• Home
  • Choose a career
    • No idea what to do?
    • Career Path Guides
    • Top graduate employers
    • Member success stories
    • Further study
  • Apply for internships
    • Find an internship
    • Top graduate employers
    • Application advice
    • Career Calendar
    • Internship Experience UK
  • Apply for jobs
    • Find a job
    • Top graduate employers
    • Application advice
    • Career Calendar
    • Immediate start jobs
  • Career advice
    • No idea what to do?
    • CV advice
    • Aptitude & numerical tests
    • Telephone & video interviews
    • Face-to-face
    • Assessment centres
    • Commercial awareness
    • Networking
    • Key career skills
    • World of work
    • Useful resources
    • Graduate career guide 20/21
  • Events
    • Bright Network events
    • Virtual University Series
    • Employer events - Top 300
    • Previous event highlights
  • Success stories
    • Member success stories
    • Secured a role?
  • Academy
    • Bright Network Academy
    • Psychometric tests
  • Get involved
    • Our Campus Ambassadors
    • Our societies
    • Work for us
    • Society of the Year Award
  • About us
  • For employers
Home
  • Login
  • |
  • Signup
  • About us
  • For employers
  • Choose a career
    No idea what to do? Career Path Guides Top graduate employers Member success stories Further study
  • Apply for internships
    Find an internship Top graduate employers Application advice Career Calendar Internship Experience UK
  • Apply for jobs
    Find a job Top graduate employers Application advice Career Calendar Immediate start jobs
  • Career advice
    No idea what to do? CV advice Aptitude & numerical tests Telephone & video interviews Face-to-face Assessment centres Commercial awareness Networking Key career skills World of work Useful resources Graduate career guide 20/21
  • Events
    Bright Network events Virtual University Series Employer events - Top 300 Previous event highlights
  • Success stories
    Member success stories Secured a role?
  • Academy
    Bright Network Academy Psychometric tests
  • Get involved
    Our Campus Ambassadors Our societies Work for us Society of the Year Award

Structuring cover letters

As with CVs, there is no objectively correct way in which to structure cover letters. Some firms may set word or character limits. Others may simply ask you to attach a separate document.

Cover letters for established graduate schemes at large City firms should probably include an overview of your reasons for making the application and an insight into why you believe you are a suitable candidate. Cover letters for other types of roles may require greater emphasis on your competencies. Research into what is expected for the particular role for which you are applying.

Bear in mind that making speculative applications for casual work experience can call for a very different technique than that required when making full-time job applications. For example, if you are applying for experience at a small high street firm, you will not necessarily need to spend ages distinguishing it from similar employers in the same street. Approach your application from the basis of ‘what I can do for you’ rather than ‘what you can do for me’. 

Cover letters should be fairly concise (usually one page) and should be well written (accurate spelling and grammar) with a strong structure. After all, this may well provide the firm with its first impression of the standard of work that you are able to deliver. Whilst drafting your cover letter, using temporary headings can help to ensure you maintain a clear structure. Below is a structure favoured by some (including me) for cover letters for established graduate.

Example:

 

Mr/Mrs Your Name

Your Address

Your Phone Number

Your Email Address

Mr/Mrs Name Of Recruiter

Firm’s Name

Firm’s Address

Date

1. Salutation (Dear…)

  • Try to find the name of the specific person that will be receiving your application. This shows good research and professionalism. Otherwise, use ‘Dear Sir/Madam’.

2. Heading

  • Summarise the purpose of the letter using a bold heading between the salutation and the introduction, e.g. ‘Summer Internship Application’.

3. Introduction

  • State the role/opportunity for which you are applying.

4. State your reasons for applying for the job

  • Tell the story of how your interest in your chosen career has developed.
  • See the ‘Career Motivation’ section of this handbook for help with this step.

5.  State your reasons for applying to the particular firm

  • Do not give generic reasons for applying to that firm that merely reflect a quick skim of the firm’s marketing materials. Think of legitimate ways to differentiate the firm and, more importantly, relate these elements back to you in order to convince recruiters that these factors genuinely appeal.
  • See the ‘Firm Motivation’ section of this handbook for help with this step.

6. Explain why you believe that you are a suitable candidate

  • Relate your skills to the competencies required for the role in question and briefly explain how your strengths and experiences will add value/be advantageous to the organisation.

7. Conclusion

  • You could thank the reader for considering your application before signing off. Sign off with “Yours sincerely” if you know the name of the reader, or ‘Yours faithfully’ if you do not.

 

By Jake Schogger - City Career Service

←
Prev:
7 top tips to create the perfect CV
Members only
→
Next:
How to write an outstanding personal profile for your graduate CV

Related content

  • How to write a CV | Advice and templates
  • Expert advice on creating the ideal CV layout
  • 7 top tips to create the perfect CV
    Members only
  • How to write an outstanding personal profile for your graduate CV
  • How to write a cover letter and impress prospective employers
  • 3 reasons you need to tailor your cover letter to every application
    Members only
  • Expert Advice: Impressing on application forms
  • Top five mistakes to avoid on an application form
Careers - work for us Get in touch Terms and Conditions Community guidelines Privacy Policy
Bright Network © 2021