Job Discussion Forums

[basiltherat]

imho, the best and most professional way to decide on the contents of a covering letter is to take the ad from the organisation (if there is one, of course) and find what matches between what they require and what you have (on your cv) to offer the company.

highlight or mention briefly (not in detail, cos that will or should be on your cv) those particular details in the body of the letter. anything that doesnt match should be left out and only included on the cv. it doesn't take long and looks and sounds good. frankly, if you cant find things that match then, imho, you probably should not be applying for the job.

example; if you speak spanish and their asking for a spanish speaker, mention it. if they require someone who has experience in ecology and you have it, so include it in your covering letter. if yuv been a butcher but they're not requiring anything to do with butchery, don't mention it. if they are asking for experience in the ME but you dont have it, don't mention it. etc

simple.

also, always send a cv with a covering letter unless specifically asked not to. the number of times i just get a one or two-sentence letter with no cv is astounding

as one gets on in one's career, if u have more than half of the requirements that they are asking for, imho, its worth applying for.

i dont believe there is such a thing as a standard covering letter content cos wat you include will differ since you're having to mention different details each time dependent on the requirements of the organisation.

let me say that as far as i am aware, this system has never let me down. our daughter also uses it and hasnt been automaticaly turned down for any position yet.

my tuppence worth.

best
basil

[Gordon]

[dmb]

[basiltherat]

[Glenski]

Gordon wrote:

[Stephen Jones]

One of the transcripts would have been unsealed at some time in your career wouldn't it?

You normally don't send the sealed envelope until you have the job, but the scanned copy gives the information.

[dialogger]

Sure there are the skills you have and those you don't have but there is a third group where you can hedge a little.
ie if you have exp of one international testing system but not the one the advertiser is looking for - say:
'I do not have x but I do have y and one of the things that attracted me to your ad was the opportunity to extend my knowledge of testing systems'
Works with other skills like IT etc

[Gordon]

[Gordon]