Cover letter for your CV

It is courteous and professional to enclose a covering letter with your CV. It should encourage the employer to want to know more about you by making you stand out from other applicants.

Draft your covering letter

Below you will find useful information to help you draft your covering letter:

• keep your letter to one A4 page
• put your address, telephone and e-mail details at the top right-hand corner and remember to include the date
• include the reference number if there is one
• if you have a contact name write ‘Dear Mr Jones’ and end with ‘Yours sincerely’.  If you don’t have a contact name write ‘Dear Sir / Madam’ and end with ‘Yours faithfully’
• state what the vacancy is and how you heard about it, for example, ‘With reference to your advertisement in the Daily News on 2 May
• explain why you want the job and why you think you are suitable for it
• include what you are currently doing and how this is relevant to the job you are applying for
• sign your name clearly
• don’t forget to enclose your CV with the letter or to attach it if sending it by e-mail