Cut to the chase
Once you’ve made your introduction, telling your potential future employer who you are, don’t waffle – get stuck straight into what you want to say. The job market being what it is, the person dealing with applications will probably have a very full mailbag, and you will prove yourself useful and efficient from the get-go if you help them save time.

U wot, m8?
It can be a tricky line to walk, but try and strike a balance between formal and straightforward. Make sure you don’t abbreviate anything (for example, don’t use ‘&’ instead of ‘and’; and spell out numerals one to ten, although after ten you can go for digits) and never, ever use slang or text spelling. If you aren’t entirely confident composing letters, keep everything very simple: flowery, over-complicated prose could end up accidentally conveying the opposite of what you really want to say.

Find a second pair of eyes
You don’t need a grammar or spelling ninja to help you perfect your letter: once it’s finished, simply finding someone to read it over a couple of times can be really helpful. They will spot sentences that don’t quite make sense on the page (but did in your head) and any missed letters or words. And of course, if you do know any grammar or spelling ninjas, now is the time to call for their assistance (with caution, naturally: a well-aimed comma can cause nasty injuries…).

So, who are you again?
This letter is a sales pitch, so make sure the person reading it knows what a great product you’re selling: you, and your skills and experience. Once you’ve introduced yourself, state your job title, then go on to detail – as succinctly as you can – your work background, your key achievements and what you consider to be your most desirable skills. Don’t be shy about stating what you’re good at, but be sure to back it up with facts.

Where on earth am I?
Do your homework about the company, and show it clearly in your letter, explaining why you’re keen on them and why you would be a great fit. As we’ve said before on this blog, personal success at work is often as much about the place as the job, and your recruiter will want to know he or she is dealing with someone who is genuinely interested in joining the team.

Make sure the tone suits the industry
If you’re applying for a job at a bank or a law firm, sensible and standard is the order of the day. But if you’re applying to work in a creative industry then something a bit more imaginative could be just the thing to impress, and to make you stand out from the crowd.

From me to, er, you…
A tricky little trap when writing letters: is it Yours sincerely or Yours faithfully at the end? If you know the name of the person you are writing to and you address them personally at the top, then it’s ‘sincerely’. If you don’t, and have topped the letter with ‘Dear Sir or Madam’, it’s faithfully.