The main purpose of writing a covering letter is to give you the chance to demonstrate to the recruiter your suitability, understanding and fit for a specific role.

Here are the do's and dont's for writing the perfect covering letter:

Do:

• Keep it short and factual, one page should be sufficient.
• Always quote job reference numbers (where known) and details of where you saw the role advertised or how you came to hear of the role.
• Explain why you want the job along with details as to why you feel you would be suitable.
• If the job is in a different sector from your previous experience, draw links between the two.
• It is very helpful to state your current salary and your future salary expectations.
• Tailor your covering letter to the specific job application.
• Always check your spelling and grammar!

Don't:

• Send out standard covering letters for different positions.
• Underestimate the value of the covering letter. It can be used to draw attention to your strengths and achievements as well as add impact to your CV.

Guidance on writing CV's

A good CV is not only a way to highlight your skills and experience to an employer but your ticket to gaining that all important interview.

By following some basic principles you will be able to present the information in a clear, concise and persuasive way. An employer will always expect to see the following information:

Personal details

Always include your name, address, phone numbers and email address. It's wise to highlight to us your preferred method of contact.

Work experience

If you have any work experience, always list your most recent experience first. Describe your work experience in short sentences or bullet points highlighting your achievements, general responsibilities and skills required in the role. Always be truthful and accurate when describing your experience and avoid the temptation to embellish and exaggerate.

Education

List details of any qualifications gained (ie GCSE, A Levels or Degree) including your grades. You may also wish to include details of any additional qualifications or courses that you have attended which would be relevant to the role that you are applying for.

Skills

Highlight any other skills that you have including IT skills or additional languages.

Hobbies

You may want to include a very brief overview of your interests and hobbies outside of the workplace to give an employer a more rounded view of yourself.

Presentation

Good presentation on your CV is essential to create the right impression with us and should have a good layout, clear highlighted headings and all the relevant information.

Here are a few more do's and dont's to help you write your CV:

Do:

• Highlight your achievements and not just your responsibilities.
• Describe the dimensions associated with your experience for example, revenue figures; size of budget; size of teams or volumes of customers handled etc.
• Keep your CV short and relevant. A maximum of two pages is ideal.
• Make your most relevant experience and skills prominent to assist us in understanding your suitability.
• Keep to the point and concentrate on the quality of your achievements, not the quantity.
• List other skills that could raise you above the competition such as languages, driving licence and IT skills.
• Check thoroughly for correct spelling and grammatical errors.
• Get a second opinion.
• Include examples of your work, if appropriate.

Don't:

• Use difficult to read fonts and colours when writing your CV. Always use a readable type face and select a sensible font size.
• Leave any gaps in your experience.
• Lie! All qualifications and work experience is rigorously checked through our referencing & vetting processes.