Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Learn how to craft a compelling covering letter that stands out.
- Company: Join AR Resourcing, experts in recruitment for the built environment industries.
- Benefits: Gain insights from industry veterans and enhance your job application skills.
- Other info: Perfect for high school and college students looking to enter the job market.
- Why this job: Boost your career prospects with tailored advice on covering letters.
- Qualifications: No specific qualifications required, just a willingness to learn and improve.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
The Purpose of a Covering Letter & How to Write a Great One
September, 2019
September 2019
Written by Adam Richardson (adam.richardson@arresourcing.com), Managing Director and Owner of AR Resourcing. Adam has 20 years’ experience recruiting preconstruction, procurement and commercial professionals across the built environment industries.
Covering letters matter more than many candidates realise. A tailored, focused covering letter will get a mediocre CV onto most shortlists. A generic covering letter will often see good candidates rejected without their CV even being considered.
There is a lot of detail in most CVs and recruiters and hiring managers don’t have time to review them all in detail. With dozens, sometimes even hundreds of applications per job advert it would take hours to review every CV and that is time recruiters and hiring managers simply don’t have. Instead, employers rely on covering letters to identify which candidates’ applications are most promising and merit further investigation.
In other words, the hours you put into your CV will likely be pointless if you don’t invest time and effort in your covering letters.
HOW TO WRITE A COVERING LETTER
The purpose of a covering letter is a) to focus the prospective employer’s attention on your most relevant experience and achievements and b) to articulate how the role motivates you. All too often, however, covering letters appear to detail the achievements that the applicant is most proud of irrespective of whether or not they are relevant to the job description.
To avoid falling into this trap before you put pen to paper, highlight the key requirements of the job spec, then highlight the corresponding experience and achievements on your CV. A well-written job description lists the skills and experience the employer is looking for in order of diminishing importance so focus on those at the start of the list.
Next, do some research into the company and role so that you can communicate what it is about the opportunity that excites you.
THE COVERING LETTER FORMULA
There is a generally accepted formula for writing cover letters. Sticking to it will help the prospective employer quickly find the information they are looking for maximising your chances of them moving onto your CV.
Greeting line:Wherever possible try to identify the name of the person who the covering letter should be addressed to – if some covering letters use the right name and your letter uses a generic job title your application already looks slapdash. If you can’t identify the individual then address it to the appropriate job title e.g. “Dear hiring manager,”; “Dear HR director,” or similar.
Opening paragraph: Briefly introduce yourself and state your interest in the role, for example, “I am a procurement manager with 15 years’ experience working on rail projects and am writing to apply for the role of xxxxxxx which I saw advertised with AR Resourcing.”
Paragraph 2: Briefly explain your interest in both the role and the company.
Paragraph 3: Match your experience and achievements to the role focusing on the key skills and experience outlined in the job description.
Closing paragraph:Reiterate your interest in the role and the company before explaining that you look forward to hearing from them.
Sign off: How you addressed the letter (the greeting) will determine how you sign it off. If you addressed the letter to a named individual, sign off \’Yours sincerely\’, however, if you used a general greeting, sign off \’Yours faithfully\’.
About the author:
Adam has over 20 years’ experience recruiting procurement and commercial professionals across the construction sector.
When it comes to shaping your career, there are two broad paths you can follow: a planned approach and an organic approach. Neither is right nor wrong, rather each suits […]
The shortage of procurement and commercial candidates in the construction sector has been driving up salaries since COVID. Our salary survey guides show that each of the last three years, […]
AR Resourcing Group Ltd, First Floor, Unit 10, Escrick Business Park, York, YO19 6FD
Registered in England & Wales, No. 7265109, VAT Reg. 107 4139 38 | Privacy
#J-18808-Ljbffr
The Purpose of a Covering Letter & How to Write a Great One employer: AR Resourcing Group Ltd
Contact Detail:
AR Resourcing Group Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land The Purpose of a Covering Letter & How to Write a Great One
✨Tip Number 1
Research the company thoroughly before applying. Understanding their values, culture, and recent projects will help you tailor your covering letter to show why you're a great fit for them.
✨Tip Number 2
Make sure to highlight specific achievements that align with the key requirements listed in the job description. This will demonstrate that you have the relevant experience they are looking for.
✨Tip Number 3
Address your covering letter to a specific person if possible. This small detail can make your application stand out and shows that you've put in the effort to personalise it.
✨Tip Number 4
Convey genuine enthusiasm for the role and the company in your covering letter. Employers appreciate candidates who are not only qualified but also passionate about the opportunity.
We think you need these skills to ace The Purpose of a Covering Letter & How to Write a Great One
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Covering Letter: Make sure to customise your covering letter for the specific job you are applying for. Highlight the key requirements from the job description and match them with your relevant experience and achievements.
Research the Company: Take some time to learn about the company and the role. This will help you articulate what excites you about the opportunity and demonstrate your genuine interest in the position.
Follow the Covering Letter Formula: Stick to the generally accepted structure: start with a greeting, introduce yourself in the opening paragraph, express your interest in the role and company in the second paragraph, match your experience to the job requirements in the third paragraph, and conclude by reiterating your interest.
Use a Professional Sign-Off: Ensure that your sign-off matches your greeting. If you addressed the letter to a specific person, use 'Yours sincerely'. If you used a general greeting, opt for 'Yours faithfully'.
How to prepare for a job interview at AR Resourcing Group Ltd
✨Tailor Your Covering Letter
Make sure to customise your covering letter for each application. Highlight the specific skills and experiences that align with the job description, rather than just listing your achievements.
✨Research the Company
Before writing your covering letter, do some research on the company and its culture. This will help you articulate why you're excited about the role and how you can contribute to their goals.
✨Follow the Covering Letter Formula
Stick to the accepted structure of a covering letter: greeting, introduction, interest in the role and company, matching experience, closing paragraph, and sign-off. This makes it easier for recruiters to find the information they need.
✨Address the Right Person
Whenever possible, address your covering letter to a specific person rather than using a generic greeting. This shows attention to detail and can make your application stand out.