[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-254715-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":81,"doc-detail-254715-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","trainees-on-letters-covering-letters-and-application-forms","Trainees on Letters - Covering Letters and Application Forms","","Guidance for trainee solicitors on writing effective covering letters and completing application forms for advertised roles. Covers why a covering letter matters, how to keep it brief and professional, what to avoid (such as mentioning salary unless requested), and how to tailor content to job adverts and keywords. Provides general writing guidelines, recommended letter layout elements, and a sample covering letter structure to help candidates present skills, achievements, and next steps clearly.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/","Template",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/","Letters",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/trainees-on-letters-covering-letters-and-application-forms/254715/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/trainees-on-letters-covering-letters-and-application-forms/254715.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Ophelia","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-18","2026-09-13",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",5,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is the purpose of a covering letter in a job application?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"A covering letter is the first document an employer looks at and it creates a critical impression. It should be brief, identify the applicant, and show enthusiasm while summarising what the applicant can do for the company.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"Should salary be mentioned in a covering letter?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Salary should not be mentioned unless the applicant has been specifically asked to. If salary is requested, it should be approached carefully and kept as vague as possible.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"How should a covering letter be tailored to an advertised position?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Tailor the letter to the advertisement’s key words and include relevant achievements that match the key criteria. Use terminology from the employer’s advert or job description, and avoid general praise by referencing specific products, growth, and reasons.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},254715,1790662161,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,89,94,99,104,109,114,118,122],{"id":85,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":86,"show_sort_weight":87,"slug":88},11,"Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":90,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":91,"show_sort_weight":92,"slug":93},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":95,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":96,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":98},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":100,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":101,"show_sort_weight":102,"slug":103},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":105,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":106,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":110,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":115,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":116,"slug":117},18,30,"letters",{"id":119,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":55,"slug":121},21,"Paper Templates","papers-templates",{"id":123,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":125},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":127},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":128,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":22,"category_id":115,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":55,"language":135,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":136,"faqs":137,"seo_title":138,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":139,"read_time":26},7971461741311,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/74000253aff267980c6?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1779345379180704826","Information for Trainee Solicitorson Covering Letters and Application Forms  \nCOVERING LETTERS  \nA covering letter is traditionally the first document that a hiring employer looks at and it is critical to the impression you create. Understand that this is a sales document and an opportunity to personalise your application and express your enthusiasm for the job.  \nThe covering letter should be brief and certainly contained on a single sheet of paper. It should identify who you are and record that you want to apply for the position. It should have a strong final paragraph, summing up what you can do for the company.  \nNever mention salary in a covering letter unless you have been specifically asked to. Your figure may be too high or too low and provide a reason to screen you out. Where you are asked to state salary, either current or expected, approach the matter carefully and seek to keep the matter as vague as possible.  \nRecruitment firms and many employers increasingly want applications submitted to them electronically. This allows them to circulate your details electronically among the various people involved in short listing. Submit your application electronically unless there is an instruction to post it.  \nGeneral Guidelines on Writing a Covering Letter  \n􀀁 Ideally use the same font and style that you used on your CV to give a consistent, professional look.  \n􀀁 Address the letter to a specific person. You are writing to a person, not an organisation. If an advert does not give a name, ring the company and ask them who to send the letter to.  \n􀀁 When responding to a blind ad, address the letter to: Dear Sir/Madam; name of position advertised; P. O. Box address etc.  \n􀀁 Your letter should expand on your CV and complement any profile / heading statement you have used across the top.  \n􀀁 Use relevant achievements in your work history and refer to one or two briefly and colourfully in your letter.  \n􀀁 When explaining why you are interested in the organisation or position, avoid general statements like \"I am impressed with your products and growth\" and write specifically about what products, what growth, and why.  \n􀀁 Tailor your letter carefully to the key words of the advertisement. Provide key examples of your achievements that relate to the key criteria.  \n􀀁 Incorporate terminology the employer has used in an ad, in a written job description, or in a conversation , into your letter.  \n􀀁 Pay attention to details. Type the letter and use spell check but also have it carefully proofread.  \n􀀁 Put the job title being applied for and reference number, where applicable, on top of the main body of the letter, above the salutation.  \n􀀁 Do not use standardised covering letters. Each letter should be individualised. The reader should know that you did not send this letter to another employer.  \n􀀁 Divide text into short paragraphs. Lengthy paragraphs are overwhelming to read.  \n􀀁 Don't forget to match the company’s needs to what you have to offer. A useful tactic is to include some of the terms used in their advert in your covering letter.  \nInformation for Trainees on Letters © Law Society of Ireland  \nRECOMMENDED LAYOUT OF A COVERING LETTER IN RESPONSE TO AN ADVERTISED JOB  \nYour name  \nYour address line 1  \nYour address line 2  \nYour address line 3  \nYour Telephone numbers-including mobile  \nYour email address  \nName of person you are writing to Company name  \nAddress 1  \nAddress2  \nDate  \nTheir Reference / Job Title  \nDear [name of person]  \nOpening paragraph: State why you are writing, identify the position for which you would like tobe considered, and indicate how you heard of the position. If you are sending a letter of interest which is not in response to a specific job opening, simply indicate the type of work you are seeking.  \nMiddle paragraph(s): Your goal here is to show how you can be useful to this particular organisation. Describe what strengths you have to offer this employer by showing the relationship between your s","cbCairSKCzdIBo7V","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCairSKCzdIBo7V","pdf",216251,"English","# COVERING LETTERS\n## General Guidelines on Writing a Covering Letter\n## Recommended Layout of a Covering Letter\n## SAMPLE OF COVERING LETTER IN RESPONSE TO AN ADVERTISED JOB","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of a covering letter in a job application?\",\"answer\":\"A covering letter is the first document an employer looks at and it creates a critical impression. It should be brief, identify the applicant, and show enthusiasm while summarising what the applicant can do for the company.\"},{\"question\":\"Should salary be mentioned in a covering letter?\",\"answer\":\"Salary should not be mentioned unless the applicant has been specifically asked to. If salary is requested, it should be approached carefully and kept as vague as possible.\"},{\"question\":\"How should a covering letter be tailored to an advertised position?\",\"answer\":\"Tailor the letter to the advertisement’s key words and include relevant achievements that match the key criteria. Use terminology from the employer’s advert or job description, and avoid general praise by referencing specific products, growth, and reasons.\"}]","Trainees on Letters - Covering Letters and Application Forms | PDF",1789280970]