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4
How should I address and sign off my letter?
Reply to the name used in the advert or application pack.
The correct greeting in a business letter is always formal.
It normally begins with “Dear” and usually includes the person’s
title, ie, Professor, Dr, Mr, Ms etc. and last name (make sure you
use the correct spelling). If addressing a female recruiter, does
the job advert specify whether they are Mrs, Miss, or Ms? If it
doesn’t say then it is best to use Ms. When you know the name
of the person, sign off with “Yours sincerely”.
If a name is not given, contact the organisation and ask for a
named individual who deals with recruitment. If you are not
able to nd a named individual, you can use “Dear Sir/Madam”
and sign off with “Yours faithfully”.
5
Can I use bullet points or subheadings in a cover letter?
You can use bullet points or subheadings to help structure
your cover letter. However remember that you are still writing
a formal business letter so write clearly and succinctly.
6
My circumstances are unusual, how should I present
these in a cover letter?
Think about the needs of the organisation and try to present
the information to meet those needs, emphasising the
transferable skills you have acquired. Focus on all areas
in which you feel the employer will be interested.
7
All the organisations I am looking at seem to be the
same. How can I demonstrate that I know the differences?
It is often assumed that the way to impress is to show you
have carried out a lot of research. This is true up to a point.
The strongest cover letters show you have done some research
but also make a link between you and the organisation using
the job description and person specication. You may also
want to show initiative and speak to people working for the
organisation to learn more.
8
Are there any example cover letters at LSE Careers?
We have example cover letters on our website (lse.ac.uk/
careers). Remember these are only guides; your cover letter
needs to be tailored and specic to the role and employer.
9
Can I discuss my cover letter with someone at
LSE Careers?
We run one-to-one appointments throughout the year where
you can discuss the style and content of your applications
and how to tailor them to particular positions. However, these
do not cover spelling and grammar; you should see the LSE
Language Centre for help with this. You can use LSE CareerHub
to book CV and cover letter discussions at careers.lse.ac.uk
10
What do I put as the subject header when sending
my cover letter via email?
Follow any instructions in the job advert (like including a
reference number). If there are none, use “Application for (job
title)” as the subject line. If you are sending a speculative
application you can be less specic but try to keep your subject
header concise and professional.
11
Can I send a speculative CV and cover letter?
Sometimes roles are not formally advertised so you can enquire
about upcoming opportunities or express an interest in working
for an organisation. Try to nd out who deals with recruitment
through calling or networking, as personally addressed
applications are the most effective and professional. Include
a CV and cover letter (media and journalism applicants should
also include one or two examples of portfolio or published work).
Once sent, wait between one and two weeks to follow up.
It can be tempting to think of applications as a numbers
game, and that the best approach is to apply to as
many employers as possible. That can cause your cover
letter to look very standardised and errors to creep in.
Check whether the organisation you’re applying to has
a statement of values, and read the role description
carefully. Then use the cover letter to guide the employer
to the sections of your CV or application form that show
your own values are aligned. This will make your
application appear more tailored and shows the employer
that you would be a good fit.
Morgan Stanley