Covering Letter (When You Are Not There)

Cover Your Self

Writing a letter is not always as straightforward as might be supposed. It is worth taking time to create the best possible impression. Size, quality of paper, layout and neatness all contribute to this effect. By the time the letter has been read, the employer will have been influenced by the way it has been written, as well as by its content.

Even though we are in the Internet age we still need to send a lot of documents by snail mail. It is here that the covering letter represents you. You don't want to give a wrong "first impression" do you?

These are some points that covering letters should achive:

• The letter must encourage the employer to take your CV seriously and want to look at it. Remember, in todays world being unique is the only way to move ahead. This is true in all aspects of life.

• The cover letter is a document that sets the reader's expectations of what will be in the CV. The thing here to remember is the word expectatons.

• It should be worded in a way that it persuades the employer that you are a suitable candidate for the job.

• You have to be careful that you don't present facts about your self that you can not support and defend. If you are wrong you can close your eyes bite the dust.

• A letter is especially useful if the form does not give you an opportunity to mention essential facts about your suitability for the job or to make your case effectively more valuable.

A covering letter can be considered as done when the above mentioned points have been conveyed.

Basic points for creating the content for you covering letter

In writing a letter, you should try to:

• Capture the reader's attention
• express what you need to say as concisely as you can
• convey a positive attitude of reasonable confidence
• avoid grammatical and spelling errors.
• Structure and content

Presentation

The first impression of your letter should be clear and well presented. It should be laid out in such a way that it is visually attractive, neither squashed nor with a blank space at the end. A4 white paper of good quality is always acceptable rather than coloured paper, and it should be plain and not lined. Unless a hand-written letter is requested, a word-processed letter looks business-like and professional, and you can get more information onto a page. Employers are used to both. If it is hand-written, make sure that it is legible.

The letter below will give you a basic Idea about what a covering letter looks like.

1st August 2001
Miss Radhika Basu
Recruitment Manager
Human Resources Department
Careermosaicindia.com
Secundrabad 94

Dear Miss Radhika,

Ref: Assistant Press Officer

I am writing in response to your advertisement of 30th July for the above position. I enclose my Curriculum Vitae for your consideration.

As you will see I have had considerable experience of press officer work during my years at University. I was responsible for all press contacts for our student union and for the production of press releases for a number of events.

My work experience during vacations has developed a number of the skills mentioned in your advertisement, particularly team working and meeting deadlines, and I think that I could bring ideas and enthusiasm to the job.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely
Rajnish

It would be a good idea to drop a few references in the end, but be sure to attach a reference letter for proof. You forget the job if you can not show proof.

Lastly there are no hard and fast rules for constructing a letter, but the above mentioned rules and guidlines will give you start to write effective coverletters. More details will follow in the coming articles.