Okay, you have gone to all the trouble and time of putting together your CV, and then you’re told that you also need to write a cover letter too.  You’re probably wondering why you need a cover letter if everything is in your CV anyway. You may even be wondering what a cover letter is.

Well let’s get one thing really clear. You do need a cover letter. In fact, everyone that’s going for a job needs a cover letter. Top executives write cover letters; specialist professionals write covers letters – and so should school leavers, graduates and work experience people.

Here's why

Whenever there is a job going the person advertising that job will get dozens (sometimes thousands) of CVs flooding onto their desk or through their emails. The people looking at all these CVs are probably busy and would love to know which ones are worth looking at. Yes, in theory they should look at each and every one of them and spend an equal time on each. But they don’t.

So how do they start looking at this pile of CVs? Well, first they look at the cover letter. Whatever you have written and the way you have written it, gives them a clue as to whether your CV is worth putting to one side.

So the cover letter can get your CV noticed. It may even get you noticed over someone else who has a better CV than you.  If you don’t have a cover letter, then the person looking at this big pile of CVs will have fewer reasons to look at your CV first.

What is a good cover letter?

A cover letter is a short letter which explains why you are applying for this job. You should use it to point out things in your CV that are relevant to the job you are going for. If you have a real interest in the company and its products, or you have certain qualifications that are suitable for this job, then use your cover letter to say so. Your CV backs up what you have said with your qualifications and any experience.

Okay. So you need a cover letter but you still need to do a good one. If your cover letter is too long, boring, and just repeats what’s in your CV it doesn’t reflect well on you. In fact, it will probably turn the employer off your CV.

However, if its relatively short – no more than two paragraphs, and really explains why you are applying for this job, and if it’s well written with no mistakes, then the employer is going to think,: ‘right, I’ll mark this person’s CV out for a closer look’.

Common mistakes
Don’t just repeat what’s in your CV. Your cover letter is almost like a conversation. If you like, imagine you are talking directly to the employer about why they should hire you – but in two to three paragraphs (you don’t want to bore them).

Relevance
Everything you write should relate directly to the job at hand. They won’t want to know that you like football or watching TV unless the job is about football or TV.

Length
You cover letter should be no more than two paragraphs. Make it short and to the point and it will intrigue the reader. They will appreciate that you are not wasting their time.

Originality
Always write a new cover letter for each job you go for otherwise it will sound hollow. Recruiters have a sixth sense for when you are just going through the motions.

Finally, check your spelling and grammar –let someone else run their eye over it - a college tutor or a professional friend will do.

So, practice your cover letter writing. You need it and it really does work. In fact, it’s probably one of the most important things you can do to get a job, especially when you are applying for a very popular one.