What is a Cover Letter?
A Cover Letter is a one-page document that you submit with your resume to express your interest in a job opening. The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce yourself to an employer and provide a brief overview of your work history, professional skills, and an explanation why you’re the best fit for that job.
While your Resume focuses on your qualifications and achievements, your Cover Letter expands on those achievements, showcases your personality, and explains the value you will add to the company.
Writing a great cover letter is easier said than done, especially if you lack work experience.
Write a GREAT cover letter
Here are 6 steps to writing a cover letter that will complement your resume, so you can get the interview.
1. Your Contact Information (and the employer’s details)
2. Salutation, address the hiring manager ideally by their name
Next, address your cover letter to the hiring manager by name if possible. A standard cover letter salutation includes the hiring manager’s first and last name, and begins with a “Mr.”, “Ms.”, or another relevant professional title.
If you don’t see the hiring manager’s name listed in the job ad, don’t worry. You can easily find out who to address your cover letter to using the following methods.
Ways to find the hiring manager’s name:
However, if you absolutely can’t find the hiring manager’s name, using a generic greeting like “Dear Hiring Manager” is considered acceptable by most HR professionals.
3. Write an attention-getting opening paragraph
Start your cover letter with an informative, direct introduction by including the following details in the first one or two sentences:
You can also make your introduction even more attention-grabbing by adding a bit of personality, passion, or by including a major career highlight. Don’t be afraid to let some of who you are as a person shine through in your cover letter.
4. Body Paragraph(s)
Your second and third paragraphs should make a convincing argument you’re the right person for the job by discussing your relevant work experience, skills, and achievements.
4.1 Experience
4.2 Education
5. Closing Paragraph
When writing your cover letter closing, be polite, confident, and continue to market yourself as the best candidate for the job. Here’s how to write a convincing closing paragraph for your cover letter in three steps:
If it is not stated in the posting that “only chosen applicants will be contacted”, mention when you will follow up with the employer:
“Thank you for considering my application. I am excited about the opportunity of joining your team and would love to discuss the role in more details. I will contact you on the week of Sept 1st to discuss the potential for an interview and follow up on the next steps of my application.
6. Sign-off (“Sincerely,” and your name below)
Finally, wrap up your cover letter with a professional closing salutation, such as
- • Sincerely,
- • Best Regards,
Followed by your signature and name
Emailing your application
Follow up
Best way to get interviews that lead to job offers is to follow up. If you sit waiting for the world to beat a path to your door, you may wait a long time. Your resume may be sitting in a database waiting to be discovered. The follow-up phone call will get it discovered.
- Ask to set up an interview
- Be ready to sell yourself and why you are perfect for the job
Summary
Your Cover Letter Should:
Action Tasks:
- Find a Job posting that you are interested in
- Customize your Resume for this job posting
- Write the accompanying Cover letter for the job
- Upload: job posting & your Cover Letter and Resume saved as 1 PDF document
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