COVER LETTER WRITING HELP
You often need to create a cover letter or essay to apply for an Apprenticeship or Job. This section will help you work through the process of a general Cover Letter. You might have specific guidelines on your application to follow which will override some of the details below.
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If you have already written a personal statement for a UCAS application you can convert this into a Cover Letter with a few edits.
HOW TO BEGIN YOUR COVER LETTER
1. COLLECT YOUR IDEAS
The hardest part of completing a Cover Letter is getting started. Once you have some ideas jotted down and you are no longer working with a blank piece of paper, your progress will pick up pace.
Choose one or more methods below to collect your ideas.
3. WRITE YOUR LETTER
DRAFT 2
DO:
Start looking at grammar and punctuation
Rearrange and organise your ideas. See information below on Organisation and Flow in your Cover Letter.
Make sure you have given examples of your skills - how you use them or how you developed them through activities you have done previously.
DON'T:
Start every sentence with ‘I’
Ramble or repeat ideas. See information below on Cutting down your Cover Letter
Lie or exaggerate
DRAFT 3
DO:
Try to limit it to 1 A4 page, but definitely no more than 2 A4 Pages.
Ask for help from a tutor or the Destinations Department.
DON'T:
Include unnecessary information like your specific work hours, your grades or courses (as this information should be in your CV so is not needed)
Ask ALL of your Tutors to review/edit your Cover Letter as the advice will be repeated or you may receive conflicting guidance (as feedback can be subjective.)