The process of applying for a new job is rarely on the top of anyone’s love-to-do list. However, spending a healthy bit of personal energy to create a great cover letter is worth it to get an interview.
A job hunter would do well to write to the best of his work-related abilities. Doing so will leave any prospective employer thinking she’s reading about the best person for the job.
What is a Cover Letter?
The cover letter: smack dab between the resume and the job interview. Employers look to the cover letter to give them an idea of what they will find in the resume. It’s a great opportunity for job hunters to cover strengths that don’t quite fit into the resume while displaying knowledge of the company they’re applying for.
Knowing the purpose of the cover letter will make it easier to best utilize it. Employers look to the cover letter as a brief summary to see if they’re reading about the best person to fill their role. It’s an introduction to what they hope to find on the resume. If they don’t find what they’re looking for, they’re probably not going to read the resume.
Do the Research
A common mistake in cover letter writing is highlighting personal strengths without making the connection to how those strengths will benefit the company. Background information is great, but an employer is most interested in how skills and experiences relate to the task at hand.
Doing research into the company’s mission and stakeholders will give a job hunter an idea about what skills will benefit the company most. Also, carefully examining the job description provides essential information about what the employer is looking for.
When there’s a clear idea about the company’s strengths and background, it’s time to match the job hunter’s strengths with the vacant position. Pairing personal experience and a proven record with the gap an employer is trying to fill is like putting a square peg into a square hole.
Write an Eye-Catching Subject Line
Rather than writing a generic subject line, jazz it up to make it stand out.
“Ref: ###, Job Title Vacancy” may be factual, but it’s certainly not punchy or descriptive. Instead, try for something like “Ambitious and Experienced Accountant Available for Job XYZ”.
People reading cover letters are most likely to scan for certain key words before delving into the details. A subject line is a great place to start scanning. Write so that the subject line makes an impact on the person reading the cover letter.
Custom-Tailor the Cover Letter to the Job Title
Bland, one-size-fits-all cover letters will only highlight a job hunter’s laziness and lack of imagination. Prospective employers can spot these types of cover letters from miles away, and will file them straight into the circular file – the garbage can.
Title the cover letter appropriately: address the person in charge of hiring, and make sure their name and job title is spelled correctly. Check and double check the mailing address to show attention to detail.
Once the cover letter had been written, read it alongside the job description to make sure that everything that’s required in the role has been listed.
Ask Someone to Edit the Cover Letter
Before sending off the cover letter, ask someone to look it over. It’s hard to catch typos or awkward phrasing after staring at the same piece of writing for hours. A fresh pair of eyes may catch such oversights.
Few people find job hunting fun or energizing, but writing a great cover letter can be. Be creative and insightful when crafting a cover letter, and the rest will fall into place.
