Covering Letters

Writing a cover letter for the job role in the……

Finance Industry

If you are looking for work in the finance industry then you the main thing that everyone has in common is to want to work with numbers and figures and enjoy mathematical problems and finding solutions. There are however many roles within the finance industry such as:

Accounts Assistant

Account Clerk/ Accounts Payable

Sales and Purchase Ledger

Finance Manager or Director

Employers will be looking for candidates ideally with some finance background for some of the more junior roles but if not then a strong administration and/or customer service background will be acceptable as in all roles you will need to be very organised and pay great attention to detail.  You will need to be very accurate in your work and be able to concentrate with numbers for long periods of time as well as be able to communicate with others and explain financial information in a non technical manner so they can understand.

Most people new to the finance industry will begin as an Accounts Assistant providing support to an accounts department and be more of a generalist role helping people with queries, giving out pay slips, organising time sheets and invoices to be sent and paid etc.

It will largely depend on the company as to the route for an application. Some employers like online applications through their websites or just want you to email or post your CV with a covering letter or more public companies have strict procedures to follow which will consist of an application form and detailed notes when answering it.

It is always important to ensure that you tell your future employer as much information as you can within your application form, however insignificant you think it might be, if it connected to the job role or the company industry then ensure you put this in detail when completing your application form so they can make a decision based on all your information.

Example Cover Letter for a Finance Job

Dear Personnel Manager,

Please find enclosed my application form and CV for the post of Graduate Trainee as advertised in the (where you found vacancy) database.

In July 2013, I completed my final year at the (University) where I studied Accountancy and Mathematics. I have always had an interest in finance, and my degree helped to further this interest. The modules I took involved many aspects of the financial industry.

As part of my final year of my degree course, I completed a dissertation which involved analysing data on over 150 car dealers. In order for me to interpret the results based on this data, I taught myself how to use the SPSS statistical package. This has given me the confidence that I can rapidly learn new skills when required to do so. Overall, I have achieved 72% for this piece of work. Furthermore, the write-up required me to be competent in my use of computers, particularly in the use of MS Windows packages, including Excel and Word. I had to give a presentation of my results to students and staff for which I had to develop a PowerPoint presentation and learned to speak with confidence in front of an audience.

In addition, I also have good office and IT skills from my work experience with Lloyds TSB, and have developed strong customer service skills, the understanding of the importance of teamwork and communication skills.

I am able to evidence my qualifications and a full reference from my University. Please note that I am available for interview at any time, and look forward to hearing from you shortly

Applicant Name

Good luck.

Cover letter example for a Volunteer job. Amend as suitable and start applying for Volunteer job vacancies.

Volunteer Cover Letter Example

Jane Brown
01 Any Road, Every Town, XX1 1YY
____________________

Mr John Smith
ABC Company
All Streets
Any Town
AA1 1ZZ

(Date)

Dear Mr Smith

I would like to apply for the Volunteer’s position, as advertised recently. I work for a number of different charities, raising money for surgeons building hospitals for the poor of Western Ghana, raising money for various Armed Forces charities, most recently, helping to organise a fund-raising dinner where we raised £7,500 on the night with a full sit down dinner, sponsored entertainment and a silent auction. I enjoy talking to people while respecting their views if they make it clear they are not interested in pursuing the conversation. I am also involved in the Women’s Institute and help with our Village fete and church activities.

I am a strong believer in supporting the community and I would really love to get more involved to help you deliver your services and carry on the good work!

I am available for interview at your convenience and references are available on request.

I attach my CV and hope to hear back very soon!

Yours sincerely

(sign)

Jane Brown

Writing a cover letter for the job role in the Office industry.

If you are interested in working in the Office industry you will usually have some office skills, this could be administration, answering the telephone, dealing with the post, filing, photocopying etc.

There are many different roles within the office industry such as:

Office Junior

Receptionist Administrator

Secretary

Personal Assistant

Office Manager

Whatever role you are interested in pursuing opens up different avenues within the office industry but employers will be looking for someone who is good with computers, can type, has some experience of working in an office environment and understands the basics of how an office works.

Working in an office is an important role however senior the role because without an efficient office running the behind the scenes part of a business then it would be disorganised chaos.  Employers will be looking for people who are organised in their work and can multi task, doing a number of things at once without getting too caught up in the pressure.

People who work in an office are usually the eyes and ears of the business and usually know more about what’s going on than any other department, this is important to a business.

If you go into a company as an office junior you will gain valuable experience from other people who did the same job as you when they started and it is very important to learn as much as you can and take it on board to be able to process well within the office industry.

Usually the process for applying for jobs is through sending a CV and covering letter direct to a company but you could be required to complete an application form either as part of the application process or prior to any interview. It is important to follow the correct procedures for each business as some companies will only accept an application form and if this is the case they generally will not look at your CV so there is little point sending it to them.

Example cover letter for a Finance Job

Dear HR / Recruitment Manager,

Application for the vacancy of Administrator

I was very interested to read about the Administrator vacancy within your organisation, and have enclosed my CV for your consideration.

I possess a good range of office experience, including secretarial work, diary management, data entry, reception, spreadsheets and setting up and maintaining databases. I have also arranged meetings, dealt with invoices and other accounts information and taken minutes at formal meetings and I can work confidently and efficiently with the Microsoft Office software.

I understand the importance of office procedures and am confident that I can provide a reliable and accurate service. I am an effective team worker who can develop good working relationships with colleagues and managers alike.

I would be pleased to attend for interview at your convenience to allow me to discuss my experience and qualities further. My full contact details can be found on my CV.

Many thanks for your time, and I hope to hear from you in the near future.

Applicant Name

Good luck!

If you are looking to be a School Nurse then you will have qualified as a nurse and want to work in a school setting with children as opposed to a hospital setting. You will need to have previous experience of working with children from CRB checks to more general experience and be up to date with possible child health issues in schools.

You will need to be able to communicate with all levels of adults and children including parents and relatives if need be. You will need to be able to listen, have a calm nature and be reassuring to a scared child. Depending on the school setting you could be administering injections, checking for general illness, dealing with scrapes and falls, assessing a child’s hearing and eye site etc.

If you have found a role in which you want to apply for, you would normally complete an application form to work in a school but below is a covering letter example which you could also use with your application.

School Nurse Cover Letter Example

Dear Sir/Madam,

Application for the role of School Nurse

I would like to apply for the role of School Nurse which I have seen advertised in (where and when).

I competed my training as a nurse in (when and from where, etc, please provide any details here). I am now looking for a new role after working in a hospital setting for (how long) and am very interested in the role that you have advertised.

I have had some experience of working with children at my time at (where, doing what) and I feel that I always relate to children well and can put them at ease if they are worried or upset.

I enjoy nursing and feel that I am a good nurse. I have excellent communication skills and listening skills and feel that I am a positive person. I am organised and thorough and always ensure that as well as my nursing skills I keep all records and logs up to date at all times.

I have enclosed my CV for your consideration, should you have any interest in my skills; please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and CV and I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

NAME SURNAME

Cover Letter for School Nurse

Dear Sirs

I should like to apply for the position of School Nurse, as advertised recently. I am a fully qualified State Registered Nurse, originally training in London and then moving to be based at the Regional Hospital Trust where I am currently located, together with my family. I specialise in care of children and young people and have also spent time working on adult mixed wards.

I have been working on a 24 hour shift Rota at the hospital and, in order to accommodate the needs of my young family, I would like to work where I can fit in with my children’s school life and the role in a local school, together with the hours as advertised, would enable me to do this.

Obviously, I have support at home and can be flexible with the hours to suit your own changes to the staff rotas where required.

I am really looking for a permanent position where I can settle in and become part of the school pupils’ daily life and routine, as I feel that this sort of stability offers pupils a great deal of support and is helpful to their well-being.

I am available for interview at your convenience and references are available on request.

I attach my CV and look forward to hearing from you as appropriate.

Yours faithfully

Good luck.

Writing a cover letter for the job role in the retail industry.

There are always excellent opportunities within the retail sector as there are very few entry-level requirements, and the possibility of promotion is excellent once you have proved you are a reliable and capable employee.  Roles include customer service assistants, supervisors, retail managers, shelf-stockers, and many supermarkets are branching out into different sectors and may require specialist skills such as butchers, bakers or bureau de change assistants.

Customer Service Assistant is probably the most common role within the retail industry.  No qualifications are required for this post although you will need to demonstrate your ability to provide friendly, efficient customer service and work within a team.

Most large retailers will advertise their vacancies online, and require you to complete an online application form.  The advantage of this is that you can usually subscribe to their job website and receive updates on relevant new vacancies.  Smaller or independent retailers are more likely to advertise their vacancies in local newspapers or in their shop window, and request CV applications via post or email.  In either case if you pass the initial selection process you will usually be offered a one-to-one interview, and be advised of the outcome shortly afterwards.

Retail Cover Letter Example

Dear Sir/Madam

Please find enclosed my CV in application for the post advertised on Creative Opportunities for the Customer Service assistant role.

Following my previous work experience and being a recent graduate of film making: design and production, I feel very prepared for this position. Using the skills I gained from the degree such as producing directing and editing my own short films and the qualities I gained from previous jobs, for example working in a fast paced environment under pressure, remaining calm under a deadline, dealing with angry clients and working hard to keep them happy. I feel blending all these together will equip me for this job as customer service assistant. Since graduating I’ve produced and directed my own fashion film and found a real passion for working with clothes, therefore using my previous retail experience and my interests, I feel would lend well to this role.

I can work under pressure, keeping a can- do positive attitude, and with the nature of my degree I will be able to deal with customers efficiently. For my course, an understanding of working to a deadline was essential. I found this subject very stimulating.

I should be very grateful for the opportunity to progress with your team. I have not only the ability to take on the responsibility of this position immediately, but also the enthusiasm and determination to ensure that I make a success of it. Thank you for taking the time to consider this application and I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Yours sincerely

Your Name

Good luck.

Use this cover letter example if you are going to apply for a IT Manager job.

Cover letter for a IT Manager

Jane Brown
01 Any Road, Every Town, XX1 1YY
____________________

Mr John Smith
ABC Company
All Streets
Any Town
AA1 1ZZ
(Date)

Dear Mr Smith

I should like to apply for the position of IT Manager, as advertised recently. I am currently working in the public sector and owing to down-sizing within the IT department am looking to return to work in the private sector as a consultant where I originally spent the first part of my career. During my time in the public sector, I have trained and developed my team and we now co-ordinate the running of a large network including high levels of security and logins, and with a high degree of regulatory compliance with regard to the storage and archiving of files; I am also responsible for security, given that we have a large number of remote and home workers, where remote login needs to be authenticated and secure. This is a very responsible role and I am used to running a team and reporting to a fine degree, across all the aspects I have outlined.

I would like to be considered for this position as I am used to being able to diagnose and solve a wide range of IT issues quickly and efficiently and I feel I would be ideally suited to this role.

I look forward to discussing this with you and I am available for interview at your convenience.

I attach my CV and look forward to hearing from you as appropriate.

Yours sincerely

(sign)

Jane Brown

Fully editable and free cover letter templates:

Cover letter example 1:

Recipient Name and Address

Sender’s Name and Address
Date

Dear Mr. Brown,

I refer to your advertisement for (position) in the (name and date of newspaper, trade paper, and magazine or website name). I am a freelance writer looking for a part time staff position such as you have advertised. I feel sure that I meet the requirements for the position of part time writer. I have worked with a number of companies over the past six years producing articles and content for different market places and industries.

I have written copy and content for websites similar to your own and am well acquainted with writing for the finance sector. I am used to writing articles and content relating to the mortgage industry and to the different types of loans that you offer. I am confident that I could write the material required by your company. I have worked both alone and as a member of a creative team in producing error free and engaging content and can provide links to my work online. I am available for interview at a date and time that suits your convenience, I enclose my current CV.

Thank you for advertising this opportunity and for taking the time to read this letter. Please contact me at the above address or email if you require further information. I look forward to receiving your reply in the near future,

Yours Sincerely,

Signature

Printed Name

Cover letter example 2:

Recipient Name and Address

Sender’s Name and Address
Date

Dear Madam,

I refer to your advertisement in the TES dated 5th June for a part-time tutor in religious studies. I have been teaching at university level for the past 16 years, mostly in a part time capacity as an Associate Lecturer at my local university, I have also had experience of supervising students to doctoral level. I have a particular interest in women’s experience of religion and religious traditions and have a postgraduate qualification in that area, which is why I feel sure that I meet your requirements. I know your establishment quite well as I have attended conferences in the past.

In addition to the above I have taught about spirituality and religion from a sociological perspective at my own and another university. I work well, both alone and as a member of a teaching team and have been involved in module and course development during my academic career. I enclose my current CV and am available for interview at a date and time that suits your convenience.

Thank you for advertising this teaching vacancy, which suits my profile, and for taking the time to read this letter. Please contact me at the above address or email if you require further information. I look forward to receiving your reply in the near future,

Yours Sincerely,

Signature

Printed Name

Use this covering letter example if you are going to apply for a Database Administrator job.

Cover Letter for a Database Administrator

01 Any Road, Every Town, XX1 1YY
____________________

Mr John Smith
ABC Company
All Streets
Any Town
AA1 1ZZ

(Date)

Dear Mr Smith

I should like to apply for the Database Administrator role, as advertised recently. I have worked in a number of administrative roles including coordinating all data input from teams, reconciliation and end of month reports for the sales team meetings.

I have worked on customer relationship management systems which involved liaising with the marketing department and providing accurate, up to date data in a timely manner in order to facilitate the execution of the marketing campaigns.

In my most recent role I was also required to liaise with the sales team and input data on customer and prospects records, help with coordinating all exhibitions activity and collating any information from stand visitors and inputting into the CRM system.

I am available for interview at your convenience and references are available on request.

I attach my CV and look forward to hearing from you as appropriate.

Yours sincerely

(sign)

Jane Brown

Writing a cover letter for the job role in the Catering Industry.

If you are interested in pursuing a career within the catering industry then you will be looking for a hands on role and have a real passion for food and preparing food usually for a number of people at any one time.

You could be looking to work in a school helping and preparing food for school children at lunch time, or you could be working in a hospital serving patients or you could be working for a private company doing lunches, buffets, parties etc and prepare food for different occasions.

Some roles within the catering industry are as follows:

Kitchen staff

Chef Sous

Chef

Kitchen Porter

All these roles require some stamina as you will be on your feet all day, looking at ingredients, planning menus, preparing food and cooking meals then serving meals and the cleaning up afterwards.  Employers will be interested in your previous employment skills and will be looking for an interest in food and that you can work in a hands on and pressurised role.

Most people begin getting some kitchen experience through washing dishes or cutting up vegetables for food preparation but all the while learning new skills and watching the chefs or catering staff completing the food that they are preparing for whatever outcome be it in a school or an occasion.  It is valuable experience and one that most chefs start with.

If you are applying for a role within a public company eg: working for a school or hospital then you will be required to complete an application form which you will need to detail all your education and employment experiences in accordance with their form. If it is a private company then you will normally submit a CV and a covering letter to support your application form and for a private company it will be a less formal process where you will probably be interviewed by the business owner.

Example Cover Letter for Catering Jobs

Dear Recruitment Manager,

I wish to apply for the advertised position of Catering Assistant with your company, and have enclosed my CV for your consideration.

I have spent the last two years working at AAA Catering, in the capacity of both behind the scenes and in a customer facing role. From this, I have gained a great deal of experience in preparing, presenting and storing food at public and private events, both large and small. While at AAA Catering, I completed a number of courses at my local catering college, studying in the evenings and at weekends.

I am a hard worker and I can work well within a team, following instructions and making suggestions alike. I am now seeking a new position that will help me to develop my skills further and I believe that the role you are offering would allow me to make a real impact within your company.

I am eager to discuss my training and experience in more detail and would be delighted to talk to you at interview. Please feel free to contact me if you need any additional information.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Applicant Name

Good luck.

Stock Broker cover letter example. Amend as suitable and use it with your applications.

Stock Broker Cover Letter

Jane Brown
01 Any Road, Every Town, XX1 1YY
____________________

Mr John Smith
ABC Company
All Streets
Any Town
AA1 1ZZ

(Date)

Dear Mr Smith

I am contacting you with regard to the position of Stock Broker you have advertised at <enter where job listing was found>. I am excited about being given the chance to work at your firm as I hold it in high regard. I feel that I have the experience and background needed to become your new stock broker and firmly believe that I would be an asset to your organisation.

In my last position as a stock broker at <enter company name>, I was responsible for advising clients about which company’s shares to purchase and sell. I also regularly  consulted with clients about future investment possibilities. I am fully trained and licensed to work for you and feel that I can greatly contribute to your company. I am passionate about the stock market and am very good with people. I enjoy coaching clients regarding investments and strive to make the most out of each busy working day.

I would like to be given the opportunity to sit down with you to discuss my application and your company’s goals. Please feel free to contact me at your convenience so that we can schedule an interview.

Yours sincerely

(sign)

Jane Brown