cv cover letter template uk

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Sample cover letter

Cover letters add context to your CV and when used correctly are a great way to convince employers that you're right for the job. This sample cover letter should help you get started

A cover letter demonstrates to recruiters how well you express yourself, so you need to make sure that you don't just repeat your CV or give rambling explanations. Instead, use this opportunity to focus on your skills and experience, saving your qualifications for your CV.

The basic cover letter structure covers:

• why you're writing the letter
• why you think you're suitable for the job (with examples)
• relevant skills and experience
• summary of your interest in the role.

Double check what you've written as spelling mistakes or lack of attention to detail will put your cover letter straight on the no pile.

Please be aware that this is an example. Use this cover letter template to help generate ideas and structure your own document but avoid copying and pasting. Your cover letter needs to be original and tailored to the job you're applying for.

Avril Lee 115 My Street Mytown WX55 1CQ [email protected] 07777999888

Harry Smith Graduate HR director Big Company Ltd Woodcotes Business Park The Midlands MX9 6PQ

5th May 2023

Dear Mr Smith

Re: Logistics graduate scheme

I would like to apply for the logistics track of your graduate training scheme, advertised on the Prospects.ac.uk website. As requested, I am enclosing my CV.

I am in the final year of my geography degree, expecting a 2:1. Always intending to have a career in business, I have taken modules on the geography of business and GIS modelling. My final-year dissertation is on changing patterns in retail. During my degree, I have developed my analytical skills and ability to read, manage and present data. I have also become familiar with a range of business intelligence sources.

As you can see from my CV I have experience in:

• Retail - moving from shelf stacker to checkout operator to team leader in my two years with Fresh Foods. I contributed to the store consistently being in the top five for the region by providing excellent customer service.
• Warehouse operations - picking and packing to meet targets over the busy Christmas period.

I have also:

• Worked in and led teams at Fresh Foods, on course projects and in sports.
• Communicated with colleagues at all levels in retail and warehousing.
• Solved problems as a team leader, ensuring staff cover and dealing with customer complaints.
• Worked flexibly doing both early and late shifts and covering for absence, sometimes at short notice.
• Managed my time when combining study with work and sport.

My semester in Germany exposed me to a different culture and improved my language skills. In addition, my voluntary work with young people has increased my resilience and ability to mix with people from all walks of life.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

(Sign your name here)

Find out more

• Get more information on cover letters .
• If you're applying for a job that's not advertised take a look at an example speculative cover letter .
• Learn more about the 5 things to avoid when writing a cover letter .

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How to write a cover letter.

A cover letter introduces you to an employer and asks them to think about your application. 

It’s a short letter, usually 3 to 5 paragraphs long.

When to include a cover letter

You should always include a cover letter when you apply for a job using a CV. 

You can write it as an email if you’re applying online or print a copy to go with a paper application.

When writing a cover letter, let the employer know you’re keen by showing that you’ve researched the company. Learn more about what they do through:

• their website
• recent news articles
• talking to people you know who work there

Send it to the right person

It's important to try to address your cover letter to someone by name. Check you have the details of the person you need to send it to. 

You'll need their name and preferred title. For example, ‘Dr’, ‘Mr’, ‘Mrs’, ‘Ms’, and their job title. You should also make sure you have the right company name and address, including postcode.

If you do not know their name

If the job advert does not include a name you can check the company website. Try to find details of the head of the department, head of human resources or a recruitment manager.

If you still cannot find a name, you can start your letter with ‘Dear Sir or Madam’.

Introduction

Introduce yourself and explain how you found the advertised job. You can mention the job title, and reference number if there is one. 

If you’re asking about any job openings and not applying to a vacancy, tell them what sort of job you’re looking for. Let the employer see how keen you are to work for them.

Show you're right for the job

Highlight the skills and experience you have that match what the employer is looking for. 

Convince them that you're enthusiastic about working for them. Let them know you share their work values, culture and style.

Give extra information

If you have gaps in your employment history, you could talk about the skills you gained while you were out of work.

If you’ve mentioned on your CV that you have a disability, you might want to talk more about this in your cover letter. Organisations like Disability UK can give you advice on how to do this. You do not have to mention your disability at this stage if you prefer not to.

You can get more help with specialist advice on finding work if you have a disability.

Ending your cover letter

Thank the employer for considering your application. Let them know that they can get more details from your CV, and tell them you're looking forward to hearing from them.

Let them know how they can best contact you. Make sure your contact details are correct on both your cover letter and CV.

Yours sincerely or yours faithfully

If you know the name of the person you’re writing to, you should end the letter with ‘Yours sincerely’.

If you’ve addressed the letter ‘Dear Sir or Madam’, you should end the letter with ‘Yours faithfully’.

Tips for writing a cover letter

When writing your cover letter, remember to:

• write a new one for every job you apply for and make sure it’s tailored to the company and the specific role
• use the same font and size as you do for your CV, so it looks consistent
• make sure the company name and recruiter’s details are correct
• use the right language and tone: keep it professional and match the keywords used by the employer in their job advert
• show you’ve done your research into the job and the company
• highlight your most relevant skills and experience to stand out from other applicants
• back up any statements you make with facts and use the STAR method
• double check spelling and grammar before you send it
• keep a copy of your cover letter as they may ask you about it in an interview

Related content

How to write a CV

Completing application forms

Interview tips

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Cover Letter Template + Writing Tips!

Writing an engaging and well-written cover letter is an important part of your job application; something which can make or break your chances of securing a job interview.

The template below provides a framework or guidelines for writing a well-structured UK cover letter that you can download and use for free:

Click here to download this template in Word format.

Structure and content

A conventional cover letter consists of the following elements:

The candidate’s personal details and date

• Candidate’s home address
• Mobile phone number
• Email address
• Date of writing the letter

06 May 2017

• This is the only information that should be aligned to the RIGHT
• Use a professional email address (not [email protected] ).
• Write the date in full (not 06/05/17)

Employer’s details (aligned to the left)

• Employer’s name
• Company name

Opening salutation

“Dear” followed by their honorific title (Mr, Mrs, etc.) and surname.

If you don’t know their name: Dear Sir/Madam,

• It is always a good idea to try to find the employer’s name when sending them your covering letter. This makes the letter more personal and convincing. If this is not possible, “Dear Sir/Madam,” is the second most conventional opening salutation that you can use.
• If you’re addressing the employer by name, only include their surname (Dear Mr Kent) and not their full name (Dear Mr Simon Kent).

The letter’s subject

Job title + reference

Introductory paragraph

State the reason why you are writing this covering letter.

Civil Engineer: I am responding to your job vacancy posting on monster.co.uk for a Civil Engineer, and I wish to be considered for this position.

Economist: I was elated when I found the advertisement for an opening in your company on a local job vacancy website. I firmly believe that I am the ideal candidate for the advertised role and that my previous work experience and education will enable me to be successful in this position.

• This is the first paragraph of your cover letter and your first chance of grabbing the employer’s attention as they are reviewing your covering letter. Explain how you came to know about the position and why you are interested in applying.
• Try to keep it short, exciting and to the point – the bulk of your content should be in paragraphs 2-4.

Paragraph 2

State the reasons why you would be a suitable candidate for this job. Make mention of your relevant education, experience, strengths, skills and abilities.

Editor: For the past year, I have been working for a small online newspaper as a Content Coordinator where I was responsible for assigning reporters to cover the news, checking for accuracy and fairness in the articles, and writing headlines. Additionally, I have a degree in BA Liberal Arts which has made me into an enthusiastic blogger and a passionate writer. My three years of studying at University combined with over one year’s of work experience have refined my ability to check written text for accuracy, spelling and grammar.

Product Designer: I am currently working as a Junior Designer at London Furniture Ltd., where I am responsible for designing interior products based on customer specifications. My key duties include; meeting with clients and establishing their requirements, proposing design ideas, producing sketches and prototypes, presenting designs to clients and facilitating the manufacturing and delivery of the final products. I have completed more than 30 projects to the total satisfaction of our customers and company directors.

• The first thing you would want to mention in this paragraph is your relevant work experience, including any voluntary or part-time experience.
• Mention your achievements. For example, ‘increased sales by 30%’, ‘Gained a qualification in IT’, ‘Completed forty projects in less than two years,’ etc.

Paragraph 3:

Expand further on the 2nd paragraph and give more reasons why you would be the ideal candidate for this role.

Teaching Assistant: I possess excellent communication skills which enable me to communicate clearly and effectively with people of all ages and different backgrounds. I have a friendly and outgoing personality, and I am exceedingly passionate about encouraging, helping and supporting pupils to realise their full potential and succeed in life.

• Look at the job specification and try to tailor this paragraph to the requirements of the job. For example, if you are applying for a teaching position and ‘excellent communication skills’ is a vital requirement in the job specification, you should dedicate part of this paragraph explaining why you possess ‘excellent communication skills’ and make reference to real-world examples.
• Do not copy things from your CV, complement it.

Paragraph 4:

State a little bit more about yourself and, more importantly, why you are interested in working for this particular company.

Physiotherapist: I am particularly attracted to work at A&S Surgery due to its excellent reputation in providing the very best physiotherapy care and having excellent customer satisfaction ratings. I am also impressed by the opportunities for young people within the organisation, including traineeships and graduate schemes for junior medical professionals, helping pave the way for the next generation of healthcare professionals.

• Do your research on the company and based on your findings state the reasons why you would like to join this company in particular.
• Remember that this is the last paragraph where you have a chance to convince the employer that you are the right person for the job; don’t settle for one or two sentences!

Closing statement

The final paragraph is usually a polite call for action and stating that you are looking forward to meeting them.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my application for this role, and I look forward to meeting you in the near future.

If you have any questions or require any more information, please do not hesitate to call me on 07677 780 241 at any time of your convenience. Thank you for considering me for this role, and I look forward to meeting you to discuss my application in more depth.

• Your cover letter shouldn’t be longer than 1 A4 page. If necessary, cut down on this final paragraph in order to fit it onto 1 page.

The letter’s ending

“Yours sincerely” – if you addressed the employer by their name, otherwise “Yours faithfully”, followed by your signature and full name.

Yours faithfully, ~ signature here ~ Caroline Morrison.

• Produce a handwritten signature rather than electronic or typed

Final point

I hope that the above cover letter template + step-by-step guide has been useful for you. Don’t forget to check out our accompanying CV templates to help write your perfect CV.

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