1 - Introduction ~5 mins
Welcome
Build a one-page cover letter with Irish layout that matches your CV and fits one employer.
School email and {{code:08X XXX XXXX}} only. No home address, date of birth or photo.
Warm-up
Which letter is for one workplace?
| Letter A | Letter B |
|---|---|
| I wish to apply at your company. I am hard-working. | I wish to apply at Greenfield Veterinary Clinic for small-animal care. |
Note one reason in a sentence.
2 - Key Concepts ~5 mins
| Concept | Why it matters | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Irish letter layout: sender, full date, recipient, greeting | Scanned in seconds | 7 October 2026 |
| Matching openings and closings: Dear Ms Byrne with Yours sincerely; Dear Sir or Madam with Yours faithfully | Mismatch looks careless | Dear Mr Kelly / Yours sincerely |
| Format match: same fonts as the CV | Reads as one set | Name matches CV heading |
| Tailoring: details only one employer fits | Beats a generic letter | Clinic name, one skill |
Say once: Dear Ms Byrne with Yours sincerely; Dear Sir or Madam with Yours faithfully.
3 - Step-by-step Task: Letter Layout and Match ~14 mins
Paste the sample cover letter, keep Irish layout, match its look to the CV, then spot the three tailored details already in the sample.
Sample letter (vet clinic placement): copy this whole block into your file
Aoife Murphy
TY student, St Brigid’s Secondary School
aoife.murphy@student.school.ie
08X XXX XXXX
7 October 2026
Ms Byrne
Practice Manager
Greenfield Veterinary Clinic
12 Main Street
Killarney
Dear Ms Byrne,
I am a Transition Year student writing to apply for work experience at Greenfield Veterinary Clinic. Your small-animal work is the setting I most want to learn in.
I would bring calm, reliable help from minding pets for neighbours and weekly volunteering at the local animal shelter. My CV shows my Junior Cycle results and that shelter experience.
I am available for two weeks from 2 March 2027. Thank you for considering my application. I would be glad to meet at your convenience.
Yours sincerely,
Aoife Murphy
Three tailored details already in this sample: the clinic name, small-animal focus, and shelter volunteering linked to the work.
4 - Common Issues ~2 mins
Common Issues
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Dear Sir or Madam with Yours sincerely | Switch to Yours faithfully, or name the person and keep Yours sincerely |
| Format match only changed a few words | Reselect the full target line, then reapply font name and size |
| Letter spills onto a second page | Shorten a paragraph and tighten spacing; avoid extra blank lines |
5 - Your Three Paragraphs ~5 mins
This is the tricky bit: plan ugly first; polish later. Adapt these stems. Do not copy the sample word for word.
- Why this place: I am a Transition Year student applying for work experience at… because…
- What I bring: I would bring… from… My CV shows…
- Availability and thanks: I am available for… from… Thank you for considering my application.
Model rewrite (middle paragraph):
Sample: I would bring calm, reliable help from minding pets for neighbours and weekly volunteering at the local animal shelter.
Own voice: Neighbours trust me with their dogs, and I already volunteer one evening a week at the shelter, so I stay calm around animals.
Rewrite the middle “what I bring” paragraph so every sentence sounds like you, not Aoife. Keep real facts if they fit. Jot it on paper or in a scratch note, nothing to save. When you have one rewritten paragraph, move on.
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