Cover Letters. How To Write A Cover Letter

Cover letters are an important part of the job-hunting process. Writing a cover letter when seeking a job can be a very daunting task that plagues many job seekers. A cover letter introduces who you are and what sells your CV or resume to the potential employer.

You are writing a cover letter that explains the narrative that is your life experiences, potential job requirements, and shows your writing and communication abilities.

Before an employer even sees your resume, they are making judgments and evaluations about you and your abilities. If the cover letter is not done well, your employer may not even get to your resume.

There are some things you can do to make sure your cover letter is seen. Stand out among the pile of cover letters on the employers’ desks. You do not want to achieve this through format or look, but in the skills and experiences listed in the cover letter.

Using bullet points makes cover letters more effective. Hiring managers do not want to read the entire page word for word so a quick scan is useful. When you provide information in bullet lists, they are able to get the highlights and move on to your resume.

You want to address the information that the recruiter is seeking. They are not interested in your hobbies or what you do on the weekend so keep it job-related and easy to read. Highlight things that are not gleaned from reading your resume to add value to the resume.

The cover letter is about telling the reader who you are and what you can do. You should not be asking for anything in your letter. You want to provide the employer with information about yourself and not put the responsibility on the recruiter to do work.

The structure of the cover letter should be easy to read and follow. The first paragraph should be no longer than four sentences and showcase your talents. You want to show how you are a good fit for the job.

Next, list in bullet format your achievements so the recruiter can quickly get an idea of what you have done in the past. You want this to be job-related so it is relevant information to the recruiter.

Lastly, summarise why you want the job and how you can contribute to the company. Thank the recruiter for their time and end with a formal signature block.