CAREERCOLLEGE

A Beginner’s Guide to Cover Letters

Whether you are currently applying for jobs or looking to start your professional journey, you always want to put your best foot forward. Even with a strong resume and connections, a lack of a cover letter could result in missing out on future job offers. Cover letters give you extra space to advertise projects and work that don’t easily fit on your resume. It’s a way for employers to get to know you better beyond what fits into bullet points. Like a resume, when applying to multiple positions, you can adapt and reuse your cover letter easily. But by customizing cover letters to potential employers, you can indicate a personalized understanding of what they are looking for.

What to Include in a Cover Letter

Cover letters will vary in length and content depending on the type of position you are applying for along with your relevant experience. However, there are a few things you’ll always want to include:

• An opening paragraph that mentions the company and position you are applying for, and references to any previous communications with the recruiter.
• A paragraph that mirrors the language in the job posting, giving examples of your background that apply to the skills desired.
• A paragraph or section that indicates a personal interest in the company’s mission or goals beyond surface level. This is also a great opportunity to research the company and confirm that the work culture is a good fit. You can use your knowledge later to impress an interviewer.
• A closing paragraph that restates your top qualifications and thanks the reviewer for their consideration.

What to Avoid

Often applicants spend too much of their cover letters detailing how great the position is. While some level of admiration and gratitude is called for, too much can backfire. The purpose of a cover letter is to show how you would be a great employee for the job, not why it would be a great job for you. Keep it around one page in length as well. It’s unlikely a hiring manager will read a multipage cover letter unless it is specifically requested in the application.

What if it's Optional

Imagine you’re a hiring manager with a pool of 100 applicants with nearly identical resumes. Twenty-five applicants decided to craft a letter detailing why they are a great fit for the position and 75 decided not to. The 25 cover-letter applicants are going to have an advantage, appearing highly motivated in their application. According to ResumeLab, 72% of hiring managers expect a cover letter – even if the job posting says it’s optional. While there’s a small chance your cover letter may go unread, there is no way to know what style of hiring manager you are applying to. Submitting an optional cover letter shows a level of dedication beyond the expectation. It’s also a great way to demonstrate written skills and personal voice prior to an interview.

Next time there’s an optional cover letter, submit one! It could be what secures you that position you’ve always wanted. And if it doesn’t, you can walk away knowing you put in your best effort.

Sources:

https://resumegenius.com/blog/cover-letter-help/cover-letter-statistics#important