How to Write an Effective Cover Letter

The Cover Story

When filling out job applications, often you will be required to submit a cover letter. But what is a cover letter?

At its core, a cover letter is a document that’s ideally three-to-four paragraphs long (or one page), which not only showcases your keen interest in the position you’re applying for, but it also shows potential employers that you’re passionate about the industry you wish to work in.

In other words, the document serves as a means to make a good and memorable impression on employers, and to make you stand out among other applicants.

Additionally, it gives you the opportunity to briefly discuss your work experience, skills and achievements, to explain why you think you’re the right person for this job, and how you’ll contribute to the company should you attain the position. Plus, you should use the letter to thank them for their time in considering your application.

With each job you apply for, remember to customise the cover letter appropriately – for example, a recruiter at a publishing company may be confused at receiving a letter about your interest in working at a food manufacturing firm!

Cover All Bases

When putting together a cover letter, consider the following:

1. Do Research

It’s important to conduct research into the company you wish to work for and the role you’re applying for so that your cover letter doesn’t come off as generic, which could make you stand out less prominently among other applicants. Plus, it can help set the tone for the letter itself (more on this later!).

You need to show a keen understanding of what the company does, their goals, their current standing in their respective industry, and so on. Obtaining and understanding this information can be done by gleaning the company’s website, press releases and social media accounts, as well as the job description.

When you write the letter, include the most relevant, important keywords and phrases that relate to both the company’s mission and the job description. These can really help catch the eye of the hiring manager, and improve your chances of getting hired or progressing to the next step of the application process.

2. Boost Yourself

In one or two sections of the letter, you should demonstrate the value you can bring to an employer by briefly describing your attributes and skills, and by drawing on your previous work experiences and at least one major/recent accomplishment.

When unpacking this achievement, remember the following: describe the context in which it occurred; explain the challenges you faced and the actions you took to deal with them; and state what the outcome was and if it met your goal. All in all, you need to convey why this achievement is of significance to you.

For example, perhaps while working as a mid-level sales representative, your greatest achievement was increasing sales in an underperforming region. Determined to not let your company cut ties with that region despite making huge losses, you temporarily moved to that region, researched why your product was underperforming there – from collecting feedback from locals to observing their shopping habits – and then staged public demonstrations on how to use the product.

Ultimately, you created awareness around the product, sales increased and that region became your company’s top market. As a result, you were promoted to senior management.

By outlining an achievement such as this, you will paint yourself as the most suitable – and most valuable – candidate for the vacant position.

3. Mind Your Tone

When composing a cover letter, it’s essential to maintain a formal, professional and respectful tone throughout. You want to refrain from being overly casual, overly flattering and/or overly desperate – instead, being courteous and gracious adds a sense of credibility, which can make a positive impression on the hiring manager.

Of course, the tone of the letter could change depending on whom you wish to work for. For example, an advertising firm may appreciate a creative, whimsical style of writing. However, if you wish to work at a law firm or government agency, a business-like tone incorporating jargon-specific words will better suit your purposes.

4. Don’t Rewrite Your CV

Remember, your cover letter is not the same as your CV!

An extensive document, your CV is a complete outline of you, the applicant: it contains information about you (ie. your name, age, location, etc), how to contact you, education, work experience, skills, accomplishments and any other relevant experience – complete with the inclusion of bullet-points.

Cover letters, on the other hand, are more concise, are slightly personable, and are meant to highlight specific elements of your career that make you a right fit for the position you are applying for.

Do not rewrite the entirety of your CV into your cover letter. Hiring managers could easily dismiss you, as they will think that you are wasting their time repeating yourself when you could have used the letter to boost your worth more. 

All Covered!

With this knowledge, you’re all set to write and submit your cover letter. Feel free to let a friend or colleague review your letter first before sending it off with your job application. If they feel satisfied with its contents, then take it as a positive sign that you have a strong chance to land the job of your dreams. Good luck!