How To: Write a Cover Letter
How To: Write a Cover Letter
What is a cover letter and why is it important?
A cover letter is a document, no longer than a page, that you may submit as part of your job application. This is additional to your CV.
This gives you the chance to briefly introduce yourself and summarise your professional background.
On average, a cover letter should be 250 – 400 words long.
How to write a good cover letter?
Before writing your cover letter, we recommend that you do some research on the company and the job role itself.
As mentioned earlier, a cover letter is additional to your CV so you should try not to repeat what is already on your CV.
Step 1: Start the cover letter with a header
It’s important to start your cover letter with your contact information. Ensure that your contact information is correct! There’s been many occasions where we have tried to contact a candidate and their details are wrong, so they end up missing out on a job!
Step 2: Opening paragraph
In the opening paragraph, you should state why you are writing the clover letter. You should include:
- What job you are applying for
- Where you found the job advertised
- When you’re available to start (do you have a notice period?)
Step 3: Second paragraph
In the second paragraph you should explain your strengths and how they could benefit the company and highlight your relevant experience to show how your skills match the specific requirements of the job description.
Step 4: Third Paragraph
In the third paragraph you should cover why you think you are suitable for the role. Also mention why you are interested in working for this company and what you could offer them. This is where your research comes in handy as it’s a good chance to prove what you know about the company so far.
Step 4: Closing paragraph
Use the final paragraph to summarise your letter. Reiterate your interest in the role.
Step 5: Sign off professionally
‘Kind Regards
John Doe’
Check out our other ‘How To’ articles
How To: Deal with Job Rejection
Rejection from a job can cause a dent in your confidence. People often view rejection as failure however, we think that you should view it as an opportunity to build on your skills and eventually, find a job that suits you.
It’s not just happening to you
Looking for jobs is tough, especially in the current job market. Remember, there’s so many factors out of your control – for example, the company may be looking for a specific person to fill the gap in their team. Everyone at one point in their carer gets rejected from a job role.
Ask for feedback
Once you have received the rejection, email the company, say thank you for their time and ask for feedback. Getting feedback on your CV, interview technique or even your experience can help you prepare for you next interview.
Stay positive
It’s totally normal to feel down after being rejected from a job. Keep yourself positive by doing things that you enjoy outside of work. This could be meeting up with friends, going on a walk, reading a new book, spending time on your hobbies, or exercising.
Keep your options open
Remember this is not the last job that you will ever interview for! There are other companies and jobs available so don’t get your heart set on one certain job.
How To: Contact Us
Here at Igloo, there’s more than just one way to contact us. So, if you’re running low on minutes or don’t have social media, then we can still talk!
Landline:
01455 891 358
Opt 1 – Automotive
Opt 2 – Transport
Mobile Phones: (WhatsApp available)
Automotive – 07809 890 419
Transport – 07920 499 699
Payroll – 07764 805 986
How To: Make the Most of Your Lunch Break
How To: Make the Most of Your Lunch Break
Breaks are important! Even a short break of 30 minutes can help you work more effectively throughout the day.
Totaljobs research shows that ‘More UK workers are skipping lunch – and paying the price’.
Here’s a few ways to ensure that you are making the most of your lunch break.
Eat
Don’t be that person that doesn’t eat their lunch because they want to look like a hard worker checking another task off their ‘to do’ list. Later in the day, you’ll start to lose concentration, feel lightheaded and will have gained a headache. Food fuels the body!
Eat your lunch away from your desk
Eating lunch away from your desk can help you be more productive, keep focused and be less stressed. Your lunch break is a time to get away from work. If you take your break at your desk, then all you will be thinking about is work!
Do some reading
Something that many of us wish we did more of is reading. Place yourself in a quiet place (this could be a quiet corner in the canteen, break room, outside or your car) and read a chapter or two.
Listen to a podcast
Podcasts come in all shapes and sizes. This could be anything from, educational, comedy, sports, crime stories, etc… Some people find it difficult to focus on a physical book so, another option is a podcast. You can just put your headphones in and listen.
Go for a walk
Walking is great for clearing your mind and lifting your mood! Not only are you clearing your mind but you’re moving your body which will help you feel less stressed. Being outdoors helps your body absorb vitamin D which can aid brain function and increase your energy levels.
How To: Become a HGV Driver
Are you looking for a career change? Why not try driving!
As a HGV driver you will not only need to be able to drive the vehicle, you will also be responsible for potentially planning your route (adjusting the route if necessary), supervising the loading and unloading of your truck, making sure everything is stored/strapped down safely and completing any required paperwork.
What are some required skills?
- You will need to be confident working alone for long periods of time
- Good concentration skills
- Understanding of road safety and road signs
- Good customer services skills as you may be dealing with customers and clients
How do I get qualified?
You will need different training and qualifications to drive different loads. You will need to ensure that you hold a full car licence and are over the age of 18.
The LGV/HGV licence is split into two categories (Category C1 and Category C). There is also an additional test for Category C+E.
During your test you will be covering:
- Driving skills
- Vehicle safety
- Manoeuvres
- How to load and secure loads
- Basic mechanics
- Theory test
You will also be required to also get a CPC. This is made up of fours tests. These fours tests include: a theory test, a case study test, a driving ability test and a practical demonstration. Once you have passed this you will need to update it every five years.
To transport hazardous goods, you will need your ADR licence (Advisory Dangerous Goods by Road Certificate). You can gain your ADR licence online.
After gaining my qualifications, what are my next steps?
Update your CV!
Ensure that you have updated your CV and include your new qualifications. To see our tips on how to write a good CV please CLICK HERE.
Landed your first interview? Congratulations! For our interview tips CLICK HERE.
How To: Stand Out in a Competitive Job Market
A competitive job market refers to the total number of positions that are available for one job role. A job market can decrease, or increase based on the demand for labour or on how many candidates are applying. As competition for jobs increase, it is important that you do your best to get yourself noticed. You need to be able to stand out by having a combination of the right education, experience, and skills in your industry.
Ensure you have relevant work experience
If you are looking at pursing a professional job, relevant work experience could be the difference between you getting the role or someone else with more experience getting it.
You could do an internship or an apprenticeship in the industry that you aspire to work in. During an internship and apprenticeship you are learning whilst you are on the job so not only are you getting the work experience from being in a working environment you are also getting the knowledge from studying the relevant qualification. The experience and skills that you would gain in this role can transfer into any future position.
Education
To be considered for any skilled role you need to ensure that you have the correct qualifications. An agency would more often than not choose a candidate that has appropriate qualifications and experience over someone who does not.
For Example: If you are thinking of becoming a technician/mechanic you might need a qualification in light vehicle maintenance (qualifications may vary depending on the job role and company). DISCLAIMER: Some companies will occasionally accept people who are time served without qualifications.
There are different ways that you could gain a qualification for the job that you desire. You could go down the root of an apprenticeship (as stated in the ‘ensure you have relevant work experience’ section). Apprenticeships are a good way to get started as you’ll get great hand on experience of being in a working environment as well as getting the education. You earn whilst you learn!
Another way of getting your qualifications could be through college courses. These types of courses can be found on the City and Guilds website or on any other providers websites.
Network
Networking can play a big role in helping you find the best job opportunity for you. Staying in contact with people who are in your industry even though you might not be looking for a job at the time could help you out massively in the future. Even though the people you connect with might not be hiring they could recommend you elsewhere.
Update your CV
If you’re looking around for a new job the first thing to do is to spruce up your CV. CLICK HERE!
You want your CV to be relevant to the job role that you are applying for so make sure that your CV is tailored to the job role. Ensure that your CV has been updated with your most current skills, qualifications, and work experience (you might even want to remove some information that is not relevant to the position).
Prepare for an interview
Whether you are new to job hunting or you’ve been in the game for a while ‘winging it’ should never be an option. Take a look at our tips on how to prepare for an interview. CLICK HERE!
How To: Stay Safe Behind the Wheel in Poor Weather Conditions
When we experience poor weather conditions it’s important to adapt your driving style. This type of weather brings poor visibility and reduced grip which can make your job extremely challenging. Good manoeuvring skills and skid control skills are essential. Here are some of our tips to stay safe behind the wheel in poor weather conditions.
Inspect the vehicle
Ensure that you have prepared your vehicle according to the weather to prevent any major problems. You should check the tire pressure, engine oil, wiper blades, fluids and lights before you set off for your journey.
Slow down
By driving at a slower speed, you have more time to react in the event that something happens. There is often risk of hydroplaning when driving at a higher speed. This can be due to loosing control of the vehicle due to slush in the road.
Keep a safe distance
Ensure that you keep a safe distance between you and the cars around you when possible. In the event of any unpredictable situations it’s always good to have extra room so you can move out of harm’s way. When driving in snowy conditions more stop time is required. This is due to reduced grip, visibility and the unpredictability of what could happen from the other drivers on the road.
FACT: The stopping distance on a wet road is twice the normal stopping distance. On an icy road it’s almost 10 times as much!
Turn on your headlights
Not only do you need to keep a safe distance from the other drivers, they need to keep a safe distance from you. Ensure that you have your headlights switched on so they can see you and maintain a safe distance.
Keep an eye out for black ice
Black ice is a thin transparent layer of ice that forms when the temperature is close to freezing. Black ice will make the road look slightly wet. How to spot black ice:
- There might be a build-up of ice on the mirror arms, top corners of the windshield or antenna
- There will be no spray back coming from the tyres of the vehicle in front of you
Pull over
If the weather condition become too severe and you’re nervous about driving, ensure you either stay parked at your location or pull over if you are driving. However, if you’re driving on a motorway do not pull over into the hard shoulder as other drivers may mistake you for a moving vehicle. Instead continue onto the next exit or services and come off safely there. Ensure that you listen to the weather reports and warnings so that you can react appropriately.
Be Prepared
Make sure you pack your essential bag and include a little bit extra! Ensure you have warm clothing and blankets with you. If you are going on a longer journey you might want to take other items such as a torch, windshield scraper, a bag of sand/salt and shovel etc…
How To: Become a Mechanic
Are you looking for a career change? Interested in becoming a mechanic? Keep reading!
As a mechanic you will be working on vehicle mechanics and electricals. You will need to be able to repair and maintain different types of vehicles. You might also be working on but not limited to cameras, parking sensors, checking oil, water, break fluids, changing brake pads and discs, removing and replacing tyres, diagnostics and stripping and refitting the vehicle.
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are a good way to get started as you’ll get great hand on experience of being in a working environment as well as getting the education. You earn whilst you learn!
To be accepted onto a course you will most likely need GCSE Maths, English and Science however, circumstances are different for every course so this may vary.
The courses might be as seen below: (Course titles may vary depending on the course you choose)
- Level 1 certificate in vehicle maintenance
- Level 2 certificate in light vehicle maintenance and repair
- Level 3 diploma in vehicle technology
College Courses
There are a few different types of courses that you can complete. These types of courses can be found on the City and Guilds website or on any other providers websites.
Volunteering
You might be able to get the chance to volunteer servicing cars and equipment at a local garage. You’ll get great experience from this however, you will only be time served. This might be a slight issue when trying to apply for any jobs where it’s a requirement for you to have a specific qualification.
What skills would I need?
- Strong communication skills
- Problem solving skills
- Good attention to detail
After completing my course, what are my next steps?
Update your CV!
Ensure that you have updated your CV and include your new qualifications. To see our tips on how to write a good CV please CLICK HERE.
Landed your first interview? For our interview tips CLICK HERE.
How To: Application Process
Wondering how easy our application process is? Keep reading to find out.
We’ve been using different E-Signature websites such as Docusign and Signable for years. However, we recently got a brand new website and have been able to move all our documents onto there. This makes the application process so much quicker and easier! Try it for yourself!
How does it work?
Once you have spoken to our consultants regarding your desired position, they will send you an email with a list of full instructions of what we need from you. This will include:
- A list of all your ID documents that we need
- How to create a share code for a DVLA check (if applicable)
- A link to our application packs. The application pack that you receive will depend on the job role that you apply for, your employment type and the site that you will be working at.
All ID must be sent to Compliance@igloodrivers.com. You will then need to click the links and fill out the packs. Any mandatory field will have a ‘*’ next to it. If this section does not apply to you, please put ‘N/A’.
Once you have completed filling in your details you will need to:
- Click ‘SUBMIT’. This will then take you to the next page where you can see the full document.
- Please ensure that you read through the full document and click into the E-Signature box to sign.
- Once signed you will see a blue button in the bottom right of the screen, ‘Agree & Sign’ once you click on this button Igloo will receive your completed sign off and you will also receive a copy of the document.
The packs are very straight forwards however, if you get stuck, we have a ‘chat with us’ option in the bottom right hand corner of the website. During office hours we will be active on this however, during out of office hours it will come into the compliance inbox and we will reply as quickly and efficiently as possible.
