Professional Cover Letters

you have one chance to make a first impression

The purpose of a cover letter is to persuade an employer to read your resume. Adecco’s cover letter tips can assist you on your way.

know your audience

Customise your letter so it is specific to the position and company. Insert the job title and reference code as advertised, in bold or underlined beneath the salutation.

what’s in a name?

Immediately connect with your reader by opening with ‘Dear Mr/Mrs’ using the hiring manager’s name. You may need to do some research to obtain this information. Use ‘Dear Sir or Madam’ if this is not available.

open strong

You only have a sentence or two to catch the reader’s attention, so ensure your opening lines are effective.

it’s not personal, it’s business

Always follow proper business etiquette and adhere to standard letter format:

• Use a font style and size that is easy to read such as Arial 10pt
• Include the name and job title of the recipient, company name and address at the top left-hand side of the letter
• Include your name, postal address, phone number and email address at the top right-hand side
• Date the letter just above the salutation.
• Use proper grammar and check your spelling
• Use ‘Yours sincerely’ at the end of the letter if you know the recipient’s name or ‘Yours faithfully’ if you do not.
  Sign the letter and type your name underneath

close strong

• Take control
  Advise the employer that you will follow up with them within a set amount of time.
• References
  If appropriate, mention that you have professional references available upon request
• Confident close
  Your closing lines should reassure the employer that you are confident you can contribute to the success of the company and that you look forward to an opportunity to demonstrate this

follow up phone call

Be prepared and plan what you will say. Remember:

• Contact your Adecco consultant, not the hiring manager - many hiring managers have sought the services of the consultant to remove this necessity
• Introduce yourself on the telephone with the same name used on your resume; mention that you submitted a resume recently and the position you are interested in. Ask if they received your resume and if they are still considering candidates for the position
• If you get voicemail, try again. It is always better to speak with a person
• Keep calls short and to a minimum