cv library cover letter

How to write a cover letter for 2021

When the time comes for you to write a cover letter for your application, it can be very tricky. After all, it needs to expand on your key skills and suitability to the role. There’s a lot of pressure. But, a great cover letter really can make the difference between landing an interview and not making the cut.

We all know how time-consuming they can be to put together. After all, every application requires a uniquely tailored approach for each company. While it might seem a tedious task, getting it right is essential.

Recruiters receive masses of applications every day; and your cover letter needs to stand out. The New Year is a great time to get ahead and write the perfect cover letter that will land you your dream job.

Still not convinced? Don’t worry – we’ll explain how to do it in more detail below.

Research is key

While not very exciting, research is essential when you start to write a cover letter. It’s also an important part of the overall job-hunting process. Before you even start typing, make sure you’ve done some detailed research first. Think about the following before writing:

• Who are you addressing your letter to?
• What does the job description say – does it mention any particular skills or experience?
• What’s going on in your industry, are there any recent news stories?
• Is there any news out there about the company you’re applying to?
• What are the company’s aims or goals?
• Who are the main competitors or clients of the business?

Include the essentials

You’re now at the stage where you can think about starting the letter. But don’t write a cover letter just yet. Have a plan in place first of what you need to include. You need to think about:

• Why the position interests you
• What your most relevant skills and experience are
• How these skills will contribute to the business
• How will you include a call to action that prompts a response from the recruiter?

Tailor the cover letter (to the role and organisation)

While a timely process, recruiters want to see that you’re passionate about working for their company. They prefer a candidate who has taken the time to apply , rather than an individual doing the rounds.

Obviously, this will be time-consuming for you, but it’s essential if you want to be shortlisted for, and ultimately land, the job.

Think about how you can show your potential employer that your skills, experience and qualities can fit into their role. You need to prove that you’re the candidate to hire and that you’re an exceptionally talented individual.

The structure

So , you’ve done your research and prepared you r plan. Now you want to know what structure to follow before you start to write a cover letter, right?

A cover letter should resemble any formal business letter. So this means placing your address in the right-hand corner and starting with the recruiter’s name, a formal greeting and ending with ‘Kind regards’. Here’s the format in more detail:

[Your Address Line 1]

[Address Line 2]

[Address Line 3]

[Phone Number]

[Company’s Address]

[Company’s phone number]

Dear [name],

Application for [name of the role]

Paragraph 1: The opening paragraph needs to say what job you’re applying for and where or how you found out about the position.

Paragraph 2 : This paragraph needs to be about you , and expand on the important details in your CV. You then need to give a summary of any skills or education you have that is relevant to the role.

Paragraph 3 : Here, you want to impress the recruiter on your knowledge of the company and the sector. This is the part where you need to explain why you want to work for their company and that particular role. Make this completely specific to the company and pick out a few key reasons ; whether you admire their work ethic, or have followed their journey closely over the years.

Ultimately, you want to show the hiring manager not what they can do for you, but what you can do for them. Remember, they’re looking for someone who will fit in with the company culture and their core values.

Paragraph 4: This is your last paragraph so end it proactively! Push the boat out there and say ‘I look forward to hearing from you’. Or, let t he recruiter know your availability for a call back. Finally, thank them for reading your letter.

Kind regards,

[Your Name]

Submitting it digitally

After you write a cover letter, it’s time to send it. Nowadays, emailing over an application is extremely common. But what is the etiquette for this?

First of all, carefully read any instructions the employer has written. For example, if they want the letter attached as a Microsoft Word document, then do this. If nothing is specified stick with a PDF; it means that no matter what device or system the recruiter uses, they will still be able to open your letter.

If anything isn’t specified, you could also choose to copy and paste the letter from word into the email. Doing so means the recruiter has easy access to your letter to increase your chances of being shortlisted.

What length should my cover letter be?

When you write a cover letter, it shouldn’t exceed one A4 page. Understandably, this can be difficult when you want to include all of your experience and qualifications. But, you need to keep it to the point to avoid sending the recruiter to sleep.

The final proofread after you write a cover letter

So, you’ve finished writing your perfectly tailored cover letter. But you’re not quite finished yet. It’s officially time to proofread again and again. A small grammatical or spelling error could risk your cover letter being thrown in the ‘no box’. Ask a friend or family member to lend a fresh pair of eyes to give your letter another read.

Now you should be well prepared and set to land your dream job in 2021. For more career advice and application tips, check out our top 10 essential guidelines to follow when writing a cover letter.

Image: Pexels

Related career advice articles.

Library Assistant cover letter examples

If you’re hoping to secure a position as a library assistant, check out our handy guide below.

We’ve got stacks of top tips that will help you write a gripping cover letter that’s sure to get you noticed.

We’ve also put together some library assistant cover letter examples to point you in the right direction.

CV templates 

Library Assistant cover letter example 1

Library Assistant cover letter example 2

Library Assistant cover letter example 3

These Library Assistant cover letter examples provide you with some guidance and inspiration for writing a cover letter that gets noticed and ensures your CV will get opened.

But if you really want to master the art of writing a winning cover letter , then follow our step-by-step cove letter writing guide below.

How to write a Library Assistant cover letter

Here’s how to write your own winning Library Assistant cover letter

Write your cover letter in the body of an email/message

You should write your cover letter in the body of the email (or messaging system if sending via a job board) and never attach it as a document.

The reason for this?

You want your cover letter to start connecting with the recruiter from the moment they open your application.

If they have to open a document to read it, it will slow things down and they may not even bother to open it.

Start with a friendly greeting

Start you cover letter with a greeting that is professional but friendly.

This will build rapport with the recruiter whilst showing your professionalism.

• Hi, hope you’re well
• Hi [insert recruiter name]
• Hi [insert department/team name]

Avoid overly formal greetings like “Dear sir/madam ” unless applying to very traditional companies.

How to find the contact’s name?

Addressing the recruitment contact by name is an excellent way to start building a strong relationship. If it is not listed in the job advert, try these methods to find it.

• Check out the company website and look at their  About page. If you see a hiring manager, HR person or internal recruiter, use their name. You could also try to figure out who would be your manager in the role and use their name.
• Head to LinkedIn , search for the company and scan through the list of employees. Most professionals are on LinkedIn these days, so this is a good bet.

Identify the role you are applying for

Now that you have warmed the recruiter up with a friendly greeting, firstly you need to let them know which role you are applying for.

Sometimes a recruitment consultant will be juggling 10 or 10 vacancies, so it’s important to specify which one you are applying to.

Give us much detail as possible (team/department, role title etc.) and paste in the reference number if you have one.

Here are some examples you can use.

• I am interested in applying for the role of Library Assistant with your company.
• I would like to apply for the role of Sales assistant (Ref: 40f57393)
• I would like to express my interest in the customer service vacancy within your retail department
• I saw your advert for an IT project manager on Reed and would like to apply for the role.

See also: CV examples – how to write a CV – CV profiles

Highlight your suitability

The bulk of your cover letter should be focused around highlighting your suitability for the job you are applying to.

Doing this will show the recruiter that you are suitable candidate and encourage them to open your CV.

The best way to do this, is by studying the job advert you are applying to, and find out what the most important skills and knowledge are.

Once you know the most important requirements, you then need to highlight your matching skills to the recruiter. In a few sentences, tell them exactly why you are a good fit for the job and what you can offer the company.

Keep it short and sharp

A good cover letter is short and sharp, getting to the point quickly with just enough information to grab the attention of recruiters.

Ideally your cover letter should be around 4-8 sentences long – anything longer will risk losing the attention of time-strapped recruiters and hiring managers .

Essentially you need to include just enough information to persuade the reader to open up your CV, where the in-depth details will sit.

Sign off professionally

To round of your CV, you should sign off with a professional signature.

This will give your cover letter a slick appearance and also give the recruiter all of the necessary contact information they need to get in touch with you.

The information to add should include:

• A friendly sign off – e.g. “Kindest regards”
• Your full name
• Phone number (one you can answer quickly)
• Email address
• Profession title
• Professional social network –  e.g. LinkedIn

Here is an example signature;

Warm regards,

Jill North IT Project Manager 078837437373 [email protected] LinkedIn

Quick tip: To save yourself from having to write your signature every time you send a job application, you can save it within your email drafts, or on a separate documents that you could copy in.

What to include in your Library Assistant cover letter

So, what type of information should you write about in your Library Assistant cover letter?

The specifics will obviously depend on your profession and the jobs you are applying to, but these are the key areas you should be covering.

• Your industry experience – Tell recruiters the types of companies you have been working for and the roles you have held in the past.
• Your qualifications – Highlight your most important relevant qualifications to show employers you are qualified to do the roles you are applying for.
• The impact you have made – Demonstrate the positive impact you have made for employers in previous jobs. Have you saved money? Improved processes? Made customers happy?
• Your reasons for moving – Employers will want to know why you are leaving your current/previous role, so provide them with a brief explanation here.
• Your availability – When will you be able to start a new job ? Check your current contract to find out your notice period if you are in a position already.

Library Assistant cover letter templates

Copy and paste these Library Assistant cover letter templates to get a head start on your own.

I hope you are well.

I am delighted to apply for the Library Assistant position at the Human Sciences Research Council. As an avid reader with a passion for providing exceptional services, I am excited about the opportunity to promote a love for learning and literacy within the community.

Over the past 4 years working for as a Library Assistant at The British Library, I have helped users in locating books, resources, and materials, as well as answered inquiries and provided information about library services and policies. Furthermore, I maintain an organised library layout, with a track record of addressing inquiries, offering technology support, and increasing CSAT rating by 15% through aiding patrons with searches. Furthermore, I achieved a 10% reduction in overdue materials and updated the digital catalogue to assure a 100% accurate record of the library’s collection.

I have attached my CV for your review, which outlines my relevant competencies and qualifications. You can reach out to me to schedule an interview at your earliest convenience.

Kind regards

Simone MacAnthony

I trust you are well. I am reaching out to you to apply for the Junior Library Assistant role at The London Library. As a passionate reader and recent graduate with a BSc in Library Science, I am eager to contribute my organisational skills to your esteemed institution.

Throughout my academic journey, I developed an appreciation for libraries as community hubs for learning, exploration, and imagination. My coursework equipped me with a foundation in customer service and cataloguing, preparing me to support day-to-day library functions. I current work in a voluntary capacity at Wren Library, where I received recognition from staff and patrons for my contributions to the library’s welcoming atmosphere. Furthermore, I helped conduct outreach activities, promote the organisation services, and increase card registrations by 20%.

Though I may be a recent graduate, my love for books and commitment to providing excellent service make me an ideal candidate for the aforementioned position. I am highly motivated to apply my theoretical knowledge in a practical setting and learn from experienced professionals.

I am available at your convenience for an interview and can be reached via email or by phone.

Vanessa Kay

Good day Rachel

I am contacting you in relation to the Senior Library Assistant vacancy at the Manchester Central Library. With a great passion for literature and extensive experience in library services, I believe that I am the perfect candidate to drive the success of your esteemed establishment.

In my 10 years of working as a Senior Library Assistant at The Hive, I consistently offer exceptional customer service and foster community engagement. I am committed to promoting libraries as invaluable resources for knowledge, culture, and lifelong learning, with a track record of implementing a new management system which increased cataloguing efficiency by 30%. Additionally, I led team members towards raising CSAT scores by 15%, developed the organisation’s social media presence, and boosted the number of Instagram followers by 12K in 1 year.

I am focused on mentoring, empowering, and equipping staff with the skills necessary to provide outstanding support to patrons, as well as carrying out ad hoc tasks with consummate professionalism.

Please do not hesitate to touch base with me at your earliest convenience to discuss my qualifications, skills, and other achievements. I am immediately available for an interview.

Andrea Jackson

Writing a strong attention-grabbing cover letter is a vital step in landing a good Library Assistant job.

Use the tips, strategies and examples above to get more responses from you job applications and start lining job interview up.

Good luck with your job search!

Resume and Cover Letters Tips

Writing a custom resume and new cover letter for every job application can be a daunting task. We've got you covered—with expert resume tips, advice on how to write a cover letter, and a wide variety of resume and cover letter samples to guide you through the process.

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College & Career Pathways (CCP): College and Career Pathways: Virtual (or In-Person) 1-on-1 Counseling Sessions @ St. George

Need a second pair of eyes on your cover letter or resume? Want to practice your job interview skills? Need help finding the right career for you? Or just talk through a job search?  Sign up for a 1 on 1 counseling session with a librarian. 

Each session is half an hour and takes place either at the St. George Library Center or online via Google Meet. 

Fill out this form to register for a session .

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