The Covering Letter ñ Is it e-xtinct?

The speed and ease of the Internet and the functionality of mobile phones may have revolutionised how employers recruit staff, but they can have their downsides too.

Poor spelling, grammar and punctuation, exacerbated by email and text ëspkí, have all resulted in a drop in the standard of job applications. And as Suzanne Cameron, Senior Commercial Consultant of Carlton Resource Solutions points out, one of the most crucial parts of the application ñ the covering letter ñ is increasingly overlooked as well.

ìAs technology has been embraced by employers looking to manage the recruitment process more effectively and efficiently, trends have seeped through from cyberspace into everyday practice.î

ìThe way we do things online often becomes the way we do things offline,î notes Suzanne, ìand because many online application systems donít require a covering letter, there is a growing tendency among applicants not to send a covering letter with hard copy submissions. As a result however, these candidates are damaging their chances of securing the positions that they really want.î

The covering letter is a great way to elaborate on your CV, and to provide more depth and insight into your experience and qualities, as well as your motivations and ambitions. A well-written letter can also be a particularly effective tool to ensure a speculative application receives the consideration it requires.

ìCandidates are well-briefed about the importance of making a good first impression in an interview situation,î says Suzanne, ìand this is exactly the same with the application stage. A covering letter is the first chance you have to impress ñ make sure that you take it.î

So what are the key tips for an effective covering letter? Suzanne highlights some crucial doís and doníts:

Do - Personalise the letter
ìPersonalising the letter is very important. Make sure that the letter is addressed to a named individual. If the job advert doesnít specify anyone in particular, simply give the company a quick call and ask who you should address it to.î

Donít ñ Ignore Style
ìA printed letter is pretty much standard these days, but make sure that you use a neat, clear font. Donít try to make your application stand out with a ëwackyí font ñ this will only make it stand out for the wrong reasons!î

Do ñ Keep it Short and Sweet
ìRemember not to waffle! The letter should be concise ñ no longer than one side of A4. This should still leave enough room for three or four paragraphs, which is plenty to include all the relevant detail required.î

Donít - Repeat yourself
ìAvoid repetition at all costs, because employers will assume that you have no capacity for imagination or creative thinking if you replicate what you have already told them. Donít just use the same word and phrases in your CV in the letter either ñ elaborate and explain why they are relevant.î

Do - Tone
ìIf youíre struggling to pitch how formal/informal to be, use the job advert as a guide. What sort of tone have they set? Just be careful that you donít use language you are not comfortable with, because this lack of familiarity can often be apparent to the reader.î

Donít - Be a Suck!
ìAlthough itís always a good idea to say why you want to work for the organisation in question, there is a fine line between being flattering and being a suck up! Donít go overboard because you run the risk of appearing sycophantic, which is not a trait usually appreciated by recruiters.î

Do ñ Double, Double Check
ìIt seems so obvious, but I canít stress this enough. Read it over and over, donít just rely on spell check - it wonít pick up if you have used form instead of from for example. If you can, get someone to look over it too, because they may pick up things you have missed.î

Donít - Be a Comedian
ìHumour can sometimes be lost in the written form, and not everyone will share your sense of humour either, so avoid any temptation to try to be amusing ñ chances are it will backfire.î

ìIf you follow these tips, youíll be dramatically increasing your chances of getting through to the interview stage ñ it only takes a short while to write the letter, so it is well worth your while to make that extra little effort in the long run!î

Established in Aberdeen in 1981, Carlton Resource Solutions (Carlton) has grown and developed to cover all geographic regions through its operational hubs in Aberdeen and London. Recruiting for a wide range of technical and non-technical opportunities, Carlton matches candidates to employers across the full spectrum of occupations in the accountancy and finance, commercial, HR and training, industrial, information technology, technical and engineering disciplines, in both public sector and other corporate environments. Carlton recruits for permanent, contract or temporary placements. With plans at an advanced stage to open offices in Calgary and the Middle East, Carlton will indeed be recognised as a truly global recruitment provider. For more information call 01224 650500 or visit: