Cover letters with job applications

I would write a covering letter as normal and include it as an attachment. I wouldn't put the letter in the body of the email, which should just say that you're attaching a CV and covering letter.

This is a question I am pondering at the moment as I have to apply for some internal jobs, I did a short couple of sentences in the e-mail window before I noticed the cover letter bit so not sure what to do? I thought I'd maybe do a word doc and send it as an attachment like my CV?

I do the same as Knownowt.

Thanks all. I have drafted a cover letter and put it in the email, so I will re-draft as a letter and attach it.

I still do, I think it looks better, rather than you've just whacked an email out with your CV attached.

How's the job hunting going?

To be honest, I don't think it matters. It definitely doesn't matter to me when I'm recruiting and I'm not aware that it's an issue with anyone else in my company who's involved in recruitment. My personal preference would be for a brief email (two paragraphs tops) with a CV attached, as I don't usually have time to read through a proper cover letter but I may skim through an email, and if I like what I read, I'll be more positively disposed towards the actual CV. ?

Bit of a mixed bag tbh.

Quite a few jobs that look interesting etc but nothing for part time at all and I keep getting a very negative response from recruitment agencies when I bring it up. In fact one agent was really positive and then hasn't bothered to return my email or call since I told him I wanted part time.

If you're looking for part time, agencies won't be much help, I'm afraid. There's always a huge pool of people looking for part time work, so companies rarely need to get an agency to help them fill any p/t vacancies they have - it's an expense they can do without.

You'd probably be better off sending speculative CVs to companies you'd like to work for.

Thanks for the tip. I am starting to do that now so will concentrate on that.

It's unlikely a mainstream agency will have/know of any part-time jobs at all, so I agree that you should approach employers directly, either speculatively or check their websites as they usually advertise jobs there.

You could also do a search (on the internet or yellow pages) for any agencies in your area that specialise in part-time work. They exist, but are few and far between.

Thanks. I have found details of one that does part time so check there daily and need to register with them today.

I have checked out all the websites of the larger local companies (I did the top 50) and didn't have much luck but will keep checking. I drafted a general speculative letter yesterday and sent out one copy to a friend who offered to check with their HR department.

I am hoping that once I am not tied to keeping the redundancy confidential then I can start asking around a bit better as well - see if any friends or friends of friends know of any vacancies.

Why do you need to keep a redundancy confidential? Is that a clause in your contract, or do you just mean you're on gardening leave?

I was asked to last week I think because they hadn't advised everyone who was being made redundant. I am going to check when I speak to them again today if it is now general knowledge.