Resume,Cover Letters, Job Fairs and Interviews
A cover letter is very essential in your job applications.
Your cover letter is the first thing employers see when they receive your application, so you have to make efforts to impress them.
An effective cover letter should explain the reasons for your interest in the organization and in the job you are applying for.
Make sure that your cover letter explains how your skills relate to the criteria listed in the job posting and how passionate you are about joining the company.
Possessing a well crafted, tailored and succinct covering letter can make all the difference in the quest to secure an interview.
Yet despite this, many graduates still fall into the trap of producing generic covering letters that fail to grab the attention of employers.
Below we’ve highlighted a few pointers to help you craft a compelling covering letter to accompany your next application:
Start with your reasons for applying
State why you want to work for the company…
…and why that role in particular
Avoid repeating your CV
Highlight specific experiences for the role
Answer any questions an employer has on motivation or skills
Do it right and it could be your ticket to the next stage of the application process.
SAMPLE 1
24 Adeniyi Jones Ave.
Ikeja, Lagos
Tel: 08030000000
24 May 2007
Personnel Manager,
Ecobank Nigeria Plc
2 Ajose Adeogun St.,
P.O. Box 72688, Victoria Island,
Lagos - NIGERIA
Dear Sir/Madam
Re: ECO/GRA/2007/06/23 GRADUATE RECRUITMENT APPLICATION 2007
In response to the advertisement on the Guardian Newspaper of 24th May 2007, please find enclosed a copy of my CV for the position of Graduate Recruitment at your bank.
I am young, energetic and resourceful and graduated from Enugu State University with a degree in Geography. I have just completed my National Youth Service, during which I served as a Ticket Officer with Sosoliso Airlines, where I was responsible for the sales of flight tickets for over 3000 passengers per day. This heightened my accountability, dexterity and ability to work under pressure with little or no supervision.
My previous experience also exposed me to a lot of paperwork, records-keeping, cash handling, customer service, decision-making, working as a team; attributes I hope will be very significant in the kind of person you hope to employ at Ecobank.
I am very confident of maintaining high levels of commitment and consistency with multiple projects and work patterns and I believe I am fully informed on what this role involves, with an earnest passion to fulfill your objectives.
I will be glad if you consider me for this position. Hope to hear from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
Adebanjo Olukoya
Adebanjo Olukoya
SAMPLE2
24 Adeniyi Jones Ave.
Ikeja, Lagos
Tel: 08030000000
24 May 2007
Personnel Manager,
Ecobank Nigeria Plc
2 Ajose Adeogun St.,
P.O. Box 72688, Victoria Island,
Lagos - NIGERIA
Dear Sir/Madam
Re: APPLICATION FOR ENTRY LEVEL GRADUATE RECUITMENT POSITION
I was excited when I saw your advertised position stated above in the careers website (www.nairalandcareers.com) this morning and I am gladly sending you my CV for this role.
Presently, I am working with Excel Engineering Ltd where am doing my NYSC and responsible for the maintenance of electrical plants and machineries for the company’s diverse clients. This is related with my educational background which happens to be Electrical Engineering from the Ahmadu Bello University.
However, I have always wanted to work with Ecobank – as my personality best suits your overall corporate image. I am very articulate; with a high sense of record keeping, very strong interpersonal skills, effective communications ability and interests in finance. I have also been taking courses at the Nigerian Institute of Management, where I am exposed to the several aspects of patterns in the banking industry and business world.
Right through my studies and current professional engagements, I have proved to be self-motivated, value oriented, resourceful, adaptable, flexible and dependable – qualities that I am sure will successfully drive your bank’s corporate perspectives.
I will be eternally grateful if you consider me for this position.
Yours sincerely,
Adebanjo Olukoya
Adebanjo Olukoya
Ps: I am interested in this position and will be very happy to be interviewed by you.
SAMPLE 3
24 Adeniyi Jones Ave.
Ikeja, Lagos
Tel: 08030000000
24 May 2007
Human Resources Manager,
Ecobank Nigeria Plc
2 Ajose Adeogun St.,
P.O. Box 72688, Victoria Island,
Lagos - NIGERIA
Dear Sir/Madam,
Re: APPLICATION FOR THE POSITION OF MANAGEMENT TRAINEE
From your company’s web site, I learned about your recruiting graduates for Management Trainee positions. I am very interested in this position and I am confident that my level of education and work experiences will suit the nature of candidates you intend to recruit for these roles.
As you will see from my CV, I have recently graduated from the University of Lagos, with a B.Sc. in Economics, where I demonstrated extraordinary efficiencies in learning, adaptability and accountability. I was involved in several Management events in my Department. Noteworthy was my work for the Nigerian Economic Students Association, where I served as its Vice President from 2005-2007 Academic year.
At the moment, I am doing my NYSC with Eagle Insurance Plc, where I am responsible for marketing their Insurance policies to businesses in the Lagos Mainland areas. I am working closely with the Agency Manager and thus have an informed knowledge of the financial industry, while also acquiring Business Development skills.
Prior to this, I worked briefly at an Internet Café as Operations Officer, making sure that all the workstations of the business are running smoothly at all times and also implementing a code of conduct for the employees in the firm in order to improve their effectiveness. I received the Employee of the Month award from the Management for three consecutive months, highlighting my hard work, honesty and high sense of responsibility.
With my proven ability to manage great responsibilities from my experiences, I feel that I will be able to make a significant contribution to your bank’s overall growth.
Yours sincerely,
Adebanjo Olukoya
Adebanjo Olukoya