Cover Letter
When you apply for a job, as well as your resume or CV you will also need to send a cover letter.
Contents |
What is a cover letter?
This is the first and best chance to make a good impression so it should be the best you can create.
The letter should be short and to the point. School owners and DoSs do not have time to waste so they want to see without delay who you are and whether it is worth spending time on reading your resume.
The cover letter should contain these points:
- why you are writing
- where you saw the advert
- who you are and what you can offer
- why you want this particular job
- ask them to consider your application
Don't, however, be arrogant in your letter and tell them how good you are and why they should employ you. Also, bear in mind that the person reading the letter may not have a 100% grasp of English so you should keep it simple.
The idea is that the letter should encourage them to open up your resume and read more about you.
Proof and Proof Again
The first things any decent school owner or DoS will notice in your letter are grammatical and spelling errors. Then you will be consigned to the rubbish bin.
So once you've written your letter, check it very, very carefully indeed. Then check it again. And then get a friend to check it. And then another one.
Any mistake in the letter - or your resume/CV - is liable to lose you the job!
Sample Cover Letter
Dear Mr Li, I am writing to apply for the position of EFL teacher at "China School" which you advertised on the EFL Job website on 3rd March, 2010. Earlier this year I graduated from Smithtown University with a degree in English. Following on from this I took and completed my TEFL Certificate with ICAL. Over the last year I have also been volunteering at a local immigrant center teaching English to new arrivals in my country - a job I enjoyed immensely! I have long planned to come to China and teach English (I'm starting to learn Mandarin) and I would appreciate it very much if you would consider me for the position of EFL teacher in your school. I have attached my resume and look forward to hearing from you. With regards, Jack Jones.
