Covering letters

You've spent ages perfecting your CV, but the covering letter can be just as important. Here's what you should be writing.

The basics

Invest in good quality white A4 paper, anything scrappy won't do. Always type the letter, unless asked specifically to send it handwritten (in which case, keep it neat).

Overview

Keep to one page, and check spelling carefully. Every sentence has to count, don't be bland, you have to sell yourself here. An employer often has to look at 600 applicants with similar qualifications, yours will go in the bin if it's dull.

The opener

In the first paragraph, state which post you are applying for and try to find out who you should be addressing the letter to.

The main text

Think about the advert - what do they want from their new employee? When you think you know, write briefly and clearly to show you have these qualities, and more. Make points to make the reader look closer at your CV. Tell them about your performance in past work and how it helped that employer. For example: "As you can see from my CV, my sales strategy increased turnover by 20% in a six month period."

Finishing off

Keep it simple, just 'Yours sincerely'. Put the letter on top of the CV and put them into a plain envelope without folding them more than twice. If the pages are folded too much, they are difficult to photocopy, and look messy.