Final tips

Your cover letter is written,
neatly structured and ready to send.
Is there anything else you should keep in mind?

Before you send the letter

We’re almost finished! But before you send your cover letter, follow these instructions:

Doublecheck that you have addressed the letter correctly.
Proof-read the letter and look out for grammar mistakes.
Match the visuals of the cover letter to the resumé – use the same font and, if you want, choose some of the same graphic elements. One good example is a matching-coloured bar at the bottom of both the letter and the resumé.
Try to read the cover letter through the eyes of a recruiter. Are you the kind of a person they would like to invite for an interview? If you are not sure, edit your letter.
If you can, give the letter to someone unbiased for their feedback.
The cover letter does not belong in the email body. Send it as an attachment along with resumé in the pdf format. Always use pdf, never Word document or any other text editor. This will guarantee that the recruiter will see your resumé exactly as you send it.

Send a short message along with your CV and cover letter. This usually belongs in the body of the email. If you are using career portals or company websites, look for a box for short messages and use it to connect with the recruiter and express your interest in the position.

The text should include the following:

If stated in the advertisement, address the recruiter by their name.
Title of the position you are applying for.
Practical information that may play an important role – are you looking for a part-time job or a full-time job, the name of the city you want to work in (if it doesn’t match your current residence), when will you graduate (if you are about to graduate), and anything else you feel is important to mention at this time.
Assertive call to action (“I’d be happy to meet you in person.“ „I look forward to working with you.“).

Summary of the most important information:

Let’s summarise the most important tips:

Keep the text simple and understandable. It must be immediately clear who you are and what you can offer to the company.
Strike a balance between professionalism and expressing your own personality. Avoid using templates but stick to the guidelines of formal speech.
Highlight relevant work experience and skills. Don’t be afraid to emphasise your best qualities.
Support your claims with arguments and avoid tired clichés.
Take advantage of the information you have about the company. Express that you have read about the position and the company you are applying for. This will show you are motivated.
Explain why you want this particular position at this particular company. Be specific.
Be brief. Do not exceed one page of text.

Congratulations, you have completed the course!

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We firmly believe that writing a cover letter will now be an easy task for you!

If you like to know more about resumés, we recommend our next course “How to write a resumé”. If you want to prepare for a potential interview, try the “Interview preparation” course.

All students at Masaryk University and graduates up to one year after completing the degree have access to free consultation of their resumés and cover letters. You can apply via our website:

Resume & cover letter consultation Resume in a nutshell Questionnaire

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Bibliography:

Bleske-Rechek, A., Paulich, K., Shafer, P., & Kofman, C. (2019). Grammar matters: The tainting effect of grammar usage errors on judgments of competence and character. Personality and Individual Differences, 141, 47–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2018.12.016

Brandt, P. M., & Herzberg, P. Y. (2020). Is a cover letter still needed? Using LIWC to predict application success. International Journal of Selection & Assessment, 28(4), 417–429. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijsa.12299

Harolds, J. A. (2013). Tips for a physician in getting the right job, part II: the curriculum vitae, cover letter, and personal statement. Clinical Nuclear Medicine, 38(9), 721–723. https://doi.org/10.1097/RLU.0b013e31829ddfd6

Tomaska, L., & Nosek, J. (2018). Ten simple rules for writing a cover letter to accompany a job application for an academic position. PLoS Computational Biology, 14(6), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006132

Waung, M., McAuslan, P., DiMambro, J. M., & Mięgoć, N. (2017). Impression management use in resumes and cover letters. Journal of Business and Psychology, 32(6), 727–746. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-016-9470-9