Any advice for writing cover letters?
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- Hey Harry,I just wrote an artcile over on Medium offering advice on writing cover letters to get jobs in advertising and creative industries. Hopefully you'll find the tips useful. Good luck!https://medium.com/this-here/how-to-nail-an-advertising-cover-letter-7e9993b9aadcJem
- This is a great resource to help you research employers and gather all of your info. It will really help you to personalise your cover letters/applicatioins and also help with interviews.https://targetjobs.co.uk/sites/targetjobs.co.uk/files/public/Graduate-employer-research-checklist.pdf
- First paragraph - The opening statement should set out why you're writing the letter. Begin by stating the position you're applying for, where you saw it advertised and when you are available to start.
- Second paragraph - Cover why you're suitable for the job, what attracted you to this type of work, why you're interested in working for the company and what you can offer the organisation.
- Third paragraph - Highlight relevant experience and demonstrate how your skills match the specific requirements of the job description. Summarise any additional strengths and explain how these could benefit the company.
- Last paragraph - Use the closing paragraph to round up your letter. Reiterate your interest in the role and indicate your desire for a personal interview. Now is the time to mention any unavailable dates. Finish by thanking the employer and say how you are looking forward to receiving a response.
Use the same format for speculative cover letter writing just change your first paragraph and explain why that company is of interest to you. & replace matching yourself to a role with explaining what type of work/role /profession you are keen to gain experience in. Summarise your background and skillset.Good luck :)- @Joe Burke Hi Joe, thanks for your great response firstly! The cover letter this time around was through an online form format, with attachments of CV and Portfolio below.
- Just an additional note, I'm noticing more and more employers extending the number of stages in the application process, especially for in-house design roles.This can be frustrating in some regards, but it can also allow for opportunities later in the interview to address things that would previously have been necessary in a cover letter.
- Question the need for a cover letter in the first place. Did the role specifically ask for one? If not you can often package it within your email that you attach your CV/Folio to.There's no need to overthink things as it often becomes obvious to the reader when you're stretching the truth or reeling off a paragraph of flattery.Most employers are also pretty time-poor (agencies, not recruiters), so keep things tight, succinct and purposeful. If a sentence isn't adding any value then remove it. Refine your introductions and skillset description after each application until it rolls off the tongue.In terms of making things bespoke for each application, that's great but don't force it. Just ensure you've looked up the right names on LinkedIn to address and you don't mispell anything. If it feels right to add in company or job specific details then do so, otherwise move on to the next application.
- Hi Harry,Great advice here! I would segregate in two different scenarios:1 - Applying for an existing role: make sure you research thoroughly the company and have a good understanding of the role. Point out your skills, background and contribution to the role. Channel the company tone and try to communicate accordingly.2- Applying prospectively: keep it brief, introduce yourself in order to bring some context and showcase your skills but mostly why do you approach them. And make very clear what are you offering. Sounds challenging but try to balance making noise about yourself and making the cover letter about your contribution to the project (hope this makes sense).Hope this helps!
- @Richard Robinson what a great idea! Will definitely have to take this up, thanks for the great response Richard.
- @Julia Fenwick thank you Julia, just finishing it up now!
- Hi Harry, my advice would be to keep cover letters really short, to the point and rlelvant to who you are sending them to. Make sure you personalise them specifically for each job, it's never a good idea to make it look like a mail-out... Also, give them some personality (not too much though). Hope this is helpful. J
- Taking your question literally, think about the paper stock & colour, choice of font for the typing and what pen you'll be using for the writing. In a time when everyone is going to send an email or fill in an online box do the exact opposite and stand out. Yes, it's going to take days for the CV and letter to get there - but do something different, that plays to the visceral senses of the person on the receiving end; give them something to think about that's not words on a screen, that shows off a little piece of you. I'm confident people more clever than me will tell you what to write, do listen to them, but think about winning the heart as well as the mind.
- @Kaeli Justus amazing, thank you Kaeli!
- @Sharni Beere thank you for the great tips!
- 1. Start by introducing yourself; tell them what you do and why you want to work with them, what do you have in common?2. Quailfy yourself; tell them what experience (commercial or otherwise) you have, show your breadth of knowledge.3. Be memorable; show your personality, relevant side hustles, special skills.4. Suggest an action; ask for a follow up call on a specific date - is there someone in the org that you can talk to more about the role, ask when interviews will be held, show how interested you are.These points all come from @Stefanie Sword-Williams who founded F*ck Being Humble. It's worth checking them out.Good luck!
- - Make it specific to the role you are applying for (no one-seze-fits-all)- Use similar terms or words refered to on their website or job listing- Spell check- Be honest- Keep it to one page in lengthGood luck!
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