A cover letter is an important part of any hiring process, as it is often the primary opportunity for a hiring manager to build their impression of you as a candidate. Use it to showcase your research skills and highlight accomplishments related to the position you are applying for.
This cover letter leverages two things that will immediately grab the hiring manager’s attention: a phone call they’ve already had and a mutual contact at their organization.
Be Specific
When writing a cover letter, it’s important to be specific about why you are interested in the company and position. This can help set you apart from other candidates. To succeed in this process, you must be specific about how you would fit into the company’s culture, especially if you seek a role that requires a cultural fit. This could include mentioning specific aspects of the company’s culture that appeal to you or examples of how your skills fit in with those of the organization. For example, if you are trying to get a position dealing with creative writing, your cover letter must mention those wow essay writing skills you demonstrated in college.
While applying for an entry-level position, try to write about your existing affinity with the company and how your career goals align with its mission. Detailing how you can use your experience to fulfill key expectations in the job description is also a great idea.
You can conclude your cover letter by stating the excitement to meet with the hiring manager and ask any questions they may have. This shows enthusiasm, which can be an attractive quality in a potential employee. It can also give a hiring manager confidence that the candidate will be happy in their role, which is an important consideration for new hires.
Be Concise
The last thing a hiring manager wants to read is an overly long cover letter or one that is hard to understand. The best examples are short, concise, and focused on the most important aspects of your experience and skills.
A good way to keep your cover letter brief is to write an opening paragraph that captures the recruiter’s attention. This can be done by highlighting your most significant accomplishments, professional or personal. It’s also a great opportunity to explain how you achieved them, but only in laconic phrases.
Another key aspect of a good cover letter is to show the recruiter why you want to work at their company. This is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your passion for the company’s mission and industry and that you would be a valued team member. This will separate you from the other candidates talking only about their qualifications or how they would fit the company. It’s also a good idea to mention any notable achievements or connections you have with the company that will set you apart from the competition.
Be Personal
The cover letter is your opportunity to show hiring managers who you are. It can be a chance to highlight your personality, and it can also help to separate you from the competition.
For example, if you are passionate about a certain industry or company, that could be an excellent way to set yourself apart from other applicants. Additionally, you can use your cover letter to provide details about how your experience relates to the job you are applying for.
Hiring managers are looking for information about how you will perform in the position, so make sure that you address all of the qualifications listed in the job description. This will give hiring managers a clear understanding of your skill set and how they can expect you to fit into the company’s culture.
Hiring managers are always looking for ways to improve their processes, so you can also include some statistics or data about how you have improved your company’s operations. For example, if you have increased sales by a certain percentage or made a process 30% more efficient, that is a great statistic to highlight.
Be Creative
A good cover letter makes a memorable impression on a recruiter who might be sifting through a stack of resumes. Applicants too often use their letters to rehash their resume or go off on strange tangents in an attempt to stand out, but it’s possible to be creative while still using the letter to make a point.
One way to do so is by creating a cover letter highlighting your most relevant skills for the role. For example, if you’re applying for a job in data analytics, you can highlight the number of statistical analyses you’ve performed or the amount of research you’ve conducted. This shows your understanding of the role and will help you to differentiate yourself from other candidates. A cover letter is also a great place to include additional information that doesn’t fit on your resume, such as volunteering experience or side projects.
Be Persistent
Persistence is important, especially when applying for jobs requiring a lot of time. A good cover letter can help you stand out from the competition because it can show employers that you have the drive to stick with a job search for as long as it takes to land the right role. This is why you should use a personal story that showcases your perseverance to get the interview, such as how you stuck with extracurricular activities, job searches, and internships even when they weren’t always rewarding.
If you’re making a career change, your cover letter can be a great way to demonstrate how your skills translate to the new industry. Writing a list of your skills and accomplishments from the previous field that can be transferred to the new one, such as leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and organization, can be a good idea.
Reviewing your cover letter for clarity before sending it out is also wise. To do so, try to ask a trusted friend or former colleague to read it and point out places where you might be overselling or using too much jargon.
