Every graduate is aware that now, more than ever, the job market is highly competitive. An increasing number of young people going to university combined with AI-related job cuts means fewer and fewer roles are available for a sea of qualified, capable and highly motivated grads. Having any kind of competitive advantage is more valuable than ever. Whilst job applications can feel exhausting and tedious, often involving the same repetitive processes, there is one element where you should invest unique effort. The cover letter is really your time to shine.
Daunting, draining and time-consuming, it is all too easy to AI-generate a cover letter or rattle off your CV accomplishments for the sake of getting one more application sent off.
However, recruiters read hundreds of applications in a short space of time and can easily recognise the overly sycophantic and vague handiwork of ChatGPT. A well-written cover letter is your best hope of standing out from a crowd of your equally experienced peers.
So, what exactly are the dos and don’ts of writing a cover letter?
1. Get the structure right
A cover letter should include two main things: why you’ve applied for this role, and why you’d be good at it. Both motivation and skillset are equally important, so make sure you cover all bases. Throughout these sections, you should talk about not only yourself but also how the role complements your interests and skills.
2. Motivation: be personal, not generic
Most cover letters sound interchangeable within the first few lines. ‘I am passionate about…’ and ‘I am writing to express my interest…’ communicate nothing of weight. Every applicant claims enthusiasm. Instead of being vague, build a real picture of who you are: bring out your specific interests, experiences and ideas that have led you to apply for this job. You want to create a narrative, and you want it to be memorable.
Craft a story that is sequential so that it makes sense. For example, you might have done a project at university which introduced you to environmental consultancy, and there might have been specific parts of that project which you chose to follow up on elsewhere. Equally, you might have started with a different experience, and encountered something else during that time which led you to this sector.
Make sure you highlight exactly what it was in each experience that drew you to the next thing: what subject matter? What aspect of the job?
3. Do your research: be specific
Just as important as demonstrating a proven interest is explaining why this role at this firm is the one you want. Show off your knowledge – what has this company done recently that aligns with your interests? Which specific elements and opportunities of the role itself attract you? Are there parts of the training you’d really like to pursue? Have you been to a company-led event, and what was it about the firm that drew you in?
A good gauge is if you could replace the firm name with one of its competitors and the cover letter would still make sense, it’s not specific enough.
However, don’t just stuff knowledge into a paragraph. Integrate it into your motivation section – why are these elements of the role aligned with your interests and career ambitions?
4. Persuade, don’t summarise
Moving on to the skills section. Your CV already tells recruiters what you have done – so don’t just summarise it. When mentioning your previous experience, draw out exactly what you learned from it to persuade your recruiter that you are the right person for the job.
Avoid generic buzzwords like ‘leadership skills’, ‘teamwork’ or ‘communication’ without backing them up. For example, maybe working on a documentary project alongside your degree taught you how communication can break down when deadlines tighten, and how to manage this. Maybe you led some group work on an internship, which enhanced your ability to manage both the people aspect and output aspect of a team.
You want to only mention skills which are relevant for this role. Then, make the link explicit. How do you believe that what you have learned will fit into the job you’re applying for?
The bottom line
Cover letters are difficult to write, but they are worth the effort. They are your main chance to show off in an application process which can be otherwise impersonal.
Remember to tell your story – both in terms of motivation and skills – and always link back to how that aligns with this role and company.
India Jordan Jones is a final-year undergraduate student at the University of Oxford, reading English Language and Literature. She is interested in a career in consulting or commercial law and passionate about sustainability and energy matters in business.
Image: DALL-E
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