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What is a cover letter?

Posted: 25 Jul 2021 09:58 PM PDT

A cover letter is a brief, informal letter that introduces or expresses interest in a job opening. It generally appears at the top of the resume and is often used by candidates applying for an advertised position.

In order to write an effective cover letter, you have to put yourself in the mindset of hiring a manager for a moment. Think about who this person is: they are busy, they’re quite possibly overworked and stretched thin so they want to find candidates as quickly as possible. This means they’re looking for short and to-the-point cover letters.

Think of a cover letter like the packaging on a product: it’s there to present the information in a neat and orderly way so that hiring managers can quickly find the information they want, use it, and then get back to their jobs.

A good cover letter is always short, always professional, and leaves absolutely no doubt as to why you are applying for the position.

A good cover letter is also well-timed. It should be written when you have a clear understanding of what the job is all about, or when you have a general sense of who the hiring manager is and why they matter to you. Of course, that’s easier said than done, but by following this advice, you will find it much easier to put your best foot forward.

What is the purpose of a cover letter?

A cover letter is a document that includes information designed to entice an employer to read your resume. It should explain why you are a good fit for the company and how you can benefit the employer. It should also briefly summarize your skills and include any information that would not fit well on your resume.

The average length of a cover letter is 1 page. In order to stand out from other candidates, however, it’s important to make it unique and personal. If you have a lot of experience with a certain type of work, you may need to include that in your resume instead of extending it into the cover letter.

How do I write a cover letter?

There are many different ways to write a cover letter. It can be as simple as a sentence or two, or it can be as long as two pages. It should be tailored to the job you are applying for and include information specific to that job (like what qualifications you bring to the company) if possible. You should also address the person who is going to read your resume by name and try to get the name of that person from the company’s website. If you don’t know someone’s name, address the letter to the department. Cover letters should be well written and error-free.

Some cover letter templates can be helpful to see how information should be presented in a cover letter, but make sure they are free of errors and include information that is appropriate for your specific situation. Make sure to personalize!

Tips to write an effective cover letter:

Here are the following best writing tips to create an effective cover letter that lands you a dream job interview.

Keep it short and sweet:

The more information you put in a cover letter, the less likely it is to be effective. At the same time, you need to be able to succinctly communicate why you are a great fit for this job. You might think that writing a 30-page cover letter should have your resume do all of the communicating for you, but that is rarely the case.

Personalize:

More than anything else, hiring managers want to know if they are reading someone’s words or an advertisement. Personalization is always a good idea. For example, personalize the cover letter by including your name and contact information at the very end of your letter.

Don’t make this about you:

Effective cover letters are about the employer and why you are qualified for the position. Tell them why you are qualified for the job, rather than why you should be in charge of it (see more tips on resumes).

Be concise:

Cover letters should be brief. Don’t go into details unless requested.

Make sure it’s clean and presentable:

We are a professional services industry – we live and die by our image. Make sure your cover letter is free of errors, and that it looks professional to boot.

Mention the company:

If you know anything about the company you are applying to, mention it. Even if the only things you know are their name and where they’re located, mention it in your cover letter. Since many companies have multiple branches in multiple locations sometimes this simple information will help distinguish you from the crowd.

Mention the position and why you want it:

Make it clear why you are applying for this particular position and how it will benefit the company as well as yourself. You can also mention any previous experience you have that is relevant to the job opening; for example, past positions, extracurricular activities, etc.

Don’t use a generic cover letter:

Generic cover letters (ones that you just change the name, the company name, and maybe the job title) are often horrible and ineffective. It stands to reason that if you submit one of these to a company they will think that your resume is just as generic and thus unsuitable for them.

Don’t be afraid to ask for an interview:

Similarly, always end your cover letter by asking for an interview. It’s a powerful way to close the letter. If it doesn’t end with a “call me at …”, then you should assume that they won’t.

Come prepared for the interview:

You will impress your interviewer more if you come prepared rather than if you don’t. Come prepared to discuss something about the company and the position that you are applying for.

Conclude with “Thank you”:

The thank-you is very important. It is how you leave a professional impression of yourself with your potential employer. It’s an indication to them that you are formal and care about etiquette. While this sounds antiquated and formal, it is actually very effective.

If you are looking for a job in the Professional Services industry then you need to make sure that your cover letter is the best that it can be.

What to include in cover letter:

In your cover letter, you should include information that will help the hiring manager to better understand how your background and experience qualify you for the job. You also want to present these details in a straightforward and succinct manner so that hiring managers can quickly find what they’re looking for and then get back to their jobs.

To accomplish these things, a cover letter should include the following points:

  • Who you are
  • How you found out about the company or job opening (if via a recruiter, list this as well).
  • How you match the job description.
  • Why you are qualified for the job.
  • Your specific qualifications.

Any knowledge that you have of the company, its products, or industry. It is possible to be general in your qualifications without being imprecise and can include your experience, education levels, and professional achievements.

What NOT to include in cover letter:

Never tell a hiring manager about how they are going to benefit from hiring you. You can tell them how you can help their company, but never state that they’ll benefit from hiring you. Unless you know exactly what the hiring manager is looking for, it’s not a good idea to mention your salary requirements or salary history.

  • Don’t ask for a job offer. This should only be done in the interview (see more on this below).
  • Don’t use humor. This might not seem like the obvious issue with a cover letter, but humor can be misinterpreted and will often reflect negatively on you.
  • Don’t include personal information. While most companies don’t ask for it, some do and this information could then be accessed by a different department than your potential hiring manager’s.
  • Don’t use slang or informal wording. This also seems like an unexpected issue, but slang is not professional and off putting to many hiring managers.
  • Don’t include photos or graphics.
  • Don’t mention the location of the job in your cover letter. This brings up questions from hiring managers about whether or not you’re serious about the position. Consider the experience you’ve had as an industry-member or professional and how that would relate to a location (if it’s at all possible). If you can’t pinpoint where you would be comfortable working, then don’t mention it to anyone until after you’ve been offered the job.

Cover Letter Example Templates:

Build my Cover Letter

Key Takeaways:

  • A cover letter is a written document that accompanies your resume when you are applying for a job.
  • The cover letter is an introduction to yourself and your work, and helps the employer to determine if you seem like a good fit for the job.
  • A cover letter should be tailored to each job and employer that you are applying to.
  • The cover letter should be short and to the point. Do not include irrelevant information.
  • Your resume should go first, and your cover letter should go on top of the resume.
  • When you are writing a job application letter, the first line is the most important part. It should contain an attention grabbing statement such as “I am applying for the position of…..”
  • The letter should be written in an easy to read format, such as font size 14 or larger.
  • When you are writing a resume, the most important items on the document are the name and contact information (e.g. address, phone number). These elements should be easily readable, so that a recruiter or employer can quickly identify your credentials and contact you if they need additional information from you.
  • Most cover letters do not go into much detail about your previous work experiences.

The post What is a cover letter? appeared first on ResumeKraft.

How long should a cover letter be

Posted: 25 Jul 2021 12:51 PM PDT

A cover letter should be a one-page document that highlights your most important qualifications for the position you are applying to. It should also demonstrate how you will make a positive contribution to the company if employed.

Length of cover letter: Less than one page.

Information about what's required in a cover letter: See examples and additional resources below.

Your cover letter explains why you would make a good addition to the team and how you can make your job as easy as possible for others.

If you had a short paragraph that basically said why this job was perfect for you, that would be the first sentence. The rest of the letter is elaboration.

Example:

I am writing in response to the position of Executive Assistant advertised on LinkedIn. As a top performer from IBM and Salesforce, I have extensive experience handling high volumes of e-mail, managing calendars and arranging travel schedules, and much more. I am confident my skills would be an asset to any company at this time of economic growth.

The cover letter should use action verbs and present an enthusiastic and positive tone.

Example: I hope my letter demonstrates how I would be an asset to your company in relation to the position requirements. I look forward to hearing from you, Ms. _, at your earliest convenience.

A cover letter is more about you than it is about the person reading it, so make sure it highlights your experience and qualifications rather than repeating the job description verbatim.

You should also include the names of any contact information where the reader can reach you, such as a phone number, address, e-mail address, and LinkedIn name.

Always adhere to these few basic rules when writing your cover letter –

  • Be concise and to the point: Cover letters shouldn't be more than one page. Try to stick to one-and-a-half (about two pages) max.
  • Include your contact information: It is becoming increasingly important to include a way for the hiring manager to reach you. You can have an e-mail address, phone number, and mailing address on hand.
  • Stand out: Despite all the competition for a job, it is imperative that you stand out in some way. In most cases, this has to do with industry experience and specific points that make you more qualified for the job than others might be.
  • Don't ask: Follow the advice of LinkedIn. If you don't know whether your contact information should be included or not, it probably shouldn't be.
    Staying on top of all these changes and keeping up-to-date on the most current job listings is essential to finding a new job before your current position becomes filled.

Sample Cover Letter:

Ms. _
I am writing in response to the position of ___ that was advertised on LinkedIn. As a top performer from IBM and Salesforce, I have extensive experience handling high volumes of e-mail, managing calendars and arranging travel schedules, and much more. I am confident my skills would be an asset to any company at this time of economic growth.
I hope my letter demonstrates how I would be an asset to your company in relation to the position requirements. I look forward to hearing from you, Ms. __, at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
(name)

Sample Cover Letter
Build my Cover Letter

Cover Letter Writing Guide:

  1. Your introduction: This is where you grab the reader’s attention, and explain what your cover letter is about. Make sure to give specific examples of the skills you have and how they relate to the position.
  2. Your first sentence: You want to grab the reader’s attention right away so it should start off in an active voice and should not use words like "I" or "You." Instead, use words like “Here is where you can find a list of my relevant experience.”
  3. The rest of the letter: Your body of the letter should be written in an enthusiastic and positive tone. If you find yourself outlining your experience, you might need to rewrite your cover letter.
  4. Conclusion: Your conclusion is where you sum up what the reader had learned by reading through your cover Letter and what it means for them. This paragraph is also a good place to summarize anything about the job that was not mentioned in your introduction.
  5. References: You must include a list of your references along with your contact information and any other pieces of information that might be useful to the reader.
  6. Closing thoughts: This section can be used for anything you want to communicate that is not covered in the body of the letter.

Cover Letter Formatting Tips:

  1. Cover letter length: One page.
  2. There should be no “Dear Sir or Madam,” only “To Whom it May Concern.”
  3. There should NOT be a title for the resume, only the heading: “Curriculum Vitae” at the top of the first page.
  4. The date should be in the center of the page, and typed under your full name. This is a very formal document, so you should use a very professional format.
  5. There should be only one page inside the cover letter.
  6. The address should be written as follows: “To Whom It May Concern,” followed by the street address, city/state/zip code, and a return address (optional).
  7. Address every paragraph in the letter using the same format: “To Whom It May Concern.”
  8. Use 1 inch margins on all sides of the page.
  9. Use a 12-point font (but not so big that you use up too much space).
  10. Use Times New Roman or Arial; never use Comic Sans or other weird fonts.
  11. Include a header with your name, address, and phone number on one line, and then go down the page and leave four blank lines — this is where the HR department will write their comments when they mail it back to you.
  12. Double-space the entire letter, including the cover, address, and any comments from your future employer.

6 Things NOT to do in a cover letter:

  1. Never repeat your resume in your cover letter. It’s not necessary, and it makes the document more difficult to read.
  2. Don’t use a fake name or different email address when applying for jobs than you do in real life — this is, of course, unless you’re applying for an online job with an online company!
  3. Don’t write about how great your last boss was and how much you loved the job. It’s important to know that you will be a good fit for the company, but it’s just as important to know that you’ll be a good fit with your boss.
  4. Don’t make promises on behalf of your boss. You might think you have this great idea that will save the company money, but it’s not your place to suggest this idea to them.
  5. Don’t use clichés, buzzwords or nonsense phrases like “innovative,” “hardworking” and the like.
  6. Don’t write someone else’s cover letter. If you have a friend or a colleague who wrote a similar cover letter, you can ask them for advice on how to change it to make it unique. But do not write the same cover letter twice!

Key Takeaways:

  • The ideal length of your cover letter should be one page.
  • Your cover letter should be clear and concise, not filled with unnecessary verbiage.
  • Don’t include your resume in your cover letter unless requested to do so.
  • List all pertinent accomplishments on the first page of your cover letter to make it easier to skim
  • If you have a written thank you note for the person who referred you, include that as well.

The post How long should a cover letter be appeared first on ResumeKraft.

How to Start a Cover Letter – 10 Writing Tips

Posted: 25 Jul 2021 11:26 AM PDT

Whether you are applying for a job or internship or sending a cover letter to any other type of writing project, there are some simple tips on how to write a more compelling cover letter. A lackluster cover letter can easily be ignored or be seen as unprofessional.

A cover letter should be concise. Your cover letter does not need to include your life story, but it should draw attention to your most relevant qualifications, skills, and experiences. Your cover letter is not an opportunity to rehash everything you said in your resume. Remember the purpose of a cover letter is to assist the employer in making the decision to read your resume and possibly offer you an interview. Include pertinent information from your resume, and this should be enough for them to see what they need without reading your entire resume.

Your cover letter should be proofread and easy to read. Hiring managers regularly receive people’s resumes and cover letters, so make yours stand out by using proper spelling and grammar. Your cover letter should not have any obvious errors, as this will instantly take away from your professionalism. Most people will overlook a resume with bad grammar, but not a potential employee’s cover letter.

Your cover letter should be concise. Your cover letter does not need to include your life story, but it should draw attention to your most relevant qualifications, skills, and experiences. Your cover letter is not an opportunity to rehash everything you said in your resume. Remember the purpose of a cover letter is to assist the employer in making the decision to read your resume and possibly offer you an interview.

Top 10 Tips to Write an effective Cover Letter:

Here are the top 10 tips to write an effective cover letter for almost any kind of job:

1. Don’t Use a Form Letter:

Never use a form letter. A cover letter is an opportunity to reveal your personality and add that personal touch. A form letter will take away from this.

2. Include Your Resume:

Just like your resume, your cover letters need to be tailored for each application. Be sure to include any important qualifications and details about the position in your cover letter.

3. Address Correctly:

When addressing your cover letter directly to a specific person, you should always capitalize the name. Instead of “Dear Mr. Jones,” it should be “Dear Mr. Jones.” Next, address your letter to the position and not simply the person who will be reading it. For example, “I am writing in response to your advertisement for a Director of Sales” and not “To Mr. Jones.”

4. Leave Out Personal Information:

Personal information in a cover letter should be limited to your address, phone number, and email address. Otherwise, do not include your age, marital status, or other personal information that is not relevant for the position you are applying for.

5. Include a Brief Summary:

In this section of the cover letter, briefly describe any previous experience and skills that are relevant to the position. For example, “I have over six years of experience in sales and customer service. I have strong leadership skills, and excellent communication and customer service skills.”

6. Use Professional Language:

Be sure to use professional language in your cover letter. Refer to the job posting, instead of “our company,” or emphasize the fact that you are only available for “one week this month.” Use proper grammar and spelling.

7. Personalize Your Application:

Write your cover letter in the first person so it feels more personal to the reader. You can also add information about yourself at the end of your cover letter e.g. you love to read, play chess, or you have two children.

8. Refer to an Accomplishment:

A cover letter is your opportunity to explain why you are the best candidate for a job. For example, “It says in your ad that you are looking for someone with excellent time management and organizational skills. I am an extremely organized individual and feel that my previous experience will translate into an excellent fit at XYZ Company.”

9. Get to the Point:

A cover letter is not your opportunity to make up a story or add any irrelevant information. Be specific about why you are applying for the position and what qualifies you specifically for it.

10. Use Appropriate Letter Length:

Most cover letters will be a maximum of one page long. You may need to include up to three pages, but try for less than that.

Examples of Cover Letter Introduction:

Cover letters are an effective way to increase a recruiter’s interest in you. Read a few examples of cover letters to get a better idea of how one should be formatted and written.

Example 1:

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing in response to your advertisement for the __ (position) in the ___ (name of company). I am very interested in this position because ___ (insert details on why you are interested in this job).

Example 2:

I am applying for the __ (position) with your company. With more than five years of experience in ___ (name of the field), I believe that my skills and qualifications can help your company. I will be available during the week of ___ to discuss this position further.

Example 3:

Dear Sir/Madam,
My interest in your company first began after I read the description of the __ (position) on the website. I have extensive experience in ___ (name of the field) and believe that my skills, knowledge, and abilities will help your company grow in __ (name of company).
I look forward to hearing from you.

Example 4:

Dear Sir/Madam,
As an __ (position), I am interested in your company because it is a great opportunity for growth and development. My skills and experiences can help you achieve your goals in the field of ___ (name of position).

Check our cover letter examples.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Use cover letter template
  2. The most important advice that you should follow is to be accurate and use proper grammar and spelling.
  3. You should be very specific about what you can do for the company, as well as your interest in the position.
  4. List your experience and interests as important qualifications for this job.
  5. Address your cover letter directly to a specific person and not simply to the position itself.
  6. Don’t use a form letter. Each cover letter should be tailored to each specific job you apply for.
  7. Don’t provide any personal information that is irrelevant to the position you are applying for.
  8. Include a brief summary of your skills and experience that is relevant to this position.
  9. Use professional language and avoid contractions like “don’t” and “won’t.” 9. Personalize your cover letter for each job that you apply for.
  10. Be sure to use proper grammar and spelling.
  11. Don’t exceed one page in length, and keep your cover letter to no more than three pages.
  12. Use bullet points to highlight useful information and skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for.

The post How to Start a Cover Letter – 10 Writing Tips appeared first on ResumeKraft.

The Best Cover Letter Examples for 2021

Posted: 25 Jul 2021 10:29 AM PDT

A cover letter is a key that unlocks the doors to your dream job and gets you started on your journey of building a successful career. It is the document that highlights your talents and demonstrates to prospective employers why you are a perfect fit for the position. The cover letter is your chance to woo potential bosses with your skills, abilities, and work ethic.

Everyone is always looking for a job, but not everyone gets an interview. If you don't have much experience, then you need to be sure you send the best cover letter possible and present yourself in the best way possible. The following are some of the best cover letters examples that will help land your dream job this year and beyond!

How To Write an Effective cover letters:

Start with an honest cover letter. Don't be afraid to share details about yourself and your skills in the cover letters you will write. Instead, be confident in your abilities and communicate much more than just what you are applying for.

Also prepare for your first job interview in the cover letter itself, as it is often the first impression an employer will have about you. If you are asked why you want the position then answer this question or it might make it look like that is what you are really after!

Focus on your own strengths, not on what they need from a new employee. Many employees pitch their strengths because they think that what they do for a living is the most important thing, but in fact, what you do matters only to you.

Put your writing skills to work in a cover letter. Did you write and publish a textbook recently, or maybe one of your own from scratch? it doesn't matter if it is fiction or non-fiction, but sharing your writing experience will give you an edge over the competition!

Know how to use grammar and speech words in the cover letter. Know that there are different kinds of letters that should be used at each stage of the hiring process, such as on-campus interviews, job applications, and cover letters to accompany these documents.

In some cases, you may not even get an interview from the cover letter that you are sending, but if it is well written and concise then you still have a very good chance! Focus on your accomplishments as a person rather than what your professional skills may be.

It is also important to use a standard business format when writing your cover letter. This will provide the potential employer with a template of exactly what they should be looking for in applicants.

Check our article about how to start a cover letter.

Elements of a cover letter:

The normal cover letter contains the following elements:

  1. The salutation is the first thing to appear in a cover letter, and should be used to let the individual know how you are going to address them. Although formal protocol would dictate using Mr., Mrs., Dr., or Ms. before the salutation, you should avoid this, since it will only act as a deterrent to the person that you are trying to impress.
  2. The first paragraph, or opening paragraph, should include a strong note about why you are writing the letter. This is known as your "hook" and it should be used to grab the reader’s attention immediately. You can use it to highlight a personal experience with them or something that they did that stood out for you in some way.
  3. The second paragraph or body of the letter is where you focus on the job that you are applying for. You can expand on the job description, adding any additional information that you may feel is relevant to your application.
  4. The third paragraph is a good place to talk about your skills and qualifications in relation to the job opening. You can also use it to discuss why you would be a good fit for that particular position.
  5. The final paragraph, or closing paragraph, should always thank the individual for taking the time to read your application and offer any additional information that they might need from you in order to make their decision.

How to Format a Cover Letter?

Here is the best format guideline to follow:

Fonts:

Most hiring managers prefer to read cover letters that are only on one page, and as such, you should try to keep the letter to half a page at most. When preparing your cover letter, you should use a simple yet well-known font such as Times New Roman or Arial.

Avoid using fancy fonts or ones that appear difficult to read. Fancy fonts can also be distracting to a reader and may cause them to lose focus on the actual content of your cover letter.

Try not to use any color in your cover letter or avoid it altogether if possible. If you do choose a colored format, then you should use it sparingly and only for headings that stand out more than the body copy of the letter.

Spacing:

The spacing between the lines of a cover letter is very important, as it can break up the letter and make it much easier to read. Try to leave about one and one-half line spaces between each paragraph in your cover letter.

This will give you more room to have more paragraphs without giving the appearance that your letter on top of itself or looks crowded. It also allows for a quick glance at any section of the letter to get an idea of what part it covers without having to read through the entire thing.

Use a single space after each sentence with no additional spacing before or after any sentence or paragraph in a cover letter.

Length:

Your cover letter must be no more than one page to be successful. Never use more than one page in length for a cover letter.

Use about one and one-half paragraph spaces per line in your cover letter, which will allow you a little more room if you have additional content than is typical.

You should also avoid long paragraphs or anything that is too wordy and will make it difficult for the person reading your letter to see what you are trying to say without skipping too much content. Use bullet points and short sentences whenever possible to maintain easy-to-read writing that is professional.

Margins and alignment:

The margins that you use in your cover letter should be one inch on all four sides of the page. This makes your cover letter look more professional and well put together.

The alignment that you use for a cover letter should always be centered so that the content is easier to read and the appearance looks much better as well.

Never left-align or right-align a cover letter since this makes the text flow in odd ways that are difficult to read. Choose a center alignment every time for ease of reading.

Cover letter format example:

Here is a cover letter format example.

James Dow
(12) 345-678910210
james.dow@email.com
January 22, 2022

Dear Ms. Joy Smith,

I am writing to you about the Sales Manager position at ABC Company. I am a recent graduate with strong experience in sales and marketing and I am interested in this exciting career opportunity.

I am a hard-working and enthusiastic person that is looking for a company that shares my interest in helping customers. You can see from my resume how my skills will contribute to your sales department, but I would also like to share some of my personal strengths with you as well.

At high school, I was captain of the basketball team and led us to two State Championships. After graduating, I went on to play for the University of Georgia Bulldogs where I was named player of the year for three seasons in a row. I was also named to the All-American team for three years as well.

I believe that passion for success and the ability to inspire a team are essential skills for any manager. I think you will find that my resume shows that I have these attributes and more.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope to speak with you soon and tell you more about how I can help increase sales at ABC Company.

Sincerely,
James Dow

Cover letter examples:

The post The Best Cover Letter Examples for 2021 appeared first on ResumeKraft.

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