The Mansell Mid-Week Masterclass- Writing the best Cover Letter

First things first

Don't just copy your CV. Your words should do more than reiterate details from what's already in your CV. The?cover letter is where you have the opportunity to promote yourself, describe your ambition and express your?enthusiasm for a new role and company in a way that is distinct from your CV.

Check out the checklist below of important functions of a targeted cover letter:

1. - A cover letter specifically relates your skills and experience to the job description and requested qualifications.
2. - It explains why you would love to have the job in question.
3. - It shows you've done research on the company, by commenting on its mission or key leadership.
4. - It finishes with a call to action that invites the hiring manager to follow up with you regarding the job opportunity.

The Less words, the better

Keep it brief with a three-paragraph format, using each paragraph to focus on an aspect of your application.

1. - Start with an attention-grabbing introduction that expresses your enthusiasm about the position and the?company. If you have a referral, drop their name here.?
2. -This is your sales pitch where you address your top skills, accomplishments and attributes, and explain why your?qualifications relate to this particular role or company.?
3. - Finally, restate briefly how you can add value, thank the hiring manager for their consideration and initiate the?next step by saying you’d like to follow up with a call or an interview.

Tailor your Cover Letter

Don’t use a one-size-fits-all cover letter template for all the positions you apply for. Write a cover letter employers?can't ignore by tying it to the elements of the job that match your unique skills and experience. What are they?asking for that you’re especially good at? What would make your contribution unique? Those are the points to?stress when writing a cover letter.

Be proud of what you have achieved??

Draw attention to specific examples of projects you’ve worked on that make you an ideal candidate, and don’t?hesitate to brag. Consider adding a sentence or two or even a bullet list, as long as you’re not duplicating your?resume of key achievements backed up with quantitative data.?

Use keywords from the job description

Many employers use resume-filtering software that scans for keywords and evaluates how closely CV’s and cover?letters match the preferred skills and experience. That means your cover letter should incorporate key phrases?you've identified in the job description — if they honestly match with your background and strengths. During the writing process, carefully review the job ad for the type of degree required, the number of years'?experience needed, and desired software skills, organization and communication abilities, and project?management background.

Proof read your work

Last, but not least, proofread your work. After you've made a strong argument for your?candidacy and given your letter a final polish, ask a friend or family member with a?strong eye for typos and good grammar, punctuation and spelling skills to review it.?Include a copy of the job posting to make sure you've hit all the right points.

Then do it. Press send!