When applying for a position you should always send a cover letter with your CV. The cover letter is intended to tell the employer more about yourself and why you are interested in the job. The cover letter is your best chance to make a good impression, so make it count!

The cover letter should relate your experience and past employments to the position you are applying for. Explain how your past experiences have taught you the skills needed to do a good job at the position being advertised. You should also include why you are interested in working for the organisation.

Here is some advice regarding the cover letter:

Be prepared
Make sure that you have taken the time to read up on the employer and the position. You have to have a good grasp of the company's products and services, as well as the market they work in. Your goal is to make your letter so specific to the position that the employer can easily see that your skills are more suitable to the position than those of the other applicants. Make sure to find common ground between you and the company and use it to your advantage. If your letter is unrelated to the company's profile, chances are your application will go straight to the trash.

Find the correct contact person
Find the person in charge of recruiting for the position and address your application directly to them. This will help when placing a follow-up phone call since you have a contact person - if you had sent your letter to nobody in specific it could be difficult to find someone to talk to later. Make sure you spell his or her name correctly!

Match your qualifications to the job
Point out why you are the best candidate for the job. If you have unique skills related to the position, point them out clearly and how they can help you perform the job duties being requested. Don't forget to point out any language skills you have that can set you apart from other applicants.

Don't ramble
The employer probably gets many applications. You need to cram as much information into a short letter as possible. Nobody wants to read a five-page letter when a single concise A4 would do. Connect the skills and education you listed on your CV to the job's requirements but be as brief as possible while still listing the relevant information.

Send originals, not copies!
Nothing makes your application look more unprofessional than sending a copy. It implies that you send the same letter to everyone and that you don't care specifically about the positions you are applying for.

Avoid clichs
Don't list qualities such as positive, flexible, attention to detail, stress-resistant and such. It has become so commonplace that it has no meaning. Instead, focus on fewer words and concentrate on listing how you have tackled difficult tasks in the past.

Don't list the reasons why you have quit your previous jobs
In general, don't list negative things. Saying that you didn't agree with your last boss can make it look like you are difficult to work with. Don't list negative aspects of your personality or health.

Don't list too many personal details
The employer likely doesn't care about the name of your spouse or children, their age, your hobbies or your pets.

Never send your CV or letter written by hand!
All correspondence should be printed. If you don't have a computer, go to an Internet Caf. Don't forget to bring a USB stick so you can bring your documents with you when you leave.

Keep a copy of the documents you send
If you get an interview, you have to be able to remember what you have written in your letter because it is sure to come up.

Don't use coloured paper or coloured envelopes!
White is standard and using coloured paper will make you look unprofessional.

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