Kirstin:  It is amazing how personalising a cover letter can transform an application and make you memorable on paper.  Not only can you include some quality supporting evidence about you, but you can also convince an employer that you are seriously interested in the role, and the company.  Many employers see a cover letter as the first applicant test of the recruitment and selection process.   http://careers.theguardian.com/careers-blog/the-good-the-bad-and-the-covering-letter