OK, am applying for a job working within the council with disability etc..mainly as an admin role, but ive never done a covering letter before, is this ok?
Covering Letter
Adminsitration vacancy
Ref: 638638100rap
To Whom It May Concern:
I wish too apply for the temporary position of administrator via pertemps for 6 months with the hope of going permanent. My work experience within Weston-super-mare hospital has given me an insight into working within the public sector and wish too gain further experience through this role. On top of this my current job at John lewis (as a lingerie advisor) has given me a high experience of dealing with the public on through different medias, such as e-mail, internet, tepelphone etc and also working within a professional and independent manner. Although my experience directly within admin work is limited, past roles have given me a chance too work on the front desk, maintaining organised filing systems and also working within set guideline. On top of this my education has allowd me too work within IT, gain further and high knowledge of computer programs and become confident within this area.
I have attached my CV which provides further contact details, work experience and education.
I look forward too hearing from you soon,
Anna-Marie Edwards
The third word should read "to" (as should other instances of it) I'd change "high experience" to something like "wealth of experience". The fourth line should read "in" a professional manner, not "within".
Edit: Generally speaking, I think you need to replace some of the "within"s.
Last edited by Greatleysteg : 24-07-2008 at 13:52.
Covering Letter
Adminsitration vacancy
Ref: 638638100rap
To Whom It May Concern:
I wish to apply for the temporary position of administrator via pertemps for 6 months with the hope of going permanent. My work experience within Weston-super-mare hospital has given me an insight into working within the public sector and I wish to gain further experience through this role. On top of this my current job at John lewis (as a lingerie advisor) has given me a lot of experience of dealing with the public through a variety of different ways, such as e-mail, internet, telephone etc and also given me experience of working in a professional and independent manner. I may have limited direct experience of admin work but past roles have given me a chance to work on the front desk, maintaining organised filing systems and also working within set guidelines. On top of this my education has allowed me to work within IT, where I gained further knowledge of computer programs and became confident within this area.
I have attached my CV which provides further contact details, work experience and education.
I look forward to hearing from you soon,
Anna-Marie Edwards
You should break it up a little more and make sure that it isn't just a repeat of what is on your CV, which it seems to be at the moment.
You should try to offer additional information on why you want this type of job, why you want to work for this employer, what special skills you have for the job and then any technical info, like start dates, availability for interview etc. The Covering letter is still part of the 'selling yourself' process, and don't get caught up on the idea that you only want the job because it's there and it pays money. The employer knows that as well, all applicants will have that motivation, you have to show a better one.
One thing leaps out as a 'selling point' though I have never worked with the disabled or in a lingerie department, so may not use the right language. But I would make sure I said something like 'My work in the lingerie department taught me a maturity, tact and discretion when dealing with personal details and I am quick to appreciate a customers comfort levels in these situations.'
Any other skills you mention, just make the claim up front ' I am mature, conscientious, outgoing, customer-facing' etc, The evidence will be in your CV so you don't have to say 'when I worked in John Lewis'.
If you're going to use SmilerNuts version, you need to change "I may have limited direct experience of admin work but past roles have given me a chance to work on the front desk, maintaining organised filing systems and also working within set guidelines" to "I may have ... also work within set guidelines."
I think.
EDIT: Oo, and I think "maintaining" should be "maintain".
Again, not sure!
I'd avoid mentioning anything about lack of experience in anything:
You don't want to give them a reason to doubt you before they've even met you.
A lot of places will reject you after looking at your C.V due to lack of experience. Better to include that in the covering letter and try to turn it into a positive.
Jobs, job interviews, CVs and qualifications.
Useful Resources:
covering letter
I'd change "high experience" to something like "wealth of experience". The fourth line should read "in" a professional manner, not "within".
