Cover letter

The cover letter is a very important part of your application for a post at the Trust. The cover letter gives you the opportunity to explain to the recruiter how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification and therefore how suitable you are likely to be for the post. This is essential information about you that may not otherwise be covered in as much detail in your CV. You can also show your understanding of the post and how you might fit in to the organisation.

We require a cover letter with each application, otherwise your application may not be accepted.

Tips

• Keep your cover letter brief and factual, one page should be enough, unless requested otherwise
• Make sure the letter is tailored to the specific vacancy and is not a standard cover letter
• Explain why you feel you would be suitable for the post by addressing how you meet each area of the person specification
• Examples of what you have achieved are helpful
• If the post is in a different industry or department from your previous experience, draw similarities between the two
• Explain why you are interested in the post
• Check your spelling and grammar (even better, ask someone else to read over your letter to check for errors, this is more effective than just doing it yourself)
• Don’t forget to name the vacancy you are applying for
• Provide details of where you saw the vacancy advertised or how you came to hear of it