1. Opening Paragraph - Outline the purpose of the cover letter. State where you saw the graduate oil job advert, the date of publication, job reference number and job title and your purpose in writing - i.e. that you would like to apply for the graduate position. Many oil and gas companies have similar jobs advertised concurrently and the job reference number can be very important to avoid confusion.

2. Briefly Outline Your Current Position – Outline your current status and what skills you have that are relevant to a graduate role in the oil and gas industry. Review the requirements of the vacancy. You do not need to list all your skills, that match the vacancy requirements, in your letter but focus on the essential skills required to do the job. For example, if the job spec requires: "Geophysical Processing" experience, then ensure that you briefly outline your relevant experience in this area. Highlight what you achieved in your previous position that would bring value to the role.

3. Candidate Suitability - Focus on your qualifications, skills and experience relevant to the graduate vacancy. Specify your interest in the Position/Company and highlight your career aspirations in relation to the job.

4. Closing Paragraph - Initiate action, e.g. “I will call you on Friday between 9-9.30am, to discuss this position further.” or “I will call you on Friday between 9-9.30am, to discuss potential opportunities with your organisation.” This informs the recipient that you plan to call and they be more inclined to review your CV.

Yours sincerely,


Mr. Bob Smith