Cover Letter Structure

A cover letter is generally the first point of contact with a prospective employer. It needs to be engaging and show the employer that you have the skills to do the job. A good cover letter can help you get a job interview by convincing an employer that you are what they are looking for and it will also demonstrate your written communication skills. Your letter should:

include a brief introduction about yourself and state the purpose for writing
highlight relevant skills, qualifications and experience to be considered for a job interview.
give real life examples (meeting minimum selection criteria).
target your letter to be specific about the role.
inject your personal style into your writing to stand out above the competition.

Format and style

One A4 typed page with margins not too narrow
10-12 point standard fonts (eg Times New Roman, Arial)
Plain business English (avoid abbreviations, jargon and slang)
100% accurate spelling and grammar
Short concise sentences (avoid chunky paragraphs)
Clear structure - one main idea per paragraph
White space between paragraphs
A positive tone (do not include your weaknesses)