How to create the perfect cover letter

A decent cover letter can make all the difference when trying to get noticed by would-be employers. Here’s our guide to getting it right

It’s tricky to get yourself noticed when hunting for a job, but an expertly crafted cover letter can make all the difference. It highlights your most relevant skills, achievements and experience, giving the recruiter a clear reason to consider your CV.

But what exactly is the mysterious cover letter? And how do you write one that helps you make a strong impression?

A cover letter is a one-page document that explains why your skills, experience and motivation make you a strong match for the role. It highlights your specific skills, achievements, or experience and persuades the person reading to give your CV careful consideration.

Sounds great, doesn’t it? But it can be tricky to get your cover letter right. Go in too strong and you’ll seem desperate or immodest. Play your achievements down, however, and you’ll not achieve the cut-through you seek.

Fortunately, Just Recruitment’s consultants have decades of experience to draw on. They’ve waded their way through a lot of cover letters in their time. So we asked them for tips on how to get your cover letter just right. Here’s what they had to say.

Make it personal. “Always address the letter to someone, rather than just the company,” says Bridie James. “Doing so shows that you’ve taken time to find out more about your prospective employer. It’s an indication that you really care about the role.”

Show a bit of personality. “Despite what you were taught at school, you don’t need to be formal throughout,” says Tracey Bates. “Let your personality come through, but keep your tone appropriate to the organisation and role. You don’t need to sound overly formal or use corporate jargon. Don’t go overboard, and certainly don’t risk any smutty jokes. A little personality can help you stand out and make a positive impression.”

Keep it simple. “You should keep your cover letter to the point,” says Jody Collings. “Aim to keep your cover letter to one page. It should be concise enough to communicate your strongest points without repeating your CV. Include an introductory paragraph to grab the recruiter’s attention, two or three bullet points highlighting your most notable achievements and a closing paragraph stating clearly why you’re interested in the job. That’ll be just enough to pique the reader’s interest, without bombarding them with unnecessary information.”

Think about the role. “Tailor your cover letter for each application, highlighting skills that are especially relevant to that role,” says Bridie James. “You should also include a specific mention of why you want to work for that company in particular, perhaps by referencing awards it has won or notable achievements from the last few years. Explain why the organisation, its work or the opportunity appeals to you. This could be its products or services, recent growth, values, reputation or the opportunity to develop your career. That way, you’ll give the recruiter a reason to follow up on your application.”

Show, don’t tell. “Use your cover letter to back up your claims with evidence. Provide examples of your achievements and, where possible, include measurable results,” says Jody Collings. “No one trusts abstract assertions of another person’s quality. But they will be persuaded by hard facts.”