A cover letter is all about making a great first impression, and giving your job application the best chance of making progress.
Think of your cover letter as a pitch – a way to introduce yourself professionally and show the value you could bring to the role you’re applying for. Your resume is there to document your skills, experience and achievements, but your cover letter sums these things up in a way that matches the job and offers a sense of who you are.
It’s also your chance to show why you’re interested in the particular role, and that you’ve done your research about the company or organisation. A well-written cover letter will encourage a potential employer to read through to your resume and get in touch to find out more or set up an interview.
We’ve come up with a template to make it much simpler for you to get this all down on paper. Use it as your starting point and you’ll be on track to a great cover letter that will get your application noticed.
Learn what you need to know about a role to help tailor your cover letter
I’m interested in applying for
Role of interest
Once you’ve used the template to create your own cover letter, be sure to proofread it and check any names and details – that way it’s less likely a simple mistake could hinder your application. It’s worth getting someone else to read over it for you, too.
These articles offer some further tips for refining your letter:
- 5 things employers wish they could say about your cover letter
- Does anyone actually read cover letters?
Even if it’s not requested in the job ad, including a cover letter with your resume can demonstrate your enthusiasm and help your application stand out.
Need to get your resume sorted, too? Our free resume template can help.