Are you wondering how to write a cover letter that gets you the job you dream of?
If so then pay attention to this short cover letter writing guide.
See, although it’s a short piece of writing, the cover letter is one of the most important documents you need to perfect if you want to land your dream job.
Having spent weeks, months, or even years job hunting, you need to perfect your resume as well as your cover letter.
But cover letter writing isn’t an easy task especially if you’re writing one for the first time.
In this short guide, we’re going to teach you how to write a perfect cover letter that can help you land the job you have been looking for.
Let’s get started.
What is a Cover Letter and Why is it Important?
A cover letter is a short piece of writing or document (usually one page long) submitted together with a resume when applying for a job.
It helps you talk about your skills and professional background briefly while demonstrating why you’re the best fit for the job.
It’s worth noting that a good cover letter should complement your resume and not restate what you have included in the resume.
How to Write An Awesome Cover Letter Step by Step
Having said that, here is a step-by-step process on how to write an outstanding cover letter.
Note that you can hire a cover letter service to help you out or guide you on the right way to write a great resume and cover letter.
Plan Your Cover Letter
The first step in writing a perfect cover letter is to plan and research thoroughly.
Here, you should find out who you intend to write to. Is it the hiring manager, company owner, or employer?
You also need to determine the skills and experience stated in the job description. The last mistake you want to make is applying for a job that doesn’t suit your experience or qualifications.
The other thing you need to find out is the company, its culture, and whether there are competitors.
Understand the Basic Format of a Cover Letter
Like any other piece of writing, a cover letter has a basic outline or structure to be followed. However, the most important thing is to ensure your cover letter addresses the exact job advertised. In this case, you should try to use a flexible cover letter template.
Typically, your cover letter should demonstrate your relevant skills and experiences, the job you’re applying for and why you are interested in it, and how your education, skills, and experience can help to make a difference in the company you’re applying to work for, etc.
Understand The Exact Length of a Cover Letter
Generally, a cover letter shouldn’t be too long or too short. Trying to keep it too short can limit you from demonstrating your abilities and keeping it too long can end up making it look boring. Besides, employers or hiring managers always have mountains of cover letters to review. They will probably keep your long cover letter aside and review shorter ones.
As a rule, you should keep your cover letter approximately 250 to 300 words long, and direct to the point.
Learn How to Address the Hiring Manager/Employer
As a rule, your cover letter should be addressed to the exact person who is going to read it and tailored to the job advertised. Every statement you use in your resume should be relevant to the job description. That’s why it’s advisable to use keywords that are relevant to the job.
Answering the Job Description
Understand the exact skills and experiences required for the job and address nothing other than that.
Yes, talk about your skills and experiences that make you suitable for the job. Try to use examples to demonstrate why you should be considered for the job. Remember to use examples that are relevant to the job description as well.
You should also make your cover letter as specific as possible. This implies referring to their values, company culture, or anything that entails the company in depth. Answering the job description in great detail shows the employer that you took your time to find out more about the advertised position and the company at large.
Learn How to Promote Yourself
No matter how excellent your cover letter is if it doesn’t sell you, it’s a waste of time. The cover letter is your tool to market yourself to the employer.
It’s the weapon you should use to ‘kill’ all other applicants and come out as the best candidate for the job.
This also applies to your resume or CV.
You can promote yourself in various ways. As usual, you should research more about the position to be able to promote yourself to the company effectively.
When marketing yourself to the company or employer, you should demonstrate your knowledge. This is where you show how you will be beneficial to the company once hired.
Demonstrate your skills and qualifications.
One mistake most job seekers make is to list out their qualifications and skills without elaborating how they can be of help to the company.
Quick Tips on How to Write an Excellent Cover Letter
Having taken you through the step-by-step process of how to write a cover letter that gets the job you deserve, let’s take a look at the tips that can help you achieve this.
Choose a Suitable Cover Letter Template
Truly, there are dozens of cover letter templates out there. However, there is no one-size-fits-all cover template. The most common cover letter writing mistake students make is to use one cover letter template when applying for jobs.
The general rule of thumb is to use a cover letter template that suits the job you’re applying for.
Grab the Attention of the Person Reviewing the Cover Letter Right Away
Employers, recruiters, hiring managers, and company owners get mountains of resumes and cover letters. That means that the chances of them reading yours are equal to none. So how do you increase the chances of your cover letter being read?
It’s simple, make your cover letter introduction attention-grabbing. Your first paragraph should grab their attention and give them the reason for reading further.
You should also make your cover letter easy to read and be creative while following the instructions stated in the job description.
To encourage the employer, recruiter, or hiring manager to reply to your application, wrap it up with a call to action. Once done writing the cover letter, proofread it thoroughly and correct any
