Covering letter please help!!

Luk_on_the_brightside

I am in the process of applying for an admin job, i have to attach my cv to a covering letter and email it, but i am struggling in what to put and how to start off - i am not working at the moment. they want to know present or last salary. Please help!!!

LittleVoice

Is it to be a covering letter or a covering email?

In either case, I would pick out 3 or 4 key items from your CV which specifically match their requirements. You may want to explain why/how they do this. Keep it succinct.

Was your last salary about the same as that being offered. If so, I see no harm in stating it.

If it is very different (in either direction), you could say that this can be discussed at interview if they wish. That way, they should not be put off by what you were earning before and should look at your likely ability to do the job they have to offer.

chuckley

cover letters are a paragraph. if u aint earning, state so, if thats a requirement.

LittleVoice

chuckley wrote: »

cover letters are a paragraph. if u aint earning, state so, if thats a requirement.

"Cover letters" are more than a paragraph - but they should not be long.

The OP was asked to state present or last salary - so saying you are not earning now does not answer the question.

Savvy_Sue

I would find something to say to maximise what I'd been doing while not earning. "My last salary was £X pa, but this was Y months / years ago. Since then I have regularly ... helped with the PTA, undertaken voluntary work in a local school ... and this has added to my administrative experience by ... etc etc etc - whatever fits your circumstances.

chuckley

LittleVoice wrote: »

"Cover letters" are more than a paragraph - but they should not be long.

The OP was asked to state present or last salary - so saying you are not earning now does not answer the question.

y would they be more than a paragraph when all ur info is on the CV??

yea op states last salary and from that date of contract end to todays date they will npotice a gap and will either refuse interview or ask for interview but will have that as one of their main qtn's. point it out in the covering letter why u havent work between the last salary, puts the op in a much better light.

LittleVoice

chuckley wrote: »

y would they be more than a paragraph when all ur info is on the CV??

yea op states last salary and from that date of contract end to todays date they will npotice a gap and will either refuse interview or ask for interview but will have that as one of their main qtn's. point it out in the covering letter why u havent work between the last salary, puts the op in a much better light.

Because you want to be polite for one thing.

You explain how you became aware of the vacancy (web site, newspaper, or whatever). You can mention the job title here (or include it in a heading).

You draw attention to the particular points you want to make in relation to your suitability for the post (I guess this is all you would say)

You answer any specific request which you don't want to include on your CV - perhaps about your availability for interview or address the question about salary (so this may take more than one paragraph - to make it easier to read).

You express your interest in the position again and say that you look forward to hearing from them.

You thereby demonstrate your ability to write a letter.

chuckley

LittleVoice wrote: »

Because you want to be polite for one thing.

You explain how you became aware of the vacancy (web site, newspaper, or whatever). You can mention the job title here (or include it in a heading).
not needed... they dont care how u found it, they just care u applied.

You draw attention to the particular points you want to make in relation to your suitability for the post (I guess this is all you would say)
which is already in ur tweaked cv, repeating it is just time consuming....

You answer any specific request which you don't want to include on your CV - perhaps about your availability for interview or address the question about salary (so this may take more than one paragraph - to make it easier to read).

In the paragraph as simply one sentence per bit ur on about...

You express your interest in the position again and say that you look forward to hearing from them.

You thereby demonstrate your ability to write a letter.

again just a paragraph. all in all its a paragraph. CL's gotta be shoirt and to the point... sending/giving them a half-full page letter is just gonna make em go 'next'. some have hundreds to go through...they really dont have time to read essays PLUS check the CV...

keep it short and to the point.

LittleVoice

Recruiters very often do care about the source of the application - they want to know whether their advertising budget/effort has been well spent.

Lavendyr

chuckley wrote: »

y would they be more than a paragraph when all ur info is on the CV??

Cover letters are at least as important as the CV they come with, and in some cases can be more so. They show that the applicant has genuinely thought about the specific job they are applying for (rather than simply shooting off a CV) and that they have taken the time to expand on why they think they are right for that job.

I play a part in the recruitment for my company and we always request a cover letter. The number of people who don't bother to write one, or who only 'write a paragraph', amazes me, frankly. When you apply for a job you're selling yourself - why do a bad job if you can possibly avoid it?

For me, a cover letter should have a clear, concise structure of four short paragraphs:

Paragraph 1: The job you are applying for and where you heard about it

Paragraph 2: Why are you interested in this company and this job?

Paragraph 3: What key skills do you possess which make you the right person for the job?

Paragraph 4: When are you available for interview? (+ salary expectations if requested)

That's it - each paragraph is very brief but summarises the key points of your CV together with the more specific info that demonstrates that you've made the effort to research the company and have put together a tailored response.

You also need to make sure you touch on all the job's key skills in the second and third paragraphs. Read the job description/vacancy ad carefully, look for the qualities that are listed and make sure that you cover each one - just a brief line or mention of each will do. It shows not only that you have those qualities but that you've bothered to read and understand the job description.

Finally, a covering letter *must* demonstrate good spelling, punctuation, grammar and communication skills, as well as being neatly laid-out.

A covering letter is much much more than just "a paragraph". It's the first impression you will make on the company you're applying to, and I say that as a recruiter. If your covering letter doesn't look good, they're not even going to bother to look beyond it to your CV.