Cover Letters

I've already made a post about CVs but this one kinda goes hand in hand with it to explain what the heck a Cover Letter is and why you need one 

(the post about CVs is the hella long one with a ton of screencaps and it has a buncha tips and explanations about what a CV is and how to make one. You don't have to read it before this one but it might help to make things feel a tad less jumbled. My organisational skills are at a firm zero so this whole blog is in a weird order but you're just gunna have to DEAL WITH IT)

If your CV is the skeleton, your Cover Letter is all the fat and skin that smushes on top of the bones to make you nice and squishy and good to hug. It shows potential employers what you're like and gives them a more detailed look into your qualifications and employment history. It also helps show them your writing style and personality better than your CV.

Your Cover Letter should be about a page long, no longer, and be very clear and easy to read. It needs to answer the question "Why should I give you an interview?" 

A good Cover Letter is split into around 5 or so paragraphs, each with a different role:

1st Paragraph: Opening paragraph. Explain why you are writing the letter. It's also helpful to mention how you found the job (through an advert on the internet, etc)
2nd Paragraph: Explain why you are suitable for the job. Briefly summarise your qualifications and past jobs. Only include those which are relevant to the job.
3rd Paragraph: Emphasise what you can do for the company and explain your career goals (dream job, specific opportunities/experiences you're interested in, etc).
4th Paragraph: Reiterate your interest in the job and why you'd be suitable for the position. It's also a good idea to mention that you'd like to meet the employer for an interview.
5th Paragraph: Closing Paragraph. Sign off with "Yours sincerely" and your name.

Make sure you reread your Cover Letter a few times and thoroughly spell-check it so there aren't any silly mistakes or misspellings.