It’s essential that you write and attach a good covering letter when you send your CV to someone. It’s the first thing someone will read and you need to get it right. Get it wrong and people won’t even open your CV. Without a good covering letter and CV you’re not going to be asked in for a chat.
I’ve seen hundreds of covering letters in my job as a freelance talent manager recruiting for different production roles and also as a series producer. Far too many are badly written, repetitive and too long and can be dramatically improved. Some are just blank – which is poor and a missed opportunity.
When I am coaching I always spend time with my clients helping them to create a well written covering letter. I give them a template – which is specific to them and their skills and experience which they can adapt each time they write to a different company. And this is key – you need to change your letter each time you write to a company to match your skills and experience to their brand and what they are looking for.
Here are a few universal Dos and Don’ts on how to write an effective covering letter.
Do
- Use your email as your covering letter and attach your CV to it. This is preferable to sending a letter as a separate attachment that the reader then has to open.
- Have an email address with your full name in the title.
- Keep it brief and to the point – your letter should be no more than three paragraphs or half a page long – they have your CV to find out more.
- Address it to the right person and know their title and role. I am a freelance talent but receive many CVs that refer to the programmes ‘my company’ makes.
- Spell their name correctly.
- Address them with a degree of formality – you are not a friend and you don’t know them.
- Change the name in the ‘To’ box and also in the body of the letter if you use the same template each time.
- Use Dear Sir/Madam if you don’t know who you are writing to.
- Write in an engaging, direct way. It’s TV not banking – there’s no need to be overly formal.
- Check spelling mistakes, grammar and accuracy – get someone to proof read your letter for you.
- Adapt your letter to the company you are targeting. I had people emailing me at Zig Zag saying they loved programmes made by other companies.
- Know the style and brand of the company you are writing to so you mention their programmes – talk about them constructively and have an opinion.
- Introduce yourself and your job title then reference where you saw the advert or the mutual contact who told you about the job – or a contact you know at the company.
- State which job you are applying for and where you saw it advertised (they might be looking to fill more than one position).
- Lead with the most important information first – that’s pertinent to the company and the job you are going for.
- Use the advert itself as your reference, work out what they are after and write a short paragraph or list bullet points mentioning your direct relevant experience so you tailor your experience and skills to the job.
- Mention your last show/job and briefly summarise your credits, key USPs – like languages spoken, cameras used, editing.
- List the skills/experience you know the job will entail and ask the employer to consider you if you think you have the right experience required but do not actually have the credit in the role you are applying for. Make it obvious you are looking to step up because you have the correct experience but perhaps not the actual broadcast credit.
- Include your availability date and mention any flexibility you may have if you are coming to the end of a contract. Your current employer might let you leave a week early if another job comes along. The new employer may wait for you to be free if you are the best person for their project!
- Ask if you can come in for a chat.
- Sign off with your full name, mobile number and include a link to your show reel or personal website.
Do Not
- Write about your hobbies, your friends, pets or holidays! No one is interested! Stay work focussed
- State ‘skills’ that employers will expect of you anyway such as – a passion for TV, being a team player, make great tea or have great time management skills! In TV hard work, long hours and watching TV are a given.
- Try to be funny, address the employer as ‘mate’ or swear.
- Use abbreviated ‘text’ speak spellings or phrases.
- Paste your CV into the body of the email cover.
- Use ‘cheers’, ‘laters’ or a ‘x’ as you close – it’s just not appropriate!
And remember never lie – TV is a very small industry, people have a habit of knowing each other and you’ll be found out….
Elsa Sharp is a TV Talent Manager, author of How to Get A Job in Television and Career Coach.