Can anyone (particulary anyone that knows about care work/and or retail work) help me write a covering letter......

[FarcicalAlienQueen]

for a job application please??

Our local Aldi is currently recruiting have to send my CV (ermm what CV - DH is going to help me sort that tonight) and a covering letter.

But I have no idea what to put in this covering letter - DH says it should be short and to the point, but say how I'm suited to the job.....

I'm the Director of Music at church (have been for 5yrs now) and have done care work for 2yrs.......I'm sure there must be a way of showing that my experiences would make me suitable for a job with them but I have no idea how to start........

Think of the skills you have learned...

• flexibity
• ability to delegate
• ability to lead/be part of a team
• ability to plan ahead
• good with people

Key transferable skills-
Just as Clarice has described.

thanks clarice - that's helpful - I'm just not very good at "naming" the skills I've learned

The main bit of the ad says

"Working for Aldi as a Store Assistant involves real responsibility as part of a small team. You?ll need to be willing to accept responsibility by thinking for yourself and undertaking tasks without constantly referring to the Store Manage"

and in the FAQ's on their website

"Why do we pay our Staff so well?
We believe that our Store Assistants are the best in the retail business. The job involves much more than most shop work as our teams are small. Our Store Assistants do everything in the Store, work harder and faster than most, are flexible with their shifts and expect to use their own initiative day in day out. We think that our Store Assistants are worth every penny. And by the way, there are no hidden charges that reduce your pay to more ?normal? rates. We pay more because our Store Assistants deliver more."

• so there seems to be a big emphasis on hard working, team work, but also able to work on your own type stuff....

ARGHH - I want this job - I want them to be able to give me the hours that I want (they do say in the add that they try to be flexible and can offer between 20-40hrs.....I want 20, and if they give it to me then I'll earn as much as I did working 28 3/4hrs a week on a night shift in my old job

Good example

I find it hard to talk myself up too, pretend (in your head) you are recommending a freind for the position and talk about all the wonderful things that make them perfect for the job, then insert I a the apporpriate places.

More advice

Have a look at the job web sites, they often have a section on letters and CVs.

I googled cover letter example until I found one close to what I needed and changed it a bit to suit.

wow thanks Scramble - that 2nd link is really useful.

I'm not good at talking myself up, in fact I still wonder how I managed to get my job as a care assistant - but I know I have to.

Another way is to get a freind, collegue or perhaps DH to write a list of what you are good at and what skils they think you have.

British are so bad at talking positivly about themselves. But you have to sell your self, no point in saying wel I am a little bit alright at teamwork and I am okay with people.

SELL SELL SELL, you are amazing and Aldis needs you, you will be such an asset for them, you just have to make sure they know this .