1. Writing Covering Letters

2. Covering Letters Keep your covering letter relevant
Write a unique covering letter for each individual job and company for which you apply
Always send a resume with your covering letter
Why should you write a covering letter? 
In a covering letter, you get to show an employer your skills, highlight your selling points, and answer the three main questions they want answered:
Can you do the job?
Will you do the job well?
Will you fit into the organisation?
Address all the employer’s needs, in the order they occur in the job advertisement.

3. Covering Letters What will an employer look for first?
your level of professionalism
clues to your personality
how well you communicate in writing
how good your grammar, spelling and punctuation are
how carefully you check for typing mistakes and formatting errors

4. Types of Covering Letters
Cold-call or canvassing letter
You write this type of letter to an employer to express your interest in working for their company, in a specific area, now or in the future.
Before you write a canvassing letter, you should have researched the company thoroughly.  

5. Types of Covering Letters
Advertisement response letter 
When you write a letter responding to an advertised position, use it to highlight the specific skills and requirements you have that the employer wants.

6. Types of Covering Letters
Online letter 
An online letter is usually briefer than a written one, but it’s still long enough to include your top two or three selling points.
Use shorter paragraphs than you would in a printed letter, or put your points in bullet lists.
Using all upper case in is a form of shouting, and is usually considered rude. 

7. Fonts for Covering Letters & Resumes
Times New Roman
Palatino
Garamond
Arial
Verdana
Tahoma
Lucida Sans
Font size - no smaller than 10 no bigger than 14

8. Letter Writing Tips Use positive words and phrases such as: I have
I can
I am able to
I am capable of
I am experienced in…
Don’t use words that make it seem as if you aren’t confident. For example:
I am FAIRLY experienced in…
I have SOME knowledge of…
Although I have LIMITED work experience…
While I DON’T HAVE FORMAL QUALIFICATIONS in this area…
I BELIEVE I WOULD BE capable of…