Cover letters are an often overlooked aspect of your job search strategy, yet they can play an important role in presenting you to a potential employer or recruiter.
Cover letters are often a contentious area of debate and there's no universal agreement among employers and recruiters as to their worth. But in the majority of situations, when you send off your application, you won't know whether the person who receives it will ignore your cover letter and go straight to your resume, or if they read your cover letter in order to decide whether to even look at your resume.
Whilst there is no single method for producing the right cover letter, a well written cover letter can greatly improve your chances of getting an interview by providing a summary of who you are, demonstrating you have read the job description and that are enthusiastic and qualified for the role. The style of your cover letter will depend on how you are approaching your job hunting, what industry it is and what skills need to be highlighted.
An application for a professional position generally consists of two documents: a cover letter and a resume.
While the resume is a somewhat generic advertisement for yourself, the cover letter allows you to tailor your application to each specific job. Although the thrust of your various letters may remain the same, with the key pieces of information may be the same - there is really no reason for you to have a single, generic cover letter.
Effective cover letters are constructed with close attention to;
Purpose
Audience
Content
Format
Examples: Cover letter 1, Cover letter 2 – Cold Call
Your cover letter and resume usually provide all the information which a prospective employer will use to decide whether or not you will reach the next phase in the application process: the interview.
While your goal is an interview and, ultimately, a job offer, the more immediate purpose of your cover letter in some cases may simply be to gain an attentive audience for your resume.
A cover letter provides, in a very real sense, an opportunity to let your prospective employer hear your voice. It reflects your personality, your attention to detail, your communication skills, your enthusiasm, your intellect, and your specific interest in the company to which you are sending the letter.
Therefore, cover letters should be tailored to each specific company you are applying to. You should conduct enough research to know the interests, needs, values, and goals of each company, and your letters should reflect that knowledge.
A cover letter should be addressed to the specific company and the specific individual who will process your application. You can usually find this through research or simply by calling the company to find out who you should address your letter to.
The letter should name the position for which you are applying and also make specific references to the company. Indicate your knowledge of and interest in the work the company is currently doing, and your qualification for the position. You want the reader to know:
- why you want to work at that specific company,
- why you fit with that company
- how you qualify for the position to which you applying.
In addition to tailoring your application to a specific job with a specific company, the cover letter should also:
- highlight the most important and relevant accomplishments, skills, and experience listed in your resume
- point to the resume in some way (as detailed in the enclosed resume")
- request specific follow up, such as an interview.
A cover letter should be in paragraph form (save bulleted lists for your resume) with a conversational, though formal, tone.
The first paragraph should be brief, perhaps two or three sentences, stating:
- what job you are applying for and how you learned about it
- any personal contacts you have in or with the company
- your general qualifications for the job.
The body of your letter should consist of one to three longer paragraphs in which you expand upon your qualifications for the position. Pick out the most relevant qualifications listed in your resume and discuss them in detail, demonstrating how your background and experience qualify you for the job. Be as specific as possible, and refer the reader to your resume for additional details.
The concluding paragraph of your letter should request an interview (or some other response, as appropriate). State where and when you can be reached, and express your willingness to come to an interview or supply further information. Close by thanking your reader for his or her time and consideration.