If you’re looking for a new position, it’s time to dust off the resume and scour job postings. In addition to an updated resume, many applications also require a cover letter. While these letters can seem redundant or just extra work, they are a useful tool to help sell yourself and your skills. Here are some tips for writing an effective cover letter.
Understand the Significance
Many applicants don’t see the value of a cover letter, or they don’t want to spend the time creating one. However, a cover letter helps hiring managers get to know you and the skills you can bring to a position. An effective cover letter provides details that don’t fit on your resume and highlights your passion for a role. In short, a cover letter can succinctly tell the reader what a resume can’t. Don’t squander this opportunity.
Clearly Communicate Your Skills and Experience
Employers appreciate passion and want to feel your excitement about their open position, but they also need to understand why you are the right fit for the role. Clearly communicate why you’re interested in the role and how your skills and experience are applicable. Your resume may show that you have worked in finance for eight years, but your cover letter can provide specifics about what you did in your current position. For example, a prospective employer would be interested to learn that you’ve been involved in budget projections and forecasting that helped save the company money. Providing specific examples helps employers understand your skills and how you can add value to their organization.
Use the Job Description
Hiring managers are busy and want to fill positions quickly. That means you have just a few seconds to grab their attention. The best cover letter clearly explains how the work you did in your previous role will translate into success in the job you're applying for. Carefully read the job description and use it to your advantage. Pull key phrases and terms from the description and include them in your cover letter. (Pro tip: Some employers look for certain words or phrases.) If there are specific tasks in the job description where you relevant experience, say so. Make it easy for the hiring manager to see you as the right candidate.
Be Concise
While you want to clearly tell your story, it’s important not to ramble. Keep your cover letter to a concise one page. When done thoughtfully, this should be ample room to illustrate you’re a qualified candidate. It may seem obvious, but if an employer asks for a cover letter, be sure to submit one. If you don't, you lose a valuable opportunity to sell yourself, and it looks like you don’t care enough to follow directions — not the best first impression.
Proofread … More Than Once
Hiring managers have reported receiving cover letters addressed to someone at a different organization or targeted to a position that wasn’t available. Resist the temptation to use one cover letter for all your applications. They should be personalized for each company and position. The cover letter may be the first thing a hiring manager sees — make sure it has no spelling and grammar errors. Proofread your cover letter, then proofread it again. You can’t be too careful.
A solid cover letter can be an effective way to help employers better understand your skills and experience — and why you are a good candidate for the position. Use this space to explain why you are interested in a position, list the skills you will bring to the role, and emphasize relevant experience. A clear, concise, and error free cover letter may be what ushers your application to the top of the pile.
A cover letter is the bridge between a job description and your resume. It’s an opportunity to reaffirm why you are a great fit for the job. It also allows you to drive home your interest in a specific role while revealing some of your personality.
Here are three key steps to creating a strong cover letter:
Do your research. Be sure to customize your cover letter to each role you are applying for. You can find out more about the culture of the organization by looking through their LinkedIn and Twitter accounts. Approach the job description as though it’s a problem the company is trying to solve — if it weren’t, the job wouldn’t be open, right?
Start strong. Most cover letters begin generically. “I am applying for X job that I saw in Y place.” is a common leading statement, but how many of those does a hiring manager read each day? You can make your cover letter stick out by highlighting who you are, some experience you have, and what you would bring to help solve their problem.
“I am a software developer with five years of experience looking for an opportunity to apply my skills in a fresh environment and would be excited to bring my enthusiasm and experience to your well-established product team,” reads so much better than, “I am applying for the programming position I saw on LinkedIn.”
Be direct with your opening statement; you want to convey why you want the job and what you bring to the table.
Ask for a second opinion. It’s always a good idea to get a second set of eyes on your letter. Ask a friend, coworker, or mentor to review your cover letter and provide specific feedback. The reader should be able to identify the letter's main objective. What story do they think you are telling? Can they summarize the main points? Also ask them what’s wrong with the letter. A fresh pair of eyes can also help catch grammatical errors, notice if you’ve undersold yourself, and help ensure your letter reveals confidence and aptitude.
