Two excellent cover letter examples

Cover letters are the first chance you have to impress an employer – they're not
just a protective jacket for your CV. Here's our guide on what to include and how
to format them

The first thing a potential employer sees in your job application is the
cover letter. This doesn't just support your CV – it's an opportunity for
you to stand out from the crowd and persuade the recruiter to put you
through to the next round.

Be wary of spending hours on perfecting your CV at the expense of your
cover letter. If you need some inspiration on what to include and what
format to use, here are our helpful guides – just remember not to copy
them as exact templates.

1. Standard, conservative style
This is ideal for sectors such as business, law, accountancy and retail.
For more creative sectors, a letter like this might be less appealing, and
could work against you.

Dear Mr Black,
Please find enclosed my CV in application for the post advertised in the
Guardian on 30 November.
The nature of my degree course has prepared me for this position. It
involved a great deal of independent research, requiring initiative,
self-motivation and a wide range of skills. For one course, [insert course],
an understanding of the [insert sector] industry was essential. I found this
subject very stimulating.
I am a fast and accurate writer, with a keen eye for detail and I should be
very grateful for the opportunity to progress to market reporting. I am
able to take on the responsibility of this position immediately, and have
the enthusiasm and determination to ensure that I make a success of it.
Thank you for taking the time to consider this application and I look
forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Yours sincerely

 
2. Standard speculative letter
This may vary according to the nature of the organisation and the
industry you're applying to.

Dear Mr Brown,
I am writing to enquire if you have any vacancies in your company. I
enclose my CV for your information.
As you can see, I have had extensive vacation work experience in office
environments, the retail sector and service industries, giving me varied
skills and the ability to work with many different types of people. I believe
I could fit easily into your team.
I am a conscientious person who works hard and pays attention to detail.
I'm flexible, quick to pick up new skills and eager to learn from others. I
also have lots of ideas and enthusiasm. I'm keen to work for a company
with a great reputation and high profile like [insert company name].
I have excellent references and would be delighted to discuss any possible
vacancy with you at your convenience. In case you do not have any
suitable openings at the moment, I would be grateful if you would keep my
CV on file for any future possibilities.

Yours sincerely