Top 5 Tips for Writing a PA Cover Letter
When applying for PA jobs, your cover letter must be concise, professional, and draw on your top level experience to attract the recruiter/employer. Having a good hook is essential to the success of your cover letter, with the writer providing context, evidence and drive for the role in hand. Presenting your PA or EA cover letter offers you the chance to go beyond the points on your CV, expressing how your experience has prepared you for your next career move.
So, what is a hiring manager looking for? As noted in our ‘5 key attributes of a great PA’ article, a PA candidate must possess an effortless communication and organisation style, be proactive, flexible, and bring a calm and positive attitude to the table. Your cover letter is your chance to provide a short, sharp analysis of how your expertise and accomplishments align with the job description.
We’ve detailed our five top tips below, to help you establish a strong cover letter, advance to the interview stage, and ultimately, secure your new PA or EA job.
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1. Balance Form and Function
Your cover letter must be easily readable, be evident about who you are, what you are applying for and your capabilities to do the job. When composing your cover note, ensure that it is formatted like a letter, with your contact information, an appropriate salutation (including the name of the recruiter or interviewer) and closing statement, such as ‘yours sincerely’.
We recommend writing two bespoke paragraphs (about 200-300 words each depending on the type of role), including an opening statement, an explanation of why you’re interested in the position, and how you heard about the role.
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2. Provide Evidence
The main two paragraphs of your cover letter should include what attracted you to the role, why you want to work for the company, and why they should hire you as their new PA or EA.
The employer is looking for two things; your ability to conduct the role in hand with a foundation of skills, experience and expertise, and whether you’ll add value to the organisation.
The best way to accomplish these goals is to provide quantifiable top line examples of how you match the job description:
• Instead of saying: ‘in my prior role, as PA to three senior executives at a global retail corporation, I spearheaded extensive calendar and diary management, booking travel, meetings and accommodation.’
• You could note, ‘as PA to three senior executives at a global retail corporation, I introduced a client and travel scheduling program, decreasing scheduling time by 50%.’
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3. Qualifications, Industry Expertise, and Keywords
Focusing on the skills and experiences that make you a strong candidate for the position, through using examples of relevant education, certifications, and any specialised training you have received, helps your cover letter stand out to the employer. Adding in specific examples of your certifications, training, and networking at leading industry events, such as the PA show, helps to add a personal and proactive element to your letter. Dive into our ‘how to get the best out of a networking event’ article for further detail.
Using appropriate keywords from the job description to demonstrate that you have the required qualifications and experience for the role in hand.
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4. Demonstrate Company Knowledge and Adjust Tone
Before commencing your letter, take time to research the company you’re applying to. Peruse their website, social media, newsletters, and press releases, to understand the presented values, culture, goals, and industry position. Researching the organisation helps you to discuss how your skills align with the company's needs and how you can contribute to its success.
Your tone of voice, whether you’re applying to a PA job in the banking and finance sector, or to a private client PA job, should always be professional - no matter whether the company utilises a business-like tone of voice on their website, newsletters and messaging, or a culture-centric casual messaging behind its brand.
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5. Tailor, Address Concerns, and Express Thanks
Customising your cover letter for each job application goes without saying. To progress to an interview stage, you must avoid sending a generic letter. Feature specific aspects of your experience that are relevant to the particular job and company, demonstrate enthusiasm for the role, and remember to address any gaps in your employment history / why you’re choosing to make a career change if you’re changing direction.
Concluding your cover letter by expressing your gratitude for the opportunity to apply and reiterating your interest in the position, is a nice way to finalise your application. Remember to include a call to action, such as expressing your hope for an interview or stating your availability for further discussion.
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PA jobs on SecsintheCity:
Preparing your covering letter allows you to progress and commence your job search on SecsintheCity - the UK’s leading job site for business support professionals, advertising the latest vacancies for EA and PA jobs
In need of further advice on your CV or covering letter? Head over to the SecsintheCity careers blog for helpful tips on how to curate a PA CV, with our PA CV template.
Fancy a free CV review? SecsintheCity has partnered with TopCV to provide you with comprehensive CV aid. Upload your CV to site today, to get headhunted for advertised and non-advertised PA job roles.