Cover letters presentation
(PDF, 5 MB)
Running time = 5 minutes

Adobe Reader 9.1 required to play this presentation

Cover letters are the first document an employer sees in your application. A cover letter provides you with an opportunity to summarise your skills and abilities in relation to the position. Not all job applications require a cover letter and often if you are submitting your application via email you can use a version of a cover letter in the body of your email. A common mistake students often make is assuming that if an employer doesn’t ask for a cover letter, they don’t want one. If you are unsure, make a phone call to the employer, introducing yourself and inquire about the application forms required. 

Here are a few hints and tips to develop your cover letter:

• Don’t exceed 1 page
• Target your cover letter to the employer
• Address the letter to a person, not Sir or Madam
• Check your dates, spelling and grammar
• Use a business letter format for your letter
• Use strong and positive wording
• Keep a copy of your applications, so when you get to the interview stage you can remember what you wrote
• Ensure you read the application material and submit your application in an acceptable format

For further information, book into the Cover Letter workshop by searching in the events tab of Careerhub. 
If you already have your cover letter and you would like to have it reviewed by a Careers Advisor, book into our Job Hunting Survival Kit (small group workshop) which is run 3 times a week (more sessions are available in the Graduate Recruitment period). Book your place by searching on the events tab in Careerhub.