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Job hunting? The importance of a good cover letter

Every step of the job application or recruitment process is important. Right from drawing up a cover letter and CV, to emailing your CV to prospective employers, to acing the personal interview and actually getting an offer -- every step requires careful planning. Errors and carelessness at any juncture could cost you your dream job.

So what are the tools that will help you make the best impression and bag that job?

Here, in a continuing series, Nasha Fitter, trainer and author of You're Hired!, shares helpful tips and real-life examples of the most common errors job seekers make and how you can ace each aspect of the application process.

How to write a winning cover letter

The cover letter or e-mail that accompanies a CV is almost as important as the CV itself, says Nasha. It is the first thing an HR manager or recruiter sees. If it is riddled with errors or unprofessional in any way, the odds are that it'll be deleted or cast aside even before your CV is looked at, thus costing you a valuable interview call.

So what are the most common errors candidates commit when writing their cover letter? How do you make sure your cover letter or e-mail is phrased correctly? Nasha explains...