The cover letter is the document that accompanies the CV in the job application, and in which the candidate highlights their best qualities in order to appear the person most suited to the position. To write a good cover letter for the UK, many of the tips in our general cover letter section apply. However, there are some specific requirements for the job market in Great Britain that you must take into account.
Below you will find a list of tips and tricks to help you write your own cover letter for the UK job market.
Tips for writing a UK cover letter
Adapt your cover letter to the job offer
Adapt the cover letter depending on the type of job you are applying to. Tailor your cover letter to the specific job offer if you are responding to an advert or to the company if it is a speculative job application. A speculative cover letter is when you send a cover letter to a company even though they have not advertised a job vacancy.
What can you offer your prospective employer
The first thing you should take into account when writing a cover letter for a UK job offer, or a more general speculative cover letter, is your potential employer. You must ask yourself: what can I offer the company and why am I the perfect candidate? With the competitive nature of the UK job market, it is of crucial importance that you spend a lot of time thinking about this.
The length of the cover letter
As a general rule cover letters should take up one page. No more. It is important to clearly space the different sections of your cover letter, so the reader can easily find the important information. A clear, concise cover letter also helps you quickly make a good impression that shows you are organised and tidy. Read our general advice about the structure of a cover letter on our designated page.
Overall, the cover letter should be brief and organised.
Structure of the UK cover letter
You must know how to structure a UK cover letter to give off the impression of an organised, proficient professional. Following the general format of cover letters will help you to structure it well and make the content stand out.
What to highlight on the cover letter?
To know what you should include on your cover letter, the best thing to do is to put yourself in the shoes of the recipient. The letter should respond to the expectations of the person responsible for carrying out the selection process and, moreover, who is very likely to contribute towards the decision of whether a candidate passes through the first stage or not.
Try no to write about personal or professional qualities without relevance to the job offer. For example, it is a great personal achievement to know how to play a musical instrument, but if it has nothing to do with the job offer you do not need to include it. Nevertheless, it is something that you can use in the job interview and can be used as a point to demonstrate your skills and competencies. Learn more about the job interview in the UK in our dedicated section.
Cover Letter Guide
Have a look at our interactive video below for a step-by-step guide about how to write your cover letter.
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