Cover letters are sometimes difficult to write. Unless you applying for broadly similar jobs, it is worth starting with a ‘basic’ cover letter you are happy with, and then tailoring it to the job you are applying for. A good cover letter can often mean the difference between your CV being binned, and being invited to interview.

Below is a list of how a cover letter should be structured and what it should cover. The MoneyTowers team have also put together a short cover letter which you can use as your base.

Return Address
Your return address should be placed in the top right hand corner of the letter without your name. If possible, try and avoid any abbreviations in the address – for example always type ‘Road’ instead of ‘Rd’.

The Date
The date should appear a couple of lines beneath your return address. It should lie on the right hand side of the page. Do not use an abbreviated format – always use something like January 10th, 2006.

The Addressee
Endeavour to find the name and title of the addresses before you send out your cover letter. Always use Mr. or Ms. before their name. On the next line down, enter the company address over two lines. If the address is particularly long, you can use three lines.

The Salutation
The saultation should be two lines beneath the company address and should start “Dear Mr.” or “Dear Ms.,” followed by the individual’s last name. Never use a first name in the salutation.

First Paragraph
Here, state concisely what position you would like to be considered for and a brief description of why you would be the best candidate for the job. If you have responded to an advert in a paper or online, include where and when you saw the ad. Keep this first paragraph short – down to three or four sentences.

Second Paragraph
In this paragraph, detail what attributes you would bring to the company; show how your qualifications and experience could benefit the firm and how they relate to the job in hand. Be brief – recruiters have hundreds of cover letters to read and do not want to read an essay! Five or six short sentences in this paragraph will suffice.

Third Paragraph
Here, describe your interest in the company – subtly let them know you have researched the company and you are familiar with the industry. A good example of this is “I am attracted to X Limited because of your recent rapid growth and the superior reputation of your xxxx department/products.”

Final Paragraph
In your closing paragraph, be sure to include your contact details such as your telephone number or email address, and the hours that you can be contacted. You can also be a little forward and say that you will follow up with a phone call in the coming days to arrange a mutually convenient time for interview.

Many advertisements will ask for your salary requirements in your cover letter. However, you may want to leave these out and discuss them at the job interview/job offer stage. Be warned that not stating your salary may go against you in some companies as they may not interview you thinking you are either going to ask too much or too little (this is particularly true when it comes to entry-level positions). If you do decide to state your salary requirements, put them in a range. A good example would be “I am looking for a starting salary between xxx and xxx”.

The Closing
The closing should be two lines beneath the last paragraph of the letter. Keep it simple – “Sincerely” will suffice. Four lines underneath this, type your full name. After you have printed the letter, sign it between the “Sincerely” and your typed name.

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