Writing a cover letter can seem like an intimidating chore, almost unnecessary, but as most job seekers know, it’s essential if you want to catch the attention of a hiring manager. Although a cover letter is standard practice and expectation, many people struggle writing one; perhaps because it’s an opportunity to describe your accomplishments or because it’s persuasive writing.
Whatever the reason people struggle, we’re here to give some cover letter tips and show you how to write a cover letter for the job you want.
Why are Cover Letters Important?
It’s pretty common to think a cover letter is redundant, after all, doesn’t your resume already spell out your experience and job history? A cover letter doesn’t just list off your past, like a resume does, it compliments it and gives it context while giving you a space to underscore some important information. For example, if you’re going for a job in technology and your resume only lists “IT help support desk” along with your duties, that doesn’t really sway the hiring manager unless your cover letter details how that job makes you perfect for this one.
What a cover letter does is:
- Highlights your qualifications, showing how your skills and experience relate to the specific job you’re after.
- Demonstrated motivation, the language in your cover letter can display your enthusiasm for the position and working at the company.
- Reflects your skills, as digital as the world has become, writing and communicating well are still cornerstones of the workforce. A well-written cover letter shows you have both.
When to Write a Cover Letter
While a cover letter is standard practice, not all jobs want one or require one, and not all of them say that. So, how do you know when to write a cover letter for a job?
- When the job description or post explicitly asks.
- You’re applying for a position that is in a mission-driven organization.
- Your cover letter could provide relevant information that isn’t on your resume, such as leadership successes or spearheading an effort.
- If it’s an option, better to write one or recycle one with a few adjustments to make it relevant.
How to Write a Cover Letter
Now that you know why a cover letter is critically important, why they’re usually required, and when to submit one along with your resume, let’s go over some tips for writing one:
Before Writing
The first thing to do before writing cover letters is to read the job description carefully and research the company or organization. You want to craft the cover letter for the specific position more times than not. Look for skills, duties, and qualifications of the job so your cover letter can reflect them, review the company’s website and LinkedIn page, and if possible, speak with current or past employees to get an insider’s view.
Also, take a little time to reflect on why you want to work for that company so you can include that in the cover letter. Hiring managers enjoy the personal touch and are more likely to interview someone passionate about the company’s goals than not.
Cover Letter Structure
Remember that a cover letter is a business letter and should follow professional standards, such as:
- A heading that includes your name and contact information is in the same format as your resume.
- Addressing the hiring manager or specific individual who will hire you, if you know it. This is another reason why researching the company before writing your cover letter is so important. If you can’t find a name, address the letter to the “Hiring Manager” or a title mentioned in the job description.
- In the body paragraphs, discuss your experiences, interests, and skills in a way that demonstrates how they add value to the company. If this sounds a bit vague, don’t worry, we’ll get there in the next section.
- Always include a polite and formal closing along with your full name.
- The cover letter should be a single page, three or four paragraphs, single-spaced, and using a 12-point font.
Cover Letter Tips
Now to write the cover letter. There are a handful of tips that will not only make crafting a standout cover letter easier but increase your chances for a sit down with the hiring manager:
- Expand on your resume: the cover letter is an opportunity to convert facts and bullet points on your resume into detailed explanations, expanding on your qualifications.
- Customize the letter to the job: it may be difficult to hear, but having several cover letters is essential. Having a template is okay, but you want to tailor it to the job you want instead of having it read like spam. Hiring managers usually read dozens upon dozens of cover letters when looking for a new hire, so you want to use job-specific language to catch their attention.
- Highlight your passion, especially in the introduction. You want to engage the hiring manager right away and keep their attention by adding some of your personality and career highlights.
- Mention any contacts or referrals you have in the introduction. No need to go into a story about all you’ve achieved with or for them, just quickly state their name and how you’re connected.
- Restate your interest in the job and how your experience fits their needs by highlighting relevant experience and career goals.
Always Edit Your Cover Letter
Being concise is critical, especially since there can be a lot of ground to cover and a cover letter shouldn’t be longer than a single-spaced page in 12-point font. Take time to edit and cut out unnecessary words or repetitive sentences. One trick for an effective cover letter is to write each paragraph with highly relevant and purposeful content. Hiring managers appreciate the effort to condense the letter and make it easier for them to find the most important information quickly.
Also, proofreading is always important. Few things are more embarrassing than finding basic spelling and grammar errors in your cover letter after submitting it. Besides, it shows attention to detail and your capable professionalism.
Helping to Navigate a Cover Letter & Hiring Manager
Provisional Recruiting has been placing job seekers in fitting positions for over twenty years. Our expertise has helped both job hunters and employers find the professional match that suits both best throughout the Northwest. Our job experts and recruiting specialists post quality jobs for our community’s talent, ensuring the match is right for everyone.
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