Writing Effective Covering Letters

This information complements our CV guide and focuses on writing effective covering letters. A well-crafted covering letter can help you stand out and should be tailored for each application. Always include one with your CV or as an additional document if given the option. Use it to show enthusiasm, highlight relevant skills, and demonstrate knowledge of the employer.

Key points to consider

Keep the letter clear, concise, to the point, ideally one side of A4.

Proofread to avoid spelling or grammatical errors.

Send the covering letter as an attachment and write a brief explanatory email.

It should be presented like a traditional business letter, including your address, the employer’s address and the date at the top.

On the next page we suggest a possible structure for an effective covering letter.

Example Covering Letter

Covering letters should be written from scratch each time, enabling you to tailor your application to the employer and role, highlighting the particular skills they are seeking.

_{Further Information}

Prospects: Covering Letters

Newcastle University Careers Service – Covering Letters

LSE Careers – Cover Letters

Target Jobs – CVs, Applications & Tests

The following book can be borrowed from the University Library - Ultimate Cover Letters Yate, Martin John, author.; 2018 Fifth Edition.
(Use Surrey Search to check availability)

Finally

Don’t forget we are always happy to help you with every aspect of your career planning and development, wherever you are in your journey. If you are unclear about where to start or what to focus on first, just make an appointment with a Careers Consultant via Surrey Pathfinder and we can help you develop a plan for moving forward.

Visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion careers resources to find out more about diversity initiatives, employer perspectives and support at Surrey.

If you would like more information, visit MySurrey Help to find answers to the most common questions and details on how to ask us a question if you require more support.