There are few things in this life that are as disheartening and fatiguing as progressing through the stages of an application process for a job, only to find out that you were unsuccessful.
In order to prevent this from happening, you need to put your best foot forward by crafting a cover letter that sets you apart from the tall stack of applications that your potential employers will have to sort through.
The jobs market is more competitive today than ever, and there is an inherent need to ensure that your skillset and interest in the role are effectively communicated in your application.
In this article, I aim to provide you with a step-by-step guide that you can adhere to when crafting a personailsed cover letter.
By attaching a cover letter along with the CV that you submit for the job you are pursuing you can ensure that your application stands out among the tall stack submitted by other candidates.
Understanding the Purpose of a Cover Letter
Before I get into the 'ins and outs' of what to include, and often more importantly, what not to include, in a cover letter, it’s important to understand the significance of crafting one.
In its most basic form, a cover letter is an introduction to you as a candidate when applying for a job.
Given that you are often confined to just one or two pages when crafting a CV, the cover letter can be an effective tool, allowing you to provide a more detailed background beyond the facts in your resume.
A well-crafted cover letter created with a specific role in mind will reveal your character, enthusiasm, and how well you align with both the role and company culture.
This is taking your time, and perfecting a cover letter can be such a crucial determinant of success in the application process. Typically consisting of three to four paragraphs, it gives an overview of why you're the best fit for the role as opposed to the CV that you submitted alongside it, which merely details your work history and achievements
In most cases, cover letters are not mandatory for candidates to submit, but almost every application portal will provide the possibility for candidates to upload one.
It is most definitely worth studying the respective job descriptor along with the company’s history and core values before you get around to putting pen to paper. This will help you establish a link between your objectives and what the employer seeks, making them see you as an asset to their team.
You should consider it an avenue to emphasise your skills and drive, giving a glimpse into who you are and how well you'd fit into the company culture. Only once you have secured a new role and signed your contract should you consider writing your resignation letter for your current employer.
Crafting an Effective Cover Letter
A well-written cover letter that is going to land you more interviews for the roles that you apply for involves taking a selective approach customised for each job application.
Another trap that many applicants fall victim to is repeating what is already included on their CV; it should enhance it by delving into your skills and suitability.
Instead of just using statements, you should offer specific examples that demonstrate how you've utilised your skills to solve problems and contribute to the organisation's objectives in the past. Whenever possible, you should quantify your impact by using numbers, percentages or other metrics to show the extent and importance of your achievements.
Throughout the writing process, you should remind yourself that employers are looking for candidates who not only have the skills but also fit well with their company's values and work environment.
In order to tick the box, it’s important that you explain in your letter why you are excited about the role and company using language that reflects their personality and fits in with their culture. A great way to effectively achieve this is to pay attention to how the company communicates on its website, blog posts and social media channels and try to match that tone in your writing.
With an understanding of their values and company ethos, you can highlight aspects of yourself that would blend well with their team's vibe. An example of how you can do this in your cover letter would be if the job descriptor outlined the necessity for teamwork in the role. You could discuss examples of how you worked effectively on diverse teams in your previous roles.
Above all, if you are going to take at least one thing from this article, let it be this: You should tailor your accomplishments and abilities to align with the job requirements and company expectations. This is perhaps the most effective way of driving home that you are the best person for the job.
To stand out from all the other applicants, you must ensure your resume and cover letter are peerless. To that end, you may want to know how to write an exceptional resume.
What Should You Include in Your Cover Letter?
Here’s how a cover letter works.
A hiring manager contemplates the stack of CVs and their cover letters. S/he takes the first one off the stack, peels back the cover letter and scans the CV.
Is it well formatted - in other words, did you write a good CV? Do any particular keywords or noteworthy phrases catch the eye?
No? S/he sets that one to the side and repeats the process, stopping only when something impressive – a turn of phrase or a particular experience jumps off the page. A closer review is in order; let’s have a cuppa and really read this resume.
The tea is now cooling in its mug. The hiring manager kicks back in the chair, picks up the intriguing resume and reads all two pages.
Finally, s/he flips the cover letter back over and reads it from beginning to end.
If the ‘right stuff’ is missing from this cover letter, that candidate may or may not be treated to a phone interview; it depends on what other goodies can be found in that pile of resumes.
Now, for a time-saving tip: seeing as you will most likely apply for more than one job in your life, you might create a cover letter template using this format so that you can adapt it (and your CV) for different jobs.
The first paragraph of your cover letter should be devoted to how you came across the job posting and how you connect yourself to the job you’re applying for. But beware: simply writing, “I saw your ad in Student Times, and I wanted to apply for it” will earn your CV a quick trip to the bottom of the pile.
Your second paragraph should describe the reasons you are such a good candidate. You may present these in bullet points or use bold font to highlight a particularly fitting experience or aspect of your character.
Writing a cover letter gives you a bit of leeway to showcase your accomplishments and describe in more detail your interest in the position and how you perfectly fit the job requirements.
Example Cover Letters for Different Industries
Given that the kind of letter that you draft for a specific job will depend on the nature of the role and the industry in which it operates, there are few effective ways to kickstart your letter as industry-specific examples.
In order to make your life that little bit easier, I have provided some examples of cover letters tailored to some of the most common industries. Hopefully, these examples can serve as inspiration and offer guidance on how to structure your qualifications when you are drafting your own letter.
If you are gunning for an entry level marketing job make sure to highlight any internship experience you might have and discuss your passion for the marketing industry.
Focus on demonstrating your expertise in areas like market analysis, social media management and content development to prove your understanding of the role requirements.
Suppose it is a software development position that you are after. In that case, your cover letter should emphasise your skills and proficiency in coding languages as well as your familiarity with various development methodologies.
This industry is very experienced and portfolio-oriented when it comes to the application process, so be sure to provide examples of projects you've worked on to showcase your problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
If you're seeking a customer service role, your cover letter should highlight your communication skills and commitment to providing customer service even more.
A great way to go about doing this is to share instances where you effectively handled customer issues to demonstrate your ability to manage situations with care and professionalism. A paragraph such as this would do nicely for your cover letter’s opening paragraph:
“When I saw your advert in the online ‘Jobs for Students’ page, I discovered that XYZ company operates within the strictest environmental guidelines. As a graduate student working on Earth and Environmental Science degree, you can imagine that I would be overjoyed to learn how you are putting technical knowledge into practice.”
What does such an opening paragraph do for you? First, you’ve disclosed where you learned about the position you’re applying for; that is an important inclusion into your cover letter; it lets companies know which of their advertising gambits are most successful.
Next, you’ve revealed that you’re not just blindly applying to a company so you can have a job; you’ve already bought into the company by researching it.
Finally, you’ve provided a vital link between yourself and the company you’ve applied to; as you prepare for the phone interview you will surely have, you can check the question ‘Why do you want to work with us?’ off your list.
Put Your Best Foot Forward with Superprof
Crafting a cover letter for your desired job can seem overwhelming at times, especially when you already see yourself in the role.
With the personalised support of a private tutor from Superprof, the application process becomes much easier, and that dream job will seem much more attainable.
Many of the tutors listed on the platform are both capable and willing to guide you through the application process and help you craft the perfect cover letter to set you apart from the crowd.
The platform’s tutors bring a wealth of experience and specialised knowledge to the table, offering tailored assistance across a broad range of industries.
They collaborate closely with you to grasp the intricacies of the position you're seeking, ensuring that your cover letter not only showcases your qualifications and background but also conveys your individuality and passion for the job.
Through your tutoring sessions, you’ll gain valuable feedback on the structure and content of your drafts, helping you shape your letter into a captivating story that will capture the attention of potential employers!
Now learn how to write the ‘thank you’ letter that will win you a second interview…
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