A good cover letter is an integral part of any job or internship application. Companies receive many applications, which is why having a thoughtful, well-written cover letter is your best chance to stand out. Here are six tips for writing a successful cover letter.
1.Get Specific
Be sure to specifically address the company you’re applying to. Your cover letter is an opportunity to tailor your skills and experiences to the requirements of a particular position. If possible, address your cover letter directly to the hiring manager or liaison. If you don’t know his/her name, look it up online or call and find out. This shows initiative and interest in the position.
2. Don’t Oversell Yourself
An impressive cover letter succeeds in effectively showcasing your best assets without overselling them. Your goal is to prove your skills and experience can benefit the company, without seeming overconfident. You can avoid this by dropping the word “I” and noting that your accomplishments were achieved by a team you were a part of. Frame your statements in terms of how your work benefited the company you worked for.
3. Use the Company’s Voice
Show that you understand the background, mission, and values of the company you’re applying for when you write your cover letter. Take some time to research their website and perhaps read their social media posts. Write in a way that reflects the company’s attitude, culture, and priorities. Getting hired takes more than just meeting the company’s qualifications; you should demonstrate that you’re the right fit for them, as well.
4. Include More Details Than What’s on Your Resume
Your cover letter should not repeat the information on your resume. Instead of repeating yourself, use it to include details you were unable to squeeze into your resume; you can expand on your resume’s most significant points, establishing a connection between what you’ve accomplished in your past job and how you’ll use the same skills to benefit your new job. A cover letter also serves as an opportunity to differentiate yourself from other applicants.
5. Reaching out
Whether you successfully make a connection with someone outside of the official communication largely depends on the company and the hiring managers. Generally speaking, being proactive is a good way to get your application noticed and stand out from your competition. Unless the job posting specifically mentions only applying through the company website, it should be a safe bet to connect with someone on LinkedIn.
Inform the HR manager that you’ve applied, and make sure they know just how interested you are in the company and the role for which you’re applying. Remind them why you’re an ideal fit by mentioning one or two of your most relevant and impressive qualifications or experiences. Be concise, polite, and brief, listing the most impressive points from your resume.
This part is less about doing the research about the company and more about showing you actually care about what the company does. If you know someone who has a connection to the company, ask them to initiate an introduction. Always be your best self - be kind, polite, and show them why they should hire you.
6. Use Online Tools to Help You Write the Perfect Cover Letter
Writing doesn’t come easily for everyone, so don’t be afraid to ask for help from the professionals. Here are some resources to get started:
- ViaWriting: Check out this grammar guide for help when looking over your cover letter for grammatical errors. One grammar mistake can cost you the job, so don’t take any chances.
- State of Writing: This website holds a great number of resources that will help you with everything writing related.
- Grammarix: This is a simple grammar checker for anyone in need of proofreading.
Cover letters present the best opportunity to stand out in a pile of applications. You have a chance to prove to your potential employers that you are an exceptional candidate for the position to which you are applying, but in order to truly stand out in the best way possible and gain employers’ attention, it’s important to know how to write a good cover letter.
