covering letters for jobs

[procta]

hi lads, a few permanent contracts have popped up where I work. I am wanting to put in for one, but I need help on the covering letter side of things, as I know that's the main thing. What do you lads do for yours, when you have put in for jobs, I know there are templets on the net, but I want better examples, as I know you lads are in some cracking jobs.
cheers for any help and advice in hand!

[toseland]

hi lads, a few permanent contracts have popped up where I work. I am wanting to put in for one, but I need help on the covering letter side of things, as I know that's the main thing. What do you lads do for yours, when you have put in for jobs, I know there are templets on the net, but I want better examples, as I know you lads are in some cracking jobs.
cheers for any help and advice in hand!

Start your covering letter with a brief intention.. this should be the position you are applying for,  

Covering letter should sell yourself for the position.. succinctly why you should be employed over anyone else, what can you bring to the role, what benefits, skills, experience and traits do you have to give to the employer that Mr Joe Bloggs from the street cant give your boss.. 

they can get your employment history from your CV if you want 

end it with

"thank you in advance for your time and consideration, and i look forward to your response"

If you know the person to whom you are writing end with. Yours sincerely. 
If you do not know who it is (ie you wrote Dear Sir/Madam) at the start end with "Yours faithfully".

[procta]

how long does it have to be?

[toseland]

As long as necessary and as short as possible..

[procta]

Do I need to mention anything about my previous job role?

[toseland]

Is it relevant experience to the position you are applying for? Does it demonstrate suitable qualities that the company would be looking for, subject knowledge, specific skills, etc..

Ask yourself

Can this help in this roll
does it demonstrate skills i have appropriate to the position
is it relevant (what i mean by that is, working at McDonalds might mean you are acustomed to shift work or 24/7 working days etc, but it wouldnt mean you are suitable to be say, a network specialist IT technician on call 24 hours a day)

[RetroPug]

how long does it have to be?

I'd keep to to an A4 page with reasonably large margins. Anything over a page is a bit of an essay.

[Eeyore]

A page is easily enough. The main thing is to show that you are genuinely interested in the role and not just smashing your cv out to every job possible. it will show you care and if its any good will make you stand out from the start. talk about what is relevant and why you want the job and what experience you will bring. I can probably dig one out but its from when i joined the consultancy 3 years ago when i was a grad.

[Ruan]

IME don't just bang in CV & cover letter, sort yourself out, put the CV and cover letter in a decent folder and go hand it to the person who will be making the decision. You stand out every time as you're the guy who put the effort in. Go speak to them about what they're looking for, what they want and have a chat about what you're looking for...

[procta]

Eeyore, be great if you can, just to make sure all is well.

ruan, we have an A4 piece of paper on the wall, stating on what they are looking for, which I took a copy of.
Basically I am working for the same company, but the agency side of it and they have offered up some permanent contracts in the role I do now.
Sadly it doesn't state who to put down, all it states is hand in cover letter and CV to HR Department.
chances are they may know what their workers are like anyway, if they were not happy id have been out the door long before now.
One of the supervisors has taken a liken to me, he's known to be nasty but always seems fine with me, and offered me a job of masking and prepping infiniti parts for paint. This is one of the companies flag ship contracts along with BMW and Renault.

[hotrodjacko]

Tend to echo all of the above. What makes you good for the role in hand? Experience, qualifications, hobbies?

It's not strictly the same but I was talking to some students studying for their engineering degree about applying to places (a position I was in previously), and they seem to be so caught up on the talking about the degree and modules. In this instance, their going against everyone who also has a very similar degree! Why waste half a page talking about it when everyone else has the same qualification. What do YOU have that makes you different to John Smith?

You say its to do with automotive - talk about keen eye for detail you might have, working to deadlines, enjoying the job?