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It’s your chance to make a great first impression, beyond your CV. In a cover letter, you get to explain why you’re interested in  \nthe role, how your skills and experiences make you a good fit and why you’re excited about working with the Students’ Union. It’s important that you take the time to write a cover letter tailored  \nto the role you are applying for, as a good cover letter is key for securing an interview.  \n2.  \n3.  \n02.  \nTOP TIPS.  \n>> Here are some key top tips on the basics of a cover letter:  \nA cover letter should be no more than 1-2 pages of A4 . Any more than this and you’re probably going into too much detail. Anything less than 3/4s a page, it’s probably not long enough.  \nYou should submit your cover letter as a word document or PDF.  \nMake sure to personalise your cover letter for the specific role and organisation – generic cover letters are easy to spot and may not make the best impression. It doesn’t give us enough insight into what will make you the right fit specifically for the role you are applying for. To make your cover letter standout, read through the job description, review the SU website and research our values and strategy. A personalized cover letter demonstrates to the hirer just how committed you are to the role.  \nRead it before submitting – silly errors such as not changing the name of the role / organisation on the cover letter is enough for a hirer to choose not to interview you. So, make sure to read and re-read your drafts before submitting or even asking a friend!  \n03.  \nTHINGS TO INCLUDE.  \n>> Now you’ve nailed the formatting and some of the basics, here’s what  \nyou should think about including in your cover letter:  \nIntroduce Yourself – Start by mentioning the job you’re applying for, a brief introduction to who you are and explain why do you want to apply for the role.  \nWhy you’re the ideal candidate – This is the most important section! Here is where you show off all your skills and experience, but the key part is to make sure to make it relevant to the role you are applying for. Look through the person specification and the job description and note where you have relevant skills and experience. In your cover letter, use examples to back up each of your claims e.g. if you are talking about event planning skills, you may talk about a time you planned an event for a club or society you are involved in or whilst you were at school. Or if you are talking about your experience working in a  \nshop, you should list where you have done this before and what responsibilities you held. A common technique you can use is the STAR method to structure examples (Situation, Task, Action, Result) .  \n Why do you want to work for RHSU? -You’ve talked about why you’d be good for the role, but why are you excited to work at RHSU? We’re a values led organisation with clear strategic aims, we want to know what these appeal to you and why you want to be part of the RHSU ambition to make student life better at Royal Holloway.  \n Closing – Wrap up your application in a couple of sentences, reminding the reader of the relevant skills and experiences you have and the contribution you can make the organisation. Express your enthusiasm for the opportunity to interview and thank the hirer for reading your application.  ","cbCaiehwfvLaWyBL","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiehwfvLaWyBL","pdf",270599,6,"English","# CONTENTS\n## INTRODUCTION\n## TOP TIPS\n## THINGS TO INCLUDE\n## ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE","[{\"question\":\"What is a cover letter and what should it achieve?\",\"answer\":\"A cover letter is essentially an introduction to who you are and why you are perfect for the job. It helps create a great first impression beyond your CV and supports your interest in the role.\"},{\"question\":\"What are the recommended basics for formatting and length?\",\"answer\":\"Keep the cover letter to no more than 1–2 pages of A4. Submit it as a Word document or PDF, and personalize it for the specific role and organisation.\"},{\"question\":\"What should be included in the body of the cover letter?\",\"answer\":\"Include an introduction, a section showing why you are the ideal candidate with relevant skills and experiences, a clear explanation of why you want to work for RHSU, and a closing that reiterates your fit and thanks the reader.\"},{\"question\":\"How can applicants structure examples and avoid mistakes?\",\"answer\":\"Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure examples that support your claims. Read and re-read drafts to avoid errors such as not changing the role or organisation name.\"}]","Cover Letter Guidance - September 2024 | PDF",1789301560]