How do you demonstrate your value and skills in a cover letter without repeating your resume?

Share a brief story or example to show your impact. Focus on how you can solve the company’s problems or meet their needs, and explain why you’re excited about the job. Keep it personal and targeted, not a summary of your resume.

In my experience, the best cover letters fit on a single page and are structured into 5 (ish) paragraphs. Recruiters don't want to sit and read your entire personal and professional history, they're looking for a quick overview of highlights and compatibility. In terms of layout - matching the visuals of your cover letter to your CV creates a professional application 'pack' that delivers a great first impression.

I agree with this to an extent - but it needs to be approached with caution. The last section of this essay talked about the importance of matching the tone of your cover letter to the style of the employer, and this is true here too. For example, if you're applying for a managerial role in a company that has a reputation for being very serious, then leading your cover letter with a personal anecdote or a 'catchy' quip might be a big mistake. A more reliable approach to a great introduction is to isolate the core objective of the role you're applying for (always given in the job description) and start with a positive statement about why you are confident you can make this happen.

Don't limit yourself to parroting the job description here - get on the company website and find out about their mission and values, their future goals, their team and their history. Show that you've done some homework and gained an understanding of what they're all about and then demonstrate how you are the perfect match for their culture and aspirations.

Do you have a unique skill or talent that you think will be useful to the business even if they haven’t mentioned it in their job advert? For example, do you speak more than one language, do you have unique career experience such as being a Trade Union rep which means you bring something special to the table? Mention this and explain how or why you think you can add value. Above all, always be yourself and allow your personality to shine through

Telling a compelling story is a critical skill for many jobs--especially the more senior roles within a company. The cover letter provides you an opportunity to showcase your ability to persuasively communicate with a defined audience. Take the time to share your experiences in a way that is tailored to the specific position. Ensure you edit, revise, and polish your cover letter to eliminate typos and other commentary that may not convey your overall message. I like to write my first draft of a cover letter, and then I do not look at it for a few days. After ample time has passed, I review it with a fresh perspective. I can typically spot ways to improve my cover letter if I follow this approach.

Personally, I really dislike the use of bullet points in a cover letter. They take up unnecessary space and rarely add any unique value beyond what's already covered in your CV. You do need to include a paragraph about your achievements, but instead of trying to cram the letter full of colourful action verbs, pick one or two of your best examples and explain in more detail what you did and what value it added to the business/clients/customers etc. If you can match your examples to the new role (for example if the focus of the role is customer experience and you spent time in a previous job researching and improving customer touchpoints) then so much the better.

Your cover letter is a great place to highlight soft skills you possess that aren't exactly quantifiable or don't fit into the flow of your resume. Personally I DO like using 3 bullet points (one sentence each) to illustrate these soft skills with specific examples. It allows the reader to quickly digest the information you're providing. We live in a world where concise content reigns supreme. The person reading your resume knows nothing about you. The easier you make it for them to access information about you (i.e. concise language and bullet points) the stronger your chances are of getting noticed and remembered.