Your opportunity to present yourself to a potential employer and pique their interest in reading your CV is through a cover letter. A cover letter may seem like an afterthought while preparing job applications, especially in comparison to your resume. However, your cover letter is as important. It doesn’t have to be extremely extensive; in fact, a single, straightforward page works best. The essential information concerning cover letters is provided here, along with cover letter writing instructions.
A cover letter: what is it?
It’s frequently your initial point of contact for a job application with a hiring manager, recruiter, or possible employer. It’s a method of introducing yourself to the company and showcasing your qualifications before they even look at your resume. You would introduce yourself before going into specifics, just like you would if you were meeting someone for the first time. A brief email can occasionally be used in place of a cover letter, but the format requirements are pretty much the same.
In what way is a cover letter different from a resume?
Although their functions are slightly different, your cover letter and resume work well together. Your CV provides an overview of your qualifications, professional background, and educational background. The finest resume formats use bullet points and are divided into parts that are separated by subheadings and span approximately two pages.
Additionally, it serves as more of a conversation starter since you’re introducing yourself to the person in charge of the position you’re looking for, letting them know you’re interested in it, and demonstrating your suitability for it.
A cover letter uses more intimate language. A social worker’s CV might say, for instance, that they “redeveloped the community youth program and increased participation by 20%.” However, you can write in the first person in a cover letter. For example, you could state, “I’m a committed and driven social worker with a strong commitment to supporting disadvantaged youth.” This is your time to highlight your abilities and experiences while providing a brief overview of yourself and your professional background.
How to draft a cover letter
- Give a succinct overview of yourself and your writing motivation at the beginning. Mention your interest in the job and the one you’re applying for.
- Consider outlining the two or three most important things on your resume and connecting them to the reasons you would be a fantastic fit for the position.
- Give examples of your skills or describe how you’ve applied them – you might need to do this in more depth if the job ad requires that you address selection criteria.
- Your résumé is attached; please take note. Finally, you can conclude by expressing your willingness to meet and talk more about the role or by offering further details before signing off.
How to differentiate yourself in a cover letter
The goal of a cover letter is to pique the reader’s curiosity and entice them to consult your resume for further information. It also involves demonstrating to the employer how your qualifications and background fit the position. You can adapt your cover letter to the position by using these pointers.
Write for the workplace you’re applying to: if it’s a creative or more casual setting, don’t be scared to add some unique flair to your application to make it stand out.
Some quick tips to make your cover letter better
- Make sure your terminology is precise and succinct. It’s preferable to steer clear of flowery or complex language.
- Steer clear of really long sentences. If you have trouble with any of them, try reading it out loud.
- Adapt your cover letter to the position at all times. The goal of an application is to demonstrate your suitability for the position being offered; therefore, you don’t want your cover letter to appear repetitive.
- Verify your grammar and spelling three times. Try printing your letter and returning to it later, or have it reviewed by a skilled editor.
- A single page of your message should contain no more than 250–350 words.
When you initially start writing your cover letter and see a blank page, it may seem intimidating. However, by adhering to these guidelines, you may concentrate on creating a cover letter that highlights your qualifications for the position and leaves a positive impression on the company.
Introducing yourself includes a synopsis of your accomplishments, professional background, and other attributes that make you a good fit for the position.
A strong cover letter can significantly boost your chances of getting recruited by differentiating you from applicants who did not submit the document with their application. The hiring manager will view you as someone who is serious about working for their organization if you write a cover letter, which may encourage them to give your application more consideration when it comes time to make a hire.
A strong cover letter that emphasizes your greatest qualities relevant to the role can set you apart from other candidates who are just as competent.
You can use it to showcase a number of admirable personal attributes that can benefit the business, such leadership and drive. Additionally, a cover letter helps contextualize your application. These help the reader understand why you’re writing and can help you move on to the next round of the application process.
With a cover letter, you may show the hiring manager how your accomplishments, experience, and role-relevant talents will convert into outcomes. You can illustrate to the reader that you have the skills and background in the workplace to carry out the job well if recruited by highlighting your accomplishments from prior positions.
The act of composing a cover letter is indicative of your keen interest in obtaining employment with a company. You can differentiate yourself from the competition and indicate that you will likely have a good impact on the firm by writing a compelling letter that reflects a thorough understanding of the role and the demands of the employer.
An effective cover letter is a valuable tool for establishing rapport with employers since it provides insight into your personality, accomplishments, and goals. It enables you to showcase how, when hired, your professional objectives coincide with the company’s interests and aspirations. Emphasize your greatest achievements and how you plan to use them to improve the role and the organization to help the reader understand your special blend of abilities, experience, and personality attributes.
An employer may see from a strong cover letter that you are a great writer. The ability to write effectively and in a way that is understandable to others is usually highly valued by employers. It shows that you have excellent communication skills, which are essential for doing your job well.
Prior to writing a cover letter, it is imperative that you perform extensive research about the role and the company’s criteria. By doing this, you’ll be able to write a letter that is appropriate for the position as well as the unique culture, values, and sector of the business. For additional information about their business practices and expectations for employees, visit the employer’s website, previous recruitment materials, employee testimonials, social media profiles, and industry communication materials.