Top tips for writing a covering letter When writing a covering letter for your CV the thing to always remember is Success is in the Detail and the relevance – keep it specific to your new trade! Your covering letter needs to be effective from the start. Your CV may be very impressive but if your covering letter isn’t equally impressive, it is possible that your CV may never get read. Please find below top tips for writing a covering letter:

Be Brief and to the Point: Most of the time a cover letter for a job application only needs to state what you are looking for and your most recent relevant skills. List your trade skills, experience, technical knowledge and competence, what does your qualifications mean to the employer or agency? What did your career change programme cover? What practical assessments and skills have you acquired to be able to correctly install e.g. electric shower pumps? Domestic lighting circuits? What understanding do you have of health and safety? Employers want to know what you can do - it’s not just about experience?

Make No Mistakes: Absolutely no errors. Your cover letter must be perfect. A typo or spelling mistakes will make a poor first impression and give off the attitude that you don’t care. Always use spell check or ask someone to read over it.

Use a computer: Never write your covering letter by hand. If you don’t have a computer, borrow a friends or go to a library.

Avoid Fancy Fonts and Colours: Keep the covering letter basic. If you want to add your accreditations on to it that is fine but keep the font in Arial and in black ink only. Do not ever put a picture of yourself on your covering letter. It needs to be clear, concise and to the point.

Keep it Short: Your cover letter should be one page in length and perfectly centred. Never fold the covering letter and if sending it out by post make sure you have a large enough envelope to keep it flat.

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*WHAT THE EMPLOYER/AGENCY LOOKS FOR* Your CV is designed to do one thing and one thing only and that is to secure you an interview that will hopefully lead to employment. See below some *Top Tips* on what an employer or agency may look for in your covering letter and CV:

Personal Statement: Employers need to have a reason to continue reading your CV. They only want to know what you will do for them and how you will benefit their businesses. In this section there is always a risk of being too self orientated. Keep this section brief and to the point. Point out what your skills have been and what you are looking to bring to a business in the future. What’s relevant to the role you are applying for? If you are looking to work for a contractor on site e.g. Apollo or Rok, project oriented skills and team work is essential, working as a ‘mate/improver’ on site is an important role. Be committed show that you want to be there and that you want to work for them. Communication and trust is important, when writing your C.V ask yourself what personal qualities you possess that can be transferred to their business that will benefit and add to all work undertaken?

Employment History: This is the section that will be most looked at by an employer. Make sure your most previous roles are at the top and follow down. This section needs to quickly convince a potential employer that you are the best person for the job. Remember not to be too self orientated and focus on the specific trade skills and benefits that you can bring to a business.

Education: If you have graduated from a top University or have specific skills that you feel would benefit your CV, but most importantly the job you are applying for then your education should be at the top of your CV however if your work experience is your best selling point then it should be at the bottom.

Skills: This section highlights your unique selling points. In this section be clear about what you are offering and make sure a potential employee can easily spot your talents. Make sure you sell yourself and show the employer that you are going to be a great addition to their team!

References: Always end your CV with references available upon request.

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