Cover Letter – What is a cover letter?
A cover letter is a formal document that accompanies a job application or a proposal and is typically addressed to a specific person or organization. It serves as an introduction to the accompanying documents, providing a brief overview of the applicant’s qualifications, skills, and experiences relevant to the position or project they are applying for. The main purpose of a cover letter is to complement and enhance the information provided in the resume or proposal, offering a more personalized and detailed explanation of the applicant’s suitability for the role.
Vlad Romuald Pop, founder @BrainSource.io – find us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainsourceio/
Let’s talk about the very controversial COVER LETTER. I think that this topic is controversial because people don’t fully understand it.
What it is and why it’s important?
A cover letter is more than just a formal introduction. It is very important if you want to stand out from the other 200 people who are also looking for the same job as you but only send in their CVs.
It shouldn’t be a simple copy of your resume. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to show why you’re the best person for the job. It should talk about both your education and work experience, and it should tell more about you than just the tasks you’ve done.
Learning how to write a cover letter well can help a person’s career in many ways.
This complete guide will take the mystery out of writing a cover letter by giving you useful tips and advice to help you make a winning application.
First, do your study.
Find out more about the company and the job you want before you start writing. You should read the job description carefully, of course, but you should also look at the company’s website, the Twitter feeds of its leaders, and the LinkedIn profiles of its employees.
You shouldn’t send a generic cover letter, so this study will help you make yours unique. It will also help you figure out how to sound. Think about the kind of company you’re going to. If it’s a creative agency, like a design shop, you might be more willing to take risks. If it’s a more conservative company, like a bank, you might be more cautious.
My advice is to write a different cover letter for each job you want to apply for. Remember that your cover letter should be tailored to the job and company you’re going to. Use the job posting and details about the company to help you highlight your relevant skills and experiences, and save them with the name of the job and the company.
This will help you keep track of the jobs you’ve applied for and make it easier to get ready for each interview.
You can also make a cover letter template and change out the information about the company. However, you will still need to do some study.
Pro Tip: Before you write your cover letter, try to talk to the hiring manager or someone else you know at the company. You can send an email or LinkedIn message “asking a smart question about the job.” So, you can start your letter by talking about your conversation. You could say, “Thanks for the helpful conversation last week” or “I recently spoke to so-and-so at your company.” Of course, you can’t always get in touch with someone, or you might not hear back. It’s fine. Still, it’s worth a shot.
Remember that hiring managers can tell right away if you wrote a cover letter just for them or sent a general one.
What Is the Purpose of a Letter attached to the resume?
A good cover letter assures the employer that your skills match their wants, and it also:
- It shows that you did your homework and are serious about the job.
- Shows that you understand the problems the company faces.
- Shows that your goals are in line with theirs.
- Explain how your skills and knowledge can help.
In the end, a good cover letter should be all about “why we should hire you” and “what’s in it for us.” Focusing on them, not just on yourself, is the best way to win this round. This will make you stand out from other applications.
So, it’s important to take the time to write a good cover letter.
What should the length of a cover letter be? Aim for five paragraphs on one page.
Let’s figure out what we need to do.
How to Write a Cover Letter
There are 9 important parts and we will go through each of them:
- Heading
- Salutation
- Opening Paragraph
- Second Paragraph
- Third Paragraph
- Closing Paragraph
- Formal Closing
- Postscript
Let’s now move on to detailed instructions on how to write a successful cover letter point by point:
- Header
A professional cover letter opens with a header. Ideally, your cover letter header should be the same as in your resume (for consistency), so feel free to use the same template.
If you prefer to write the header of your cover letter from scratch, include the following contact information:
- Full name
- Job title
- Phone number
- Email address
- Address the Reader
Once you’re done with the header, it’s time to mention the location and date of writing.
Then, address your cover letter directly to the hiring manager like so:
- Hello Samantha,
- Dear Ms. Martin,
- Hei Mr. Evans,
According to studies, people respond actively to hearing/seeing their names—so use it in the cover letter salutation. Look for the hiring manager’s name by:
- Checking the job description
- Going to the company’s LinkedIn page (to look for the person responsible for uploading the job offer)
If you can’t find the name by any means possible, opt for “Dear Hiring Manager.” Avoid starting your cover letter with “To Whom It May Concern” like the plague. And if you’re not living in Victorian England, don’t start a cover letter with “Dear Sir or Madam,” either.
- Make a Proper Introduction
Here’s the brutal truth: these few sentences at the beginning of your cover letter will determine whether the hiring manager will read on. So you need to start your cover letter in a way that attracts and holds the reader’s interest.
Here are several proven strategies for starting your cover letter:
- Highlight your achievements.
- Display your passion and enthusiasm.
- Drop names.
- Do all the above.
Have a look at these two sample cover letter opening paragraphs:
WRONG
In light of your announcement for the Content Strategy Specialist position, I am eager to convey my enthusiasm for joining the selection procedure. Having spent over 8 years as a content strategy expert, I am confident in my ability to excel in this capacity.
RIGHT
As a dedicated follower of X’s promotional strategies, I was excited to come across the opportunity for the Content Strategy Specialist role. I’m confident in my ability to address X’s forthcoming hurdles. My background includes spearheading nationwide digital campaigns with budgets exceeding $250,000. Furthermore, I’ve grown Y’s clientele by 25% since 2021.
Why is the wrong example not delivering? Because it provides no value and details. The bottom line is: “I’ve already done this job, so I think I’d fit in.” And it’s just not enough for someone with more than eight years of experience to get the job.
- Explain Why You’re the Perfect Fit
The second paragraph (main body) of your cover letter has a couple of jobs to perform:
- Give the hiring manager what they’re looking for.
- Show that you’ll satisfy the company’s specific needs.
Amanda is our digital marketing manager candidate. The XYZ company she applies to needs (based on the job ad):
- A savvy digital marketing manager
- Someone who will supervise the development of their new online portal
Let’s look at how Amanda managed to show that she’s both:
RIGHT
In my present role at Y, I have overseen every aspect of our digital marketing campaigns, encompassing both technical and creative dimensions. Just a year ago, my primary task was to develop and refine nine product websites for Y’s flagship items, boost our search rankings, and upgrade the user experience. Fast forward to today:
- Of the nine sites I revamped, eight consistently rank within the top 3 on Google. These are organic rankings, not influenced by paid promotions, for over 10 critical search phrases.
- The search-driven traffic to these nine sites now makes up 48% of all organic traffic for essential keywords and terms.
Your go-to strategy on what your cover letter should say in the main body:
In the first sentence, prove you’re an expert in your field (refrain from bragging too much).
The remaining part should be all about how your previous experiences will help your future employer press ahead with their plans.
Pro Tip: A cover letter also is a great place to explain gaps in your employment, if you have any.
- Show Your Motivation to Join the Company
Your future employers have needs. If they’re willing to hire you, it’s because they think you’ll satisfy those needs. But they also want you to enjoy working with them. That way, they know you’re more likely to stay with them for longer.
The key to writing a perfect third paragraph of your cover letter is showing the hiring manager why you want this job, not just any job. That’s particularly important for entry-level candidates—enthusiasm and passion help prove you’ll hit the ground running.
Have a look at these cover letter examples:
RIGHT
I’m aware that X’s upcoming objectives include creating an in-depth web platform centered around health-centric topics. This endeavor aligns seamlessly with both my personal passion and professional expertise. It presents a thrilling chance to build a distinctive digital resource for both patients and medical professionals. I’m eager to apply my understanding of SEO and digital expansion strategies to drive transformative outcomes for this project.
WRONG
X appears to be an exceptional fit for my expertise. I excel in dynamic settings and am eager to apply my current abilities to enhance the success of your organization.
Above all, you want to avoid writing too much of a general cover letter. Generic doesn’t win jobs; targeted does. (We’re, of course, assuming you tailored your resume to every job description you’re after, too.)
- Close With a Promise
How to make the best cover letter ending? By providing value.
The worst mistakes you can make in writing the final paragraph of your cover letter are:
- Coming off needy
- Focusing on how much you want the job, not on what you have to offer
- Repeating the clichéd phrase, “Thank you for your consideration and your time”
Instead, tell the hiring manager that you’re looking forward to meeting in person and discussing how your experience and knowledge can help your future employer fulfill their goals. Like here:
RIGHT
I’d appreciate the opportunity to delve into your online marketing goals and demonstrate how my accomplishments at X can foster digital advancement for Y.
- Stay Formal in the Closing Salutation
Once you’ve written the body of your cover letter, you just need to put a formal closing at the very end. Write “Sincerely” and follow it with your full name. Adding your handwritten signature is optional (recommended for more formal cover letters).
If you’re not a fan of the well-worn “Sincerely,” feel free to use any of the following:
- Thank you,
- Best regards,
- Kind regards,
- Respectfully yours,
- Add a Postscript
All of the above sections are must-haves in a good cover letter. But there’s one special trick you can use—the postscript. Why is it so important? Because it’s like a magnet for the hiring manager’s eyes that screams: “you cannot miss this information.”
Use the postscript when creating a cover letter to tell the hiring manager about something impressive about your career, even if it’s not strictly related to the job opening. And say you’d be happy to provide them with more details if they find it interesting.
RIGHT
P.S.—I’d also cherish the chance to highlight how my marketing strategies contributed to a remarkable 15% annual growth in sales for three of X’s premier products.
Pro Tip: Looking to work for a company, but there aren’t any open positions? Try writing a letter of interest for a job. It’s a great way of uncovering vacancies that aren’t even advertised.
What you should DO
So, you’re done writing the cover letter. Now all you have to do is send it, right? Hold up!
- Before you hit send, make sure your cover letter formatting is intact.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to format your cover letter:
- Choose a legible cover letter font like Arial or Calibri, and keep it between 10 and 12 points in font size.
- Set even margins on all sides—1-inch margins should be perfect.
- Left-align all your contents.
- Use double cover letter spacing between paragraphs and 1–1.15 between lines.
- Title your cover letter by JobTitle—CoverLetter—YourName.
- Let your cover letter layout stay intact en route to the recruiter by saving the file in PDF.
- Focus it on the future. While your résumé is meant to be a look back at your experience and where you’ve been, the cover letter should focus on the future and what you want to do. It can be helpful to think of it as the bridge between the past and the future that explains what you hope to do next and why.
- Open strong. People typically write themselves into the letter with ‘I’m applying for X job that I saw in Y place.’ That’s a waste. Instead, lead with a strong opening sentence. Start with the punch line — why this job is exciting to you and what you bring to the table.
- Emphasize your personal value. Hiring managers are looking for people who can help them solve problems. Drawing on the research you did earlier, show that you know what the company does and some of the challenges it faces.
- Convey enthusiasm. When you don’t get hired, it’s usually not because of a lack of skills, it’s because people didn’t believe your story, that you wanted the job, or that you knew what you were getting into. Hiring managers are going to go with the candidate who has made it seem like this is their dream job. So make it clear why you want the position. Enthusiasm conveys personality. You can write something like: ‘I’d love to work for your company. Who wouldn’t? You’re the industry leader, setting standards that others only follow.” Don’t bother applying if you’re not excited about some aspect of the company or role.
- Watch the tone. At the same time, don’t go overboard with the flattery or say anything you don’t mean. Authenticity is crucial. You don’t want your tone to undermine your message, so be professional and mature. Of course, it can be hard to discern your own tone in writing, so you may need to ask someone to review a draft (which is always a good idea anyway)
- The final step of writing your cover letter is, in fact, checking up on your resume to see if they both match the job requirements. Make sure you meet your hiring manager’s expectations to the best of your ability.
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates.
How to make a good Linkedin Page
Yes, cover letters are still a thing! Worldwide!
What you should AVOID
- Focusing too much on yourself. Tell the company what you can do for them. Focus on the main skill and achievement that could benefit the company
- Expand on your resume, but don’t repeat it: A cover letter that just rephrases the content of your resume misses the purpose. If your cover letter lacks the compelling pitch necessary to make a strong impression, employers might simply overlook your application.
Try expanding on your resume in your cover letter with these strategies:
- Give more details about one (or more) of your job-specific accomplishments
- Explain how your experience can help solve the company’s problems or increase its effectiveness
- Discuss current issues in your industry to demonstrate expertise
- Sharing all the details of every single job you’ve ever had. Depending on your job history, this could translate into a very crowded and confusing letter. Instead of focusing in on each position you’ve ever held, ask yourself: What experience do I have that’s relevant to the job I’m seeking? Tailor your cover letter to speak to those skills instead of giving a full synopsis of your time at each position.
- Writing about something uncomfortable.
- Writing a novel. Almost 70% of employers prefer a cover letter that’s one page or less. Keep your cover letter concise and to the point.
- Typos. Most hiring managers say they’d automatically dismiss a cover letter with a typo. Triple-check that you’ve addressed your cover letter to the right person, and that everything is spell-checked and grammar correct.
- Buzzwords, fluff, and cliches are unnecessary and take away from your message. Your writing should always be selling your experience, not summarizing it. As a very practical solution, go ahead and Google resume cliches and buzzwords, and remove all the ones you find in your resume to give it an instant upgrade.
