It’s clear to see just by scrolling through Linkedin that there is a buzz in the air and companies are on the hunt again for the best talent to join their teams. If you are thinking about changing jobs or you are trying to get back into work after Covid-19, you need to find ways to stand out from the crowd.

The first step to standing out is by having an exceptional cover letter. If you don’t take the time to write a personalised cover letter, you’re not likely to be picked for an interview if you are up against other candidates who are spending a lot of time perfecting their cover letters.

We’ve put together a few of our top tips for the perfect cover letter:

1. Don't be sloppy

Our number 1 tip is to always write a proper cover letter and don’t be sloppy with it. Even though it’s a virtual impression it is still the first impression that a company will get of you. If it is obvious that you haven’t bothered to spend time writing it properly then they probably won’t go on to read your CV.

2. Always be formal

Cover Letters are always formal, if you don’t know exactly who you are writing to then you should always use Sir / Madam. If you are able to find out who is responsible for recruiting for the role you are interested in then you should address the cover letter to the appropriate person (First name / Last name).

3. Don't use short form

Make sure to always treat the Cover Letter like a proper letter, don’t use text mode especially if it’s an online application. It’s highly likely that you will be ruled out of the application process if you use slang / text language / short form.

4. Show off your personality

Cover Letters are a great way to give companies an insight into who you are as a person, show your passion for their company and tell them why you’d like to work for them. Cover Letters aren’t replications of your CV, they need to be personalised and different for each company.

5. Keep it simple

Your Cover Letter doesn’t need to be too long, just a couple of paragraphs to get yourself noticed.

6. What can you offer?

What can you offer to the company and why should they hire you? Don’t forget to mention this, the Cover Letter is the perfect opportunity to tell the company why you are better than other candidates and why they should invite you for an interview.

7. Always close

Always close. At the end of your Cover Letter close off with a call to action. For instance “I’d love to Facetime or Zoom with you to find out more about the role, I'd be happy to work around your schedule if you let me know when you have time?