How do I write a speculative cover letter?
Lindsay Johnson, information officer at Newcastle University Careers Service: “Research the organisation thoroughly. It can be difficult when you’re not applying for one specific role, so it’s important to really show your passion and enthusiasm for wanting to work for that particular organisation and why you’d be a good fit. Reading their mission statement and values can help with this.”
Simon Gray, founder and director of Career Codex Limited: “Get a feel for the types of opportunities that exist at the organisation, that fit well with your experience and passion, and tailor your cover letter to these. It should start with a grabber that shows you have done your homework on the organisation, for example, comment on recent relevant news.”
Elizabeth Bacchus, founder of The Successful CV Company: “The key is getting across your passion for wanting to work for that organisation and the value you can offer. Research the organisation in depth, and outline how your own values align with theirs as a starting point, including examples to state your case. Are there any particular projects or campaigns they have undertaken that really stand out for you – if so, what was it that had an impact on you? Include two to three bullet points on how you’ve added value in previous roles, whether they are voluntary or paid for positions.”
Should I address long-term unemployment?
Sarah Archer, qualified career coach and co-founder of CareerTree: “Take a direct approach in your cover letter and address the area you are concerned about head on, rather than letting the recruiter make assumptions about your gap.”
Elizabeth Bacchus: “Given the difficult climate for job seekers at the moment, many people face this dilemma. Illustrate that while you may not have been working, you have made efforts to stay aware of the field you are focused on developing a career in, by reading industry articles online or perhaps teaching yourself the latest version of software packages. The key is to let prospective employers know you have been using your time wisely.”
Lindsay Johnson: “I would address this briefly, but keep it positive. You could focus, for example, on any skills you’ve developed during this time such as any courses, relevant hobbies or volunteering you’ve taken part in.”
If you don’t have experience in one of the criteria areas, should you address it or ignore it?
Elizabeth Bacchus: “It’s always better to address a potential concern, such as not meeting part of the criteria, and back it up with examples of how you can compensate. Avoid the reader discounting your application because you don’t tick one box.”
Simon Gray: “If you don’t have the experience, you don’t have it. Showing a real desire and willingness to get this experience is a good idea. Is there any research you could do in advance that demonstrates you’ve taken small steps to help?”
Lindsay Johnson: “It depends on whether it’s an essential or desirable criteria. If it’s essential, it may be worth addressing. For example, you could say, ‘I don’t have X, but I’m willing to/currently working towards…’ If it’s desirable, you could perhaps not mention it, but be prepared to be asked about if you get through to interview. Get in touch with the employer before applying to see how essential this requirement is and how flexible they are.”
How can I be succinct and give concrete evidence of my suitability?
Simon Gray: “A covering letter should spark enough interest for someone to want to take a good look at your CV. Having a very relevant example on there as bait to your CV is the idea. But it needs to be short and to the point.”
Sarah Archer: “Due to the volume of applications, recruiters want cover letters to be succinct so it is really important to focus on quality of information you are putting in there – rule of thumb would be one page. Include some brief examples of your suitability but choose the ones you think are the most important for the job, and that they would find interesting. Make your cover letter stand out by being interesting and readable and avoid making statements that anyone could say, such as ‘I have great communication skills’.”
What do I write in my closing statement?
Elizabeth Bacchus: “It’s a highly competitive market out there so one of the key things is to be a little pushy, although not arrogant. Ensure you include a call-to-action, as in a statement of purpose. Be clear with your closing statement; if you are going to follow up with a phone call, make sure you tell them you are going to do this and when. If you are going to wait to hear from them, tell them you look forward to the opportunity of interviewing for this role so you can illustrate further your suitability.”
Sarah Archer: “I like my clients to imagine when making their applications, that, to quote the Berocca advert, they feel like ‘You but on a really good day’. So the sign off to your cover letter should reflect your style but should be positive. I favour something quite simple: ‘I am available for interview and I look forward to hearing from you soon’.”
Lindsay Johnson: “If you prefer, you could end with a brief summary of why you think you’re suitable for the post, say you’re available for interview at any time and then end with a positive ‘look forward to hearing from you’.”
With most applications now done online, does length really matter?
Sarah Archer: “The cover letter should still be around one page. Even though they are submitted online, a recruiter still has to read it and they want something that is interesting and succinct. The key is to make the cover letter and CV as relevant to the job as possible so spend some time identifying the key aspects of the role and the key requirements. Most of the specification should be addressed in your CV, and use your cover letter to convey more of your personality, your enthusiasm for the role and the organisation.”
How honest should you be sbout your character and what you’ve achieved, and how much should you sell yourself?
Lindsay Johnson: “It’s always best to do your research before approaching the employer; find out about the culture of the organisation and who you are actually writing to (look them up on LinkedIn) to see if a more quirky, different approach may be the best one. In terms of selling yourself, it’s always worth highlighting your achievements. It’s not boasting if you can demonstrate specific evidence to back these up. If you’re less than honest about your skills, you’ll soon be found out at the interview.”
Simon Gray: “Honesty is always the best policy and I would always avoid selling; think of it as demonstrating areas of achievement with real life examples. The cover letter needs to be brief and introduce the CV which would normally be attached.”
Cover letters for job applications: top tips from our experts
