Apprenticeship glossary

Cover letter

What does Cover letter mean?

A short letter, usually three to five paragraphs, sent with an application to explain why you want the job and what you'd bring. Write a new one for every application.

Find out more

Guide Cover letters and application questions How to write a cover letter that sounds like you, and strong answers to written application questions, using official careers advice and real examples from employers we've researched. Applies to: All of the UK
STAR method
A way to answer 'give an example' questions: describe the Situation, the Task, the Action you took and the Result.
National Careers Service
England's free careers advice service, with guidance on CVs, cover letters and interviews, plus advisers you can talk to.
CV
Short for curriculum vitae: a one- or two-page summary of your education, experience and skills. If you're starting out, put education first.
Cyber security
Protecting computer systems and data from attack. Amazon and Barclays both list cyber security apprenticeships.
Data analyst
Someone who turns data into useful information for decisions. Deloitte, Amazon and M&S all have data analyst apprenticeships.
Day release
Doing your off-the-job training one day a week, often at a college, and working the rest of the week. Compare block release.

Definitions are our own plain-English summaries. Where we give figures, they come from the official sources listed on the linked guide or profile. Rules can change, so check the official source before you make decisions.