Applying for a new job usually means writing a cover letter.
And cover letters are hard to get right. You don’t want to overwhelm your potential boss with details about every achievement, but you don’t want to be too modest either.
Some companies now prefer a video of yourself, where they can see – and hear – the real you. That may well be the way forward but, for now cover letters remain popular.
With that in mind, here’s a guide to how to write a great cover letter. My field is education so I’ve assumed you’re going for a teaching job. If not, there are some general principles here that are worth following.
Plan it out
Before you get going, plan things out. Break the letter into paragraphs. Even give each one a heading (and remove them later) – as that will help you focus on what that section is really all about. You can add the details in later, but have a big picture plan for where this is heading.
In broad terms we usually go with
- Opening par – what you’re applying for, why you’re applying, why you’ve got what they need. Be specific, simple and short.
- Examples and achievements – justify why you’re the best person with examples of what you’ve achieved. It’s ok to start with a general startment but then back it up with an example.
- Key skills – refer to the job description and show them you’ve read it. Where possible, refer to the school or company’s own achievements and how you get what they’re about, and how you’d be able to expand on their success.
- Closing par – nothing too fancy here, just be polite, show that you have a genuine interest in talking more about the role, and say how much you’re looking forward to hearing from them. It’s a delicate balance between sound either sycophantic, desperate or professional so play around with this until it has the right tone. Remember you also need to find a role that’s right for you; it’s a two-way street.
Get the details right
As a recruiter, my heart sinks a little every time I read ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ or ‘To whom it may concern’.
It takes a minute to find the school’s website and who their Principal is – it’ll often also be in the job advert itself. And when you have found it out, be super-sure you’ve spelt it right (I get quite a few ‘Dear Mr Beals’ and once even a Mr Bile; it’s not the best first impression). Other times the job advert will ask you to address a specific recruitment manager, so make sure you do that if needed.
Also get the name of the school right. Sometimes when applicants are applying for multiple jobs, they start with one school at the top and end up talking about another by the time they’re finished.
Overall, spelling and grammar are important as you don’t want small errors to detract from your message, so proofread your letter carefully.
Start strong
It’s not good to be too formulaic as you want your own personality and voice to shine through – there’s nothing worse than a drab, bland or vague cover letter. With that in mind, kick off with a strong statement about how you are enthusiastic about this specific role and why you have the right skills and experience. Make sure you’ve gone through the job description carefully and refer to what’s needed. Talk about the school or employer by name, throw in a reference or two, and make sure you couldn’t copy and paste your opening into any other application.
Do your research
There are an infinite number of ways to write your cover letter. For me, though, I find it useful to make notes on the school I’m applying to. Check out their social media (refer to a recent event they’ve held or award they’ve won), read their newsletter and definitely make sure you know their mission/vision statements. When I’ve been applying myself, some of the best feedback has been when I’ve referred specifically to a school’s mission – sometimes I’ll even structure most of the letter around this.
Don’t sell yourself short
Be honest about your achievements and your strengths – especially if you can link them to the job description or the school in general. You can have general statements (for example, how much you believe in inclusion or the power of formative assessment) but try to back this up with evidence of achievements about what this actually looks like for you.
It’s this kind of details recruiters like – it also gives them things they may want to ask you about during an interview.
If you follow these tips, it doesn’t guarantee you’ll get that interview – but you may be in with a shot.
