When hiring managers pick up your CV from the stack of applications, the first thing they notice is the cover letter that you’ve included with it. However, a significant number of people looking for jobs fail to recognize the significance of this essential application document.
Find out why cover letters are so important to securing the job you desire and get some advice on how to write a cover letter that will make your next cover letter stand out from the crowd.
What Is The Purpose Of A Cover Letter?
The primary objective of a cover letter is to supplement your resume by providing more information about your professional history to the person in charge of hiring new employees.
The most effective cover letters serve the purpose of a useful marketing tool, with the product being the applicant themselves.
The purpose of a cover letter is to convey to the person in charge of hiring that your level of interest in the position is such that you feel a resume on its own is insufficient. Y
ou are interested in working for the company, and you are willing to send them a cover letter that is tailored to the position in order to improve your chances of getting hired.
It is the purpose of a cover letter to:
- demonstrate your interest in a role;
- market yourself as the ideal candidate;
- explain any red flags that your resume might raise;
- explain how the accomplishments listed on your resume make you the perfect fit;
- Provide space for you to elaborate on your qualifications.
How Can You Make Your Cover Letter More Effective?
Because resumes are meant to act as overviews of your past successes and skills, it might be tough for a hiring manager to recognize a generic resume.
If you are looking for three separate jobs in software engineering, you probably do not need to make significant adjustments to your resume for each application.
On the other hand, it is far simpler for potential employers to recognize generic cover letters. This is due to the fact that a cover letter has to offer information that is specifically about the organization.
It is simple to adapt your cover letter to the specific requirements of each company. The following is a list of six suggestions that will help you create a cover letter that is tailored to the requirements of the firm to which you are applying:
1. Do Some Research On The Organization And Demonstrate What You’ve Learned About It
Doing research about the organization you want to work for demonstrates that you have put effort into your application.
Mention the fact that you have previous experience working in freshly launched stores if you are looking for a position as a customer service supervisor at a company that is launching a new location of its business.
Describe the ways in which you will be able to adjust to your new employment and the ways in which you will be able to assist your new coworkers in doing the same.
2. Elaborate On The Reasons That Drive Your Enthusiasm For The Position.
The cover letter provides you with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to describe why you genuinely want the role, which is a detail that cannot be completely spelled out on the resume.
You might tell the person in charge of hiring that you lived in Bordeaux for a year and were enamored with French food during that time if you want to get a job as a sous-chef at a French restaurant.
3. Keep The Length Of Your Cover Letter To A Minimum.
If you’re still scratching your head and wondering, “What is the use of a cover letter?” you’ll be happy to know that you can create one even if you don’t have a lot of spare time to devote to it.
Actually, shorter cover letters are more effective than lengthier ones because they allow the hiring manager to easily identify the information that is relevant to the position.
It is possible to produce a compelling cover letter in fewer than 150 words if you make the most of each word and include only information that is pertinent to the position you are applying for.
4. Find Out The Name Of The Person In Charge Of Hiring.
Beginning your cover letter by addressing it to the hiring manager and mentioning their name is the most effective method to begin your cover letter.
This demonstrates that you have done research into the organization and are aware of who holds various positions.
The following is an example of a salutation that might be appropriate for a professional cover letter:
Sincerely, Ms. Ford,
5. Include Relevant Numbers In Your Cover Letter.
Including relevant data in your cover letter demonstrates to potential employers what you can do to help them reach their goals.
If you are looking for a position as a customer service representative, for instance, you may mention something along the lines of “Handled 47 calls per hour.”
6. Please Explain Any Red Flags From Your Resume.
Due to the limited amount of space available, it can be challenging to provide explanations for warning signs on a resume. Instead, you should use your cover letter. Explaining any gaps in employment on your CV should go in the cover letter, which is the document that accompanies your application.
Use a relocation cover letter to reassure potential employers that you aren’t just applying for jobs in other areas at random, especially if you’re moving back home to take care of your parents.
Advice On Writing A Cover Letter
When it comes to creating a cover letter, getting a head start means doing a little bit of research and arranging first. It is much simpler to produce a document that demonstrates how you can fulfill the requirements of the organization once you have a distinct understanding of those requirements.
- Research the firm that you will be applying to and think about how your experience can be applied to the position that you are looking for after reading the job advertisement. Then, at the beginning of your message, include a phrase in the introductory paragraph that shows how the company’s requirements will be met by your skill set.
- Remember to keep it brief and to the point. The Harvard Business Review suggests that you keep your cover letter succinct in order to make it simpler for the recruiter to skim your letter and rapidly determine your qualifications. This will help the recruiter to make a more informed hiring decision.
- Maintain a pleasant and happy attitude, but don’t make an attempt to be amusing. It is appropriate to express excitement about the position you are applying for; however, you should make sure that the tone of your cover letter remains professional. Additionally, you should steer clear of any words or phrases that have a bad meaning.
Summary
Your job search toolkit should always contain a cover letter because it provides you with an additional opportunity to demonstrate why you are the most qualified candidate for the position being applied for.
Even though a recruiter might not look at it, sending one together with your application is still recommended as the best course of action for job seekers. Your chances of getting the job won’t be hindered if you provide a cover letter alongside your CV and application form.
If the individual in charge of recruiting believes that the cover information is crucial, however, leaving it out of your resume could cause it to be rejected.
