Cover letter, as its name implies, is a letter, while it can be presented under various circumstances and in different forms. A cover letter is usually required when you apply for jobs, which is why it is also known as “job application letter”, but it is so much more than that. You can utilize cover letters for application, networking, prospecting, and etc..
You might think cover letter is insignificant, but actually it can be leveraged to achieve certain goals. Apart from your resume/CV, a cover letter is the best way for the recipient (mostly your potential employer, hiring manager, and etc.) to know who you really are and how you can contribute to the company. A good cover letter can undoubtedly distinguish you from other candidates. See the importance of cover letter? To help you write a compelling cover letter, there are tips, dos & don'ts below, along with some successful cover letter samples & templates just for you!
After knowing the importance of cover letters, the next step is to write one. What is the structure of a cover letter? There is a general format for cover letters, but note that it should be adjusted accordingly for different mediums and scenarios.
Typically, a cover letter should not be more than 1-page long (the average time for hiring managers to read one resume is less than 20 seconds!), and within this 1 page, you should include the following 5 parts: contact information, greeting, hook, body, closing. Let’s dig into each of them!
Part 1
In this part, you should include your full name, email address, mobile number, and address (not necessary). You can also add links of your professional personal websites like LinkedIn, CakeResume, Medium, if you have been building personal brand on them.
Further reading: Why Every Professional Should Have A Personal Website
Part 2
You can definitely make a good first impression on the hiring manager if you greet him/her with the right name! By searching the company’s website or LinkedIn page, you can easily find the name. A good beginning is halfway to success!
Part 3
In this part, you will elaborate on the reason why you are applying for this job. At the same time, it is a good chance to show that how deep you understand the company and its product, and also, how much you admire the value the company is bringing to the society!
Part 4
Here comes the highlight, the main body of your cover letter! Let’s be clear, this part is all about promoting yourself! That’s what you are going to do:
Note that you should avoid job-description writing. By quantifying your performance by numbers & statistics, it would be clearer for your employer that how much value you can bring to the company!
Part 5
Hang in there, this is the last part of your cover letter! The main intention/function of closing is to thank the hiring manager for spending time reading your cover letter, also mention if there is any resume, portfolio or relevant certificate attached. Don’t forget to sign your full name at the end of the letter!
Ta-da! Congratulations that you have finished your cover letter!
Further reading: What to Include in a Portfolio Resume? 3 Tips to Build a Professional Portfolio for Interview
Before sending out your cover letter, you should refer to the following dos & don’ts!
Confused about the format of cover letters for different purposes & situations? Let’s see how to format cover letters for finding jobs, internships, or even career changes!
Contact Information
Greeting
Motivation
Qualification
Closing
Don’t worry if you are still struggling with writing a compelling cover letter, there are some successful cover letter examples from different industries for you! Software engineers, designers, marketing, consultant, you can find all free cover letter templates here that suit your industries!
Finished your cover letter? The next big work is to build an eye-catching resume!
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