The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce yourself, state the job you are applying for, show that your skills and experience meet requirements for the role and encourage the recruiter to read your CV.

Rules of Cover Letter Writing:

• Put yourself in the advertising employer's shoes and remember to answer “what does this person have that is what I am looking for as an employer”.

• Say what needs to be said – don’t write too much.

• Tailor your cover letter for each job. Match the style to the industry and role e.g. creative, professional etc.

• Use a combination of short sentences or bullet points and paragraphs.

• Try to keep to one page maximum.

Cover Letters should always accompany a CV and can be used in 2 contexts:

1. Applying for an advertised position

• Your first task is to analyse the job and differentiate between general information about the employing organisation and job specific information.

• Identify the stated mandatory requirements and consider how your experience, skills, qualifications or personal attributes match what the employer is looking for.

• List the stated mandatory requirements and match them with demonstrated proof of experience, skill, qualification or personal attributes from your CV and life.

• List these requirements in the order that they appeared in the advertisement.

Example:

The advertisement states "must have strong financial and administration skills”.

You need to verify your skills, experience, qualifications or personal attributes. For example:

I hold a Diploma in Office Administration from Massey University and have passed papers in accounting. I am currently responsible for all practice accounting and invoicing and oversee all office administration systems and processes for a 40-person business.

2. Responding to a request for information

• It is essential that you craft a tailored cover letter for someone who has requested your CV for a potential role i.e. a recruitment agent, human resource manager or LinkedIn connection.

• Include the name and title of the person you are addressing the letter to and reference the title of the job you are applying for, if known.

• In the absence of a job description or advertisement, you will have to do some research about the contact person, the organisation and the types of jobs that match your profile and interest.