Glen Catchpole is the Talent Acquisition Partner for our Commercial teams at Head Office. He’s been with us for over 3 years and has over 15 years’ experience working for recruitment agencies prior to that. Here he offers some thoughts on how a Cover Letter could help your job applications stand out from the crowd….. 

A few months ago I created a poll on LinkedIn asking those who had recruited staff previously for their thoughts on Cover Letters and whether they had found them useful when reviewing applications. The results read as follows: 

• Yes – they can be useful – 33% 

• I don’t really mind either way – 23% 

• No – I don’t read them anyway – 44% 

The results were very much in line with my expectations. There is apathy as to whether its worthwhile to write a cover letter these days, borne out by over 40% of the vote. However, a solid third of respondents feel they’re useful, coupled with almost a quarter who don’t mind whether you write one, but presumably would read yours if you had written one. Therefore, I think it’s fair to assume that around half the people you send a cover letter to WILL read it – that’s an opportunity! 

As someone who looks over lots of applications – well over 10,000 a year – I see huge numbers of unsuitable applications for many of our vacancies. Modern recruitment websites and job boards are built for quick and easy applications and AI allows you to send multiple applications for roles in an instant. This, in turn, leads to high numbers of people making applications without carefully tailoring their application to stand out. What’s vital, if you’re applying for a role you really care about, is that you make it abundantly clear that your application ought to be taken seriously.  

I wouldn’t claim that a cover letter is the “silver bullet” and would guarantee success, but a well written cover letter will only serve to help your chances of success. Anecdotally, I’ve spoken to managers here at Jet2.com & Jet2holidays who welcome a well-written cover letter and tend to prefer those who have taken the time to write one.  

Whilst a CV tends to focus on your qualifications, skills, and experiences, a cover letter provides an opportunity to showcase your personality, enthusiasm for the role, and the unique value you can bring to the company. 

Here’s 5 ways a well-written cover letter can help your application stand out from the crowd: 

Improve connection / personalisation 

By tailoring your letter to the specific job and company, you demonstrate that you’ve done your research and are genuinely interested in the role. Mentioning the company’s values, recent developments, or challenges in your cover letter shows that you’re engaged with their work and are eager to contribute.

Outline your fit

In a cover letter, you can highlight the key experiences and skills that make you an ideal candidate for the role. Focus on the most relevant achievements and how they align with the job description / advert. This allows you to show your career development and pin-point why you’re the right fit for the company, something that’s harder to convey in a bullet-point format within your CV. 

Demonstrate enthusiasm 

Employers are not only looking for someone who is qualified, but also for someone who is passionate about the position and the business. People tend to give more to a business when it aligns to their values and the cover letter offers the opportunity to explain why that might be and why you’re excited about that specific role.  Enthusiasm and interest will often sway hiring managers when they’re deciding between candidates with similar qualifications. 

Explaining gaps or changes 

If there are gaps in your employment history or if you’re transitioning into a new career, a cover letter provides the perfect place to address these issues. You can use the letter to explain your situation, demonstrate resilience, or discuss the transferrable skills that make you a strong candidate despite any non-traditional career path. 

Showcase your communication skills 

Finally, a cover letter is a demonstration of your communication skills. A clear, concise, and engaging cover letter shows that you can articulate your thoughts effectively, which is a valuable skill in most roles. 

In summary, a cover letter gives you the opportunity to offer a broader picture of who you are as a candidate. When done right, it can make a strong first impression and help you stand out from the competition. 

If you’d like some inspiration as to how to structure a cover letter you’ll find some ideas via these links: 

How to Write a Cover Letter | What to Put in a Cover Letter | UCAS  

How to Write a Cover Letter That Sounds Like You (and Gets Noticed) (hbr.org) 

How to structure a cover letter (With example) | Indeed.com UK 

To find out more about open positions and what life is like here at Jet2 you can contact Glen on LinkedIn.