CGC Ebook 5.0

Can I reuse a standard cover letter? Once you have the overall structure of your cover letter finalised and you know your main selling points, you can adjust and re-write it to fit any number of roles. It is extremely important that your tailor each cover letter to the specific role and company you are applying to. For example, when you come across another job posting start the process again of noting all of the specific qualities and skills they are looking for. Then amend your existing cover letter to ensure that it addresses all of these points. This can mean re-phrasing certain stories and points or having to re-write sections completely. But if you have included strong STAR stories you should be able to work these around a range of useful skills. For instance, your STAR story could both show your leadership skills as well as your ability to problem solve or think analytically. This will save time and mean you do not have to start a cover letter from scratch for every job application.

Are there any common mistakes I should avoid? • Spelling or grammatical errors. These make you appear careless so be sure that you proofread your letter several times. • Too much detail. Keep it short, concise and to the point, you don’t need to give them every detail for each example. • Poor layout and format e.g. small font, mixed fonts. • Using an incorrect email address or contact information. • Adding images and icons. These are not necessary and take away from the information you want to present. • Do not simply repeat what is in your CV.