else.

So, steer clear of it in your letter.

Don’t include your addresses or the employer’s address

Despite what you may have been told or read elsewhere, you don’t need to put the employer’s address on your cover letter. It’s an outdated convention.

It may surprise you to learn that you should not include your own address on your letter or CV, either.

Your CV should include the city, town or county you live in, but do not include your full address.

This is for data protection reasons, as your cover letter and CV are documents which could, in theory, be read by anyone able to get hold of them.

Most applications via an online portal will ask for your postal address in a data-secure environment.

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Sample cover letter

Cover letters add context to your CV and when used correctly are a great way to convince employers that you're right for the job. This sample cover letter should help you get started

A cover letter demonstrates to recruiters how well you express yourself, so you need to make sure that you don't just repeat your CV or give rambling explanations. Instead, use this opportunity to focus on your skills and experience, saving your qualifications for your CV.

The basic cover letter structure covers:

• why you're writing the letter
• why you think you're suitable for the job (with examples)
• relevant skills and experience
• summary of your interest in the role.

Double check what you've written as spelling mistakes or lack of attention to detail will put your cover letter straight on the no pile.

Please be aware that this is an example. Use this cover letter template to help generate ideas and structure your own document but avoid copying and pasting. Your cover letter needs to be original and tailored to the job you're applying for.

Avril Lee 115 My Street Mytown WX55 1CQ [email protected] 07777999888

Harry Smith Graduate HR director Big Company Ltd Woodcotes Business Park The Midlands MX9 6PQ

5th May 2023

Dear Mr Smith

Re: Logistics graduate scheme

I would like to apply for the logistics track of your graduate training scheme, advertised on the Prospects.ac.uk website. As requested, I am enclosing my CV.

I am in the final year of my geography degree, expecting a 2:1. Always intending to have a career in business, I have taken modules on the geography of business and GIS modelling. My final-year dissertation is on changing patterns in retail. During my degree, I have developed my analytical skills and ability to read, manage and present data. I have also become familiar with a range of business intelligence sources.

As you can see from my CV I have experience in:

• Retail - moving from shelf stacker to checkout operator to team leader in my two years with Fresh Foods. I contributed to the store consistently being in the top five for the region by providing excellent customer service.
• Warehouse operations - picking and packing to meet targets over the busy Christmas period.

I have also:

• Worked in and led teams at Fresh Foods, on course projects and in sports.
• Communicated with colleagues at all levels in retail and warehousing.
• Solved problems as a team leader, ensuring staff cover and dealing with customer complaints.
• Worked flexibly doing both early and late shifts and covering for absence, sometimes at short notice.
• Managed my time when combining study with work and sport.

My semester in Germany exposed me to a different culture and improved my language skills. In addition, my voluntary work with young people has increased my resilience and ability to mix with people from all walks of life.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

(Sign your name here)

Find out more

• Get more information on cover letters .
• If you're applying for a job that's not advertised take a look at an example speculative cover letter .
• Learn more about the 5 things to avoid when writing a cover letter .

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How to Write a Cover Letter | 10 Steps to Follow

There are several elements that need to be included in any cover letter. When you know how to write a cover letter properly, you will be able to do it again for any new job applications that you might make. Just follow these simple steps:

• Start with your name and postal address . These contact details should be in the top right-hand corner of the cover letter. Include your email address and telephone number as means of contacting you.
• Write the date of your letter underneath your contact details.
• Add the contact details of your addressee . Start these details on the next line of your cover letter, but on the left-hand side of the paper. Along with the job title, write down the name of the person you are writing to.
• Add the job title of the addressee .
• Add the company name and address. Again, this should be on the left-hand side of the page.
• Address your readers . Leave a line below the contact details then write, “Dear Mrs. Jones,” or whatever the right name might be. If this is unknown, then, “Dear Sir or Madam,” will suffice.
• Add the job reference . Before you start the body of the letter, add any reference that has been given for the job application, for example, “Re: Engineering Trainee, Eastern Division” or “ Ref – HR/004.”
• Introduce your CV in two or three short paragraphs.
• End and sign your letter . In most cases end with, “Yours faithfully” and then your name. Leave a big enough gap so that you can add your signature, whether it is electronic or hand-written.
• End your letter informally only in the case where you know the individual you are writing to, perhaps because you are making an internal application within your organisation. In these cases, you can sign off with, “Yours sincerely,”

What to include in a cover letter

• Say you are submitting your CV and application form in the main body of your cover letter .
• Don´t cover everything in your CV. This tends to create the unwanted impression that you are merely repeating yourself. It is best to highlight one or two points from your CV if they are especially pertinent to the job you are applying for.
• Keep the letter simple. One sentence is fine if you can say all that you want to in only a few words. If you need to progress to a second paragraph, include a line break. This avoids any large, lengthy text passages and makes the letter easier to read.
• Upload your cover letter with Monster.

Remember that your cover letter is the first thing that a potential employer will look at when considering your application. Dedicate the time and effort into getting it right and you will have taken your first step towards a new job!

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