How to introduce yourself professionally – Cover Letter

A cover letter is the first opportunity you have to introduce yourself to employers or recruiters and make them engage with you and with what you have to offer to the position and company so that they can consider giving you an interview.

To write a successful cover letter you should follow this structure:

1. Opening

Make your letter personal by addressing it to the hiring manager. It might require a little research, but it is worth it. In case you can’t find the name of the person, you can use other optional openings.

• Dear Mr./Mrs. Last Name
• To whom it may concern
• Dear Sir or Madam

2. Reason for writing

Get to the point immediately by explaining why you are writing and including the title of the position you are applying for.

• I am writing to express my interest in the position of…
• I want to apply for the position of…
• When I read your advertisement for a …
• I am writing in response to your advertisement for…
• I am writing to inquire as to whether there are any vacancies…

3. Introducing yourself

Tell who you are and what you are currently doing.

• I am currently working as a…
• I am currently studying…
• At present, I am working for … where I am responsible for …
• I have been working in my current position for the past (time) …

4. Talking about your education, experience, and skills

Harmonize your education, experience, and skills with the qualifications required for the position and give examples from your previous experience to demonstrate that you have the skills needed. We recommend you to keep your sentences clear and concise.

• I graduated from ABC University with a degree (master’s degree) in …
• I developed a real passion for…
• The nature of my degree has prepared me for this position
• As you can see from my CV, I have worked … and gained experience …
• I recommended and implemented some new strategies…
• My mother tongue is Spanish and I am fluent in English and Portuguese.

5. Sell yourself

Explain why you are the right person for the job, and be convinced of your skills. State something you are able to do to help the company.

• I feel I am suitable for this role as I have a great deal of experience in …
• I have extensive experience negotiating…
• I consider myself to be a friendly, efficient and enthusiastic worker
• I believe I would be the ideal candidate based on the fact that I …
• I am very keen to work for an ambitious company such as yours

6. Closing comments

Show your interest in the position by saying that you plan to follow up your application with a telephone call.

• Thank you for taking time to consider my application
• I am available for contact and interview at any time
• If you wish to contact me, you can do so on +34 765…
• I would welcome the opportunity to further develop my skills in your company…
• Should you require further information, do not hesitate to contact me
• Please find CV attached (in emails)
• Please find CV enclosed (in letters)
• I will follow up with you in a week’s time to answer any preliminary questions you may have
• In the meantime, you are able to contact me on +57 300…

7. Signing off

Never forget to include your name, telephone number and email address, so the recruiter or employer can contact you.

• I look forward to hearing from you
• Yours sincerely, …
• Yours faithfully, …

When you finish writing your cover letter, look for sentences that don’t make sense, or any grammatical or spelling errors. Ask yourself if you would employ the person who wrote the letter. If not, re-write it until it is perfect.

Now that you know how to stand out from the crowd and impress your prospective employer or recruiter, it’s time to practice your professional English skills before your next interview. Don’t let the doors be shut in your face because you are not ready yet. Our English teachers are always on hand to help you practice and build your speaking confidence, whatever your English level.

Let’s see if you learned how to write a successful cover letter in English by taking the following quiz.