Contact Us | 01243 511333

Why Write A Covering Letter When Applying for Jobs?

Your covering letter may well be the first thing potential employers see. It provides additional information on your skills, knowledge and experience and gives you the opportunity to highlight why you're the right applicant for the job. A covering letter is vital to any job application and should always be sent, regardless of whether the job advert requests one. 

Your covering letter allows you to go into more depth than your CV itself. Often it's difficult to make your skills and experience stand out from all the other candidates applying for the role, who may well have the same skills set as you. Your covering letter gives you the chance to show your passion for the job, and allows you to reveal aspects of your personality to help you stand out from the crowd. 

In today's job market there may well be a hundred people applying for any one job, therefore employers have a lot of applications to read through. Keep your covering letter to the point; ensure it isn't too long, it's punchy and is interesting to read- you don't want to fall at the first hurdle. Always tailor your covering letter to the job you are applying for; do your research and immerse yourself in their language. Ensure your first sentence is catchy and grabs the reader's attention. Be bold and brave in your choice of language and don't state the obvious, such as the job you are applying for- they already know this! 

Include your achievements in previous roles, to highlight why you would be an asset to their company. Show how these have developed you professionally, and have helped you to obtain the skills needed to be the perfect candidate for their job. Be sure to include examples of these achievements from the work place.

Make it clear to the reader why it is you want this job, and why you feel you are right for the role. Make sure you demonstrate this, perhaps by taking something from their job description and showing with examples how you have handled this previously.  

Ultimately your covering letter is the best place to show off your skills, grab the employers attention and convince them you are the best candidate for their job. Don't be tempted to send off generic covering letters for multiple roles- this won't make you stand out and it will be obvious to any potential employer. Make sure your covering letter has impact, includes examples, uses the language of the potential employer and shows how you would be an asset to the team. 

By taking the time to create a decent covering letter, it shows any potential employer you're serious about their job- you've put the effort into the application. 

 


Careers Advice

We work with experts in and around our local area to provide useful information relating to careers advice - we hope you will find these articles to be helpful. You can view our news news archive here


This photo shows a number of human resource forms. Recruitment can be confusing but with the right advice it doesn't have to be.

The Recruitment Process - Food for Thought!

There are many things to consider before you start the process of recruiting staff. If you're about to recruit new staff in your business then Jan Dixon gives you some food for thought.

read more
photo shows man in a suit jumping in the air celebrating getting his new job

Dealing with Redundancy - Part 5 - Finding a New Job

Once your redundancy is dealt with and any retraining has been undertaken you will probably need to find a new job. This can seem daunting, particularly if you have not had to look for a new

read more
photo shows close of up a man's feet on a tightrope high above office buildings

Redundancy - Advice for Employers and Businesses

When we hear the word 'redundancy' it is natural to think of the impact that it will have on the person being made redundant with out regard for the difficulties inflicted upon the employer

read more
photo shows senior applicants smiling with a lady giving a thumbs up as they have followed the careers advice in this article and been successful in their job hunting as a result

Career advice for Senior Applicants

Career advice is often geared towards the less mature members of our community and wider society. Now there’s nothing at all wrong with this, on the contrary; if you have perhaps left

read more
photo shows a blue piggy bank wearning glasses - he is providing financial advice to people facing redundancy

Dealing with Redundancy - Part 2 - Financial Advice

Do you know the tax implications of receiving a redundancy package and how to avoid paying unnecessary tax? If you are going to find yourself struggling financially do you know how to lessen

read more
photo shows positive image of a surfer - surfing life's trials and tribulations such as redundancy

Dealing with Redundancy - Part 1 - Knowing Your Rights

Do you know what redundancy package you are likely to receive? Do you know what the government stipulated minimum package is? As well as detailing the legal and financial aspects we will

read more
photo shows different types of employees seeking advice by looking skyward

Time to Compromise? - Advice for Employees

Nicola Brown offers advice on employment law issues, concerned with the agreements made between an employer and and employee when accepting a position in a company.

read more
photo shows small plant overcoming advertisty and growing through a crack in hard ground

Dealing with Redundancy - Part 3 - Psychological Impact

Do you feel like you’ve lost your identity and can’t stop feeling negative? It is not only the practicalities of redundancy that need to be addressed. Redundancy can also have a massive

read more

10 Steps to Creating Career Opportunities

Working with Recruitment Companies effectively!

Chichester Employment & Business News

When attending interviews it's always good to be up to date with what's happening in the local business and employment sector - we hope you'll find these selected news articles interesting


Goodwood opens new sustainable restaurant

The Goodwood Estate are delighted to announce the opening of its new restaurant, Farmer, Butcher, Chef. The exciting new restaurant offers a unique new dining experience that celebrates the organic meat reared less than a mile away on Goodwood Home Farm.Goodwood has been farmed by the family for over three hundred years and is one of the only self-sustaining organic farms in Europe. These organic principles enable our farmer, Tim Hassell, to produce the best-tasting beef, pork and lamb, all of which are reared right here. Our butcher, John Hearn, is directly involved in designing dishes according to what cuts are available. An original approach, inspired by our executive chef, Darron Bunn, means that nothing is wasted.Marrying the expertise of our Farmer, our Butcher and our Chef, the restaurant offers lunch and dinner, seven days a week, as well as the chance to fill up on some tasty, light snacks from the bar. ..read more

Management Buyout for Local Employer Direct Life and Lifequote Team

Direct Life, which owns LifeQuote, is being purchased from Cardif Pinnacle Insurance Holdings Ltd, by its MD Rob Quayle and Sales and Marketing Director Neil McCarthy. The FCA has already approved the change in control, and ..read more

Tips for understanding the job application process

With so many job seekers applying for any one job in today's economic climate, it's good to have an understanding of what happens to your application once you've pressed the 'send' button. ..read more

Why Write A Covering Letter When Applying for Jobs?

Your covering letter may well be the first thing potential employers see. It provides additional information on your skills, knowledge and experience and gives you the opportunity to highlight why you're the right applicant for ..read more

Where are the best and worst cities to find jobs in the UK?

Despite the job market currently looking rather promising since the financial crisis, there are still cities across the country where it's much easier to find a job. ..read more


Careers in Hospitality at Goodwood

Plans to Cut Police Jobs in Sussex

Care workers triumph at awards

Local employer announces expansion plans creating new jobs in Chichester

Think pink: Chichester business raises funds for new cancer support centre

Expansion Plans in Place for Selsey Business

Subway Store to Open in Chichester Creating New Jobs for Locals

New jobs in Chichester at Rolls-Royce

Job cuts at Chichester Council in 2014

Jobseeking in Chichester

Job interviews: Get yoursef hired!

Probation staff in West Sussex plan strike action

Unemployment levels drop across the UK

Rolls-Royce create over 100 new jobs in Chichester

Jobs saved at troubled Chichester business

Little London Walk, East Street - Owner want to partially demolish site and lease it to a high-street chain but the existing traders want to stay

Chichester High School’s Headmistress steps down

HMV Chichester saved as Hilco strikes rescue deal for chain

20mph speed limit coming soon in Chichester

Up to 100 full time jobs could be created by proposed Barnfield Drive Development

New shoe store - tReds - opening in Chichester

Tax centre jobs under threat in Chichester and Bognor Regis

Second Costa gets planning permission in Chichester

Polish workers conned in false Sussex farming jobs scam

West Sussex County Council plans to tackle Chichester's A27 traffic nightmare

Part time Jobs in Chichester

Nursing jobs in Chichester

Chichester resident wins landmark environmental case

What not to do in your Chichester job interview

Top 4 questions asked at job interviews for Chichester job seekers

Interview Tips to help you get that perfect job in Chichester

The Recruitment Process to Fill your Chichester Job

Jobs in West Sussex

How can you find the right Chichester job for you?

What is different about looking for jobs today in Chichester compared to 10 years ago

Christmas Jobs in Chichester

Chichester Job Centre

Covering Letter hints and tips for when applying for jobs in Chichester

Looking for a second job in Chichester?

University of Chichester / Chichester College

Public Sector jobs in Chichester

Information on local newspapers covering Chichester

Recruitment in Chichester

Example CV for people applying for jobs in Chichester

CV Tips for landing that perfect job in Chichester

Recruitment advertising in Chichester for Direct Employers

photo shows dismayed candidate who hasnt had much luck in her career

Top 10 things not to do in a job interview

We've been asking local employers for tips on what to do in an interview – and, of course, what not to do! Here are our top 10 not to do in that all-important job interview.

read more
photo shows woman leaping whilst holding flowing coloured streamers out behind her - to give the impression of moving forwards through re training after being made redundant

Dealing with Redundancy - Part 4 - Retraining and Development

Have you thought about a new career or improving upon the skills you currently have? In this article we will offers tips and advice on increasing your 'employability' through courses and

read more