Covering letter essentials for graduate vacancies
A convincing covering letter should always accompany a CV for a graduate vacancy. It’s your opportunity to show recruiters your most relevant skills and demonstrate your motivation and enthusiasm for the job and the employer.
But writing that one page can seem like the trickiest thing in the world, which is why many graduates opt out and go for the ‘Please find attached my CV for your consideration’ one liner.
Not writing a covering letter is a missed opportunity when all you need to do is follow our four-part, failsafe structure. And then, once you're clued up, you can adapt one of our downloadable graduate covering letters.
Covering letters for graduate jobs in four steps
1. The opening
Tell the graduate recruiter which job you are applying for, where you saw the advert and why you are applying. If the job has a reference number, it is always good to include this.
Top tip: always address your covering letter to a named contact. Give the organisation a call to find out to whom you should address your job application if a name isn’t given on the advert.
2. Why them?
The first paragraph explains why you are interested in the job and the organisation. This is your opportunity to target your covering letter so that the recruiter knows you are interested in their graduate job and you’re not batch e-mailing CVs and covering letters to all and sundry.
Re-read the job advertisement or job description and make sure you have done some background research into the organisation. This will help you tell the recruiter what attracts you to working for them and why you are interested in the particular job.
Top tip: Use targetjobs.co.uk to get started. Start your research with the A to Z of graduate employers and download the employer research checklist to structure your investigations.
3. Why you?
The next paragraph or two are about you. Tell the employer why you are a good prospect. Respond directly to the job advert/job description illustrating how your skills and abilities match what the employer wants. Mix evidence of specific skills and knowledge related to the job with work experience examples and personal skills.
At graduate level remember that it’s fine to refer to work experience that isn’t directly related to the profession you are applying to. You want to show them how your current experience ‘transfers’ into the job, so examples from part-time jobs, extra-curricular activities and academic work are fine for demonstrating how you have used and developed skills such as communication, teamwork, problem solving, organisation, time management and commercial awareness.
Top tip: avoid copying statements direct from your CV: think about how you can rephrase the information or expand on particular skills and achievements you have that are right for the role.
4. The ending
The closing paragraph should be strong and clear. Reaffirm your suitability for the role and your enthusiasm about the prospect of working for the employer. If you are really keen, you can add a line saying that you’ll give them a call to see how your application is progressing, but if you say it you must do it! State that you look forward to hearing from them and are happy to provide any further information they need.
Don’t forget to sign the letter if you are sending it through the post, or to print your name if you are sending your covering letter by e-mail.
Top tip: brush up on how to write a business letter and current format practices. For letters addressed to a named contact, finish: Yours sincerely. Dear Sir/Madam letters finish: Yours faithfully – but it’s better to get a named contact.
Make your covering letter memorable and to the point
Memorable in the world of graduate recruiters is that you didn’t waffle, you matched your skills and experience to the requirements in the job description and that they can remember key things about you by the end of the letter. It’s not about adding a shock factor statement or something kooky.
You only have one page and four paragraphs, so keep sentences straightforward and fairly simple. Using action verbs will help. Keep your writing professional and err on the side of formality rather than be too informal or cute.
Top tip: read through your covering letter out loud. This will help you identify verbose sentences that can be rewritten and will help you check the sense of your writing.
Check spelling, grammar and sense very carefully
Before you send out a covering letter check it for spelling, grammar and sense. Elegant formatting won’t make up for poor spelling and grammar. Graduate recruiters will be reviewing your attention to detail and your ability to communicate in writing, so your covering letter is your first chance to impress. Get a trusted friend or careers adviser to give it a once over before you send it out.
Top tip: when proofreading your covering letter for a graduate job, read it forwards and read it backwards. No joke. You’re more likely to spot a spelling mistake if you read word by word back from the end. If not, get someone else to proofread your letter for you.
To attach or not to attach… that’s the dilema
Most frequently, recruiters will ask you to e-mail them your covering letter and CV. Do you attach the covering letter or write it in the e-mail?
First, read the job advert carefully to make sure you haven’t missed any instructions on how to submit your covering letter and CV. If there is nothing special other than ‘e-mail your covering letter and CV to e-mail@job.com’ then paste the main text of your letter into the e-mail message (include your contact details as a signature at the bottom) and attach a copy of it along with your CV attachment.
Top tip: use sensible filenames for your attachments, eg Joe Bloggs_covering letter.doc and use a subject line that will make sense to the recipient and looks professional, for example, use the job reference: Vacancy – ED123_PT trainee accountant.
