A cover letter is an important part of your application ensemble. It is a letter declaring your intention to apply for a job at a specific company. A cover letter allows you to express your enthusiasm and interest in joining the company while presenting yourself well.
For many people, a cover letter can be detrimental to their entire application if they don’t know what to do with it. So many people still struggle to formulate a well-crafted cover letter. Given its importance to your chances of getting hired, you should know how to write a stand-out cover letter.
You must learn how to write a stand-out cover letter to increase your chances of getting hired. Check out the guide below to learn some tips for writing a stand-out cover letter.
Why Should Learn How to Write a Stand-Out Cover Letter
A cover letter is your declaration of application for the company that you’re interested in. It complements your resume by providing more context to the contents of your document.
This makes it a lot easier for employers to check your connection to the position such as your skills, work experience, and knowledge. The goal in writing a stand-out cover letter is to convince the employer to interview and later on, hire you.
Your cover letter should highlight your relevant qualifications and show your motivation for the specific position.
The cover letter also reflects your communication skills, which is a great way to impress a potential employer.
When Should You Write a Cover Letter
Not all employers will require you to send a cover letter during the initial application stage. You should send a cover letter if the job post requires you to do so or when there is a specific objective in hiring you.
If you need to explain your resume thoroughly, you can always provide a cover letter so you can detail all of your experiences to the employer.
If you are applying for several job openings, make sure that you draft a cover letter in advance, tailor specific information from your cover letter, and relate it to the job position’s requirements.
How to Write a Stand-Out Cover Letter
When it comes to writing a cover letter, it should stand out from the rest. This makes you one of the top contenders for the job, especially if you already have the skills, knowledge, and experience to back it up.
Explore more helpful tips in writing a cover letter for a job application so your letter will always be in its best form. Check it out below.
Check the Job Specifications First
Since your cover letter will be about how you fit into the job through the job description, learn how to check the job specifications first. Pay close attention to the responsibilities and the scope of the work, including the relevant keywords that they often use.
This is where you will emphasize your skills and knowledge on your resume and cover letter. When it comes to keywords, try to use them sparingly.
Use the keywords in their job specifications and incorporate them into your cover letter. They will surely notice that you are attentive to details and have what it takes to get the job done.
Make a Solid Introduction
An introduction can make or break your cover letter. Add a header with complete information to ensure a solid introduction. It should include your name, address, contact details, birthdate, and other information.
This makes it a lot easier for the hiring manager to get your information should they decide to contact you again.
Mirror the format to what it looks like on your resume so it is very easy for them to transition from checking your resume to your cover letter.
Do Your Research
Preparation is key to a successful application, and the best way to do this is to research the company. You need to find out if your professional skills, work experience, and knowledge align.
You should also check out their core principles and include them in your cover letter. Be sure that you also incorporate them together with your enthusiasm and interest in joining the company.
Always inform the company about its recent endeavors and projects so they know you have done your research.
Take Advantage of Cover Letter Templates
If this is your first time writing a cover letter, it is best to use a cover letter template.
A cover letter template is a guide to help you write the perfect cover letter and have everything organized and optimized for you. A cover letter template can help draft a good cover letter, and you can add your flair to the mix later on.
This should give you a more personal approach to your cover letter so it does not sound and look too generic.
Emphasize Your Experience and Skills
After making a strong introduction, explain immediately how your skills and experience can make them a better company.
Do not waste a lot of your precious space by adding fillers to your cover letter. List down your work experiences and skills and how these qualifications make you the best candidate.
Highlight any accomplishments that you have made from your previous work and how it affected the company.
Closing Your Cover Letter
Similar to your introduction, you must also have a strong conclusion to your cover letter. This is the part where you must provide them with a closing statement, in which case you are interested in hearing what they have to say with your statement.
You can even tell them that you’re excited about the possibility of working with them and being successful in the job.
Writing a cover letter must captivate your target audience and by ending on a strong note, you can easily grab the job that you want.
Conclusion
Many people don’t understand the impact of having a cover letter submitted together with your resume. Both documents should go hand-in-hand with each other and complement each other. Having a stand-out cover letter can deliver the right amount of context based on your resume. Be sure to follow the tips mentioned above so you can have a cover letter that stands out.
