September 3, 2024, by jhillary1

Crafting the perfect cover letter: My journey

By Hongwei Liang, data science student

When I first arrived in the UK, I was eager to gain practical experience through internships. In my first semester, I attended an in-person workshop hosted by the Careers and Employability Service.

It was there that I learned about the importance of cover letters in job applications in the UK, which is quite different from the process in China where a CV alone is enough.

Starting my journey

I wanted to secure an internship and started exploring job listings on various recruitment websites. However, my initial attempts at writing cover letters were inadequate. Despite my efforts to research and draft cover letters on my own, my applications received no responses. I realised that my cover letters were not up to standard.

Seeking help

To improve, I turned to the university’s Careers and Employability Service. Initially, I joined an online workshop focused on cover letters, but I still had many questions. So, I used the career consultation system to book a one-on-one session with Bethany Litchfield, a careers adviser.

Beth guided me through the entire process, helping me build a personalised and effective cover letter structure tailored to each job. She also provided feedback on my CV and advice on enhancing my LinkedIn profile.

Personalised guidance

Beth’s guidance didn’t stop there. She sent me an email after each meeting with links to useful resources, ensuring I had the tools needed to improve. Thanks to her help, I secured an interview for an internship.

Beth assisted me in analysing the job description, creating a mind map to organise my thoughts, and conducting a mock interview with me. Her feedback was instrumental in my success, and I ultimately landed the internship. The position I secured is in data analysis, which is closely related to my field of study.

The rewarding journey

This journey has been incredibly rewarding. It not only helped me secure a role related to my field of study but also boosted my confidence significantly.

Navigating the job market in a foreign country for the first time was really challenging, but the support I received from the Careers and Employability Service at the university made it manageable and even enjoyable.

Advice for fellow students

• Seek help: Don’t hesitate to use the Careers and Employability Service. The advisers are friendly, knowledgeable, and can provide personalised guidance.
• Understand the methodology: Whether it’s for a CV or a cover letter, there’s a methodology to follow. Use the resources available to learn these methods. When writing a cover letter, make sure to customise parts of it for each position you apply to.
• Practice and feedback: Use mock interviews and get feedback to improve your performance.
• Apply the STAR technique and use mind maps to help you through the process.

Final thoughts

I am immensely grateful to Beth and all the careers advisers from the university’s Careers and Employability Service who supported me. Their guidance was pivotal in helping me achieve my goal. I wish everyone the best of luck in their job search and highly recommend making full use of the university’s career services.

If you’d like help crafting your cover letter, check out our advice and examples on our webpage and then book a review appointment with an adviser.

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